Amaze Entertainment
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Predecessor | KnowWonder |
| Founded | 1996 in Kirkland, Washington, United States |
| Founder | Dan Elenbaas |
| Defunct | 2009 |
| Fate | Merged with Griptonite Games |
| Successor | Griptonite Games |
| Headquarters | Kirkland , United States |
Area served | North America |
Key people | Dan Elenbaas (founder), Lindsay Gupton (CEO until 2006), Michael Waite (CEO from 2006) |
| Products | Video games based on franchises such as Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, The Sims, The Chronicles of Narnia, Pirates of the Caribbean |
| Owner | Foundation 9 Entertainment (from 2006) |
Number of employees | Over 250 (by mid-2008) (2008) |
| Parent | Foundation 9 Entertainment (from 2006) |
Amaze Entertainment, originally known as KnowWonder, was a video game development company located in Kirkland, Washington that operated between 1996 and 2009. Starting out with a focus on educational games for children, the studio later broadened its portfolio to include titles based on prominent franchises such as Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, The Sims, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Prior to its 2006 acquisition by Foundation 9 Entertainment, it had become one of the largest independent developers in North America, eventually merging with Griptonite Games in 2009.
KnowWonder (1996–2001)
Established in 1996 by Dan Elenbaas, KnowWonder initially concentrated on creating children's educational software, including the self-published 1997 title The Totally Techie World of Young Dilbert, which aimed to teach computer literacy. Due to fierce pricing competition from major companies such as Hasbro Interactive and The Learning Company, the firm shifted its approach towards forming partnerships with larger publishers.
The studio secured a contract with Microsoft to produce educational games based on The Magic School Bus, releasing seven titles between 1999 and 2001. In 1999, KnowWonder entered into multi-year agreements with both Microsoft and Mattel to broaden its digital product range. That same year, it bolstered its development team by acquiring the Seattle branch of Realtime Associates.
In early 2000, coinciding with the announcement of the Xbox, KnowWonder began developing games for the new console. To accommodate this growth, the company moved into a larger 35,000-square-foot office situated near Microsoft and Nintendo of America. Its Xbox release, Azurik: Rise of Perathia, debuted in November 2001. Later that month, KnowWonder launched three video games tied to the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in the United States.
Amaze Entertainment (2002–2009)
In 2002, the company rebranded as Amaze Entertainment, while retaining the KnowWonder name for its PC-focused division. On March 12, 2002, Amaze expanded by acquiring The Fizz Factor, an Austin-based developer formed by former Human Code staff. By 2003, KnowWonder earned the Stevie Award for Best Creative Team at the American Business Awards. The company had grown into one of North America's largest independent game developers with approximately 200 employees. That year, Deloitte & Touche named Amaze the second fastest-growing technology firm in Washington state.
Starting in 2005, all game releases were under the Amaze Entertainment brand. Foundation 9 Entertainment (F9E) acquired Amaze in November 2006. By mid-2008, Amaze employed over 250 staff across three studios; following a brand restructuring aimed at fostering studio independence, the original Kirkland location continued operating under the Amaze name. However, due to industry downturns in July 2009, F9E closed The Fizz Factor and merged Amaze with Griptonite Games to enhance production efficiency while preserving service quality for clients and job security for employees.
Divisions
- KnowWonder – Continued as the PC development branch following the parent company's rebranding to Amaze Entertainment; overseen by Lindsay Gupton. Ceased operations in 2005.
- Griptonite Games (previously Realtime Associates Seattle) – Established by Steve Ettinger in 1994 and acquired by KnowWonder in 1999. Focused on developing and porting games for Nintendo handheld systems. Managed by Steven Ettinger; sold to Glu Mobile in August 2011.
- Adrenium Games – Founded in December 1999 in Kirkland to develop titles for next-generation consoles. Led by Michael Waite; closed in 2005.
- The Fizz Factor – Studio based in Austin, formed from former Human Code staff and purchased in March 2002. Headed by Rodney Gibbs with a team of approximately 50; shut down in July 2009.
- Black Ship Games – Launched in April 2003 with a focus on the Asian market, directed by Scott K. Tsumura; dissolved in 2005 after releasing Digimon Rumble Arena 2.
- Amaze Entertainment – Created in 2005 through the merger of KnowWonder and Adrenium Games, broadening its portfolio to include PlayStation Portable titles. Lindsay Gupton served as CEO until 2006, succeeded by Michael Waite. Merged with Griptonite Games in July 2009.
As KnowWonder
| Year | Title | Platform(s) | Studio | Publisher(s) | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | The Totally Techie World of Young Dilbert | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS | KnowWonder | KnowWonder | ||
| 1999 | The Magic School Bus Explores the World of Animals | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS | KnowWonder | Microsoft | ||
| 1999 | Easy-Bake Kitchen | Microsoft Windows | KnowWonder | Hasbro Interactive | ||
| 1999 | My Interactive Notebook | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS | KnowWonder | The Learning Company | ||
| 2000 | The Magic School Bus Explores the World of Bugs | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS | KnowWonder | Microsoft | ||
| 2000 | Heroes of Might and Magic | Game Boy Color | Realtime Associates Seattle (Griptonite) | The 3DO Company | Released under KnowWonder label | |
| 2000 | Totally Angelica Boredom Buster | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS | KnowWonder | Mattel Interactive | ||
| 2000 | The Magic School Bus in Concert | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS | KnowWonder | Microsoft | ||
| 2000 | The Magic School Bus Lands on Mars | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS | KnowWonder | Microsoft | ||
| 2000 | Rugrats in Paris: The Movie | Microsoft Windows | KnowWonder | Mattel Interactive | ||
| 2000 | HotWheels Slot Car Racing | Microsoft Windows | KnowWonder | Mattel Interactive | ||
| 2000 | Wild Thornberrys Animal Adventures | PlayStation | KnowWonder | |||
| 2000 | Heroes of Might and Magic II | Game Boy Color | Realtime Associates Seattle (Griptonite) | The 3DO Company | ||
| 2001 | 'The Magic School Bus: Whales & Dolphins' | 'Microsoft Windows, Mac OS' | 'KnowWonder' | 'Microsoft' | ||
| 'The Magic School Bus Discovers Flight' | 'Microsoft Windows, Mac OS' | 'KnowWonder' | 'Microsoft' | |||
| 'The Magic School Bus: Volcano Adventure' | 'Microsoft Windows, Mac OS' | 'KnowWonder' | 'Microsoft' | |||
| 'Power Rangers Time Force' | 'Microsoft Windows' | 'KnowWonder' | 'THQ' | |||
| 'Cluefinders: The Incredible Toy Story' | 'Microsoft Windows, Mac OS' | 'KnowWonder' | 'The Learning Company' | |||
| 'Williams F1 Team Driver' | 'Microsoft Windows' | 'KnowWonder' | 'THQ' | |||
| 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' (PC) | 'Microsoft Windows, Mac OS' | 'KnowWonder' | 'Electronic Arts' | |||
| 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' (Game Boy Advance) | 'Game Boy Advance' | 'Griptonite Games' | 'Electronic Arts' | |||
| 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' (Game Boy Color) | 'Game Boy Color' | 'Griptonite Games' | 'Electronic Arts' | |||
| 'Azurik: Rise of Perathia' | 'Xbox' | 'Adrenium Games' | 'Microsoft Game Studios' |