Overview
Two studios, two stories. Ion Storm Dallas became notorious for excess—the lavish penthouse office, the “John Romero’s about to make you his bitch” marketing, and Daikatana’s catastrophic development. Meanwhile, Ion Storm Austin quietly assembled Looking Glass veterans and created Deus Ex, one of gaming’s most influential titles. The contrast illustrated that money and celebrity matter far less than design discipline.
Fast facts
- Founded: 1996.
- Founders: John Romero, Tom Hall.
- Locations: Dallas, Austin.
- Closed: 2005.
Dallas studio
| Title |
Year |
Reception |
| Dominion: Storm Over Gift 3 |
1998 |
Poor |
| Daikatana |
2000 |
Critical failure |
| Anachronox |
2001 |
Cult following |
Austin studio
| Title |
Year |
Achievement |
| Deus Ex |
2000 |
Genre masterpiece |
| Deus Ex: Invisible War |
2003 |
Mixed reception |
| Thief: Deadly Shadows |
2004 |
Solid sequel |
Warren Spector’s impact
| Contribution |
Result |
| Austin leadership |
Focused team culture |
| Design philosophy |
Player choice emphasis |
| Looking Glass alumni |
Experienced talent |
| Quality focus |
Critical success |
Lessons learned
| Contrast |
Outcome |
| Celebrity leadership |
Distraction |
| Veteran experience |
Focus |
| Marketing excess |
Backlash |
| Design discipline |
Quality |
Closure
| Event |
Date |
| Dallas closure |
2001 |
| Eidos acquisition |
2004 |
| Austin closure |
2005 |
| Staff dispersal |
Industry-wide |
See also