Maxis

EA Maxis (formerly Maxis Software, or simply Maxis) is an American company, founded by Will Wright and Jeff Braun in 1987 as an independent video game developer. It was acquired by Electronic Arts (EA) in 1997, and is now one of EA's four major development labels. Maxis focuses on developing casual games for traditional and non-traditional gamers.

Maxis' second software title was the seminal SimCity, a city simulation and planning game. Maxis is also the creator of The Sims series of video games, starting with The Sims in 2000. The Sims is a major franchise for EA and Maxis, and is currently the most successful PC game franchise of all time, with The Sims 2 recognized as the best-selling PC game ever.

Most of the Maxis titles are simulation-based, though none are considered traditional simulations. Maxis founder Will Wright likens them as "digital playgrounds." Maxis has also released games developed by other production houses, such as A-Train, sometimes with less than stellar results.

Origin and early acclaim
Maxis was founded in 1987 by Will Wright and "idea guy" Jeff Braun to help publish SimCity on home computers. Before then, the game was only available on a limited basis on the Commodore 64 due to few publishers showing any interest in porting it. The reason for this is because SimCity wasn't a traditional game that had definite "win" and "lose" conditions. The title went on to become, statistically, one of the most popular and successful video games of all time.

The SimCity series has since been updated to include SimCity 2000 (1993), SimCity 3000 (1999), SimCity 3000: Unlimited (2000), SimCity 4 (2003) and the non-Maxis developed SimCity Societies (2007). Maxis recently released a reboot of the franchise,SimCity (also called SimCity 2013 to differentiate it from the original), in 2013.

After such success with the SimCity series, Maxis tried various other Sim- titles. Some of these attempts include SimEarth, SimAnt, SimTower, SimLife, SimIsle and SimFarm. The success of these franchises varies, but none matched that of the original SimCity. Maxis' hit The Sims is the only very notable exception. Other games developed by Maxis, in addition to the SimCity series and Sim- series, include RoboSport (1991), Marble Drop (1997), and Spore (2008).

Decline
After the immense success of SimCity, Maxis attempted to go into new areas. However, their new games, including The Crystal Skull and SimCopter, were commercial failures. They also acquired Cinematronics to create a game called Crucible. Heavy losses and lack of direction led Maxis to begin considering acquisition offers.

Acquisition by EA
Electronic Arts (EA) completed its acquisition of Maxis on July 28, 1997. Compared to other companies acquired by EA, such as Origin Systems and Westwood Studios, the absorption of Maxis has taken a slower pace, and the company has retained some of its original staff, including Will Wright. Products were shipped under the Maxis logo for several years, but in 2004, The Sims 2 only bore the Electronic Arts logo on the box cover (although Sims 2 displays the Maxis logo at game start, and on the reverse side of the box). As of October 18, 2006, and the release of The Sims 2: Pets expansion pack, the Maxis title has been omitted from the game's start.

For many years, Maxis was a traditional studio located in Walnut Creek, California (and before that, Orinda, California), but in February 2004 the division was finally folded into EA's Redwood Shores headquarters.

Will Wright's studio (who was developing Spore) is located in Emeryville, California.

The Sims
Maxis' most successful series to date is The Sims (2000). Released despite concern from Electronic Arts that it would be a commercial failure, it has gone on to become the most successful computer game in history. Maxis has developed seven expansion packs for the game as well as an online version (The Sims Online). Maxis released The Sims 2 in 2004, a sequel title that features a full 3D environment as opposed to the original's pseudo-3D diametric engine. The Maxis logo is no longer featured upon the start-up of more recent The Sims 2 expansion packs. However, the logo can still be found on the back of the CD case and on the start up of the base game. It is now added onto the front cover of The Sims 3: University Life and into the startup logo intro of The Sims 3. Its last appearance on the front cover was on The Sims: Makin' Magic.

EA Reorganization
In late 2011, EA reorganized its company structure, creating four main labels - EA Games, EA Sports, EA BioWare, and EA Maxis (formerly EA Play). With the reorganization, Maxis is now home to The Sims Studio. The Sims Studio is the current developer of The Sims series, as well as other casual gaming development studios within EA. Its current General Manager is Lucy Bradshaw, who joined Maxis in 1998 and served as Executive Producer for The Sims 2.

Divisions
Under the EA Maxis label, there are many divisions, or studios that work on many different games.

Maxis Emeryville (Headquarters)
Maxis Emeryville is the original studio Maxis originated from. It is located in Emeryville, California. The studio worked on The Sims, and The Sims 2 before The Sims Studio took over. After handing The Sims over to The Sims Studio, they began to focus on games such as Spore and the new SimCity.

