The Bitmap Brothers
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2008-05-23T06:11:35Z
FairuseBot
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Removing [[:Image:Cadaver screenshot.png|image]] with inadequate [[WP:NFCC|rationale]]
{{ infobox company
| company_name = The Bitmap Brothers
| company_logo = [[Image:Bitmap Brothers logo.png|The Bitmap Brothers [[logotype]]]]
| company_type = [[Private company|privately owned]]
| foundation = 1987
| location = [[Wapping]] {{flagicon|UK}} [[United Kingdom]]
| industry = [[Computer and video game industry|Video games]]
| key_people = Mike Montgomery, CEO<br />Eric Matthews<br />Steve Kelly
| products = [[Computer and video games]]
| homepage = http://bitmap-brothers.co.uk/
}}
'''The Bitmap Brothers''' were a [[United Kingdom|UK]] based [[video game developer]] founded in 1987. The company entered the [[video game industry|industry]] in 1988 with the [[scrolling shooter]] ''[[Xenon (computer game)|Xenon]]''. They quickly followed with the classic ''[[Speedball (game)|Speedball]]''. Prior to becoming the publisher of their own games (under [[Renegade Software]]), early Bitmap Brothers titles were [[Distribution (business)|distributed]] by [[Image Works]] and [[Konami]].
The Bitmap Brothers released several games on the [[Amiga]] and [[Atari ST]], and were one of the most successful companies on those platforms. They became known in particular for releasing games from a variety of different genres that usually came to be regarded as leaders in their respective fields. Their [[Personal computer|PC]] games have never matched the sales of their previous Amiga titles. Since [[2002]], the company have released ports of several of their most popular games for both the [[Game Boy Advance]] and [[Pocket PC]] platforms.
== Details ==
The Bitmap Brothers were based in [[Wapping]], [[East London, England|East London]] and were [[Private company|privately owned]]. The company's [[Chief executive officer|MD]] was Mike Montgomery, who had founded the company together with Eric Matthews and Steve Kelly<ref>[http://www.gods-country.de/tcr/tcr_bros2.htm Article] in [[ST Format]] issue #18 1991 from http://www.gods-country.de</ref>.
Mark John Coleman is a computer graphics developer who frequently worked with the Bitmap Brothers; his graphics tend to be blocky, featuring rock, metal, and shiny organic textures; his animations tend to be cartoonesque and fluid.
== Legacy ==
Two former core members of the company - Mike Montgomery and John Phillips - have gone on to found Tower Studios (along with [[Sensible Software]] founder [[Jon Hare]]), and state their involvement with Bitmap Brothers as having ended in 2004.<ref>[http://www.tower-studios.co.uk/about.htm Tower Studios webpage](last checked July 2007)</ref>
After years of silence a newspost on the official website announces Speedball2 which shall be released summer 2007 by Frogster Interactive<ref>[http://www.speedball2.com/ Speedball2 official website]</ref>.
== Titles ==
<!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[Image:Cadaver screenshot.png|thumb|''Cadaver'', "The last supper"]] -->
[[Image:ST Xenon 2.png|thumb|''Xenon II'' ([[Atari ST]])]]
In chronological order:
* ''[[Xenon (computer game)|Xenon]]'' ([[1988]])
* ''[[Speedball (game)|Speedball]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Xenon II: Megablast]]'' ([[1989]])
* ''[[Cadaver (video game)|Cadaver]]''
* ''[[Speedball (game)#Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe (1990)|Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe]]'' ([[1990]])
* ''[[Gods (video game)|Gods]]'' ([[1991]])
* ''[[Magic Pockets]]''
* ''[[The Chaos Engine]]'' (1993)
* ''[[The Chaos Engine#Sequel: Chaos Engine 2|The Chaos Engine 2]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Z (computer game)|Z]]'' ([[1996]])
* ''[[Speedball 2100]]'' ([[2000]])
* ''[[Z: Steel Soldiers]]'' ([[2001]])
* ''[[Speedball (video game)#Speedball Arena (cancelled)|Speedball Arena]]'' (cancelled)
* ''[[World War II: Frontline Command]]''
== References ==
{{refs}}
==External links==
* [http://www.bitmap-brothers.co.uk/company/staff-profiles/directors/index.htm Official website]
* [http://www.gamealmighty.com/story-individual/story/Blast_From_the_Past_The_Bitmap_Brothers/ Feature Article With Video Clips]
* [http://www.gods-country.de/ The Chaos Regime] (fansite)
* [http://www.mobygames.com/company/bitmap-brothers Page at Mobygames]
* [http://www.spong.com/company/182 Page at Spong]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bitmap Brothers, The}}
[[Category:Companies established in 1987]]
[[Category:Video game developers]]
[[Category:Video game companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[de:The Bitmap Brothers]]
[[fr:Bitmap Brothers]]
[[it:The Bitmap Brothers]]
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