Archimage
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Visual arts, Video game development, Serious games, Health education |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Headquarters | Houston , United States |
| Products | Escape From Diab, Nanoswarm: Invasion from Inner Space, Playnormous |
| Website | archimage |
Archimage is a visual arts studio located in Houston that concentrates on the development of serious video games aimed at advancing medical research. The company is known for creating Escape From Diab and Nanoswarm: Invasion from Inner Space, high-budget PC games financed by the National Institutes of Health to combat childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Early history
Established in Houston, Texas, in 1990, Archimage evolved from Buday Wells, Architects, a firm founded in 1983 by Richard Buday, AIA, and Dwayne Wells, AIA, RIBA. Demonstrating resilience amid changing market trends, the company shifted from conventional architecture to digital design disciplines. Buday Wells was among the pioneers in adopting computer-aided architectural techniques during Houston’s economic slump.
After the passing of co-founder Dwayne Wells in 1990, the organization rebranded as Archimage to emphasize its integrated design approach. The firm received 14 Caddie awards recognizing its pioneering work in computer-assisted architectural design and broadened its scope to include mainstream animation and interactive media. Prominent clients featured Nintendo of America, for whom Archimage developed an animated presentation for trade shows in 1992, and Walt Disney Company, which commissioned the design of "Happy Castle." In 1994, the company ventured into educational gaming by producing 3D games and environments for 3D Dinosaur Adventure.
Serious Video Game Design and Production
Since the early 1990s, Archimage has carved out a specialty within the Games for Health sector by creating interactive media aimed at promoting health behavior change. Initially providing tools for researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the company later expanded into multimedia interventions designed to influence children's behavior. This focus has established Archimage as a prominent player in serious game development within healthcare.
In 2003, Archimage was awarded a Small Business Innovative Research Grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to create two computer-based interventions addressing childhood obesity and Type 2 Diabetes. Partnering with specialists at Baylor’s Children's Nutrition Research Center, Archimage developed the PC adventure games Escape from Diab and Nanoswarm: Invasion from Inner Space. Escape From Diab received several honors including a Horizon Interactive Media Award, a Webby Award nomination, and an INDEX Award, highlighting the company’s strength in health-oriented gaming. Both games underwent rigorous clinical evaluation to confirm their effectiveness in improving children’s nutrition and physical activity habits.
Building on these achievements, Archimage shifted focus in 2007 toward web-based health gaming with the introduction of Playnormous, a platform delivering research-driven health games to consumers. Created with expert input from Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Texas Health Science Center, Playnormous aims to encourage healthier lifestyle choices related to diet and exercise among children and their families. This strategic development broadened Archimage’s market presence while reinforcing its commitment to evidence-based digital health solutions.
External links
- Archimage official site