View source for Vlambeer

{{Short description|Dutch video game developer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Vlambeer
| logo = Vlambeer logo.svg
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2010|09|01}}
| founders = {{Unbulleted list|[[Rami Ismail]]|Jan Willem Nijman}}
| defunct =
| hq_location_city = [[Utrecht]]
| hq_location_country = Netherlands
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|Rami Ismail|Jan Willem Nijman}}
| products = {{Unbulleted list|''[[Super Crate Box]]''|''[[Serious Sam: The Random Encounter]]''|''[[Ridiculous Fishing]]''|''[[Luftrausers]]''|''[[Nuclear Throne]]''}}
| website = {{URL|https://vlambeer.com/}}
}}
'''Vlambeer''' is a Dutch independent [[video game developer]] based in [[Utrecht]]. Founded in 2010, the studio was composed of [[Rami Ismail]] and Jan Willem Nijman. The studio is known for the games ''[[Super Crate Box]]'' (2010), ''[[Serious Sam: The Random Encounter]]'' (2011), ''[[Ridiculous Fishing]]'' (2013), ''[[Luftrausers]]'' (2014), and ''[[Nuclear Throne]]'' (2015), as well as for their stand against [[Video game clone|video game cloning]].<ref name="Cloning Wars: Vlambeer">{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2012/10/5/3461458/cloning-case-files-vlambeer |title=Cloning Case Files: Vlambeer |first=Russ |last=Frushtick |date=22 February 2012 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=15 April 2020 |archive-date=20 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520190202/https://www.polygon.com/2012/10/5/3461458/cloning-case-files-vlambeer |url-status=live }}</ref>
== History ==
[[File:Vlambeer at GDC (cropped).png|thumb|left|Vlambeer's [[Rami Ismail]] (left) and Jan Willem Nijman at the 2013 [[Game Developers Conference]]]]
Vlambeer was founded in 2010 by [[Rami Ismail]] and Jan Willem Nijman after both dropped out from a game design course at the [[Utrecht School of the Arts]]. According to Ismail, they had been developing a game outside of the school, but when the school found out, the school demanded the rights to the game, which they refused, leading to their decision to drop out.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/2014/2/14/5412752/vlambeer-rami-ismail-indiecade-east-2014-keynote-just-making-games | title = Vlambeer: Just making games is the key to becoming successful | first = Samit | last = Sarkar | date = 14 February 2014 | access-date = 30 January 2018 | work = [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] | archive-date = 31 January 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180131024112/https://www.polygon.com/2014/2/14/5412752/vlambeer-rami-ismail-indiecade-east-2014-keynote-just-making-games | url-status = live }}</ref> Ismail and Nijman began by working together to develop a prototype, initially created by Nijman, called "Crates from Hell". It was released on 11 May 2010 as ''[[Super Crate Box]]'' and earned the studio recognition in the form of an [[Independent Games Festival]] finalist position in the Excellence in Design category.<ref name="Independent Games Festival 2011">[http://www.igf.com/2011finalistswinners.html#finalists The 14th Annual Independent Games Festival Finalists] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807223949/http://www.igf.com/2011finalistswinners.html#finalists |date=7 August 2016 }}. Igf.com. Retrieved on 13 August 2012.</ref> During the development of ''Super Crate Box'', Vlambeer developed ''[[Radical Fishing]]''. It was released in November 2010. ''Radical Fishing'' was the first of many games released by the studio under a "Not Vlambeer" label, which encompasses the studio's games that are developed for money or as an experiment.
