A Looking Glass Half Empty, Part 1: Just Lookin' for a Hit
4 hours ago
- #Game Development
- #Looking Glass Studios
- #Flight Simulation
- Looking Glass Studios faced financial struggles despite critical acclaim for games like System Shock and Ultima Underworld.
- The studio attempted to pivot by securing venture capital and self-publishing, aiming for six original titles per year.
- Flight Unlimited was developed as a competitor to Microsoft's Flight Simulator, focusing on the joy of flying rather than routine aviation.
- Despite innovative designs, games like Terra Nova and British Open Championship Golf underperformed commercially.
- Looking Glass merged with Intermetrics, a firm transitioning from aerospace software to multimedia, to stabilize finances.
- Thief, developed under new ownership, introduced groundbreaking stealth mechanics but was pressured to include more combat elements by publisher Eidos.
- Thief sold well, providing Looking Glass with much-needed revenue, but the studio's financial situation remained precarious.