ROCKSTAR NEW ENGLAND Rockstar Games has snapped up Mad Doc Software, the team that handled development duties on Bully: Scholarship Edition for Xbox 360 and Wii. Guess that buggy 360 version didn't leave too sour a taste in the Rockstar family mouth. Based in Andover, Massachusetts the studio will now be known as Rockstar New England, making it the fourth North American arm of the Take-Two publishing label. The new Rockstar New England is said to have "a particular focus on artificial intelligence and networking", potentially good news for online offerings from the pub. Congrats to the ladies and gentlemen in Andover. The full press release, with a bit more info, is right after this short break.

Rockstar Games Acquires Mad Doc Software
New York, NY - April 4, 2008 - Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), announced today the formation of Rockstar New England through the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Andover, MA-based Mad Doc Software, one of the premier independent development studios in North America.

"The team at Mad Doc Software is extremely talented," said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. "Bringing them within the Rockstar Games family will enhance our core technology and further support our commitment to creating progressive and innovative gaming experiences."

Established in 1999 by Dr. Ian Lane Davis, Mad Doc Software has led development on and provided contracting services for triple-A titles, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence and networking. The studio most recently worked with Rockstar Games on the Xbox 360 version of the critically acclaimed Bully: Scholarship Edition.

"To be a part of Rockstar Games is an amazing opportunity for everyone here," said Dr. Davis, Studio Head of the new Rockstar New England. "We're eager to bring our expertise to bear in the character-driven, open-world stories that make Rockstar Games titles so uniquely compelling."

About Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.

Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., is a global developer, marketer, distributor and publisher of interactive entertainment software games for the PC, PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Xbox 360® and Xbox® video game and entertainment systems from Microsoft, Wii™, Nintendo GameCube™, Nintendo DS™ and Game Boy® Advance. The Company publishes and develops products through its wholly owned labels Rockstar Games, 2K Games, 2K Sports and 2K Play, and distributes software, hardware and accessories in North America through its Jack of All Games subsidiary. Take-Two's common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at www.take2games.com

4:20 PM on Fri Apr 4 2008
By Michael McWhertor
2,004 views
27 comments

Comments

Thassodar at 04:33 PM on 04/04/08
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Sounds like good stuff. Perhaps if they have a team specifically for the AI and Networking side they can add online multiplayer to the Red Dead Revolver sequel. Or perhaps acquire GUN somehow and make it more kickass.
excel_excel at 04:33 PM on 04/04/08
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Connectedness Index: 105

Rockstar: "So ya fucked up the 360 port of Bully just like we told ya!"
Mad Doc: "Yeah we fucking tore that sumbitch a new one!"
Rockstar: "you done good Mad doc, ya done good, the godfather approves"
Mad Doc: "You mean!"
Rockstar: "Welcome to de family!"
Erwin at 04:34 PM on 04/04/08
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Connectedness Index: 258

They bought those horrible porters? Why?
Also: Does that logo glow in the dark?
nukednova at 04:37 PM on 04/04/08
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I work in Andover. I think its time for a new job!
I am ERROR at 04:39 PM on 04/04/08
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Did these guys actually make Bully? Or just the port for the 360? If they did indeed make it, good for Mad Doc and R*. Bully was an incredibly fun, and funny, game with an amazingly live world filled with great characters. Looking forward to see what they do next.
Noks415 at 04:41 PM on 04/04/08
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@I am ERROR: They just ported it.
pwn-master3001 at 04:42 PM on 04/04/08
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@excel_excel: nice lmao!

Mad Doc: "wait what about EA?"

Rockstar: "we will put alittle something in there drink... GTA!
Nearsite00 at 04:49 PM on 04/04/08
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Fattening up the chicken before EA makes the kill....
$Image of I ain\'t Eddy$ I ain't Eddy at 05:06 PM on 04/04/08
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Given the dire financial straits of Mad Doc and the "horrified" Rockstar response to the Bully port, I wouldn't be surprised if this was a "give us the studio and we won't sue you" situation.
DaiMacculate at 05:07 PM on 04/04/08
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Connectedness Index: 1047

@Thassodar: Is there an RDR sequel in the works? That game had promise, at least.

Interesting move, are these the guys who "ported" ST: Legacy to the 360 as well? Another game with some promise, but executed poorly in crucial ways (MP=nonexistent).
I am ERROR at 05:14 PM on 04/04/08
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@Noks415: Well I guess should take it all back then. And good luck to R*. Hopefully something good will turn out of this.
Korey at 05:15 PM on 04/04/08
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April fools?
AsauPrime at 05:22 PM on 04/04/08
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They did Star Trek: Armada right? Am I the only guy that played a lot of that game?
Amazon_Chris at 05:42 PM on 04/04/08
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@AsauPrime: NO, I played it a lot.
dynendal at 06:04 PM on 04/04/08
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Oh what the hell? This came out of left field.

Well, they're talented. Good for them. They did a good job on the Turok maps.
Itchy (PSN: Kaizoku-ou) at 06:11 PM on 04/04/08
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@Korey: Only on the first half of April 1st. Although, practically, it's the whole day because of the internet making the whole world meet each other
DesmondHume at 06:13 PM on 04/04/08
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In MA huh? *runs to apply*
Fyren at 06:44 PM on 04/04/08
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Not bad. Now I got 2k Boston, LOTRO team and NE Rockstar all within stone's throw.
jslay012 at 06:44 PM on 04/04/08
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This is so cool, my company is in the same building, right down the hall from Mad Doc. I always wanted to go ask for a tour. Maybe now I will...
enewtabie at 07:47 PM on 04/04/08
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Connectedness Index: 170

Oh god,I can't touch this topic...but I sooo want to.
Not the best move Rockstar.
dicknasty at 08:17 PM on 04/04/08
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please tell me that "GTA V: Lawrence" is in the works now...

anyone from the boston area, please acknowledge...
kiluhs at 08:41 PM on 04/04/08
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Andover? You've got to be kidding, right? How could I spend almost my entire life there and not know there's a developer in town? And yes, GTA: Lawrence would be cool. And it better let you visit a confusing movie theater that's split with screens on both sides of one street.
kiluhs at 08:48 PM on 04/04/08
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You're telling me there's a developer in Andover? I've spent most of my life there and never knew of it's existence? That's bullshit. Had I known about it before, I might not hate the town so much. And possibly have tried to get a job there. If they're listening and need an audio guy, let me know.

And GTA: Lawrence would be interesting. As long as they have a confusing movie theater with screens on both sides of one road.
Sabre_Justice: Okay,... at 08:48 PM on 04/04/08
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@I ain't Eddy: Sounds likely. The bugs might also have been due to communication errors though.
kiluhs at 08:48 PM on 04/04/08
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Oops. Too many redundant comments.
jaronimo at 01:34 AM on 04/05/08
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hmm.. so why did they close rockstar vienna?
ca$h at 08:49 AM on 04/05/08
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Connectedness Index: 158

I hope they bought them so they could fire them all (well, at least their programmers) for the crappy Bully port! I could see R* havening the balls to do something like that.