Editing MicroProse (section)

==History==
===Independent company (1982–1993)===
====1980s====
In summer 1982, mutual friends who knew of their shared interest in aviation arranged for retired military pilot [[Bill Stealey]] and computer programmer [[Sid Meier]] to meet in [[Las Vegas]]. After Meier surprised Stealey by repeatedly defeating him when playing ''[[Red Baron (1980 video game)|Red Baron]]'', he explained that he had analyzed the game's programming to predict future actions and claimed that he could design a better home computer game in one week. Stealey promised to sell the game if Meier could develop it. Although Meier needed two months to produce [[Hellcat Ace]], Stealey sold 50 copies in his first sales appointment and the game became the first product of their new company.<ref name="cgw198806">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1988&pub=2&id=48 |title=MicroProse Captures "Red Baron" as Corporate Momento |magazine=Computer Gaming World |issue=48 |date=June 1988 |access-date=November 3, 2013 |pages=9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104134322/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1988&pub=2&id=48 |archive-date=November 4, 2013 }}</ref> They planned to name it Smugger's Software, but chose MicroProse. (In 1987 the company agreed to change its name to avoid confusion with [[MicroPro International]], but MicroPro decided to rename itself after its [[WordStar]] word processor).<ref name="wilson199111">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1991&pub=2&id=88 |title=A History of Computer Games |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=November 1991 |access-date=November 18, 2013 |issue=88 |author=Wilson, Johnny L. |pages=10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202225217/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1991&pub=2&id=88 |archive-date=December 2, 2013 }}</ref> MicroProse became profitable in its second month and had $10 million in sales by 1986.{{r|brooks198711}}

MicroProse advertised its first batch of games in 1982, under the headline "Experience the MicroProse Challenge!!!" All three were written by Sid Meier for the [[Atari 8-bit computers]]: platform game ''[[Floyd of the Jungle]]'',<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kaltman |first1=Eric |title=Sid Meier's First(?) Game and an Early Look at MicroProse |url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/htgg/cgi-bin/drupal/?q=node/237 |date=July 30, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130051205/https://web.stanford.edu/group/htgg/cgi-bin/drupal/?q=node%2F237 |archive-date=January 30, 2016 }}</ref> 2D shooter ''Chopper Rescue'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Chopper Hunt |url=http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-chopper-rescue_1049.html |website=Atari Mania |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208104615/http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-chopper-rescue_1049.html |archive-date=February 8, 2016 }}</ref> and first-person airplane combat game ''Hellcat Ace''.<ref name="floyd">{{cite web|title=Floyd of the Jungle Manual|url=https://archive.org/details/FloydOfTheJungle|website=archive.org}}</ref> ''Hellcat Ace'' began a series of increasingly sophisticated 8-bit flight simulation games, including ''[[Spitfire Ace]]'' (1982) and ''[[Solo Flight (video game)|Solo Flight]]'' (1983), that defined the company.

[[File:Gunship jacket.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Gregg Tavares's ''[[Gunship (video game)|Gunship]]'' Design Team flight jacket]]

In 1983, MicroProse ported ''Floyd of the Jungle'' to the [[Commodore 64]], their first product for that machine. By 1984, the company had begun supporting the [[Apple II]] and [[IBM PC compatible]]s. MicroProse released the air traffic control game ''[[Kennedy Approach]]'', written by [[Andy Hollis]], in 1985.<ref name="giantlist">{{cite web |title=The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers |url=https://dadgum.com/giantlist/ |last1=Hague |first1=James |access-date=September 2, 2019 |archive-date=April 29, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990429062703/https://dadgum.com/giantlist/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Conflict in Vietnam'' (1986) was MicroProse's final Atari 8-bit game.

