Zynga Eugene

Zynga Eugene is an American video-game development studio based in Eugene, Oregon. The studio was founded in late 2001 as Buzz Monkey Software by four former Dynamix employees: senior producer Randy Thompson, senior engineers Jon Milnes and Steve Cordon, and lead artist Barry Drew. Its early business focused on developing and co-developing licensed-property games, primarily for the PlayStation 2 and Windows PC, for publishers including Simon & Schuster Interactive, WildTangent, Vivendi Universal Games, Midway Games, and Sony Computer Entertainment. Buzz Monkey also worked as a technical and co-development partner for other studios. Its support work included online game-lobby development for Insomniac Games' PlayStation 2 titles Ratchet: Up Your Arsenal and Ratchet: Deadlocked. The studio later became closely associated with licensed console adaptations and platform-specific versions of established franchises. Its credits included the PlayStation Portable version of Tomb Raider: Legend, the PlayStation 2 and PSP versions of NFL Street 3, several versions of Tomb Raider: Anniversary, and the Wii version of Tomb Raider: Underworld. It also supplied animation and programming assistance to Crystal Dynamics on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Tomb Raider: Underworld. The company explored a range of genres and platforms beyond action-adventure games. Its work included licensed properties such as Lilo & Stitch and Witchblade, sports titles such as Outlaw Golf, Outlaw Volleyball, and NFL Street 3, family and motion-oriented games including Happy Feet and Tony Hawk: Ride, and portable or social projects such as Army of Two: The 40th Day for PSP and ESPNU College Town for Facebook. It also developed small-scale iPhone and iPad releases including Fluid Monkey, Block Rogue, and Rinth Island. In 2005, Buzz Monkey began developing an ambitious South Park game for Ubisoft for Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube. The planned title was described as an open-world-style game influenced by The Simpsons: Hit & Run and Grand Theft Auto, with a fully mapped version of the fictional town and split-screen multiplayer. After approximately ten months of development, the project was cancelled for reasons that were not publicly established. The game resurfaced years later when a build was found on an Xbox development kit, and footage was subsequently released in 2015. On June 4, 2012, Zynga acquired Buzz Monkey Software. Following the acquisition, the studio became known as Zynga Eugene. The acquisition marked a transition from an independent work-for-hire and co-development studio to a development operation within Zynga's broader network. Publicly available reference material provides limited information about the studio's later projects, leadership, financial performance, and current operating structure.

Buzz Monkey Software was established in Eugene, Oregon, in late 2001 by four former Dynamix employees: Randy Thompson, Jon Milnes, Steve Cordon, and Barry Drew. The founders brought production, engineering, and art experience to a studio whose initial business model centered on contract development and co-development. Rather than launching a single proprietary franchise, Buzz Monkey worked with publishers and rights holders to create licensed-property games and adaptations for the PlayStation 2 and Windows PC. During its early years, the studio developed projects for or in collaboration with companies such as Simon & Schuster Interactive, WildTangent, Vivendi Universal Games, Midway Games, and Sony Computer Entertainment. It also performed technical work for Insomniac Games, including online-lobby development for the PlayStation 2 releases Ratchet: Up Your Arsenal and Ratchet: Deadlocked. This combination of original implementation, porting, and support work became a recurring feature of the studio's portfolio. In 2005, Buzz Monkey undertook development of a South Park game for Ubisoft. The planned Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube title was intended to present an expansive version of South Park and was described as drawing on the structure of The Simpsons: Hit & Run and Grand Theft Auto. Proposed features included a mapped version of the town and split-screen multiplayer. After about ten months of development, the project was cancelled for reasons that were not publicly documented. A development build was found on an Xbox development kit many years later, and footage from the project was released in 2015. The studio gained wider visibility through its work on established console franchises. Eidos Interactive released its PlayStation Portable version of Tomb Raider: Legend in June 2006, with Buzz Monkey credited as developer. In November of the same year, Electronic Arts released NFL Street 3 for PlayStation 2 and PSP; the title later received IGN's 2006 award for Best Alternative Sports Game. In 2007, Buzz Monkey developed PlayStation 2 and PSP versions of Tomb Raider: Anniversary in collaboration with Crystal Dynamics, and it also handled Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360 versions released later that year. In 2008, it developed the Wii version of Tomb Raider: Underworld and supported Crystal Dynamics with animation and programming for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions. Buzz Monkey's subsequent credits covered console, portable, social, and mobile formats. Listed work included Happy Feet, Tony Hawk: Ride, Army of Two: The 40th Day, ESPNU College Town, The Tomb Raider Trilogy, Block Rogue, Fluid Monkey, and Rinth Island. These projects illustrate a business that combined licensed entertainment, sports, action-adventure, platform conversion, and smaller-scale digital development. On June 4, 2012, Zynga acquired Buzz Monkey Software. The studio subsequently operated under the name Zynga Eugene. The acquisition placed the Eugene team within Zynga's corporate development network. Public reference material does not provide a complete account of its post-acquisition output, current management, or whether all of its former independent activities continued under the Zynga Eugene name.

