Take-Two shuts down Indie Built

It’s a sad day for the gaming community: With Indie Built, another legendary game developer has closed it’s doors. Founded as Access Software in 1983, the studio was an innovator in PC gaming technology, and one of the first to introduce 256 color VGA graphics. A few years later, Access continued to develop underrated PC gems such as Under A Killing Moon and The Pandora Directive, while it’s more prominent titles included the Links series of golf games.

In 1998, the company, struggling financially and failing to keep up with their competition, was acquired by Microsoft. It helped getting the Xbox off the ground with the launch title Amped, and later developed it’s sequels as well. While working on Top Spin, Microsoft sold off Indie Built to Take Two in 2004.

Top Spin 2, published under Take-Two’s 2K Sports label, remains as the company’s last title. All of the titles Indie Built used to work with over the years – Links, Top Spin, Amped and so on remain the property of Take-Two, who are now in the process of supporting ex-employees with special relocation packages and other opportunities, although some jobs will undoubtedly be lost.

It’s a sad day for the gaming community: With Indie Built, another legendary game developer has closed it’s doors. Founded as Access Software in 1983, the studio was an innovator in PC gaming technology, and one of the first to introduce 256 color VGA graphics. A few years later, Access continued to develop underrated PC gems such as Under A Killing Moon and The Pandora Directive, while it’s more prominent titles included the Links series of golf games.

In 1998, the company, struggling financially and failing to keep up with their competition, was acquired by Microsoft. It helped getting the Xbox off the ground with the launch title Amped, and later developed it’s sequels as well. While working on Top Spin, Microsoft sold off Indie Built to Take Two in 2004.

Top Spin 2, published under Take-Two’s 2K Sports label, remains as the company’s last title. All of the titles Indie Built used to work with over the years – Links, Top Spin, Amped and so on remain the property of Take-Two, who are now in the process of supporting ex-employees with special relocation packages and other opportunities, although some jobs will undoubtedly be lost.