By 1987, ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' considered MicroProse one of the top five computer game companies, alongside likes of [[Activision]] and [[Electronic Arts]].{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

MicroProse also started a branch in the United Kingdom to cross-publish titles in Europe,<ref name="brooks198711">{{cite magazine|title=Titans of the Computer Gaming World / MicroProse |magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] |issue=41 |date=November 1987 |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1987&pub=2&id=41 |access-date=May 21, 2016 |last=Brooks |first=M. Evan |pages=16–18, 54 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702195259/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1987&pub=2&id=41 |archive-date=July 2, 2016 }}</ref> and to import some European titles to be published in the United States. Notable products from this period include simulation games ''[[F-15 Strike Eagle (video game)|F-15 Strike Eagle]]'', ''[[F-19 Stealth Fighter]]'', ''[[Gunship (video game)|Gunship]]'', ''[[Project Stealth Fighter]]'', ''[[Red Storm Rising (video game)|Red Storm Rising]]'' and ''[[Silent Service (video game)|Silent Service]]'', and action-strategy games such as ''[[Sid Meier's Pirates!]]'' and ''[[Sword of the Samurai (video game)|Sword of the Samurai]]''. Several games from different developers were also published by MicroProse under the labels "Firebird" and "Rainbird" (acquired after buying [[Telecomsoft]] in May 1989),<ref>{{cite magazine
| url = https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_63/page/n9/mode/1up
| magazine = [[Computer Gaming World]]
| title = Microprose Acquires British Telecomsoft
| issue = 63
| date = September 1989
| page = 10
}}</ref> including ''[[Mr. Heli]]'', ''[[Midwinter (video game)|Midwinter]]'' and [[Core Design|Core Design's]] ''[[Rick Dangerous]]''. During the same period, MicroProse created two labels: MicroStyle (UK), and MicroPlay Software (US), using them for publishing a variety of externally developed games, such as ''[[Challenge of the Five Realms]]'', ''[[Command HQ]]'', ''[[Global Conquest]]'', ''[[Elite Plus]]'', ''[[Flames of Freedom]]'', ''[[Rick Dangerous]]'', ''[[Stunt Car Racer]]'', ''[[Xenophobe (video game)|Xenophobe]]'' and ''[[XF5700 Mantis]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/company/microstyle |title=MicroStyle |publisher=[[MobyGames]] |access-date=October 19, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802090541/http://www.mobygames.com/company/microstyle |archive-date=August 2, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/company/microplay-software |title=Microplay Software |publisher=[[MobyGames]] |access-date=October 19, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018155546/http://www.mobygames.com/company/microplay-software |archive-date=October 18, 2012 }}</ref> By the late 1980s, the company maintained a division, Medialist International, in order to distribute and develop independent titles that was publish through the MicroPlay and MicroProse labels.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 1989 |title=Medialist International Division of MicroProse Announces Titles |pages=4 |work=[[Computer Entertainer]] |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/f/f0/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.8_02.pdf |access-date=September 23, 2023}}</ref>

====1990s====
In the early 1990s, MicroProse released the strategy games ''[[Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon]]'' and ''[[Civilization (video game)|Sid Meier's Civilization]]'', designed by Meier and developed by its internal division, MPS Labs, on multiple platforms. Critically acclaimed, both of them quickly became two of the bestselling strategy games of all time and spawned multiple sequels. Some of MicroProse's simulation games from the 1980s received [[video game remake|remakes]] in the early 1990s, such as ''[[Night Hawk: F-117A Stealth Fighter 2.0]]'', ''[[Silent Service II]]'' and ''[[Gunship 2000]]'', and made some first cautious attempts to expand into the console market with ''[[F-117A Stealth Fighter]]'' and ''[[Super Strike Eagle]]'' (MicroProse also ported several of their titles to the 16- and 32-bit consoles during the mid-1990s). Brand new simulation and strategy titles included ''[[1942: The Pacific Air War]]'', ''[[Dogfight (video game)|Dogfight]]'', ''[[Fields of Glory]]'', ''[[Formula One Grand Prix (video game)|Formula One Grand Prix]]'', ''[[Harrier Jump Jet (video game)|Harrier Jump Jet]]'', ''[[Knights of the Sky]]'', ''[[Starlord (video game)|Starlord]]'', ''[[Subwar 2050]]'' and ''[[Task Force 1942]]''.

