Drinkbox Studios

Drinkbox Studios Inc. is an independent Canadian video game developer headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The studio was established in April 2008 by Chris Harvey, Ryan MacLean and Graham Smith, three programmers who had previously worked at Toronto developer Pseudo Interactive. Pseudo Interactive laid off most of its employees and subsequently closed in 2008; rather than leave Toronto for other employment, the three programmers decided to create a new studio together. Their initial concept was to build games that they themselves would want to play, emphasizing original ideas and a creatively focused development environment. The company was initially named Not a Number Software. The founders soon reconsidered that name and adopted Drinkbox Studios instead. During the first weeks of operation, they expanded the founding programming team by hiring a senior artist and a designer, creating a five-person studio capable of pursuing a complete game-production process. This early formation gave Drinkbox a compact, multidisciplinary structure typical of an independent developer. Drinkbox is best known for the Guacamelee! series, a group of action-platforming games built around a distinctive Mexican-inspired visual and cultural setting. The series helped establish the studio's public identity and became its principal flagship offering. The games combine platforming, combat and exploration, with the setting and presentation providing a recognizable point of differentiation within the independent games market. The available reference material identifies Drinkbox primarily as a game-development studio rather than as a publisher, platform holder or diversified entertainment company. Its products are original video games developed for the international market, while detailed information about its current ownership, executive structure, financial performance, employee count and operating footprint is not established here. Drinkbox's enduring brand association remains its independently developed games and, in particular, the Guacamelee! franchise.

Drinkbox Studios was formed in Toronto in April 2008 after Pseudo Interactive, another Toronto-based video game developer, laid off most of its staff and closed. Chris Harvey, Ryan MacLean and Graham Smith, who had worked as programmers at Pseudo Interactive, remained in Toronto and chose to establish a studio of their own rather than relocate for new jobs. Their founding objective was to make games that reflected the kinds of experiences they personally wanted to play. The new company initially operated under the name Not a Number Software. The founders quickly decided that the name was unsuitable and changed it to Drinkbox Studios. In the weeks after incorporation, they recruited a senior artist and a designer. The additions expanded the three-programmer founding group into a five-person development team and gave the young company the creative and production capabilities needed to develop original games. Drinkbox subsequently became associated most strongly with the Guacamelee! series. The franchise's action-platforming design, distinctive Mexican-inspired setting and stylized presentation formed the central basis of the studio's public reputation. It also positioned Drinkbox within the independent development sector as a creator of original, characterful games rather than a large publisher-owned production house. The supplied reference material provides limited detail about the studio's later organizational development, ownership, leadership changes, finances or current corporate structure. It does, however, identify Drinkbox Studios as a Canadian developer based in Toronto and confirms the Guacamelee! series as its best-known body of work.

• 2008

  Drinkbox Studios founded in Toronto

  [1]Drinkbox Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Chris Harvey, Ryan MacLean and Graham Smith established the studio in April 2008 after the closure of their former employer, Pseudo Interactive.

• 2008

  Company name changed from Not a Number Software

  [1]Drinkbox Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  The founders replaced the studio's initial name, Not a Number Software, with Drinkbox Studios shortly after formation.

• 2008

  Initial development team expanded

  [1]Drinkbox Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  A senior artist and a designer joined the three founding programmers, creating an initial five-person team.

Independent game developer focused on original, creator-led video games, with a particular reputation for stylized action-platforming and the Guacamelee! series.

• Video game series

  Guacamelee! series

  Drinkbox Studios' best-known game property is the Guacamelee! series. It is associated with action-platforming, exploration and combat, and uses a distinctive Mexican-inspired setting and visual identity. The series is the principal flagship offering identified with the studio and has been central to its reputation as an independent developer of original, stylized games.

1. 1Drinkbox Studiosen.wikipedia.org