https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Blizzard_NorthBlizzard North - Revision history2026-08-08T09:43:06ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.44.2https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=Blizzard_North&diff=396314&oldid=previmported>Ionmars10: clean up2025-11-02T03:14:47Z<p>clean up</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|American video game developer}}<br />
{{Infobox company <br />
| name = Blizzard North<br />
| logo = Blizzardnorth.png<br />
| type = [[Subsidiary]]<br />
| former_name = Condor<br />
| foundation = 1993<br />
| defunct = 2005<br />
| location_city = [[San Mateo, California]]<br />
| location_country = [[United States|U.S.]]<br />
| founders = {{ubl|[[David Brevik]]|Erich Schaefer|Max Schaefer}}<br />
| industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]]<br />
| products = ''[[Justice League Task Force (video game)|Justice League Task Force]]'', ''[[Diablo (video game)|Diablo]]'', ''[[Diablo II]]'', ''[[Diablo II: Lord of Destruction]]''<br />
| homepage = {{URL|www.blizzard.com}}<br />
}}<br />
'''Blizzard North''' (formerly known as '''Condor''') was an American [[video game development studio]] based in [[San Mateo, California]]. The studio was the [[San Francisco Bay Area|Bay Area]] division of [[Blizzard Entertainment]], and it was known for the [[Diablo (series)|''Diablo'' series]]. The company was originally based in [[Redwood City, California]], always serving as the northern counterpart to [[Blizzard Entertainment|Blizzard Entertainment's]] main development studio in [[Irvine, California]]. In 2005, Blizzard North was closed to reallocate its staff to the development of ''[[World of Warcraft]]''.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
Blizzard North was founded in 1993 under the name '''Condor''' by [[David Brevik]], Erich Schaefer, and Max Schaefer. The three met while working at FM Waves, a [[clip art]] production studio. Upon the closure of FM Waves, the trio scavenged its equipment to create Brevik's concept of a dungeon crawler game based on ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' with [[roguelike]] gameplay.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blackshellmedia.com/2016/11/07/indie-insider-podcast-9-david-brevik-graybeard-games/|title=Indie Insider Podcast #9 – David Brevik and Graybeard Games – Black Shell Media|first=Black Shell|last=Media|date=November 7, 2016}}</ref> Brevik served as the president of the company between 1993 and 2003, while the Schaefer brothers held the Vice President positions.<br />
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The company was purchased and renamed as Blizzard North by Blizzard Entertainment's former owner [[Davidson & Associates]] about nine months before the release of their hit PC game ''[[Diablo (video game)|Diablo]]'' in 1997.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18059803.html|title=Davidson & Associates, Inc. Signs a Definitive Merger Agreement With Condor, Inc.|publisher=PR Newswire|date=1996-03-06|access-date=2009-09-28}}{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Merger Madness Continues |magazine=[[GamePro]] |issue=94 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=July 1996|page=16|quote=Condor's name will change to Blizzard North as it finishes up Diablo, an eagerly awaited RPG due next month.}}</ref> However, Blizzard North had complete autonomy from Blizzard Entertainment while David Brevik and the Schaefer brothers continued to manage the company respectively as the President and Vice Presidents.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/issues/issue_48/289-Secret-Sauce-The-Rise-of-Blizzard.5|title=Escapist Magazine – The Rise of Blizzard}}</ref> ''Diablo'' was highly successful, and its 2000 sequel ''[[Diablo II]]'' even more so. An expansion pack, ''[[Diablo II: Lord of Destruction]]'', followed the year after.<br />
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Upon the 2001 completion of ''Diablo II'' and its expansion content, Blizzard North split its development staff between ''Diablo III'' and a ''Diablo''-like game set in space, dubbed ''Starblo'' by the studio. In June 2003, Blizzard North executives [[Bill Roper (video game producer)|Bill Roper]], Max Schaefer, [[Erich Schaefer]], and [[David Brevik]] emailed [[Blizzard Entertainment|Blizzard Entertainment's]] then-[[Holding company|parent company]], [[Vivendi Games]], threatening to resign unless provided financial protections and communication on Vivendi's intent to sell Blizzard. Vivendi accepted their resignations effective immediately, spurring them to found [[Flagship Studios]] and recruit similarly disgruntled Blizzard North employees.<ref name=":0" /><br />
<br />
In August 2005, [[Blizzard Entertainment]] closed Blizzard North, claiming that its headquarters in [[Irvine, California]], was struggling to supervise this secondary studio's troubled development of ''Diablo III''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fahey |first=Rob |date=3 August 2005 |title=Blizzard North shut down; Diablo team moves to Irvine |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/blizzard-north-shut-down-diablo-team-moves-to-irvine |access-date=9 March 2025 |work=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref> Blizzard North employees were offered the chance to interview for positions in [[Southern California]] supporting the development of ''[[World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade]]'', the first [[Expansion pack|expansion]] to the company's [[Massively multiplayer online role-playing game|MMORPG]], whose success had far outpaced the ''Diablo'' series in sales.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Schreier |first=Jason |title=Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment |date=October 2024 |publisher=[[Grand Central Publishing]] |isbn=9781538725429 |location=[[New York City]] |pages=32–43, 68–75, 110–112}}</ref><br />
