Overview
Will Wright’s software toys became a company. Maxis, founded to publish SimCity, built an entire genre around simulation games. From cities to ants to earths, they explored every conceivable subject before The Sims made them one of gaming’s most successful studios. EA’s acquisition brought resources but eventually absorbed the identity.
Fast facts
- Founded: 1987.
- Founders: Will Wright, Jeff Braun.
- Location: Walnut Creek, California.
- Acquired: EA (1997).
SimCity series
| Title |
Year |
| SimCity |
1989 |
| SimCity 2000 |
1993 |
| SimCity 3000 |
1999 |
| SimCity 4 |
2003 |
Sim experiments
| Title |
Subject |
Year |
| SimEarth |
Planet ecology |
1990 |
| SimAnt |
Ant colony |
1991 |
| SimLife |
Evolution |
1992 |
| SimFarm |
Agriculture |
1993 |
| SimCopter |
Helicopter |
1996 |
The Sims phenomenon
| Title |
Year |
Sales |
| The Sims |
2000 |
Best-selling PC game |
| The Sims 2 |
2004 |
Massive success |
| The Sims 3 |
2009 |
Continued franchise |
| The Sims 4 |
2014 |
Ongoing |
EA acquisition
| Aspect |
Impact |
| Year |
1997 |
| Resources |
Increased budgets |
| Independence |
Gradually reduced |
| Brand |
Eventually merged |
Studio closure
| Year |
Event |
| 2015 |
Maxis Emeryville closed |
| Teams |
Distributed across EA |
| Legacy |
The Sims continues |
See also