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Deck Nine

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Idol Minds, LLC
Deck Nine (2017–present)
Company typePrivate
IndustryVideo games
FoundedApril 1, 1997; 27 years ago (1997-04-01) in Boulder, Colorado, US
Founders
  • Mark Lyons
  • Scott Atkins
Headquarters
Westminster, Colorado
,
US
Key people
Websitedeckninegames.com

Idol Minds, LLC (doing business as Deck Nine[1] or Deck Nine Games[2] since 2017) is an American video game developer based in Westminster, Colorado. The studio was founded in April 1997 by Mark Lyons and Scott Atkins and developed games exclusively for PlayStation consoles until 2012. Subsequently, it shifted to mobile games among other things before rebranding as "Deck Nine" in May 2017 to develop narrative-driven games.

History

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Idol Minds was founded by programmer Mark Lyons and artist Scott Atkins. They had previously worked for Sony Interactive Studios America in San Diego and, after Lyons moved to Colorado with his family, established Idol Minds on April 1, 1997, in Boulder, Colorado.[3][4][5] It developed multiple sports games under 989 Studios until the 2000s. Party game My Street and action-adventure Neopets: The Darkest Faerie followed. In November 2007, the studio released ragdoll physics-based game Pain,[6][7] which was among the most-downloaded games on PlayStation Network of 2008.[8][9] In October 2009, Idol Minds reportedly made 26 of its 46 employees redundant. One source attributed the layoffs to budget cuts by Pain publisher Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE), which was Idol Minds' only source of funding.[10][11]

At E3 2011, SCE announced Ruin, a "Diablo-style action role-playing game" developed by Idol Minds and SCE's San Diego Studio.[12][13] After the game was renamed Warrior's Lair, Idol Minds was taken off the project in April 2012 (Warrior's Lair was canceled by Sony in July 2013[14][15]).[16][17] Later in 2012, Idol Minds shifted its focus onto mobile free-to-play games.[18][19] In August 2015, Idol Minds launched a crowdfunding campaign via Kickstarter for photo safari game Shutterbug, seeking US$400,000 in funding (The project was canceled after raising $2,973 in ten days).[20]

On May 31, 2017, Idol Minds announced that it would focus on narrative-driven games with brand and trade name "Deck Nine",[21] an homage to 1983 video game Planetfall.[22] It built toolset StoryForge for creating these and was developing a project in a "critically acclaimed franchise".[21][23] During E3 2017, publisher Square Enix announced Deck Nine was developing Life Is Strange: Before the Storm, a prequel to 2015's Life Is Strange.[24][25] The game's first episode was released in August 2017, the second in October and the third and final episode in December.[26][27] A DLC episode Farewell released in March 2018.[28] In September 2018, Deck Nine announced it was working with Square Enix on a new project.[29]

In March 2021, Square Enix announced Life Is Strange: True Colors and the Life Is Strange Remastered Collection (containing the original Life Is Strange and Before the Storm), both remastered by Deck Nine, with Life Is Strange: True Colors being released in September 2021 along with the Wavelengths DLC episode later that same month.[30][31] The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) supported Deck Nine with $2.5 million job-growth incentive tax credits and via the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM), the production of True Colors with $150,000 phased film incentives in 2017 and 2018.[32][33] In December 2021, Telltale Games announced to be co-developing The Expanse: A Telltale Series with Deck Nine during The Game Awards 2021.[34] After being delayed from a simultaneous September 2021 launch, Life Is Strange Remastered Collection was released in February 2022.[35]

In May 2023, Deck Nine reportedly laid off 30 employees.[36] The Expanse: A Telltale Series released its first episode in July 2023 with new episodes coming bi-weekly through the fifth and final episode in September[37] while the Archangel DLC episode was released in November.[38] In February 2024, Deck Nine announced that it would lay off 20% of its staff.[39] In April 2024, IGN reported on a toxic workplace culture based on employee testimonials and suspected Nazi symbolism found in a game by staff during development.[40] In June 2024, Square Enix announced Life Is Strange: Double Exposure as a direct sequel to the original Life Is Strange, which was released in October.[41] In December 2024, Deck Nine laid off an undisclosed number of employees.[42]