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A few employees from the ''Diablo'' team, including Eric Sexton, [[Michio Okamura]], and Steven Woo, launched a new company, [[Hyboreal Games]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/extras/2005/121505_hyboreal_1.x|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017150915/http://www.shacknews.com/extras/2005/121505_hyboreal_1.x|title=Hyboreal Games Q&A – Shacknews – PC Games, PlayStation, Xbox 360 and Wii video game news, previews and downloads|archivedate=October 17, 2006}}</ref><br />
<br />
=== Castaway Entertainment ===<br />
Castaway Entertainment was established by former employees of Blizzard North, and was also based in Redwood City, California. The company signed a publishing agreement with Electronic Arts in March 2004,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2004-03-22|title=Electronic Arts Signs Publishing Agreement with Castaway Entertainment|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040322005481/en/Electronic-Arts-Signs-Publishing-Agreement-Castaway-Entertainment|access-date=2020-01-28|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=EA signs deal with Castaway Entertainment|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-signs-deal-with-castaway-entertainment/1100-6091894/|access-date=2020-01-28|website=GameSpot|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=EA in Agreement with Castaway – IGN|date=22 March 2004 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/03/22/ea-in-agreement-with-castaway|language=en|access-date=2020-01-28}}</ref> but had yet to produce any products for that publisher when it was shut down in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Castaway Entertainment shipwrecked, suspends operations|url=https://www.engadget.com/2008/04/07/castaway-entertainment-shipwrecked-suspends-operations/|access-date=2020-01-28|website=Engadget|date=15 July 2016 |language=en}}</ref><br />
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Former Blizzard North members who joined the studio include [[Michael Scandizzo]], Stefan Scandizzo, Alan Ackerman, Steven Woo, Rick Seis,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2005-09-07|title=New Hires at Castaway Entertainment|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/new-hires-at-castaway-entertainment|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-23|website=GamesIndustry.biz|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023213713/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/new-hires-at-castaway-entertainment|archive-date=2021-10-23}}</ref> Ted Bisson, Bruno Bowden, Peter Brevik, Michael Huang, Kelly Johnson (artist), [[Michio Okamura]], Tom Ricket (also known as [[Sluggy Freelance|Sluggy Freelance's]] Shirt Guy Tom), and Fredrick Vaught (after whom the Halls of Vaught in [[Diablo II]] were named).<br />
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Other notable employees include game designer Bill Dunn and art director Rick Macaraeg.<br />
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On April 4, 2008, Michael Scandizzo announced that Castaway was suspending operations due to financial problems.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/castaway-sends-out-sos/1100-6188850/|title=Castaway sends out SOS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Geddes|first=Ryan|date=2008-04-08|title=Castaway to Close its Doors|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/07/castaway-to-close-its-doors|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-23|website=IGN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023213713/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/07/castaway-to-close-its-doors|archive-date=2021-10-23}}</ref><br />
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=== Moon Beast Productions ===<br />
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Several key members of Condor / Blizzard North, founded Moon Beast Productions in 2021 as an independent game development studio. The team at Moon Beast Productions includes key Blizzard North founders<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mobygames.com/company/4648/blizzard-north/|title=Blizzard North|website=MobyGames}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/diablo-2-veterans-set-up-new-studio-to-work-on-original-ip|title=Diablo 2 Veterans Set Up New Studio to Work on Original IP|date=March 10, 2022|website=IGN}}</ref> and staff members, '''Erich Schaefer''', '''Peter Hu''' (considered the primary architect of [[Diablo II: Lord of Destruction|Diablo II LOD expansion]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.diablowiki.net/Peter_Hu|title=Peter Hu – Diablo Wiki|website=www.diablowiki.net}}</ref> and '''Phil Shenk''' (Shenk the Overseer in Diablo II was named for Phil).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Shenk_the_Overseer|title=Shenk the Overseer – Diablo Wiki|website=diablo2.diablowiki.net}}</ref><br />