Vlambeer was approached by publisher [[Devolver Digital]] to develop a game in the ''Serious Sam'' franchise. The studio and Devolver Digital agreed to develop and publish a turn-based role-playing game. The result, ''[[Serious Sam: The Random Encounter]]'', was released on 24 October 2011. During the development of ''Serious Sam: The Random Encounter'', Vlambeer released many small games, most notably ''Luftrauser''. Vlambeer started development on an iOS version of ''Radical Fishing'' called ''[[Ridiculous Fishing]]''. Development was halted after a San Francisco–based studio released a clone of ''Radical Fishing'' on iOS. This generated discussion about the cloning of video games and led Vlambeer to be somewhat of an icon on the topic.<ref name="Pocketnext">[http://www.pocketnext.com/stories/someone-elses-solutions/ Someone Else’s Solutions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515234026/http://www.pocketnext.com/stories/someone-elses-solutions/ |date=15 May 2012 }}. PocketNext. Retrieved on 13 August 2012.</ref> The term "Vlambeer'd" was introduced by several media outlets.<ref name="Rock, Paper, Shotgun">[http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/04/13/sf-molyjam-a-tale-of-three-parkour-romances/ SF Molyjam: A Tale Of Three Parkour Romances] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508211057/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/04/13/sf-molyjam-a-tale-of-three-parkour-romances/ |date=8 May 2012 }}. Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved on 13 August 2012.</ref> In November 2013, the browser game ''Vlambeer Clone Tycoon'' was launched to provide a satirical comment on the issue of Vlambeer's cloning ordeals.<ref name="IndieStatik">[http://indiestatik.com/2013/11/25/vlambeer-clone-tycoon/ Vlambeer Clone Tycoon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217194658/http://indiestatik.com/2013/11/25/vlambeer-clone-tycoon/ |date=17 December 2013 }}. IndieStatik. Retrieved on 13 December 2013.</ref>
In February 2012, Vlambeer released ''Gun Godz'', a first-person shooter inspired by hip-hop, in collaboration with Brandon Boyer's Venus Patrol.<ref name="Kickstarter">[http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/774616737/venus-patrol-charting-a-new-course-for-videogame-c VENUS PATROL: charting a new course for videogame culture by Brandon Boyer — Kickstarter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511190846/http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/774616737/venus-patrol-charting-a-new-course-for-videogame-c |date=11 May 2012 }}. Kickstarter.com (7 September 2011). Retrieved on 2012-08-13.</ref> ''Ridiculous Fishing'' was nominated for the 2012 [[Independent Games Festival]] "Best Mobile" award.<ref name="Independent Games Festival 2012 Finalists">[http://www.igf.com/2012finalistswinners.html#finalists The 14th Annual Independent Games Festival Finalists] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208134900/http://www.igf.com/2012finalistswinners.html#finalists |date=8 December 2012 }}. Igf.com. Retrieved on 13 August 2012.</ref> At the conference where the award ceremony was held, Vlambeer released ''Yeti Hunter''.<ref name="Yeti Hunter Release">[https://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/3/7/2853147/vlambeer-yeti-hunter-gdc-cloning Vlambeer to release Yeti Hunter from GDC show floor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615092057/http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/3/7/2853147/vlambeer-yeti-hunter-gdc-cloning |date=15 June 2012 }}. The Verge. Retrieved on 13 August 2012.</ref>
On 2 December 2012, Vlambeer announced a sequel to ''Luftrauser'' called ''[[Luftrausers]]''. On 19 December 2012, Vlambeer released the [[iOS]] version of ''Super Crate Box''. Its success prevented the studio from going out of business due to the financial ramifications of the decreased motivation caused by the cloning incident.<ref name="Polygon: Cloned at Birth">{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/features/2013/4/24/4257958/cloned-at-birth-the-story-of-ridiculous-fishing |title=Cloned at Birth: The Story of Ridiculous Fishing |last1=Pitts |first1=Russ |date=24 April 2013 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |access-date=12 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605145451/http://www.polygon.com/features/2013/4/24/4257958/cloned-at-birth-the-story-of-ridiculous-fishing |archive-date=5 June 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.academia.edu/124463721/Video_game_history_of_the_Netherlands | title=Video game history of the Netherlands | date=October 6, 2024 }}</ref> On 14 March 2013, Vlambeer released ''Ridiculous Fishing'' on iOS after resuming its development.
