Silicon Knights

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Silicon Knights
Type Video game developer
Industry computer and video game industry
Founded 1992
Headquarters Canada St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Key people Denis Dyack and Steve Henifin
Products video game
Employees 185[1]
Website http://siliconknights.com/

Silicon Knights is a Canadian video game developer. Founded in 1992 by Denis Dyack, the company is headquartered in St. Catharines, Ontario, Dyack's hometown. Since that time, Silicon Knights has moved from creating PC games to console titles, such as Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain for the original PlayStation. In 1998, Silicon Knights was signed by Nintendo to create games exclusively for its consoles, during which time it produced Eternal Darkness. Together with Nintendo, Silicon Knights worked with Konami to create Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes. In 2004, after only two games, the company ended its contract with Nintendo. However, it remains open to the idea of developing a game for the Wii.[2] In 2005, it partnered with publisher Microsoft Game Studios for the Too Human trilogy, though Nintendo still owns stock in the company. In 2008, following the release of Too Human, it laid off 26 employees.[3]

Contents

[edit] Games developed by Silicon Knights

[edit] In development

[edit] Staff

[edit] Denis Dyack

Main article: Denis Dyack

Denis Dyack is the president of Silicon Knights. He directed the production of Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem as well as Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. He has gained some notoriety by expressing controversial opinions about the role of the gaming press[6] and about the effects of forum culture on the video game industry.[7]

[edit] Steve Henifin

Steve Henifin is a video game music composer. He has been a part of the Silicon Knights sound team for many years. Henifin is credited for the music to Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem, and Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. He is currently overseeing the audio for the Too Human trilogy. In addition, he provided the music for the Silicon Knights website.

[edit] Government Funding

[edit] Provincial

In February, 2008 Silicon Knights was granted $1 million by the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) through its Video Game Prototype Initiative. Using this funding, they were to create a prototype for a "third-person action/psychological thriller", to be released in 2010 for all next-gen platforms.[8]

[edit] Federal

In April, 2010 it was announced that the company would receive nearly $4 million through the Canadian government's Community Adjustment Fund. The purpose of the grant was to allow the hiring of 65 new staff members, who would be working on a new game targeting multiple platforms. The game was estimated to take two to five years to complete.[9]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Denis Dyack - Future Knights
  2. ^ Silicon Knights open to Wii development
  3. ^ Kotaku: Silicon Knights Lays Off 25 to 30
  4. ^ a b Too Human Trilogy Revealed
  5. ^ Robinson, Martin (July 27, 2009). "Silicon Knights' Next Leaked". IGN.com. http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/100/1007643p1.html. Retrieved 2009-07-27. 
  6. ^ Joystiq: Dennis Dyack says nay to the enthusiast press, again
  7. ^ Dyack on 1UP Yours: Forums Need Reform
  8. ^ OMDC News Release
  9. ^ Welland Tribune: Silicon Knights get $4-million boost


[edit] External links

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Marigul Management (including Clever Trick, Param and Saru Brunei) • Rare • Silicon Knights • Factor 5 • Left Field Productions
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_Knights"