• 2015

  Cancelled South Park game footage appears

  [1]Zynga Eugeneen.wikipedia.org

  A development build of the cancelled South Park project is found on an Xbox development kit and footage is released.

• 2012

  Acquired by Zynga

  [1]Zynga Eugeneen.wikipedia.org

  Zynga acquires Buzz Monkey Software on June 4 and the studio becomes Zynga Eugene.

• 2008

  Tomb Raider: Underworld support and Wii development

  [1]Zynga Eugeneen.wikipedia.org

  Buzz Monkey develops the Wii edition and provides animation and programming support for other platform versions.

• 2007

  Tomb Raider: Anniversary versions released

  [1]Zynga Eugeneen.wikipedia.org

  The studio's versions of Tomb Raider: Anniversary appear on PlayStation 2, PSP, Wii, and Xbox 360.

• 2006

  Tomb Raider: Legend and NFL Street 3 released

  [1]Zynga Eugeneen.wikipedia.org

  Buzz Monkey-developed versions of Tomb Raider: Legend for PSP and NFL Street 3 for PlayStation 2 and PSP are released.

• 2005

  South Park project enters development

  [1]Zynga Eugeneen.wikipedia.org

  Buzz Monkey begins work for Ubisoft on an unreleased South Park game for Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube.

• 2001

  Buzz Monkey Software is founded

  [1]Zynga Eugeneen.wikipedia.org

  Former Dynamix employees Randy Thompson, Jon Milnes, Steve Cordon, and Barry Drew establish the studio in Eugene, Oregon.

A development and co-development studio specializing in licensed games, console and handheld adaptations, platform ports, and technical support for larger publishers and franchise owners.

• Action-adventure video game · 2006

  Tomb Raider: Legend

  Buzz Monkey developed the PlayStation Portable version of Eidos Interactive's Tomb Raider: Legend, adapting the franchise's action-adventure structure to Sony's handheld platform.

• Sports video game · 2006

  NFL Street 3

  An arcade-style American-football game developed for PlayStation 2 and PSP and published by Electronic Arts. The title received IGN's 2006 award for Best Alternative Sports Game.

• Action-adventure video game · 2007

  Tomb Raider: Anniversary

  Buzz Monkey co-developed several platform versions with Crystal Dynamics, including releases for PlayStation 2, PSP, Wii, and Xbox 360.

• Action-adventure video game · 2008

  Tomb Raider: Underworld

  The studio developed the Wii edition and contributed animation and programming support to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions.

• Licensed video game · 2006

  Happy Feet

  A licensed game based on the animated film property, with Buzz Monkey credited for original game design across console and Windows versions.

• Action-adventure compilation · 2011

  The Tomb Raider Trilogy

  A PlayStation 3 collection credited among Buzz Monkey's later console projects.

• Social game · 2010

  ESPNU College Town

  A Facebook game listed among the studio's social-platform development work.

• Mobile game · 2012

  Rinth Island

  An iPhone and iPad title included in the studio's mobile development credits.

• 2012

  Zynga acquisition and studio rebrandingM&A

  Background

  Buzz Monkey had operated as an independent development and co-development studio serving publishers and franchise owners across console, handheld, social, and mobile platforms.

  Action taken

  Zynga acquired the company on June 4, 2012, after which it became known as Zynga Eugene.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition integrated the Eugene operation into Zynga's development organization. Publicly available sources do not specify the transaction value or provide a complete account of later projects.

  Source

• 2005

  Cancellation of the South Park gameOther

  Background

  Buzz Monkey developed an ambitious South Park title for Ubisoft for approximately ten months, targeting Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube.

  Action taken

  The project was cancelled. The publicly cited material does not identify the reason for the cancellation.

  Aftermath

  The unreleased project later attracted attention after a development build was discovered on an Xbox development kit and footage emerged in 2015.

  Source

1. 1Zynga Eugeneen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Buzz Monkey Software profilemobygames.com