The Bitmap Brothers 1310592 214366287 2008-05-23T06:11:35Z FairuseBot 1022055 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]] [[fi:Bitmap Brothers]]