Incognito Entertainment

Incognito Entertainment was an American video game development studio based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Founded in 1999 by Scott Campbell, the company grew out of the creative and production experience surrounding SingleTrac, where Campbell had previously led development of Rogue Trip: Vacation 2012. The studio initially operated as Incognito Studios and later used the name Incog Inc. Entertainment before adopting the Incognito Entertainment name. The company entered the publishing business early in its existence. In January 2000, it signed a publishing agreement with a major North American publisher, although the available reference material does not identify that publisher or provide the commercial terms of the agreement. The agreement represented an important early step for a young independent developer seeking external support for game production and distribution. Sony Computer Entertainment acquired Incog Inc. Entertainment in August 2002. Following the acquisition, the studio became an internal developer of Sony Computer Entertainment America and worked within Sony's first-party PlayStation development structure. At the time of the acquisition, the studio employed 51 people. Its association with Sony gave Incognito access to the resources and platform focus of a major console manufacturer while preserving its identity as a specialist game-development group. A major organizational change occurred in July 2007, when Scott Campbell, David Jaffe, and most of the studio's staff departed Incognito Entertainment to establish Eat Sleep Play. The new independent studio was backed by Sony Computer Entertainment. Incognito's remaining personnel continued development of Warhawk, a PlayStation 3 title associated with the studio. In March 2009, Dylan Jobe and several other remaining staff members left Incognito Entertainment to found LightBox Interactive. These departures substantially reduced the studio's remaining personnel and marked the end of its independent operating life. Incognito Entertainment was dissolved in 2009. Its historical significance rests primarily on its transition from an independent Salt Lake City developer into a Sony first-party studio, its connection to the creative leadership that later formed Eat Sleep Play and LightBox Interactive, and its work on Warhawk. The available reference material does not establish a broader current product portfolio, a continuing corporate successor, or an active brand after the 2009 dissolution.

Incognito Entertainment was established in 1999 in Salt Lake City, Utah, by Scott Campbell. Campbell had previously led development of Rogue Trip: Vacation 2012 while working at SingleTrac, providing the new studio with experienced leadership in console game production. The company began under the name Incognito Studios and later became known as Incog Inc. Entertainment before using the Incognito Entertainment name. In January 2000, the studio signed a publishing agreement with a major North American publisher. The reference material does not name the publisher, specify the game or games covered by the agreement, or disclose financial terms. Nevertheless, the agreement placed the young developer within the commercial publishing system and provided an early indication of its intention to develop and release console software. Sony Computer Entertainment acquired Incog Inc. Entertainment in August 2002. The acquisition transformed the company from an independent developer into an internal studio of Sony Computer Entertainment America. At the time, the studio had 51 employees. Under Sony ownership, Incognito became part of the company's first-party PlayStation development organization. Its work was therefore connected to Sony's platform business rather than being conducted solely as an independent studio serving multiple publishers. The studio later experienced a substantial personnel change. In July 2007, founder Scott Campbell, David Jaffe, and the majority of Incognito's staff left the company to create Eat Sleep Play. That new studio was independent but backed by Sony Computer Entertainment. Incognito's remaining team was led by Dylan Jobe and continued work on Warhawk, a PlayStation 3 game associated with the studio. In March 2009, Jobe and several other remaining employees left Incognito Entertainment to form LightBox Interactive. The departure further depleted the studio and effectively brought its development operation to an end. Incognito Entertainment was dissolved in 2009. The available reference material does not provide a separate account of the legal winding-up process, any transfer of specific assets, or a formal successor company. The studio's history is consequently defined by three stages: its creation as a Salt Lake City independent developer, its acquisition and operation as a Sony Computer Entertainment America first-party team, and the successive departures that produced Eat Sleep Play and LightBox Interactive. Warhawk is the principal product specifically identified in the available source material. No reliable source in the supplied material supports a larger catalog, current operations, or an active brand following the 2009 dissolution.

• 2009

  Studio dissolved

  [1]Incognito Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Dylan Jobe and other remaining staff left in March to establish LightBox Interactive, after which Incognito Entertainment was dissolved.

• 2007

  Major staff departure

  [1]Incognito Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Scott Campbell, David Jaffe, and most of the studio's staff left in July to establish Eat Sleep Play with Sony backing.

• 2002

  Acquired by Sony Computer Entertainment

  [1]Incognito Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Sony acquired Incog Inc. Entertainment in August and made it an internal studio of Sony Computer Entertainment America.

• 2000

  Publishing agreement signed

  [1]Incognito Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The studio signed a publishing agreement with a major North American publisher in January; the publisher is not identified in the reference.

• 1999

  Studio founded

  [1]Incognito Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Scott Campbell founded the company in Salt Lake City, initially under the name Incognito Studios.

A Salt Lake City-based console game developer that operated first as an independent studio and later as a Sony Computer Entertainment America internal development team, with a focus on PlayStation software.

• PlayStation 3 video game

  Warhawk

  Warhawk is the game specifically identified in the available reference material as being maintained by Incognito Entertainment after the large 2007 staff departure. The remaining team, led by Dylan Jobe, continued work on the PlayStation 3 title before later departures contributed to the studio's dissolution. The supplied source does not provide enough detail to summarize its release date, genre, sales, or complete development history without risking unsupported claims.

• 2007

  Continuation of Warhawk after the staff splitStrategy

  Background

  Most of the studio's personnel, including Scott Campbell and David Jaffe, left in July 2007 to form Eat Sleep Play.

  Action taken

  The remaining Incognito team, led by Dylan Jobe, continued maintaining Warhawk for Sony's PlayStation 3 platform.

  Aftermath

  Further departures in 2009 led to the creation of LightBox Interactive and the dissolution of Incognito Entertainment.

  Source

• 2002

  Sony acquisition and first-party integrationM&A

  Background

  Incog Inc. Entertainment was an independent Salt Lake City developer when Sony Computer Entertainment acquired it in August 2002. The studio employed 51 people at the time.

  Action taken

  Sony brought the developer into Sony Computer Entertainment America as an internal studio and used the Incognito Entertainment identity for its subsequent operation.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition made Incognito part of Sony's first-party PlayStation development structure until the studio was dissolved in 2009.

  Source

1. 1Incognito Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org