View source for Beamdog

{{Short description|Canadian video game developer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = IdeaSpark Labs Inc.
| logo = Beamdog Logo 2015.png
| trade_name = Beamdog
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|2009}}
| founders = {{Unbulleted list|Trent Oster|Cameron Tofer}}
| hq_location_city = [[Edmonton]]
| hq_location_country = Canada
| parent = [[Aspyr]] (2022–present)
| divisions = Overhaul Games
| website = {{URL|https://www.beamdog.com/|beamdog.com}}
}}
'''IdeaSpark Labs Inc.''' ([[trade name]]: '''Beamdog''')<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.beamdog.com/privacy-policy/ |title=Privacy Policy |date=April 26, 2018 |publisher=Beamdog |access-date=May 19, 2022}}</ref> is a Canadian [[video game developer]] founded in 2009<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://cdn.icewinddale.com/files/IWDEE-Feature-Guide.pdf|title=IWDEE-Feature-Guide (page 12)|access-date=2017-12-31|archive-date=2017-12-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103904/https://cdn.icewinddale.com/files/IWDEE-Feature-Guide.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> by [[BioWare]] co-founder Trent Oster and former BioWare lead programmer Cameron Tofer.<ref name="aol-cofounders">{{citation |url=http://news.bigdownload.com/2010/06/29/interview-bioware-co-founder-talks-about-launching-beamdog-and/ |title=Interview: BioWare co-founder talks about launching Beamdog and MDK2 HD |first=John |last=Callaham |work=Big Download |publisher=[[America Online]] |date=2010-06-29 |access-date=2012-03-24 |archive-date=2012-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107074827/http://news.bigdownload.com/2010/06/29/interview-bioware-co-founder-talks-about-launching-beamdog-and/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://techgage.com/article/a_look_at_beamdogs_pc_game_digital_distribution_service/ |title=A Look at Beamdog's PC Game Digital Distribution Service |first=Rob |last=Williams |work=Techgage |date=2011-10-13 |access-date=2012-03-24 }}</ref> Beamdog's distribution service was launched in July 2010.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.beamdog.com/about/pressrelease1 |title=BioWare Veterans launch Beamdog, a new PC digital distribution service |author=(Press release) |work=Beamdog |date=2010-03-24 |access-date=2012-03-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322223540/http://www.beamdog.com/about/pressrelease1 |archive-date=2012-03-22 }}</ref>
== History ==
Beamdog was founded in 2009 by Trent Oster and Cameron Tofer. It has employees in locations throughout the United States and Australia, Russia, and the UK.<ref name=":0" />
'''Overhaul Games''' is a division of Beamdog. Originally, it was a part of Beamdog, but following the release of ''[[MDK2]]'' for Wii, a discrete studio was founded to work on ''MDK2 HD''.<ref name="aol-cofounders" /> The name Overhaul Games was chosen to reflect the company's work on ''MDK2 HD'' as they had overhauled the game into a next generation game. Since 2012, the Overhaul team has also released several enhanced editions of [[BioWare#Technology|Infinity Engine]] games as well.
[[Aspyr]] through its parent [[Embracer Group]] announced its acquisition of Beamdog in April 2022 for an undisclosed sum.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/knights-of-the-old-republic-remake-studio-aspyr-has-acquired-beamdog/|title=Knights of the Old Republic remake studio Aspyr has acquired Beamdog | first = Tom | last = Ivan | date = April 13, 2022 | accessdate = April 13, 2022 | work = [[Video Games Chronicle]] }}</ref>
==Games==
* ''[[MDK2#Wii port and MDK2 HD|MDK2]]'' (2011) – Wii port developed by Beamdog, published by Interplay
* ''[[MDK2#Wii port and MDK2 HD|MDK2 HD]]'' (2012) – Developed by Overhaul Games, published by Interplay
* ''[[Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition]]'' (2012) – Developed by Overhaul Games, published by Beamdog<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-19-baldurs-gate-3-is-our-long-term-goal-says-beamdog |title=Baldur's Gate 3 is "our long-term goal", says Beamdog |first=Fred |last=Dutton |work=[[Eurogamer]] |date=2012-03-19 |access-date=2012-03-24 }}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/72917/baldurs-gate-3-is-a-long-term-goal-of-beamdog |title=Baldur's Gate 3 is a 'long-term goal' of Beamdog |first=John |last=Keefer |work=[[Shacknews]] |date=2012-03-19 |access-date=2012-03-24}}</ref>
* ''[[Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition]]'' (2013) – Developed by Overhaul Games, published by Beamdog
* ''[[Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition]]'' (2014) – Developed by Overhaul Games, published by Beamdog
* ''[[Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear]]'' (2016) – Developed and published by Beamdog
* ''[[Planescape: Torment#Enhanced Edition|Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition]]'' (2017) – Developed by Overhaul Games, published by Beamdog
* ''[[Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition]]'' (2018) – Developed and published by Beamdog
* ''[[Axis & Allies#Video games|Axis & Allies 1942 Online]]'' (2021) – Developed and published by Beamdog<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blog.beamdog.com/2019/02/beamdog-announces-axis-allies-online.html|title=Beamdog Announces Axis & Allies Online!|website=Beamdog Blog|language=en|date=2019-02-11}}</ref>
* ''[[Mythforce]]'' (2023) – Developed by Beamdog, published by Aspyr
In addition, Beamdog offer official soundtracks to games for download<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baldur's Date: Enhanced Edition Official soundtrack |url=https://www.beamdog.com/products/bgee-ost |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103901/https://www.beamdog.com/products/bgee-ost |archive-date=2017-12-31 |access-date=2017-12-31 |website=Beamdog - Developer and Publisher of Enhanced Edition Games |language=en}}</ref> as well as "digital deluxe" versions<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear Digital Deluxe |url=https://www.beamdog.com/products/baldurs-gate-siege-of-dragonspear-digital-deluxe |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103837/https://www.beamdog.com/products/baldurs-gate-siege-of-dragonspear-digital-deluxe |archive-date=2017-12-31 |access-date=2017-12-31 |website=Beamdog - Developer and Publisher of Enhanced Edition Games |language=en}}</ref> with the original and additional music included. The ''Siege of Dragonspear'' is also available in a collectors edition as well.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baldurs Gate: Siege of Dragonspear collectors edition |url=https://www.beamdog.com/products/baldurs-gate-siege-of-dragonspear-collectors-edition |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103508/https://www.beamdog.com/products/baldurs-gate-siege-of-dragonspear-collectors-edition |archive-date=2017-12-31 |access-date=2017-12-31 |website=Beamdog - Developer and Publisher of Enhanced Edition Games |language=en}}</ref>
== Beamdog Client ==
Beamdog Client is an online-based game software program (similar to [[Steam (service)|Steam]]), which allows players to keep their games up to date with the latest fixes and enhancements. It also allows players access to the latest content from Beamdog, as well as a forum for testing or providing game feedback.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beamdog client |url=https://www.beamdog.com/about/client |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103720/https://www.beamdog.com/about/client |archive-date=2017-12-31 |access-date=2017-12-31 |website=Beamdog - Developer and Publisher of Enhanced Edition Games |language=en}}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{official website|https://beamdog.com}}
{{Embracer Group}}
[[Category:Canadian companies established in 2009]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 2009]]
[[Category:2009 establishments in Alberta]]
[[Category:Video game companies of Canada]]
[[Category:Video game publishers]]
[[Category:Video game development companies]]
[[Category:Companies based in Edmonton]]
[[Category:2022 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Saber Interactive]]
[[Category:Canadian subsidiaries of foreign companies]]