DreamForge Intertainment

DreamForge Intertainment, Inc. was an American computer-game developer based in Greensburg. The studio was founded as Event Horizon Software by game developers Thomas Holmes, Christopher Straka, and James Namestka. Its early work established a portfolio centered on computer role-playing games, strategy games, and related licensed properties. After producing several titles, the company adopted the DreamForge Intertainment name because its original Event Horizon name was also being used by a developer associated with pornographic software. During its operating period, DreamForge released a substantial range of games for personal computers. Its catalog included original fantasy and science-fiction projects such as DarkSpyre, Dusk of the Gods, The Summoning, Veil of Darkness, Anvil of Dawn, Chronomaster, and the War Wind strategy series. It also developed games based on established entertainment and tabletop properties, including the Ravenloft and Menzoberranzan settings, Warhammer 40,000, and the 101 Dalmatians franchise. Sanitarium became one of the studio's better-known adventure releases, while titles such as Dungeon Hack, TNN Outdoors Pro Hunter, and Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War broadened its portfolio beyond conventional fantasy role-playing. The company's history also included several projects that did not reach completion. These included Kehl: Fury Unbound and Legend of the Sun for Xbox, as well as Werewolf: The Apocalypse – The Heart of Gaia. DreamForge was additionally involved with work connected to Myst IV, but the project was later continued by another studio. The unfinished projects illustrate the production and publishing difficulties that affected the company toward the end of its existence. DreamForge was dissolved in 2001 after experiencing problems with publishers while working on multiple projects. It therefore ended as a historically significant but relatively short-lived independent developer rather than becoming part of a larger continuing game-development group. No current operations, active corporate parent, public listing, or official live website are identified in the supplied reference material.

DreamForge Intertainment began as Event Horizon Software, Inc., a development company founded in Greensburg by computer-game developers Thomas Holmes, Christopher Straka, and James Namestka. The studio's early identity was shaped by its focus on computer games rather than console publishing, with role-playing and strategy titles forming the core of its output. After several releases, the founders changed the corporate name to DreamForge Intertainment when they discovered that the Event Horizon name was shared by a developer of pornographic software. The renaming allowed the studio to establish a distinct identity in the commercial game market. Under the DreamForge name, the company developed and released a varied catalog of personal-computer games. Its role-playing work included DarkSpyre, The Summoning, Veil of Darkness, Anvil of Dawn, Ravenloft: Strahd's Possession, Menzoberranzan, and Ravenloft: Stone Prophet. The company also worked in strategy, producing War Wind and War Wind II: Human Onslaught, and created or developed titles in other genres, including the adventure game Sanitarium and the outdoor-themed TNN Outdoors Pro Hunter. Several projects drew on external intellectual properties. The studio produced 101 Dalmatians: Escape from DeVil Manor and Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War, demonstrating an ability to work with both entertainment and tabletop licenses. DreamForge's later period was marked by unfinished or disrupted projects. The planned Xbox action-adventure Kehl: Fury Unbound and the Xbox role-playing game Legend of the Sun were not completed. The studio also worked on Werewolf: The Apocalypse – The Heart of Gaia, which likewise remained unfinished. Its involvement with Myst IV did not result in a DreamForge release; development was subsequently continued by another studio. These projects were part of a broader period in which the company encountered problems with publishers. The publisher-related difficulties contributed to DreamForge's dissolution in 2001. The closure ended the company's independent development activity and left its completed games as the principal record of its work. Because the studio did not continue under a known successor brand and no active corporate structure is identified in the reference material, DreamForge Intertainment is best characterized as a defunct American game developer with a catalog concentrated in the 1990s and early 2000s computer-game market.

• 2001

  DreamForge Intertainment is dissolved

  [1]DreamForge Intertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The developer closes after publisher-related difficulties affecting several projects.

• Event Horizon Software is founded

  [1]DreamForge Intertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Thomas Holmes, Christopher Straka, and James Namestka establish the company in Greensburg as Event Horizon Software.

• The company adopts the DreamForge Intertainment name

  [1]DreamForge Intertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The studio changes its name after learning that Event Horizon was also used by a developer of pornographic software.

Independent computer-game developer focused on role-playing, strategy, adventure, and licensed PC titles.

• Computer role-playing game

  DarkSpyre

  An early DreamForge computer role-playing title and part of the studio's initial fantasy-oriented catalog.

• Computer role-playing game

  The Summoning

  A computer role-playing game reflecting DreamForge's emphasis on fantasy settings and character-driven exploration.

• Computer role-playing game

  Veil of Darkness

  A dark-themed role-playing title in DreamForge's portfolio of original computer games.

• Licensed computer role-playing game

  Ravenloft: Strahd's Possession

  A role-playing game based on the Ravenloft setting, extending DreamForge's work into licensed tabletop fantasy properties.

• Computer role-playing game

  Anvil of Dawn

  A fantasy computer role-playing release and one of the better-known original titles associated with the studio.

• Real-time strategy game

  War Wind

  A strategy title that expanded DreamForge's catalog beyond role-playing games and established a distinct strategy line.

• Real-time strategy game

  War Wind II: Human Onslaught

  A follow-up to War Wind, continuing DreamForge's strategy-game work on personal computers.

• Adventure game

  Sanitarium

  A narrative computer adventure game that became one of the most recognizable releases in DreamForge's catalog.

• Licensed strategy game

  Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War

  A strategy game using the Warhammer 40,000 intellectual property and demonstrating the studio's work with major external licenses.

• Role-playing game

  Werewolf: The Apocalypse – The Heart of Gaia

  An announced project that remained unfinished amid the publisher and production difficulties surrounding DreamForge's final period.

• Adventure game

  Myst IV

  A project involving DreamForge that was not completed by the studio; development was later continued by another developer.

• 2001

  Dissolve the studioOther

  Background

  DreamForge encountered difficulties with publishers while several projects were in development.

  Action taken

  The company ceased operations and was dissolved.

  Aftermath

  Projects including Werewolf: The Apocalypse – The Heart of Gaia remained unfinished, while Myst IV was continued by another studio.

  Source

• Rename the company from Event Horizon SoftwareStrategy

  Background

  The founders learned that the Event Horizon name was also associated with a developer of pornographic software.

  Action taken

  The company adopted the DreamForge Intertainment identity for its continuing game-development business.

  Aftermath

  The renamed studio continued releasing computer role-playing, strategy, adventure, and licensed games.

  Source

1. 1DreamForge Intertainmenten.wikipedia.org