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Saber Interactive Porto (formerly Bigmoon Entertainment)[1][2] is a Portuguese video game developer based in Porto, with additional offices in Sheffield, UK. It was founded in 2008 by Paulo J. Gomes (aka Paulo J. Games) to create video games for PC and consoles, along with animated films and television series like TIC TAC TALES[3][4][5] and PIKABOO.[3]
Formerly | Bigmoon Entertainment (2008–2019) |
---|---|
Company type | Subsidiary |
Industry | Video games |
Founded | 2008; 13 years ago |
Founder | Paulo J. Gomes |
Headquarters | Porto , Portugal |
Area served | Worldwide |
Parent | Saber Interactive |
Website | saberporto |
Over the years, Bigmoon transitioned to work exclusively on video games, participating in game projects related to different genres. The company was recognized for being involved in racing games, such as the WRC series, MotoGP13, FlatOut4: Total Insanity, and Dakar 18.[6]
In October 2019, it was announced that Bigmoon Entertainment was acquired by Saber Interactive and renamed Saber Porto.[7][8][9] As Saber Interactive Porto, in October 2021, the studio participated in the remaster of the Crysis Remastered Trilogy,[10] and in October 2022 launched its first original IP, as part of Saber Interactive | Embracer Group, Dakar Desert Rally.[11]
History
edit2008–2014
editThe company started in 2008 as Bigmoon Animation Studios, and developed TV animation series for kids. Its first production was TIC TAC TALES,[3][4][5] a TV animation series with 39 episodes, created by Paulo J. Gomes and broadcast by RTP,[12] RTP África, RTP Internacional, and distributed in Europe by Panini Media in 2010, 2011, and 2012. In 2009, Bigmoon Animation Studios produced TV animation musicals for Canal Panda and distributed them on DVD by Info Capital with the title PIKABOO.[3][13]
After the release of TIC TAC TALES, a second company was formed: Bigmoon Interactive Studios, which was developing the game version of TIC TAC TALES called D-TEAM: The Kidnapping of Professor Zig.[14]
In 2012, Bigmoon Interactive Studios started working for Milestone (WRC 3 and WRC – THE GAME) and bitComposer, working in the game North & South. After the success of both partnerships, Milestone contracted Bigmoon to create motorcycles for MotoGP 13, bitComposer asked it to work on Jagged Alliance: Back in Action,[15] and OG Games contacted the company to develop My Health Club for mobile devices. In January 2013, when Bigmoon was finishing Jagged Alliance: Back in Action for Linux and Macintosh, a contract was signed with Headup games to develop a new PC action RPG game: Trapped Dead: Lockdown.[16][17]
During Gamescom 2013, bitComposer also hired Bigmoon to fix the multiple issues from Games Distillery's Citadels, that was released in July 2013.[18]
In December 2014, Bigmoon Interactive Studios received the information that its main publisher partner, bitComposer, entered insolvency,[19][20] canceling ongoing projects. Both companies, Bigmoon Interactive and Bigmoon Animation were extinct, becoming developer and publisher Bigmoon Entertainment.