MicroProse attempted to diversify beyond its niche roots as a sim and strategy game company, looking for opportunities into the arcade game industry. MicroProse designed further action-strategy titles such as ''[[Sid Meier's Covert Action|Covert Action]]'' (also designed by Sid Meier) and ''[[Hyperspeed]]'', and experimented with the [[Role-playing video game|role-playing]] genre by developing ''[[BloodNet]]'' and ''[[Darklands (video game)|Darklands]]'' (in addition to publishing ''[[The Legacy: Realm of Terror]]''). The company invested a large sum of money to create its [[arcade game]] division as well as their own [[Graphic adventure game|graphic adventure]] [[game engine]]. Meier felt that Stealey was taking the company in a risky direction, and the two could not work out their differences.  Meier opted to quietly sell Stealey his share of the company but remained on in the same apparent role for all other purposes to the rest of the staff and their customers to allow Stealey to proceed in this direction.<ref name="pcgamesn meier memoir">{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamesn.com/sid-meiers-memoir-civilization | title = An excerpt from Sid Meier's Memoir! on the making of Civilization | first = Richard | last = Scott-Jones | date = September 1, 2020 | access-date = September 26, 2020 | work = [[PCGamesN]] | archive-date = September 19, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200919020135/https://www.pcgamesn.com/sid-meiers-memoir-civilization | url-status = live }}</ref>

The arcade division did not perform well, and was canceled after making only two games: ''F-15 Strike Eagle: The Arcade Game'' and ''Battle of the Solar System'' (both of which featured high-end 3D graphics but failed to become popular as they were too different from existing machines), while the adventure game engine was used for just three games: ''[[Rex Nebular and the Cosmic Gender Bender]]'', ''[[Return of the Phantom]]'' and ''[[Dragonsphere]]'', before it was sold off to [[Sanctuary Woods]].{{citation needed|date=December 2015}}

In August 1991, MicroProse filed for an [[initial public offering]]. The company hoped to raise $18 million to help repay debts from its unsuccessful arcade games.<ref name="cgw199111">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1991&pub=2&id=88 |title=MicroProse Files for Initial Public Offering |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=November 1991 |issue=88 |access-date=November 18, 2013 |pages=12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202225217/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1991&pub=2&id=88 |archive-date=December 2, 2013 }}</ref>  In 1992 MicroProse acquired [[Paragon Software]].<ref name="cgw199210">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1992&pub=2&id=99 |title=MicroProse Acquires Paragon Software |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=October 1992 |issue=99 |access-date=July 4, 2014 |pages=16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702235549/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1992&pub=2&id=99 |archive-date=July 2, 2014 }}</ref> It also acquired [[Leeds]]-based flight simulation developer [[Vektor Grafix]],<ref>"MicroProse buys Vektor Grafix", ''Computer Business Review Online''</ref> which had already developed titles for them (such as ''[[B-17 Flying Fortress (video game)|B-17 Flying Fortress]]''), turning it into a satellite development studio named MicroProse Leeds.

===Under Spectrum HoloByte (1993–1998)===
In December 1993, following [[Black Wednesday]] in the UK, MicroProse Software Inc. merged with [[Spectrum HoloByte]], another game company that specialized in simulation games, to form MicroProse Inc.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Spectrum + MicroProse = MicroProse Inc.|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=56|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=March 1994|page=186}}</ref> Bill Stealey, who was good friends with Spectrum HoloByte president [[Gilman Louie]], convinced Louie to help MicroProse as Stealey was afraid that some bank would not understand the company culture. MicroProse UK was forced to close its two satellite studios of MicroProse in northern England and dispose of over 40 staff at its [[Chipping Sodbury]] head office (Microprose Chipping Sodbury). A core group of artists, designers, and programmers left MicroProse UK to join [[Psygnosis]], which opened an office in [[Stroud]] specifically to attract ex-MicroProse employees. In 1994, Stealey departed MicroProse and Spectrum HoloByte agreed to buy out his shares. He later commented, "Spectrum Holobyte had a lot of cash and very few products. Microprose had a lot of products and no cash. It was a great marriage, but the new company only needed one chairman, so I resigned."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Interactive Magic |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=21 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=September 1996|pages=109–110}}</ref> Stealey went on to found an independent game company [[Interactive Magic]] (also specializing in vehicle simulators and strategy games), while [[Andy Hollis]] departed for [[Origin Systems]], and [[Sandy Petersen]] joined [[id Software]].