In 2015, they experimented with live streaming their development process and had at one point over 12,000 paid subscriptions to their Twitch channel.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Choudhary|first1=Amita|title=How Gaming Will Change For The Better In 2016|url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/03/01/how-gaming-will-change-for-the-better-in-2016/|website=Endgadget.com|date=March 2016 |access-date=2 March 2016|archive-date=26 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426044340/http://www.engadget.com/2016/03/01/how-gaming-will-change-for-the-better-in-2016/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Vlambeer Twitch Profile|url=http://www.twitch.tv/vlambeer/profile|website=Twitch|access-date=2 March 2016|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306183115/http://www.twitch.tv/vlambeer/profile|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 5 December 2015, Vlambeer released ''[[Nuclear Throne]]'', a [[top-down shooter]] [[roguelike]] which had been in [[Steam (service)|Steam]]'s early access program since 2013. The game was released for [[Microsoft Windows]], [[OS X]], [[Linux]], [[PlayStation 4]] and [[PlayStation Vita]], receiving positive reviews from users.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nuclear Throne Reviews (PC)|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nuclear-throne/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|website=Metacritic|access-date=14 March 2017|archive-date=11 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311030253/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/nuclear-throne|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 8 August 2016, Vlambeer announced ''120 Years Of Vlambeer And Friends. Bringing back arcade games since 1896'', an art and history book of the company written by Arjan Terpstra and published by [[Cook & Becker]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.vlambeer.com/2016/08/announcement/|title=Announcement!|date=2016-08-08|work=Vlambeer|access-date=2017-03-14|language=en-US|archive-date=9 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809232714/http://www.vlambeer.com/2016/08/announcement/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Ismail received the Ambassador Award at the March 2018 [[Game Developers Choice Awards]] for his support of independent video game development through both Vlambeer and other activities.<ref name="GDC2018">{{cite web | url = https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/313891/Nolan_Bushnell_Tim_Schafer_and_Rami_Ismail_to_be_honored_at_the_2018_GDC_Awards.php | title = Nolan Bushnell, Tim Schafer, and Rami Ismail to be honored at the 2018 GDC Awards! | date = January 30, 2018 | access-date = January 30, 2018 | work = [[Gamasutra]] | archive-date = 30 January 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180130230101/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/313891/Nolan_Bushnell_Tim_Schafer_and_Rami_Ismail_to_be_honored_at_the_2018_GDC_Awards.php | url-status = live }}</ref>
On 1 September 2020, the tenth anniversary of the studio's formation, Vlambeer announced that the studio would come to a close. Ismail and Nijman had made the decision a few weeks prior, having come to recognize they were moving in separate directions within the video game industry since 2016. They had plans to release a final game, ''Ultrabugs'', which has yet to be released {{As of|2024|07|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.engadget.com/bye-bye-vlambeer-170029297.html | title = Influential indie studio Vlambeer is shutting down after a decade | first = Jessica | last = Conduit | date = 1 September 2020 | access-date = 1 September 2020 | work = [[Engadget]] | archive-date = 1 September 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200901193244/https://www.engadget.com/bye-bye-vlambeer-170029297.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Ismail plans to continue to work on supporting advocacy for diversity within the video game industry while Nijman expects to continue to help develop smaller games similar to ''[[Minit (video game)|Minit]]'' with other teams.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/2020/9/1/21409388/vlambeer-10-year-anniversary-ultrabugs-super-crate-box-break-up | title = It's Vlambeer's 10-year anniversary, and the studio's breaking up | first = Nicole | last = Carpenter | date = 1 September 2020 | access-date = 1 September 2020 | work = [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] | archive-date = 2 September 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200902045730/https://www.polygon.com/2020/9/1/21409388/vlambeer-10-year-anniversary-ultrabugs-super-crate-box-break-up | url-status = live }}</ref>
In April 2024, Ismail sold his shares of the company to Nijman, giving him 100% ownership.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-04 |title=New Beginnings |url=https://ltpf.ramiismail.com/new-beginnings/ |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=Levelling The Playing Field |language=en}}</ref> Nijman reopened the studio, intending to release improvements to their existing games as well as to complete ''Ultrabugs'' after he finished his current unannounced project outside the Vlambeer label.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/nuclear-throne-studio-vlambeer-details-future-as-rami-ismail-sells-shares | title = Nuclear Throne studio Vlambeer details future as Rami Ismail sells shares | first = Matt | last = Wales | date = 4 April 2024 | accessdate = 4 April 2024 | work = [[Eurogamer]] }}</ref>
== Games ==
* ''[[Super Crate Box]]'' (2010)
* ''Karate'' (2011)
* ''[[Serious Sam: The Random Encounter]]'' (2011)
* ''Gun Godz'' (2012)
* ''Yeti Hunter'' (2012)
* ''[[Ridiculous Fishing]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Luftrausers]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Nuclear Throne]]'' (2015)
* ''Ultrabugs'' (TBA)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/gaming/features/why-vlambeer-returned-to-its-roots-with-ultrabugs-1203177437/ |title=Why Vlambeer Returned to Its Roots With 'Ultrabugs' |first=Brian |last=Crecente |date=1 April 2019 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=15 April 2020 |archive-date=29 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929144318/https://variety.com/2019/gaming/features/why-vlambeer-returned-to-its-roots-with-ultrabugs-1203177437/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''Ridiculous Fishing EX'' (2023)
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://vlambeer.com/}}
{{Vlambeer}}
[[Category:Dutch companies established in 2010]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 2010]]
[[Category:Defunct video game companies of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Indie game developers]]
[[Category:Companies based in Utrecht (province)]]