Magnet Interactive Studios
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software development, Video games |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | Greg Johnson |
| Defunct | 1996 |
| Fate | Ceased operations; web development branch remained active |
| Headquarters | Georgetown |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Greg Johnson (CTO and Senior Creative Director), Basel Dalloul (Chairman and CEO) |
| Products | Video games, business software, edutainment titles, interactive story and strategy games |
Number of employees | 212 (mid-1995); 90 (by 1997) |
Magnet Interactive Studios was a software development firm located in Georgetown. Established in 1989 by designer Greg Johnson initially as a print and 3D design company, it later expanded into software and video game production during the mid-1990s under the umbrella of Magnet Interactive Group holding company.[1] The studio ceased operations in 1996 due to declining demand influenced by the growing prominence of the Internet, which led to workforce reductions. Only Magnet Interactive Communications, a distinct web development branch, remained active.
The organization comprised five sectors: action and role-playing video game titles, business software, edutainment and children's titles, interactive story and strategy games, along with an advanced products division.[1] Among its notable releases were Beyond the Wall: Stories Behind the Vietnam Wall (1995), the strategy-action game Icebreaker (1995), and the point-and-click adventure Chop Suey (1995). At the time of closure, projects such as Bluestar, a space-themed game scheduled for late 1995, and Hellraiser: Virtual Hell, inspired by the Hellraiser series, were in development but ultimately cancelled.
History
Magnet was founded in 1989 as a print and 3D design studio before quickly transitioning into interactive media.[2] In February 1994, the company changed its name from Magnet Design and Communications to Magnet Interactive Studios.[3] By mid-1995, the workforce numbered 212 employees supported by 300 PC and Mac workstations, including an SGI Challenge. Greg Johnson held roles as chief technical officer and senior creative director while Basel Dalloul served as chairman and CEO.[1] The company distinguished itself by producing a variety of game genres concurrently rather than concentrating on a single market segment, primarily financed through family investments of its founders.[4] Although Dalloul aimed to establish Magnet as the leading U.S. software developer, by 1997 the company reduced its software production due to shifts caused by Internet growth, shrinking its team to 90 employees and redirecting focus toward web development.[5]
Games developed
| Year | Title | Platform(s) | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Beyond the Wall: Stories Behind the Vietnam Wall | Macintosh Windows |
Fox Interactive |
| 1995 | Icebreaker | 3DO Windows |
Fox Interactive |
| 1995 | Chop Suey | Macintosh Windows |
Magnet Interactive Studios |
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:0 - ↑ J. P. Frenza (1996). Web and New Media Pricing Guide. Hayden Books. ISBN 978-1-56830-336-9.
- ↑ "Looking to the future of the Interactive Multimedia Industry, Magnet Design and Communications Becomes Magnet Interactive Studios". PR Newswire. February 1, 1994. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024 – via Gale Research.
- ↑ Span, Paula (1996-03-10). "BABES IN TOYLAND". Washington Post. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
- ↑ Starzynski, Bob (1997-01-27). "Burned by CD-ROMs, Magnet targets Internet". Washington Business Journal. Archived from the original on 2006-02-14. Retrieved 2024-02-07.