Spectrum Holobyte managed to line up licenses, including ''[[Top Gun]]'' (''[[Top Gun: Fire At Will]]''), ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' (''[[Magic: The Gathering (MicroProse)|Magic: The Gathering]]''), ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation – A Final Unity|A Final Unity]]'', ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation: Birth of the Federation|Birth of the Federation]]'', ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation: Klingon Honor Guard|Klingon Honor Guard]]'') and ''[[MechWarrior (video game series)|MechWarrior]]'' (''[[MechCommander]]'', ''[[MechWarrior 3]]''). Strategy game ''[[UFO: Enemy Unknown]]'' proved to be an unanticipated hit in 1994, spawning multiple sequels. In 1996, Spectrum HoloByte/MicroProse bought out [[Simtex]], earlier a developer of MicroProse-published bestsellers ''[[Master of Orion]]'' and ''[[Master of Magic]]''. Simtex was re-branded as MicroProse Texas (''[[Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares]]''), based in [[Austin, Texas]]. Other MicroProse developed and/or published games during that period included ''[[7th Legion (video game)|7th Legion]]'', ''[[Addiction Pinball]]'', ''[[AEGIS: Guardian of the Fleet]]'', ''[[Civilization II]]'', ''[[Dark Earth (video game)|Dark Earth]]'', ''[[F-15 Strike Eagle III]]'', ''[[Fleet Defender]]'', ''[[Grand Prix 2]]'', ''[[Pizza Tycoon]]'', ''[[Sid Meier's Colonization]]'', ''[[Tinhead (video game)|Tinhead]]'', ''[[Transport Tycoon]]'', ''[[X-COM: Apocalypse]]'', ''[[X-COM: Interceptor]]'' and ''[[X-COM: Terror from the Deep]]''. Insufficient financial resources largely prevented MicroProse from developing games for other game platforms, therefore MicroProse concentrated on the [[PC game]] market.<ref name="habrobuysmicroprose">{{cite news| url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1998/08/13/BU104878.DTL |title=Hasbro Buying Alameda's MicroProse |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428233122/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F1998%2F08%2F13%2FBU104878.DTL |archive-date=April 28, 2008 |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]}}</ref>

MicroProse Software continued as separate subsidiary company under Spectrum HoloByte until 1996. That year, Spectrum HoloByte started cutting a majority of the MicroProse staff to reduce costs. Soon after, it consolidated all of its titles under the MicroProse brand (essentially renaming itself MicroProse). MicroProse's remaining co-founder Sid Meier, along with [[Jeff Briggs]] and [[Brian Reynolds (game designer)|Brian Reynolds]], departed the company after the staff cut, forming a new company named [[Firaxis Games]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/1997/07/25/sid.html |title=Sid starts up. Again |work=Forbes |date=July 25, 1997 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025014949/http://www.forbes.com/1997/07/25/sid.html |archive-date=October 25, 2012 }}</ref>

On October 5, 1997, [[GT Interactive]] announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire MicroProse for $250 million in stock. The deal was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of both companies. After the announcement MicroProse's stock price reached $7 a share. GT Interactive expected the deal to be completed by the end of that year.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1997_Oct_5/ai_19817403 "GT Interactive to Expand as World's Fastest Growing Interactive Entertainment Company Through Acquisition of MicroProse"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120709232442/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1997_Oct_5/ai_19817403 |date=July 9, 2012 }} from BNET Research Center</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F03E6DB103DF935A35753C1A961958260 |title=$250 Million Stock Deal for Microprose |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210231550/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F03E6DB103DF935A35753C1A961958260 |archive-date=February 10, 2009  |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 6, 1997 |url-access=limited|last1=Jones |first1=Dow }}</ref> The acquisition was canceled on December 5, as according to both CEOs "the time is simply not right" for the deal. MicroProse's stock plummeted to just $2.31 after the announcement of the deal's cancellation,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9404E5DD1E3DF935A35751C1A961958260 |title=Company News; Microprose And Gt Interactive End Merger Talks |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211072035/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9404E5DD1E3DF935A35751C1A961958260 |archive-date=February 11, 2009  |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 6, 1997 |url-access=limited|last1=Jones |first1=Dow }}</ref> and the company had estimated losses of $7–10 million during the third quarter of 1997 which are largely attributed to dislocations caused by the aborted merger.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Unhappy Holidays |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=38|publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=February 1998|page=26}}</ref> According to ''Computer Gaming World'', the merger was annulled due to a "fundamental" disagreement over how the joint company would be writing off its research and development costs, as MicroProse insisted to keep their method of paying off the developer immediately.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Computer Gaming World |title=Near Total Annihilation? |issue=164 |date=March 1998 |page=40 |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_164/page/n43/mode/1up}}</ref>

