DreamCatcher Interactive Inc. (also known as DreamCatcher Games) was a Canadian video game publisher founded in 1996 by Richard Wah Kan. It was best known for its adventure games. In 2006, the company became a subsidiary of JoWooD Entertainment. In 2011, the company went into administration along with its parent JoWooD and all assets were purchased by Nordic Games Holding. The DreamCatcher Interactive brand is currently being used as a publishing label for THQ Nordic.
History DreamCatcher Interactive was founded in 1996 at Toronto, Canada. Its first published title was Jewels of the Oracle. The company gradually drifted into becoming a publisher focused on the adventure genre after finding that "customers really were hungry for" these titles, according to DreamCatcher's Marshall Zwicker. Beyond Time was among the releases whose reception drew the publisher to this field. Profit reported that DreamCatcher located such projects via "networking at tradeshows and reviewing unsolicited game proposals." In 1999, DreamCatcher pushed its corporate strategy by launching Nightlong: Union City Conspiracy, The Forgotten: It Begins and The Crystal Key. The latter went on to a major hit. DreamCatcher's top four titles for 2000 were Dracula: Resurrection, Traitors Gate, Beyond Atlantis and The Crystal Key. These games respectively made up 9%, 14%, 15% and 32% of DreamCatcher's sales that year. In March 2000, DreamCatcher was purchased by Cryo Interactive. Continuing the company's growth, in November 2000, DreamCatcher signed with Her Interactive to publish the Nancy Drew franchise.
In late 2002, most of the assets and development teams of French-based publisher, Cryo Interactive were absorbed by DreamCatcher Interactive, forming the base for DreamCatcher Europe including key offices and a large internal studio.Absorbed Cyro Interactive By early 2003, DreamCatcher was the United States' tenth-biggest publisher of games. After the acquisition of Cryo Interactive, Dreamcatcher created a publishing division called The Adventure Company in early 2003. The company also partnered with both Wanadoo Edition and Microïds, as well as other studios in the development and distribution of games including Syberia, Still Life and ObsCure.Dreamcatcher Publishes ObsCure In 2005, the main Microïds studio was acquired by Ubisoft with Dreamcatcher retaining publishing rights to the games being created.
The Adventure Company brand label under DreamCatcher has released many adventure game series' including series' based on Agatha Christie novels. They also recently signed to release a series of titles based on The Hardy Boys.The Hardy Boys License Outside of adventure gaming, DreamCatcher is best known for publishing the first-person shooter Painkiller developed with People Can Fly. Painkiller became a commercial success and was signed with the CPL World Tour 2005.Painkiller Added to Summer CPL Championship Dreamcatcher would also create another label, Silverline Software, around 2004 for the distribution of some non-core games and the publishing of utility software. Silverline Software would release the "Time to Ride" series of girl's horse games starting in 2004, which would later be acquired by Ubisoft.
In 2006, JoWooD Entertainment announced the purchase of DreamCatcher Games as a way of increasing its presence into the North American gaming market in addition to acquiring the company's key titles and licenses.Euro Adhoc JoWooD Acquisitions Since the acquisition, DreamCatcher Games has continued to launch titles both under The Adventure Company and DreamCatcher labels including new games created by JoWooD like the SpellForce series. In 2011, JoWooD went into administration causing DreamCatcher to file for bankruptcy. In November 2011, Nordic Games Holding announced that it had acquired all DreamCatcher assets and would be turning it into a publishing label of its subsidiary Nordic Games. Nordic Games Holding had previously acquired JoWooD and The Adventure Company in August also turning both brands into publishing labels of Nordic Games. All business operations of this brand are being conducted out of THQ Nordic in Vienna, Austria.
