Media Molecule

Media Molecule
Subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment
Industry Computer & video games
Interactive entertainment
Founded 2006
Headquarters Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
Key people
 Mark Healey (Creative Director)
Alex Evans (Technical Director)
Siobhan Reddy (Studio Director)
Rex Crowle (Designer)
Products LittleBigPlanet (2008–11)
Dreams
Services Video game development
Owner Sony
Number of employees
 50+[1]
Parent SIE Worldwide Studios
Website Official website

Media Molecule is a British video game developer based in Guildford in Surrey. The studio was founded on 4 January 2006[2] by former Lionhead Studios employees Mark Healey, Alex Evans, David Smith and Kareem Ettouney[3] Before starting the company, the founders from Lionhead Studios worked together on Healey's independent game Rag Doll Kung Fu while still at Lionhead.[4]

On 2 March 2010, Sony Computer Entertainment announced that it had acquired Media Molecule.[5]

History

Media Molecule is a development studio based in Guildford, United Kingdom. They are owned by Sony Computer Entertainment. The studio was founded in January 2006 by former Lionhead employees, Alex Evans, Mark Healy, Dave Smith and Kareem Ettouney. The team developed Rag Doll Kung Fu (the first third party title made available on Steam) in their spare time whilst still working at Lionhead. Evans describes the company's formation as a combination of the boost from Rag Doll, some new ideas bubbling in his head, and the new wave of consoles around the corner.

Renowned for their small size, they are a close-knit group of but 25 developers, with an only 9 coders. Evans says that their size is an arbitrary constraint they placed themselves.

The company had with partnered with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe after pitching an early LittleBigPlanet forbearer known as Craftworld. This concept led to Sony funding the development of LittleBigPlanet.

It was announced on 2 March 2010 that Sony Computer Entertainment had purchased Media Molecule.

Projects

The studio's first game was the PlayStation 3 title LittleBigPlanet, which was announced and demonstrated at the Game Developers Conference 2007. The plan was always to produce a chart-topping game, but to keep the size of the company as small as possible so as to keep a tight rein on costs. Evans in particular was keen to avoid what he calls the "cycle of debt". It was chiefly this concern that led the founders to consider user-generated content.[6] LittleBigPlanet 's best selling point became its set of level-creation tools and the ability to publish that content on the Internet. "Every time you boot up there are more levels to play," says Evans.

Media Molecule won the Studio of the Year award at the Spike Video Game Awards 2008. LittleBigPlanet scored a 95 on Metacritic.[7] The game also won numerous game of the year awards leading to a 'Game Of The Year Edition' a year later.

Media Molecule also worked with SCE Studio Cambridge in the development of LittleBigPlanet for the PlayStation Portable which was released in 2009. The PlayStation 3 sequel to LittleBigPlanet, LittleBigPlanet 2, was released in January 2011.

As of June 2012, Media Molecule have opened up new job opportunities for work on new intellectual properties "...even more ambitious..." than LittleBigPlanet,[8] sparking rumours of new games from the company.

At the Sony Press Conference at Gamescom 2012, Media Molecule announced Tearaway for PS Vita.[9] Whilst talking to press at Gamescom it was revealed that Media Molecule were also working on a second unannounced title, "We're working on a second project right now, and that's very much in an R&D phase," said Mark Healey to Eurogamer.[10]

At 2013's PlayStation Meeting, the PlayStation 4 was unveiled. Media Molecule was shown during the event to be working on new technology for the PlayStation 4 involving the PlayStation Move, allowing players to create 3D objects and animate them with motion-controlled input. At the Sony Press Conference at E3 2015, this project was later revealed to be Dreams.

Games developed

Game title Year released Platform
LittleBigPlanet 2008 PlayStation 3
LittleBigPlanet 2 2011
Tearaway 2013 PlayStation Vita
Tearaway Unfolded* 2015 PlayStation 4
Dreams[11] TBA PlayStation 4

* Alongside Tarsier Studios.

Game Collaborations

In addition to the games above, Media Molecule is also credited as a contributor or co-developer on numerous other LittleBigPlanet titles.

Game title Release Platform Developer
LittleBigPlanet 2009 PlayStation Portable SCE Cambridge Studio[12][13]
Sackboy's Prehistoric Moves 2010 PlayStation 3 XDev; Supermassive Games
LittleBigPlanet PS Vita 2012 PlayStation Vita Double Eleven; Tarsier Studios
LittleBigPlanet Karting 2012 PlayStation 3 United Front Games[14]
LittleBigPlanet 3[15] 2014 PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 Sumo Digital[16]

Awards

Wins

Nominations

References

  1. ↑ "Working at Media Molecule". Media Molecule. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  2. ↑ Simons, Iain (2007). http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3046/book_excerpt_inside_game_design_.php |chapter-url= missing title (help). Inside Game Design. Laurence King (published 27 September 2007). ISBN 978-1-85669-532-9. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
  3. ↑ "Media Molecule sign exclusive deal with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe". Media Molecule. 21 September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2007. The company was founded in January this year by Alex Evans, Mark Healey, Dave Smith and Kareem Ettouney.
  4. ↑ Boyer, Brandon (10 November 2006). "Q&A: The Organic Chemistry Of Media Molecule". Gamasutra. CMP Technology. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
  5. ↑ "Sony Computer Entertainment Acquires Media Molecule Studios" (PDF). 2 March 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  6. ↑ "Media Molecule". Director.co.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  7. ↑ "LittleBigPlanet for PlayStation 3 Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic.com. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  8. ↑ "Jobs - Media Molecule - We Make Games". 28 June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  9. ↑ "Announcing our next game Tearaway". 14 August 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  10. ↑ "Media Molecule working on second project". 16 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  11. ↑ "PlayStation on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  12. ↑ Brian Crecente (24 February 2009). "LittleBigPlanet, Rock Band, Assassin's Creed Coming to PSP". Kotaku.
  13. ↑ Miller, Greg (24 February 2009). "MEGATON: Major Franchises Assault PSP". IGN. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
  14. ↑ "LittleBigPlanet Karting is Coming to PS3!". PlayStation.Blog. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  15. ↑ Holmes, Mike (26 June 2014). "Media Molecule involved with LittleBigPlanet 3". Gamereactor. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  16. ↑ Wawro, Alex (10 June 2014). "LittleBigPlanet 3 is coming, but not from Media Molecule". Gamasutra. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
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