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In December 2024 it was confirmed by several sources including Venturebeat<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gamesbeat.com/moon-beast-productions-raises-4-5m-for-action-rpg/|title=Moon Beast Productions raises $4.5M for action RPG|first=Dean|last=Takahashi|date=December 18, 2024}}</ref> that Moon Beast had secured $4.5 million in seed funding from a group including 1AM Gaming, The Mini Fund, Overwolf, Versus Ventures Gaingels, Cohh Carnage, and Mark Pincus. At the time of this writing July 2025 the project is in Pre-Alpha development and has not released title.<br />
<br />
==Games==<br />
<br />
===As Condor===<br />
*''[[NFL Quarterback Club|NFL Quarterback Club '95]]'' (1994) – handheld versions<br />
*''[[Justice League Task Force (video game)|Justice League Task Force]]'' (1995) – Mega Drive/Genesis version<br />
*''[[NFL Quarterback Club '96]]''<br />
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===As Blizzard North===<br />
*''[[Diablo (video game)|Diablo]]'' (1996) – [[action role-playing game]]<br />
*''[[Diablo II]]'' (2000) – [[action role-playing game]]<br />
**''[[Diablo II: Lord of Destruction]]'' (2001) – [[expansion pack]]<br />
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=== As Castaway Entertainment ===<br />
*''[[Yaris (video game)|Yaris]]'' (2007) – [[Racing video game|racing]] [[Advergaming|advergame]]<br />
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=== Cancelled ===<br />
* Diablo Junior<ref>{{cite web | url=https://nintendoeverything.com/blizzard-considered-diablo-junior-for-gbcgba/ | title=Blizzard considered "Diablo Junior" for GBC/GBA | date=12 October 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://infendo.com/diablo-junior-for-game-boy-color/ | title=Diablo Junior for Game Boy Color | date=15 October 2012 }}</ref><br />
* ''NFLPA Superstars'' (for the canceled [[Panasonic M2]] console)<ref>{{cite AV media |first=David |last=Brevik |author-link=David Brevik |date=11 May 2016 |title=[[Game Developers Conference]] |contribution=Diablo: A Classic Game Postmortem |medium=conference talk |contribution-url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=VscdPA6sUkc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/VscdPA6sUkc |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=6 January 2019 |via=YouTube |minutes=30 }}{{cbignore}}</ref><br />
* ''[[Diablo III]]'' (in development 2000–2005)<br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[Runic Games]]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
*Techspot: Alfonso Maruccia December 20, 2024 at 2:57 PM – New Studio Moon Beast Productions<nowiki/>[https://www.techspot.com/news/106053-studio-founded-diablo-diablo-ii-team-want-revolutionize.html Studio founded by Diablo and Diablo II team want to revolutionize the ARPG on $4.5 million budget]<br />
*Venture Beat: Dean Takahashi December 18, 2024 6:00 AM Moon Beast Announces $4.5M in Funding secured [https://venturebeat.com/games/moon-beast-productions-raises-4-5m-for-action-rpg/ Moon Beast Productions raises $4.5M for action RPG]<br />
* {{cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=13294|title=Blizzard North veterans form new independent development studio|date=November 29, 2005|access-date=2007-05-05|author=Paul Loughrey|publisher=gamesindustry.biz}}<br />
* {{cite web|url=http://www.gamecareerguide.net/industry_news/7320/news/7320/exblizzard_veterans_form_hyboreal_.php|title=Ex-Blizzard Veterans Form Hyboreal Games|access-date=2007-05-06|date=November 28, 2005|publisher=gamecareerguide.net|author=Simon Carless|author-link=Simon Carless|archive-date=2012-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207035024/http://www.gamecareerguide.net/industry_news/7320/news/7320/exblizzard_veterans_form_hyboreal_.php|url-status=dead}}<br />
* {{cite magazine|url=http://animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=4756|title=Blizzard Vets Form Hyboreal Games|author=Ryan Ball|magazine=[[Animation Magazine]]|access-date=2007-05-06|date=November 28, 2005|archive-date=2007-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235750/http://animationmagazine.net/article.php?article_id=4756|url-status=dead}}<br />
* {{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/pages/company/index.php?company=39855|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930144225/http://www.gamespot.com/pages/company/index.php?company=39855|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-09-30|title=Gamespot Company Page For Blizzard North – Games By Blizzard North|publisher=gamespot.com}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
*[http://www.blizzard.com/ Blizzard website]<br />
<br />
{{Blizzard Entertainment}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Blizzard Entertainment]]<br />
[[Category:Video game development companies]]<br />
[[Category:Defunct video game companies based in California]]<br />
[[Category:Video game companies established in 1993]]<br />
[[Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2005]]<br />
[[Category:Companies based in San Mateo, California]]<br />
[[Category:Defunct companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area]]<br />
[[Category:1993 establishments in California]]<br />
[[Category:2005 disestablishments in California]]<br />
[[Category:Video game companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area]]</div>imported>Ionmars10