In the same year, Maximum Games contracted Bigmoon to develop the PS4 and Xbox One port from the PC game Lichdom: Battlemage using CryEngine 3.[21] In June 2015, while Bigmoon was developing the console version for Lichdom, Maximum Games hired the company to complete and port Alekhine's Gun to PS4 and Xbox One.[21]
2016–present
editIn 2016, Bigmoon Entertainment released Alekhine's Gun and Lichdom: Battlemage, and started a new contract with Astragon Entertainment to develop Police Simulator 18, later renamed Police Simulator: Patrol Duty.[9]
Bigmoon then started working with Camel 101 on the survival-horror game Syndrome[22][23] and individually in the classic RPG Demons Age.[24][25]
Bigmoon released its first self-publishing title Syndrome in September 2017.[26]
By the end of 2016, Paulo Gomes wanted to bring a new game genre to the industry, and he created the Rally Raid racing subgenre, securing exclusive rights to develop and publish his own version of the Dakar Rally. In 2017, he entered into an agreement with Koch Media to proceed with Dakar 18.[6] The game involved all the resources of the studio and was the biggest Portuguese investment in videogame development,[27] being released for PS4, Xbox One, and PC in September 2018.[28]
In 2019, Bigmoon worked with Saber Interactive to port Call of Cthulhu for the Nintendo Switch.[29] After the success of Call of Cthulhu's development, Saber Interactive, and Bigmoon Entertainment entered into an acquisition agreement that was finalized in October 2019, Bigmoon's studio was then rebranded to Saber Interactive Porto (Saber Porto).[7][8][21]
In October 2021, Saber Porto revealed that they worked together with other Saber studios and Crytek to participate in the remaster of the Crysis Remastered Trilogy.[10][30] Saber Porto's first original IP, as part of Saber Interactive | Embracer Group, was announced on 10 December 2021 during the Saber Interactive showcase at The Game Awards,[31] the game title was presented as Dakar Desert Rally.[32][33][34]
Dakar Desert Rally, the next installment for the Dakar Rally videogame franchise, received a date in the pre-order trailer,[35] and a gameplay video during a showcase at Gamescom 2022.[36][37][38] The game was released on the defined date, 4 October 2022.[11]
Bigmoon animated films and series
editYear | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2009 | Pikaboo | DVD |
2010 | Tic Tac Tales | 39 episodes |
2011 | D-Team | Cancelled |
Bigmoon games and collaborations
editYear | Title | Platform(s) | Publisher | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | North & South: The Game | PC, Win8, IOS, Android | bitComposer Entertainment | Remaster |
2012 | WRC3: FIA World Rally Championship | PS3, Xbox 360 | Milestone | 3D art |
2013 | WRC Shakedown | PC, Xbox 360, PS3 | Milestone | 3D art |
2013 | MotoGP 13 | PS3, Xbox 360 | Milestone | 3D art |
2014 | Jagged Alliance: Back in Action | Mac, Linux | bitComposer Entertainment | Port |
2015 | Trapped Dead: Lockdown | PC | Headup games | Full game |
2015 | WRC 5 | PS4, Xbox One | Kylotonn, Bigben Interactive | 3D art |
2016 | Lichdom: Battlemage | PS4, Xbox One | Maximum Games | Port |
2016 | Alekhine's Gun | PS4, Xbox One | Maximum Games | Port |
2017 | Neighbors from Hell | PC, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS | THQ Nordic | Remaster |
2017 | Neighbors from Hell 2: On Vacation | iOS, Android, macOS | THQ Nordic | Remaster |
2017 | FlatOut 4: Total Insanity | PS4, Xbox One | Kylotonn, Bigben Interactive, Strategy First | 3D Art |
2017 | Syndrome | PS4, Xbox One, PC | Bigmoon Entertainment | Full game |
2017 | Demons Age | PS4, Xbox One, PC | Bigmoon Entertainment | Full game |
2018 | Dakar 18 | PC, PS4, Xbox One | Bigmoon Entertainment, Koch Media | Full game |
2019 | Dakar 18: Ari Vatanen returns to Dakar | PC, PS4, Xbox One | Bigmoon Entertainment, Koch Media | Extra content |
2019 | Dakar 18: Desafío Ruta 40 Rally | PC, PS4, Xbox One | Bigmoon Entertainment, Koch Media | DLC |
2019 | Dakar Series: Desafío Inca Rally | PC, PS4, Xbox One | Bigmoon Entertainment, Koch Media | DLC |
2019 | Police Simulator: Patrol Duty | PC | Astragon Entertainment | Full game |
2019 | Call of Cthulhu | Nintendo Switch | Saber Interactive, Focus Home | Port |
Saber Porto games and collaborations
editYear | Title | Platform(s) | Publisher | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Crysis Remastered Trilogy | PC, PS4, Xbox One | Saber Interactive, Crytek | Remaster |
2022 | Dakar Desert Rally | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series | Saber Interactive | Full game |
Cancelled games
editYear | Title | Platform(s) | Publisher | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | D-TEAM: The Kidnapping of Professor Zig | PC, Wii, iOS, Android | Infocapital | Full game |
2012 | My Health Club | iOS, Android | OG Games | Full game |
2014 | Monday Night Combat 2 | PC, PS4, Xbox One | bitComposer, Uber Entertainment | Full game |
2014 | The Dark Eye: Demonicon | PS3 | Kalypso Media | Port |
2014 | Space Empires V | PC | Strategy First | Remaster |
References
