Ion Storm Inc.

:This is an article about the games software company. For information about the astronomical phenomenon, see Ion storm.

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Ion Storm Inc. (sometimes spelled ION Storm) was a Texas based developer of computer games that was founded by John Romero and Tom Hall in Dallas in 1996. Ion Storm was comprised of ex-id Software employees.

Related Topics:
Texas - Computer game - John Romero - Tom Hall - Dallas - 1996 - Id Software

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The company was divided into two branches; the main office in Dallas, and another office in Austin. The expensive Dallas office sat on the 54th and top floor of the Chase Tower and produced two games which had been heavily hyped over their long development: Anachronox and Daikatana. Anachronox received critical acclaim for its vast storyline and characters while Daikatana was critically savaged as a below-average 3D shooter. Both games were commercially unsuccessful. Romero in particular, who headed the Dallas offices, was widely criticised for the extravagance of the operation compared to the eventual output. The Austin branch, however, was more successful — under Warren Spector, it developed the highly successful and critically acclaimed Deus Ex with a staff gathered in part of ex-Looking Glass Studios employees.

Related Topics:
Austin - Chase Tower - Anachronox - Daikatana - Warren Spector - Deus Ex - Looking Glass Studios

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Romero and Hall left the company after producing Anachronox in July 2001. Later that year, Eidos Interactive, owner of Ion Storm, closed the Dallas offices. The Austin office remained open, led by Spector until his departure to "pursue personal interests outside the company" in 2004. A number of other senior staff also left at about the same time. On February 9, 2005, Eidos announced that the Austin office would also close, meaning the end of Ion Storm as a company.

Related Topics:
July 2001 - Eidos Interactive - 2004 - February 9 - 2005

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