Apogee Software hopes to take your gaming efforts to a higher orbit. The company develops games for the PC, including the Duke Nukem and Max Payne series, Balls of Steel, Shadow Warrior, and Death Rally. The company's 3D Realms Entertainment division focuses solely on 3D games. Apogee Software (which was founded in 1987) is a Texas Limited Partnership whose General Partner is Action Entertainment, Inc.
Officers:
President: George Broussard
VP Operations: Entertainment & Games Software
Director Media and Public Relations: Fitness & Dance Facilities
Although founder Scott Miller had used the name "Apogee Software Productions" for his early, independent work, Apogee Software, Ltd. was officially incorporated in 1987. The company has been recognized as an industry pioneer in many regards.
Apogee's headquarters were originally located in Scott Miller's house in Garland, TX. Upon launching Apogee, Miller implemented two original strategies: First, he kept a narrow focus on the projects that the company put into development, concentrating exclusively on PC action games; secondly, he marketed these games by "teasing" them to the public through limited shareware releases. This method of distribution came to be known as the "Apogee model."
Miller used this approach when marketing Apogee Software, Ltd.'s first release. He divided Kroz, a 75-level game that he had created, into three separate episodes. He then released the first episode, which he named Kingdom of Kroz, as shareware. The game was a hit, making over $100,000 in two years, and it stirred major interest for the series. By releasing the first few levels of a game for free and then requiring users to pay in order to receive additional levels, Apogee's titles found widespread distribution, substantial popularity, and economic success.
Apogee also earns a page in gaming history as one of the first companies to popularize cheat codes. With the right codes, players could access cheats such as level jumps, weapon boosts, and character invincibility.
Kingdom of Kroz was followed by a series of trivia games in 1988, all developed by either Scott Miller or his long-time friend, George Broussard. In 1989, Apogee published Caves of Thor, created by Todd Replogle, who would go on to serve as the lead programmer on the first three Duke Nukem games. Caves of Thor was the first Apogee title developed by a person outside of the company.
In the 1990s, Apogee developed or published a number of best-selling titles, starting with the original Duke Nukem on July 1, 1991. The game was well received and brought in a gross of $50,000 per month for the company. In mid-1991, George Broussard, became a co-owner of Apogee, and went on to serve as project leader for a number of titles.
Apogee has had a policy of sharing a large portion of all royalties associated with a particular game, including those based on strategy-guide and action-figure sales, with the game's developer. Because of this, the company has been able to attract some of the most desirable developers in the industry. On May 5, 1992, Apogee released the shareware version of id Software, Inc.'s Wolfenstein 3D. In 1994, 3D Realms was formed as a separate division of Apogee dedicated exclusively to the development of 3D action games. ~ Gil Shif, All Game Guide
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