In November 1997, MicroProse was sued by both [[Avalon Hill]] (who had the U.S. publishing rights to the name ''[[Civilization (series)|Civilization]]'')<ref name="fah">[http://www.gis.net/~pldr/fah.html The Fall of Avalon Hill] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203105143/http://www.gis.net/~pldr/fah.html |date=February 3, 2013 }} from Academic Gaming Review</ref> and Activision for [[copyright infringement]]. MicroProse responded by buying Hartland Trefoil, which was the original designer and manufacturer of the [[Civilization (1980 board game)|''Civilization'' board game]], and then sued Avalon Hill and Activision for trademark infringement and unfair business practices as a result of Activision's decision to develop and publish ''Civilization'' video games.<ref name="hartland trefoil">{{cite web|url=http://www.mimgames.com/tga/tgg/misc/microprose.shtml |title=MicroProse Buys out Hartland Trefoil |publisher=Mimgames |access-date=July 31, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209092936/http://www.mimgames.com/tga/tgg/misc/microprose.shtml |archive-date=February 9, 2012 }}</ref> Because [[Hasbro]] was negotiating the acquisition of both Avalon Hill and MicroProse, the lawsuits were settled in July 1998. Under the terms of the settlement MicroProse became the sole owner of the rights of the name ''Civilization'' and Activision acquired a license to publish a ''Civilization'' video game which was later titled ''[[Civilization: Call to Power]]''.<ref name="fah" /><ref name="MICROPROSE-INC-Aug-1998-10-Q">{{cite web |url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1199/104746998030753/filing-main.htm |title=MICROPROSE INC, Form 10-Q, Quarterly Report, Filing Date Aug 12, 1998 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date=May 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515112231/http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1199/104746998030753/filing-main.htm |archive-date=May 15, 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

===Under Hasbro Interactive (1998–2001)===
In preparation for its sale, MicroProse closed down its studio in Austin in June 1998; as a result of the closure, 35 employees lost their jobs.<ref>[http://www.secinfo.com/dVut2.7U1e.htm#7thPage Microprose Inc/DE · 10-Q · For 6/30/98] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524044935/http://www.secinfo.com/dVut2.7U1e.htm |date=May 24, 2012 }} from SEC Info</ref> On August 14, 1998, [[Hasbro]] issued a $70 million cash [[tender offer]] to purchase all MicroProse's shares for $6 each.<ref>[http://www.secinfo.com/dsvr4.77Dx.htm Hasbro MicroProse acquisition information (SC 14D1)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524045021/http://www.secinfo.com/dsvr4.77Dx.htm |date=May 24, 2012 }} from SEC Info (secinfo.com)</ref> This deal was completed on September 14, when Hasbro bought 91% of MicroProse's shares and announced that MicroProse had become a [[Subsidiary|wholly owned subsidiary]].<ref>[http://www.secinfo.com/dsVsj.7Tc.d.htm Hasbro MicroProse acquisition information (SC 14D1/A)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524045043/http://www.secinfo.com/dsVsj.7Tc.d.htm |date=May 24, 2012 }} from SEC Info</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hasbro%2c+Inc.+Announces+Definitive+Agreement+to+Acquire+MicroProse%2c...-a050243864|title=Hasbro, Inc. Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire MicroProse, Inc.|date=August 12, 1998|access-date=September 30, 2010|publisher=Hasbro Inc.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021064053/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hasbro,+Inc.+Announces+Definitive+Agreement+to+Acquire+MicroProse,...-a050243864|archive-date=October 21, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The remaining shares would also be acquired for $6 in cash. MicroProse was merged with [[Hasbro Interactive]].<ref name="secinfo.com">[http://www.secinfo.com/d1dzf.7s.htm Secinfo.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618021138/http://www.secinfo.com/d1dzf.7s.htm |date=June 18, 2008 }}, Hasbro quarterly report for 9/27/98 from SEC Info</ref> At the time of Hasbro's acquisition, MicroProse had 343 employees, including 135 at [[Alameda, California]] (MicroProse Alameda), with a total operating cost of $20&nbsp;million per year.<ref>[http://mba.tuck.dartmouth.edu/pdf/2004-2-0021.pdf MBA.tuck.dartmouth.edu] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050529034125/http://mba.tuck.dartmouth.edu/pdf/2004-2-0021.pdf |date=May 29, 2005 }}, Hasbro Interactive study from [[Tuck School of Business|Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth]] ([[Portable document format|PDF]])</ref> Besides the development studio in Alameda, MicroProse had three other studios: [[Hunt Valley, Maryland]] (Microprose, Hunt Valley); [[Chapel Hill, North Carolina]]; and Chipping Sodbury, England.

