Video gaming in the Netherlands
Contents |
Consumer availability
Although the first generation of video games were obtained by a select few, video games became first available during the second generation of video games, when a select few Dutch electronic stores carried the earlier systems. With the third generation, more stores started carrying video game related products, a trend that has been setting through ever since.[citation needed]In the early '90s, independent video game stores first started to open in the Netherlands, with a fast expansion in the early 2000s. Since 2004, video games have gotten more important for general stores however, which has led to the closing of a number of game stores, and a merger of others.[citation needed]
Currently, there are about 1,200 stores, of which about 75 independent, in the Netherlands that carry video games and related items, and numerous online stores.
Distribution
Distribution in the Netherlands is usually done by publishers or major distributors such as Micromedia BV in Nijmegen that cover the entire Benelux, although most of the publishers' offices are located in the Netherlands, and only a few have offices in Belgium. Since not every publisher has a separate office for the Benelux, certain publishers take care of multiple labels, including those of other publishers.Currently, there are only two actual Dutch video game publishers: Lighthouse Interactive and Playlogic Entertainment, although the actual distribution is done through wholesalers.
The game division of publisher Davilex, Davilex Games, was ended in 2005 because it was not profitable enough, and their games were generally not well received.[citation needed]
Konami is the only publisher that does not have an office in the Netherlands, or anyone covering their label. The distribution of Konami's games is done via the European office in Germany.
The Netherlands' appearance in video games
The Netherlands is not often used as an originally created setting for video games, other than certain Dutch games such as A2 Racer and Efteling Tycoon. Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, was planned to be a featured city in The Getaway 3, before its development was cancelled. The first big non-simulation game to use the Netherlands as a setting is Hitman: Codename 47, which has a level set in Rotterdam. Resistance: Retribution also featured a Rotterdam-level. Casual game Youda Legend: The Curse of the Amsterdam Diamond has the Dutch capital as the setting for the entire game.[1]The Netherlands does however appear at times in several types of simulation games.
- World War II games
- Racing games
- The TT Circuit Assen is by fans considered "The Cathedral" of motorcycling, with the Dutch TT being one of the biggest events in motorbike racing. As such, the track is featured in many of the motorcycling racing games.
- Circuit Park Zandvoort is a former Formula One racing track, which is currently still used for other racing classes. The track has been featured in its old Formula One-layout in the game Grand Prix Legends, and more recently in its current layout in TOCA Race Driver, TOCA Race Driver 2 and RACE 07 - Official WTCC Game. It is also a popular track in the modding community.
- Sports games
Video game development
Game developers from the Netherlands
Defunct game developers
| Company | Founded | Ended | |
| Ultra Force | 1989 | 1993 | moved to computer software development |
| Digital Infinity | 1995 | 2000 | merged into Lost Boys Games |
| Orange Games | 1995 | 2000 | merged into Lost Boys Games |
| Lost Boys Games | 2000 | 2003 | taken over and renamed Guerrilla Games |
| Davilex Games | 1997 | 2005 | Davilex continues without gaming products |
| Coded Illusions | 2004 | 2008 | filed for bankruptcy September 2008 |
| Spellborn Works | 2004 | 2009 | filed for bankruptcy in June 2009 |
| Streamline Studios | 2001 | 2009 | filed for bankruptcy in November 2009 |
| Playlogic | 2002 | 2010 | filed for bankruptcy in July 2010 |
Game publishers from the Netherlands
| Company | Location | Founded | Type |
| White Bear | Amersfoort | 1993 | casual games |
| Zylom | Eindhoven | 2001 | casual games |
| Playlogic Entertainment | Amsterdam | 2002 | core games |
| Spill Group | Utrecht | 2004 | casual games |
| Lighthouse Interactive | Haarlem | 2005 | core games |
| UnitedGames | Wormerveer | 2007 | core games |
| Virtual Fairground | Amsterdam | 2008 | browser based virtual worlds and MMOs |
| OneBigGame | Amsterdam | 2008 | core- and casual games |
| Gamious | Amsterdam | 2011 | casual games on multiple platforms |
Games developed in the Netherlands
- Killzone-series
- Age of Wonders-series
- Overlord
- Swords & Soldiers
- Rocket Riot
- Toki Tori
- The Chronicles of Spellborn
- Worms: Open Warfare 2
- Bang Attack
- Delicious-series
- Ship Simulator
- Adam's Venture-series
Education
Up until 2002, whoever wanted to work in the gaming industry was best off pursuing a computer programming or graphic design education. In 2002, Utrecht School of the Arts offered the first 'pure' game education in the Netherlands. Currently there are 11 schools offering specific game educations in the Netherlands.Media
Print media
- Power Unlimited, since 1993
- Control, since 2007
Defunct print media
Television and radio
Online media
- Insidegamer
- Gamer.nl
- NG-Gamer
- Gameflow.nl
- Gamez.nl
- MMOGames.com
- YamiHoshi.nl
- Gamekings.tv
- LostLegends.nl
Scene and events
In the Netherlands, several large and smaller LAN parties and other gaming events are held yearly.A notable organization is Gameparty.net, a website that functions as a central hub in the Dutch game event scene with an events calendar and a large forum section. As an organisation, Gameparty supports organisations to help organize gaming events, large and smaller. Furthermore, Gameparty itself is responsible for two yearly events, TheParty and CampZone. TheParty is an indoor LAN-party with 1000+ visitors, held in the "Beursgebouw" (convention center) in Eindhoven. CampZone is an 11-day outdoor LAN-ing event held on a campsite, where the 1600+ visitors stay mostly in army tents, family tents and caravans. CampZone is held for the 10th time in 2010.