Games developed

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As Idol Minds

[edit]
Year Title Platform(s) Publisher(s) Ref.
1998 Cool Boarders 3 PlayStation 989 Studios
Rally Cross 2
1999 Cool Boarders 4
Supercross Circuit 989 Sports
2000 Cool Boarders 2001 PlayStation, PlayStation 2 Sony Computer Entertainment
2003 My Street PlayStation 2
2005 Neopets: The Darkest Faerie
2007 Pain PlayStation 3
2008 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa PlayStation 2 Activision
2012 Ratchet & Clank Collection PlayStation 3 Sony Computer Entertainment
Linked Together iOS Idol Minds [43]
2013 Ratchet: Deadlocked (HD Edition) PlayStation 3 Sony Computer Entertainment
Phrazzle iOS, Android GameFly [44]
2014 Tales of Honor: The Secret Fleet Mobage [45]
Qube Kingdom [45]

As Deck Nine

[edit]
Year Title Platform(s) Publisher(s)
2017 Life Is Strange: Before the Storm Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Square Enix
2021 Life Is Strange: True Colors Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
2022 Life Is Strange Remastered Collection Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Xbox One
2023 The Expanse: A Telltale Series Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S Telltale Games
2024 Life is Strange: Double Exposure Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S Square Enix

References

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  1. ^ "Summary: Deck Nine". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  2. ^ "Summary: Deck Nine Games". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  3. ^ "info". Idol Minds. Archived from the original on May 29, 1998.
  4. ^ Thomas, David (March 10, 2003). "Preteens may follow 'My Street' online Louisville's Idol Minds aims to expand appeal of Internet gaming". The Denver Post. Digital First Media. Archived from the original on October 10, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  5. ^ Mook, Bob (November 20, 2005). "Louisville company tries to leave mark in video game world". Denver Business Journal. American City Business Journals. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  6. ^ Roper, Chris (November 7, 2007). "Pain is Coming". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 6, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  7. ^ Caron, Frank (November 30, 2007). "Pain brings pleasure on the PlayStation Network". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  8. ^ Cavalli, Earnest (December 30, 2012). "Pain Tops 2008 PSN Download List". Wired. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  9. ^ Plunkett, Luke (January 26, 2009). "Open Up For A Strong Dose Of PSN Stats". Kotaku. Gizmodo Media Group. Archived from the original on November 12, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  10. ^ Yoon, Andrew (October 21, 2009). "Rumor: PAIN developer Idol Minds lays off more than half of staff". Engadget. AOL Tech. Archived from the original on November 4, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  11. ^ Crecente, Brian (October 21, 2009). "PS3 PAIN Developers Hit With Lay-Offs?". Kotaku. Gizmodo Media Group. Archived from the original on November 22, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  12. ^ Schramm, Mike (June 7, 2011). "Ruin preview: Hack and social". Engadget. AOL Tech. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  13. ^ Welsh, Oli (June 7, 2011). "Ruin announced for Vita and PS3". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  14. ^ Lien, Tracey (July 3, 2013). "Sony cancels Warrior's Lair on PS Vita and PS3". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  15. ^ Moriarty, Colin (July 3, 2013). "Warrior's Lair on PS3 and Vita Has Been Cancelled". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  16. ^ Dutton, Fred (January 13, 2012). "Vita/PS3 RPG Ruin gets a new name". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  17. ^ Brightman, James (April 2, 2012). "Sony pulls Pain studio Idol Minds off Warrior's Lair project". GamesIndustry.biz. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  18. ^ "Idol Minds thinking mobile for gaming's future". BizWest. August 2, 2013. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  19. ^ "Games — Idol Minds Game Development". June 16, 2016. Archived from the original on June 16, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2018. Unfortunately, the title was not completed and in 2012 we shifted into mobile F2P gaming.