The Sims Games Developed at Maxis Emeryville

 * The Sims
 * The Sims: House Party
 * The Sims: Vacation
 * The Sims: Superstar
 * The Sims Online
 * The Sims 2: University
 * The Sims 2: Holiday Party Pack
 * The Sims 2: Family Fun Stuff
 * The Sims 2: Pets
 * Spore: Creepy & Cute Parts Pack
 * Spore: Bots Parts Pack
 * SimCity
 * SimCity: Cities of Tomorrow


 * The Sims: Livin' Large
 * The Sims: Hot Date
 * The Sims: Unleashed
 * The Sims: Makin' Magic
 * The Sims 2
 * The Sims 2: Nightlife
 * The Sims 2: Open for Business
 * The Sims 2: Glamour Life Stuff
 * Spore
 * Spore: Galactic Adventures
 * DarkSpore
 * SimCity DLC

The Sims Studio
The Sims Studio, located in Redwood Shores, California developed the base games, most expansions, stuff packs, and store content. There is another studio, Maxis Salt Lake that handles expansions as well.

The Sims Games Developed at The Sims Studio

 * The Sims Life Stories
 * The Sims 2: Seasons
 * The Sims 2: H&M Fashion Stuff
 * The Sims 2: Bon Voyage
 * The Sims Castaway Stories
 * The Sims 2: FreeTime
 * The Sims 2: IKEA Home Stuff
 * The Sims 2: Apartment Life
 * MySims Kingdom
 * MySims Agents
 * The Sims 3: World Adventures
 * MySims SkyHeroes
 * The Sims 3: Generations
 * The Sims 3: Master Suite Stuff
 * The Sims 3: Seasons
 * The Sims 3: Island Paradise
 * The Sims 4


 * The Sims 2 Store
 * The Sims 2: Celebration! Stuff
 * The Sims Pets Stories
 * The Sims 2: Teen Style Stuff
 * The Sims 2 Castaway
 * The Sims 2: Kitchen & Bath Interior Design Stuff
 * MySims
 * The Sims 2: Mansion & Garden Stuff
 * The Sims 3
 * The Sims 3 Store
 * The Sims 3: Ambitions
 * The Sims 3: Late Night
 * The Sims 3: Pets
 * The Sims 3: Katy Perry's Sweet Treats
 * The Sims 3: 70s, 80s, & 90s Stuff
 * The Sims 3: Movie Stuff

Maxis Salt Lake
Originally used to create console versions of The Sims 3, and The Sims 3: Pets, Maxis Salt Lake (housed in Salt Lake City, Utah) now creates expansions for sims games as well, alternating their release of expansions with The Sims Studio expansion release. EA's Salt Lake offices were heavily downsized in early 2014, laying off a large percentage of The Sims division. The remaining The Sims developers were moved over to The Sims Studio in California, with the rest of the studio shifting over to mobile games outside of the life simulation franchise.

The Sims Games Developed at Maxis Salt Lake

 * MySims Party
 * The Sims 3 (console)
 * The Sims Medieval
 * The Sims 3: Showtime
 * The Sims 3: University Life


 * MySims Racing
 * The Sims 3: Pets (Console)
 * The Sims Medieval: Pirates and Nobles
 * The Sims 3: Supernatural
 * The Sims 3: Into the Future

Maxis Montreal
The team at Maxis Montreal (housed in Montreal, Canada) was originally used to create stuff packs for The Sims 3. After the EA Maxis reorganization in 2012, Maxis Montreal ceased production of stuff packs and handed over stuff pack production to The Sims Studio. They now develop games under the Maxis Label, but outside of The Sims series.

The Sims Games Developed at Maxis Montreal

 * The Sims 3: High-End Loft Stuff
 * The Sims 3: Outdoor Living Stuff
 * The Sims 3: Diesel Stuff


 * The Sims 3: Fast Lane Stuff
 * The Sims 3: Town Life Stuff

Maxis Helsinki
Maxis Helsinki is a new division of Maxis focused on making Mobile The Sims Games. To date, they have not released a game.

Playfish
Playfish is responsible for creating Facebook games for EA. Playfish is a subsidiary division of Maxis, although the Maxis logo does not appear on any of their content. They are responsible for the now closed Sim Facebook games The Sims Social and SimCity Social.

The Sims Games Developed at Playfish

 * The Sims Social
 * SimCity Social

Trivia
Contrary to popular myth, the company's name was not based on the words "six AM" spelled backwards. Rather, it was derived from a formula suggested by Jeff Braun's father: computer game companies should have two-syllable names and should include an 'x'. It was noted later that the name is "six AM" backwards.