Other major LAN-parties and organisations that have organized 1000+ visitor events include Drome, Netgamez, LAN = Life and Regroup. Most of these organizations operate on a non-profit basis, finding sponsors within the computer and gaming world to be able to operate budget-neutral. In recent years, the 1000+ visitors have declined in popularity, with the scene seeing a shift towards smaller, more sociable events and/or events that offer more than just non-stop gaming. Additional activities include (outdoor) sports events, quizzes and other non-gaming competitions.
In addition, small LAN-parties held at home for typically 5-15 visitors, remain popular.
European video game rating
The Netherlands Institute for the Classification of Audiovisual Media (NICAM) is the institute responsible for the software given for review for the European video game content rating system PEGI.Notable people in the Dutch gaming industry
Was born in the Netherlands, and was responsible for acquiring the license to Tetris for global distribution onto video game consoles.Started his career in video games as the main programmer behind the first demo ever to use 3D imagery on the PC and later both Jazz Jackrabbit games, and is currently head of Guerrilla Games. He is often credited with being the first successful Dutch game developer, sometimes mentioned as "the godfather of Dutch game development".
Is a computer programmer notable for his work in game programming as well as having designed several programming languages. He has worked on Far Cry, and is the creator of a number of open source game engines, and a number of games from his own hand.
Is the lead programmer of Triumph Studios, one of the first Dutch game developers. He is responsible for the Age of Wonders-series, and the recent console-game Overlord.
Is Vice President of Development, and one of the founders, of the Netherlands' oldest still working game developer, Engine Software.
Was one of the first editors for Power Unlimited, and is currently head editor of the Netherlands' biggest and longest running game magazine.
External links
Development and distribution
- Dutch developers
- Blender Institute
- BlewScreen
- Coded Illusions
- Codeglue
- CrazyFoot Gamestudio
- Engine Software
- Elements Interactive
- E-Semble
- Eximion
- Ex Machina
- Flavour
- FourceLabs
- Grendel Games
- Guerrilla Games
- IJsfontein
- Khaeon
- MAD Multimedia
- Nixxes Software
- Paladin Studios
- Pixel Pixies
- Playlogic Entertainment
- RANJ
- Spellborn International
- Sticky Studios
- Streamline Studios
- Team6 Game Studios
- Triumph Studios
- Two Tribes
- Tygron
- UnitedGames
- Vertigo Games
- Virtual Fairground
- VSTEP
- WeirdBeard
- W!Games
- White Bear
- Xform
- ZC Funcraft
- Weber Sites & Games BV
- Dutch publishing houses
- Contact Data - among other labels: Activision, LucasArts, Midway
- Gameworld - among other labels: Playlogic, Ignition Entertainment, VSTEP
- Global Distributie - among other labels: 505 GAMES, Zoo Digital Publishing, JoWooD
- Belgian publishing houses that cover the Netherlands
- Publishers with offices in the Netherlands
- Atari
- Codemasters
- Electronic Arts
- Microsoft
- Mindscape
- Nintendo
- Sony PlayStation
- Take Two
- THQ (website in English)
- Ubisoft (website in English)
- Vivendi Universal
Game education
- Hanzehogeschool Groningen
- Qantm
- Saxion Hogescholen
- Hogeshool voor de kunsten Utrecht
- NHTV-IGAD
- Universiteit van Utrecht
- Grafisch Lyceum Rotterdam
- Eindhovenseschool
- Mediacollege Amsterdam
- Deltion
- Gamescool
- Hogeschool van Amsterdam
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