  20. ^ "Colorado team's video game project a fantastical photo safari". The Pueblo Chieftain. August 17, 2015. Archived from the original on August 18, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  21. ^ a b Wawro, Alex (May 31, 2017). "Pain dev Idol Minds rebrands and shifts focus to 'narrative-driven' games". Gamasutra. UBM TechWeb. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  22. ^ "Our Story". Deck Nine. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  23. ^ Dring, Christopher (June 1, 2017). "Pain developer Idol Minds rebrands to focus on narrative". GamesIndustry.biz. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  24. ^ O'Connor, James (June 11, 2017). "Life is Strange's three-part prequel, Before The Storm, announced". VG247. Videogaming247. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  25. ^ Davenport, James (June 11, 2017). "Life is Strange: Before the Storm is releasing its first episode this August". PC Gamer. Future US. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  26. ^ O'Connor, Alice (June 12, 2017). "Life Is Strange: Before the Storm starts in August". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on December 20, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  27. ^ Sarkar, Samit (June 11, 2017). "Life is Strange prequel Before the Storm debuts this summer (update)". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on June 12, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  28. ^ Wales, Matt (January 18, 2018). "Life is Strange: Before the Storm's bonus Farewell episode is dated for March". Eurogamer. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  29. ^ Fogel, Stefanie (September 20, 2018). "'Life Is Strange: Before the Storm' Dev Making New Square Enix Game". Variety. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  30. ^ McWhertor, Michael (March 18, 2021). "'Life is Strange: True Colors stars an Asian-American lead in an all-new adventure". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  31. ^ McWhertor, Michael (March 18, 2021). "'Life is Strange and Before the Storm getting remastered re-releases". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  32. ^ Sealover, Ed (November 19, 2020). "Colorado EDC offers incentives to 3 companies for a combined 655 jobs". Denver Business Journal. Archived from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  33. ^ "Deck Nine Games is set to release All-New Game "Life is Strange: True Colors" adventure with Asian American lead". oedit.colorado.gov. Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. April 13, 2021. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  34. ^ Holt, Kris (December 10, 2021). "'The Expanse' is getting the Telltale Games treatment". Engadget. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  35. ^ Lyles, Taylor (September 24, 2021). "Life Is Strange Remastered Collection Arrives This February". IGN. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  36. ^ Carter, Justin (May 22, 2023). "Life is Strange dev Deck Nine Games hit with staff layoffs". Game Developer. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  37. ^ Ivan, Tom (May 17, 2023). "Telltale's The Expanse episodic series launches in July". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  38. ^ Kaan, Serin (July 24, 2023). "The Expanse: A Telltale Series' bonus episode brings back fan favourite Shohreh Aghdashloo". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  39. ^ @DeckNineGames (February 27, 2024). "Deck Nine Games on X: "Today we made the difficult decision to lay off 20% of our staff."" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  40. ^ Valentine, Rebekah (April 5, 2024). "How Hidden Nazi Symbols Were the Tip of a Toxic Iceberg at Life Is Strange Developer Deck Nine". IGN. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  41. ^ Valentine, Rebekah (June 9, 2024). "Life Is Strange: Double Exposure Revealed, Features Return of Max Caulfield". IGN. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  42. ^ Stedman, Alex (December 6, 2024). "Life Is Strange: Double Exposure Developer Deck Nine Announces Its Second Round of Layoffs in 2024". IGN. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  43. ^ "Linked Together". Metacritic. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  44. ^ Garnett, Lee (November 15, 2013). "Phrazzle is GameFly's second mobile game, lets you build phrases". Shacknews. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  45. ^ a b "Qube Kingdom: difendete il regno di Qubria con tanti soldati...cubici!". AndroidWorld (in Italian). September 22, 2014. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
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