Games Note: This list is for titles which DreamCatcher Interactive published. Releases of games under The Adventure Company banner are not included. YearTitleDeveloperPlatform(s)1996Jewels of the OracleELOI ProductionsMacintosh, Windows 3.x1997Egypt 1156 B.C.: Tomb of the PharaohCryo Interactive EntertainmentMacintosh, Microsoft WindowsSafecrackerDaydream SoftwareSoldier BoyzDaydream SoftwareMicrosoft WindowsBeyond TimeJones and Jones MultimediaMicrosoft Windows, Windows 3.x1998Jewels II: The Ultimate ChallengeELOI ProductionsKarma: Curse of the 12 CavesMicrosoft WindowsCydonia: Mars - The First Manned MissionNightlong: Union City Conspiracy1999The Adventures of Jonny QuestThe Crystal KeyMacintosh, Microsoft Windows2000The Forgotten: It BeginsEgypt II: The Heliopolis ProphecyMicrosoft WindowsSeven Games of the SoulRiddle of the Sphinx: An Egyptian AdventureMacintosh, Microsoft WindowsThe Legend of Lotus SpringThe Sacred AmuletMicrosoft WindowsDracula: The ResurrectionMacintosh, PlayStation, Microsoft WindowsTraitors GateMacintosh, Microsoft WindowsBeyond AtlantisIn Cold BloodPlayStation, Microsoft WindowsThe New Adventures of the Time MachineMicrosoft WindowsTimeScape: Journey to PompeiiMacintosh, Microsoft WindowsThe Legend of the Prophet and the AssassinMicrosoft WindowsOdyssey: The Search for UlyssesNancy Drew: Message in a Haunted MansionMicrosoft Windows, Game Boy Advance2001Frank Herbert's DuneMicrosoft WindowsDracula: The Last SanctuaryMacintosh, PlayStation, Microsoft WindowsNecronomicon: The Dawning of DarknessPlayStation, Microsoft WindowsThe MessengerMacintosh, Microsoft WindowsDracula: Crazy VampireGame Boy ColorNancy Drew: Secrets Can KillMicrosoft WindowsThe Secrets of AlamutNancy Drew: Stay Tuned for DangerArthur's Knights: Tales of ChivalryNancy Drew: Treasure in the Royal TowerWoody WoodpeckerGame Boy ColorAmerzone: The Explorer's LegacyMicrosoft WindowsAtlantis: The Lost TalesJekyll & HydeThe Shadow of ZorroFrom Dusk Till DawnSchizm: Mysterious JourneyBeyond Atlantis IINancy Drew: The Final SceneMegaRace 32002Inspector Gadget: Advance MissionGame Boy AdvanceGremlins: Stripe vs. GizmoWoody Woodpecker: Escape from Buzz Buzzard ParkPlayStation 2Casino MogulMicrosoft WindowsSuperPowerFactory MogulArabian NightsProject Earth: StarmageddonThe Mystery of the NautilusGore: Ultimate SoldierRock ManagerAgassi Tennis GenerationPlayStation 2Iron StormMicrosoft WindowsExtreme Ghostbusters: Code Ecto-1Game Boy AdvanceKaan: Barbarian's BladePlayStation 2, Microsoft WindowsLaw & Order: Dead on the MoneyMicrosoft WindowsPink Panther: Pinkadelic PursuitPlayStationHegemonia: Legions of IronMicrosoft WindowsPink Panther: Pinkadelic PursuitGame Boy AdvancePost MortemMicrosoft Windows2003Battlecruiser Millennium GoldHarbingerHellboy: Dogs of the NightPlayStationEmergency Fire ResponseMicrosoft WindowsEnigma: Rising TideSpirits & SpellsGameCubeCurse: The Eye of IsisMicrosoft Windows, XboxEtherlords IIMicrosoft WindowsUltimate Beach SoccerGame Boy Advance, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, XboxPax RomanaMicrosoft WindowsBroken Sword: The Sleeping DragonArx FatalisXbox2004Saddle Up: Time to RideMicrosoft WindowsBesiegerTraitors Gate 2: CypherUniversal CombatCrystal Key II: The Far RealmPainkillerThe Omega Stone: Riddle of the Sphinx IIAura: Fate of the AgesSuperPower 2Lights OutReturn to Mysterious IslandPainkiller: Battle Out of HellAdvanced Battlegrounds: The Future of Combat2005Cops 2170: The Power of LawYagerEnigma: Rising TideThe Moment of SilenceDominationObsCurePlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, XboxPainkiller: Gold EditionMicrosoft WindowsMetalHeart: Replicants RampageDungeon LordsStill LifeXboxEcho: Secrets of the Lost CavernMicrosoft WindowsPainkiller: BlackNiBiRu: Age of SecretsCold WarMicrosoft Windows, XboxAgatha Christie: And Then There Were NoneWii, Microsoft Windows2006Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient ExpressMicrosoft WindowsDungeon Lords: Collector's EditionKeepsakeGlory of the Roman Empire Wildlife ZooPainkiller: Hell WarsXboxShip Simulator 2006Microsoft WindowsFirst BattalionNeverendEvidence: The Last RitualSecret Files: Tunguska2007Nanny ManiaSecrets of the Ark: A Broken Sword GamePower Boat GTThe Sacred RingsThe Ugly Prince DucklingGenesis RisingDawnspire: PreludeVoyageSentinel: Descendants in Time Mysterious Journey II: ChameleonDunes of WarDead ReefsSpaceforce: Rogue UniverseDestination: Treasure IslandAtlantis EvolutionAnimatesNintendo DSThe Cameron Files: Pharaoh's CurseMicrosoft WindowsPainkiller: OverdoseLifeSigns: Surgical UnitNintendo DSNext LifeMicrosoft WindowsAgatha Christie: Evil Under the SunZoo Quest: Puzzle FunNintendo DS, Microsoft Windows2008Agatha Christie: Death on the NileMicrosoft WindowsAgatha Christie: MysteriesThe ExperimentSeven Kingdoms: ConquestCleopatra: Riddle of the TombSherlock Holmes: NemesisSpellForce 2: Dragon StormPainkiller Triple DoseSpellForce 2: Shadow WarsWildlife Zoo: Deluxe EditionThe Hardy Boys: The Hidden TheftDrivers Ed PortableNintendo DSSyberiaDreamer: Horse TrainerLearn Math for Grades 1-4Dreamer: Puppy TrainerMatchstick2009InkheartDreamer: Pop StarMonster BandDreamer Series: BabysitterLet's Play: ShopsPainkiller: ResurrectionMicrosoft WindowsTreasure Island2010Arcania: Gothic 4Gothic II (Gold Edition)ChaserPainkiller: Pandemonium2011Painkiller: Redemption
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