In December 1998, MicroProse finally managed to publish ''[[Falcon 4.0]]'' (in development by Spectrum HoloByte since 1992), to disappointing sales. In December 1999, Hasbro Interactive closed down former MicroProse studios in Alameda and Chapel Hill.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F04EFD71E3EF93BA35751C1A96F958260 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621035053/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F04EFD71E3EF93BA35751C1A96F958260 |archive-date=June 21, 2008 |title=Hasbro to Cut 20% of Its Jobs and Take $97 Million Charge |newspaper=The New York Times| date=December 8, 1999 | url-access=limited| last1=Freudenheim | first1=Milt }}</ref><ref>[http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=2528 Gamasutra.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221100653/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=2528 |date=December 21, 2008 }}, "Hasbro Restructures" from [[Gamasutra|''Gamasutra'' NewsWire]] (December 7, 1999)</ref> Among titles in development that got canceled during that period was ''[[X-COM: Genesis]]''. The last MicroProse developed game under Hasbro, ''[[B-17 Flying Fortress: The Mighty 8th]]'', was published in 2000.

===Under Infogrames (2001–2003)===
On December 6, 2000, amist struggling sales and restructurings, Hasbro announced they would entirely sell off Hasbro Interactive, including MicroProse's assets, to French holding company [[Atari SA|Infogrames Entertainment SA]] for $100 million, $95 million as 4.5 million common shares of Infogrames and $5 million in cash.<ref name="IGNBuyout">{{cite web|url=http://pc.ign.com/news/28701.html|title=Infogrames to Acquire Hasbro Interactive|date=December 6, 2000|website=[[IGN]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011119190727/http://pc.ign.com/news/28701.html|archive-date=November 19, 2001|url-status=dead|access-date=September 30, 2019}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated5">{{cite web |url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=68329&p=irol-newsArticle_Print&ID=137281&highlight= |title=Press Release |publisher=Nasdaq Investor Relations |date=6 December 2000 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Infogrames Picks up Hasbro's Toys |work=IGN|date=December 7, 2000 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/12/07/infogrames-picks-up-hasbros-toys|language=en|access-date=2021-11-19}}</ref><ref name="thomson">[http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=68329&p=irol-newsArticle_Print&ID=137281&highlight= "Infogrames Entertainment to Acquire Hasbro Interactive and Games.com"].{{dead link|date=October 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} Press release archive from [[Thomson Financial]]</ref> The deal was closed on January 29, 2001<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/30/business/company-news-hasbro-completes-sale-of-interactive-business.html "Company News; Hasbro Completes Sale Of Interactive Business"]. ''[[The New York Times]]''. 30 January 2001.</ref><ref name="thomson"/> with Hasbro Interactive, Inc. being renamed as Infogrames Interactive, Inc.<ref name="autogenerated8">{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/cg/agg.dll?p=agg&sql=3:23597 |title=((( Atari Interactive, Inc. > Overview ))) |publisher=allgame |access-date=3 January 2018 |archive-date=26 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826005747/http://allgame.com/company.php?id=23597 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00E4DC1E3FF933A05752C0A9679C8B63&n=Top/News/Business/Companies/Hasbro%20Inc. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621035017/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00E4DC1E3FF933A05752C0A9679C8B63&n=Top%2FNews%2FBusiness%2FCompanies%2FHasbro%20Inc. |archive-date=June 21, 2008 |title=Company News; Hasbro Completes Sale of Interactive Business |newspaper=The New York Times| date=January 30, 2001 |url-access=limited}}</ref>