edit- ^ "Bigmoon Entertainment". GameCompanies. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ "BigMoon Entertainment, Ltd". MobyGames. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ a b c d Pereira, Elsa (1 November 2010). ""Big Moon": animação infantil de Gaia a pensar no Mundo". Jornal de Notícias. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ a b "RTP2 aposta em animação portuguesa". Diário de Notícias. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Programação infantil com os olhos postos além-fronteiras". Público. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ a b Galvão, Bruno (25 September 2018). "DAKAR 18 da Portuguesa Bigmoon chega às lojas". Eurogamer Portugal. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ a b Loureiro, Jorge (19 October 2019). "Estúdio português Big Moon Entertainment foi comprado pela Saber". Eurogamer Portugal. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ a b Lemos, Luís (19 October 2019). "Bigmoon Entertainment do Porto adquirida pela Saber Interactive". PróximoNível. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ a b Wilson, Jason (18 October 2019). "Saber Interactive buys Bigmoon Entertainment, announces two new projects". GamesBeat. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ a b Taborda, Gonçalo (7 January 2022). "De 0 a 10 - Crysis Remastered Trilogy". IGN Portugal. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ a b Galvão, Bruno (4 October 2022). "Dakar Desert Rally já disponível". Eurogamer PT. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Tic Tac Tales". RTP. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ "Pikaboo Musical: Menino". Fnac. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ Soares, Jorge (27 January 2012). "Imagens de D-TEAM: The kidnapping of Professor Zig". Eurogamer Portugal. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ "Jagged Alliance: Back in Action". IGN. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ "Trapped Dead: Lockdown". GamePressure. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ Rita, Ana (20 March 2016). "Videojogos. Estes mortos-vivos são portugueses e vão para a PlayStation 4 e XBox One". Dinheiro Vivo. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Games Distillery". Vision Game. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ Staff, MCV (16 December 2014). "BitComposer files for insolvency". MCV / DEVELOP. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ Nutt, Christian (16 December 2014). "Publisher Bitcomposer files for bankruptcy". Game Developer. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ a b c Partleton, Kayleigh (21 October 2019). "Saber Interactive snaps up Dakar 18 developer Bigmoon Entertainment". PC Games Insider. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ Loureiro, Jorge (30 September 2015). "Syndrome, um Survival Horror feito por portugueses". Eurogamer Portugal. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ Mota, Ricardo (22 October 2016). "Syndrome: terror "made in" Portugal". Observador. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ Loureiro, Jorge (30 July 2015). "Demons Age anunciado para PC, PS4 e Xbox One". Eurogamer Portugal. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ Silvestre, Daniel (1 August 2015). "Demons Age da Bigmoon Entertainment é o próximo RPG feito em Portugal". PróximoNível. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ Galvão, Bruno (6 October 2017). "Jogo Português Syndrome já disponível". Eurogamer Portugal. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ Parreira, Rui (28 August 2018). "Recriação de Dakar em videojogo custou três milhões de euros a estúdio português". Sapo Tek. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ Gonçalves, Aníbal (3 July 2018). "Bigmoon Entertainment anuncia data de lançamento de DAKAR 18". IGN Portugal. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ Lopez, Azario (12 April 2019). "Partnership Confirms 'Call of Cthulhu' and 'Vampyr' Switch Release Along With 2 New Ambitious Titles". noisy pixel. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ Taborda, Gonçalo (15 October 2021). "Crysis Remastered Trilogy - Análise". IGN Portugal. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ Romano, Sal (8 December 2021). "Saber Interactive to showcase five upcoming titles during The Game Awards 2021 and Twitch Winter Gathering". Gematsu. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Dakar Desert Rally - Reveal Trailer". IGN. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ Harrison-Lord, Thomas (11 December 2021). "Dakar Desert Rally is a new rally raid game, launches 2022". Traxion GG. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ Boiston, Alan (13 December 2021). "Dakar Desert Rally announced, epic map reading returns". Team VVV. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Dakar Desert Rally - Pre-Order Trailer". IGN. 17 August 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ^ "Dakar Desert Rally - Gameplay Overview Trailer". IGN. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ Critix, Par (30 August 2022). "Preview Dakar Desert Rally, gargantuesque !". IGN France. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ Harrison-Lord, Thomas (26 August 2022). "Everything you need to know about Dakar Desert Rally". Traxion GG. Retrieved 5 May 2023.