Certain Affinity

Certain Affinity
Type Video game developer
Industry Computer and video games
Interactive entertainment
Founded 2006
Headquarters Austin, Texas, U.S.
Key people Max Hoberman (president)
Paul Isaac (engineering lead)
Phil Wattenbarger (production lead)
Products Video games
Employees 60
Website http://www.certainaffinity.com/

Certain Affinity is an American video game development studio based in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 2006 by Max Hoberman and a small number of other ex-Bungie employees and other industry veterans.

History

Certain Affinity's creation was announced in December 2006. The studio was formed by ex-Bungie employee Max Hoberman. In addition to staff from Bungie it also includes ex-members of companies such as Microsoft, Red Storm, Origin, Electronic Arts, Digital Anvil and NCSoft.[1]

The studio's first work was in creating two additional multiplayer levels for the popular Xbox game Halo 2. These maps, called "Tombstone" and "Desolation" (which were called the Halo 2 Blastacular Map Pack) were the last Halo 2 maps to be released; they are remakes of levels that were in the original Halo, called "Hang 'Em High" and "Derelict" respectively.[2] They were released for Halo 2 on the Xbox Live on April 17, 2007. These maps weren't released for Halo 2 Vista, but were replaced with two new maps exclusive to Halo 2 vista "District" and "Uplift". Certain Affinity worked closely with members of Bungie and Microsoft Game Studios during the development of these two maps.

Certain Affinity has also been working on another project since November 2006, which is an unannounced original IP game in the action/RPG genre.[3] The title of this game, the platform it will be for, and when it will be released have not yet been announced. However, Certain Affinity has said in a recent interview that it has "spoken with most of the major publishers and there’s serious interest, so our goal is to continue self-funding the company until we're ready to sign a publishing deal and move everyone full time onto this project."

Certain Affinity's first original game was Age of Booty, a downloadable real-time strategy game released on Steam, Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. The title was published by Capcom on October 15, 2008.[4][5]

Certain Affinity created Call of Duty: World at War multiplayer maps for the retail release as well as maps for the 2nd downloadable map pack.

The company helped Valve port Left 4 Dead to the Xbox 360.[6]

In 2009 the company announced the completion of Halo Waypoint developed in conjunction with 343 Industries.

In 2010, Certain Affinity collaborated on maps and game modes with Treyarch and Activision for Call of Duty: Black Ops and First Strike Map Pack 1.

The company worked on the "Defiant Map Pack" for Halo: Reach, released on March 15, 2011.[7]

The company has announced their new game, due to release at summer 2011, called Crimson Alliance, at RTX (a Rooster Teeth Event).[8][9]

Certain Affinity has also announced partnering with 343 Industries again for the development of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, which was released exclusively for Xbox 360 on November 15, 2011.

Games

References

  1. ^ "Certain Affinity about page". http://www.certainaffinity.com/about.htm. 
  2. ^ "Certain affinity Maps revealed". http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=certainaffinitymaps. 
  3. ^ "Mapmakers to the Stars". http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=certainaffinityinterview. 
  4. ^ Chris Faylor (2008-03-04). "Certain Affinity Making Pimps at Sea, Sorta". Shacknews. http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/51613. Retrieved 2008-03-05. 
  5. ^ Age of Booty Release Date
  6. ^ Cat Outta The Bag
  7. ^ Halo: Reach Defiant Map Pack Announced!
  8. ^ Crimson Alliance Announced
  9. ^ http://www.crimsonalliance.com/ Current website for Crimson Alliance

External links

Articles