Video game developer · United Kingdom · Closed in 2010
Core Design
Founded in 1988
- 63
- games developed
- 8
- games published
- 0
- in development
History of Core Design
Core Design was a British studio based in Derby, England. It was founded on 13 May 1988 by nine partners, among them Jeremy Heath-Smith, Chris Shrigley and Simon Phipps, most of whom had worked at Gremlin Graphics. It started out as Megabrite and took the Core Design name in October that year. Its early output was large and aimed at computers such as the Amiga and Atari ST as well as Sega consoles, with titles including Rick Dangerous (1989), Chuck Rock (1991), Heimdall (1991) and Thunderhawk (1992).
In October 1994 it was bought by CentreGold, the parent of U.S. Gold, which Eidos Interactive in turn acquired in 1996. Heath-Smith saw the deal as a relief, since paying for development on its own had become very expensive. That same year brought Tomb Raider (1996), created by Toby Gard and Paul Douglas, which is credited with turning Eidos into a major player. In 1997 Sony agreed with Eidos that the sequel would be a PlayStation console exclusive, a deal later extended to Tomb Raider III (1998). Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999) and Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000) followed.
After Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003) failed with critics, Eidos handed the series to Crystal Dynamics, another studio it owned. Jeremy Heath-Smith and his brother Adrian left to set up Circle Studio, taking much of the creative team with them. Those who stayed made Smart Bomb (2005), a timed puzzle game for the PSP, and pitched a remake of the first Tomb Raider for the same handheld, which Eidos cancelled to keep the series with Crystal Dynamics.
In May 2006 Rebellion Developments acquired the studio's staff and assets, while Eidos kept the Core brand and Tomb Raider. As Rebellion Derby it worked on Free Running (2007), Shellshock 2: Blood Trails and Rogue Warrior (both 2009). With the lease on its offices running out, Rebellion looked for alternatives, found none, and closed the studio on 17 March 2010. In July that year a nearby road in Derby was named 'Lara Croft Way' to recognise its contribution to the creative industries.
Milestones
1988
Founded in Derby as Megabrite; renamed Core Design in October.
1989
Rick Dangerous.
1994
CentreGold, parent of U.S. Gold, buys the studio.
1996
Eidos Interactive buys CentreGold; Tomb Raider is released.
1998
Tomb Raider III.
2003
Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness; the series moves to Crystal Dynamics.
2006
Rebellion Developments buys the staff and assets, creating Rebellion Derby.
2010
The studio closes on 17 March.
Its best-known games
Tomb Raider
1996 · PS3 · N64 · PC
Tomb Raider II
1997 · PS3 · PC · Mac
Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft
1998 · PS3 · PC · Mac
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation
1999 · PS3 · PC · Mac
Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness
2003 · PC · Mac · PS2
Tomb Raider: Chronicles
2000 · PS3 · PC · Mac
Fighting Force
1997 · PS3 · PC · Vita
Rick Dangerous
1989 · Acorn Archimedes · C64 · ZXS
Chuck Rock
1991 · Acorn Archimedes · Amiga CD32 · C64
Fighting Force 2
1999 · Vita · PS1 · DC
Rick Dangerous 2
1990 · C64 · Atari-ST · DOS
Astérix and the Great Rescue
1993 · Genesis/MegaDrive · Game Gear · SMS
Every game it has developed (63)
2007
- Free Running Wii, PC, PSP, NDS
2005
- Smart Bomb PSP
2003
- Tomb Raider NGage
- Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness PC, Mac, PS2
2002
- Herdy Gerdy PS2
2001
- Project Eden PC, PS2
- Tomb Raider: Curse of the Sword GBC
2000
- Tomb Raider Level Editor PC
- Tomb Raider: Chronicles PS3, PC, Mac, Vita
- Tomb Raider Starring Lara Croft GBC
- Tomb Raider: The Lost Artifact PC, Mac
1999
- Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation - The Times PC
- Fighting Force 2 Vita, PS1, DC
- Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation PS3, PC, Mac, PS1
- Tomb Raider II: Gold Android, PC, iOS, Mac
- Fighting Force 64 N64
1998
- Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft PS3, PC, Mac, PS1
- Ninja: Shadow of Darkness PS1
- Tomb Raider: Gold Android, iOS, Mac, DOS
1997
- Tomb Raider II PS3, PC, Mac, PS1
- Fighting Force PS3, PC, Vita, Saturn
- Swagman Saturn, PS1
1996
- Blam! Machinehead DOS, Saturn, PS1
- Tomb Raider PS3, N64, PC, DOS
- Shellshock DOS, Saturn, PS1
1995
- Astérix and the Power of the Gods Genesis/MegaDrive
- Skeleton Krew Amiga CD32, Genesis/MegaDrive, Amiga
- Thunderstrike 2 DOS, Saturn, PS1
- The Scottish Open: Carnoustie Virtual Golf DOS, Saturn, PS1
1994
- BC Racers Sega32, PC, 3DO, DOS
- Dragonstone Amiga CD32, Amiga
- Universe Amiga CD32, DOS, Amiga
- Banshee Amiga CD32, Amiga
- Soulstar Sega CD
- BattleCorps Sega CD
- Bubba 'n' Stix Amiga CD32, Genesis/MegaDrive, Amiga
1993
- Chuck Rock Game Boy
- Blob Amiga
- Blastar Amiga
- Chuck Rock II: Son of Chuck Amiga CD32, Genesis/MegaDrive, Game Gear, Amiga
- Astérix and the Great Rescue Genesis/MegaDrive, Game Gear, SMS
- Wolfchild SNES, Genesis/MegaDrive, Atari-ST, Game Gear
- AH-3: ThunderStrike DOS, Sega CD
1992
- Chuck Rock C64
- Curse of Enchantia DOS, Amiga
- Thunderhawk DOS, Amiga, Sega CD
- Jaguar XJ220 SNES, Amiga, Sega CD
- Wonder Dog Amiga, Sega CD
1991
- Chuck Rock Game Gear, SMS
- Chuck Rock Acorn Archimedes, Amiga CD32, C64, SNES
- Thunderhawk AH-73M Atari-ST, DOS, Amiga
- Frenetic Atari-ST, Amiga
- War Zone Atari-ST, Amiga
1990
- Impossamole blackberry, C64, ZXS, Atari-ST
- Monty Python's Flying Circus: The Computer Game C64, ZXS, Atari-ST, DOS
- Skidz Atari-ST, Amiga
- Torvak the Warrior Atari-ST, Amiga
- CarVup Atari-ST, Amiga
- Rick Dangerous 2 ZXS
- Rick Dangerous 2 C64, Atari-ST, DOS, Amiga
- Cyber-Cop Genesis/MegaDrive, Atari-ST, DOS, Amiga
1989
- Switchblade C64, ZXS, Atari-ST, PC
- Rick Dangerous Acorn Archimedes, C64, ZXS, Atari-ST
Games it has published without developing them (8)
- Heimdall 1991
- Doodlebug 1992
- Premiere 1992
- Doodlebug: Bug Bash II 1992
- Cyberpunks 1993
- Heimdall 2: Into the Hall of Worlds 1994
- Darkmere: The Nightmare's Begun 1994
- The Big Red Adventure 1995