After the sale, sales and distribution of MicroProse titles transitioned to [[Atari, Inc. (1993-present)|Infogrames, Inc.]] in North America and the company's standalone international divisions everywhere else. By this time, the company began a slow phase-out of the brand with many MicroProse branded titles previously released by Hasbro being reissued with Infogrames' logo on the packaging. MicroProse's two remaining development studios in Chipping Sodbury and Hunt Valley were rebranded under the Infogrames banner as well, becoming Infogrames Interactive Chippenham Studio and Infogrames Interactive Hunt Valley Studio, respectively. The development of ''[[X-COM: Alliance]]'' was finally aborted in 2002 without a formal announcement.<ref>{{cite web|last=Plante |first=Chris |url=http://www.polygon.com/features/2013/8/19/4614410/xcom-the-bureau-development-2006-2013 |title=The many faces of The Bureau: XCOM Declassified: from 2006 to 2013 |publisher=Polygon |date=2013-08-19 |access-date=2014-05-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/video-games/2013/08/best-xcom-moments-hisotry/xcom-alliance-canceled |title=The FPS that wasn't. — The Biggest Moments In "XCOM" History |publisher=Complex |date=2013-08-23 |access-date=2014-05-18}}</ref>

The final newly-released games released under the MicroProse brand name were ''[[X-COM: Enforcer]]'', released in April 2001,<ref>{{cite web |last=Walker |first=Trey |date=August 31, 2000 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/exclusive-x-com-enforcer-screens/1100-2622690/ |title=Exclusive X-COM: Enforcer Screens |website=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[Fandom (website)|Fandom]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011024002941/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2622690,00.html |archive-date=October 24, 2001 |url-status=live |access-date=February 26, 2024}}</ref> ''[[Tactical Ops: Assault on Terror]]'', released in April 2002,<ref>https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/04/23/tacops-shipped</ref> and ''[[Grand Prix 4]]'', released in June 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_45457|title=Grand Prix 4 details|website=[[Eurogamer]]|date=February 2002}}</ref> In September, Infogrames shuttered the Chippenham studio and aborting the development of an Xbox port of ''Grand Prix 4'' that had been currently worked at in the studio within the process.<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/news/2002/09/12/news_2880148.html Gamespot.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050123032231/http://www.gamespot.com/news/2002/09/12/news_2880148.html |date=January 23, 2005 }}, "Infogrames closes UK MicroProse studio", from ''[[GameSpot]]''</ref>

The Hunt Valley studio worked on ''Monopoly Casino: Vegas Edition'' for the PC, and then focused on the development of the [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] title ''[[Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes]]'', which was released in October 2003. Earlier on in May, Infogrames rebranded all their subsidiaries under the [[Atari]] brand; including Infogrames, Inc. becoming Atari, Inc., and Infogrames Interactive, Inc. becoming Atari Interactive, Inc.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3010719.stm |title=BBC NEWS – Technology – Atari lives again |work=bbc.co.uk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040715011309/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3010719.stm |archive-date=July 15, 2004 }}</ref> In November 2003, Atari announced the closure of the Hunt Valley studio, which itself was the last MicroProse studio still operating.<ref name="gamesindustry.biz">[http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=2515 Atari closes former MicroProse studio] from [[GamesIndustry.biz]]</ref> However, several [[video game developer|game developers]] now exist in the area, including [[Firaxis Games]] and [[BreakAway Games]], who all owe their origin to MicroProse.

=== Brand sale to Interactive Game Group and Cybergun Group (2007–2019) ===
In 2007, the MicroProse brand name was sold by [[Atari Interactive]] to the Interactive Game Group, a producer of video game titles. The company filed for transfer of trademark protection on December 27, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=tm&rno=1711906 |title=Assignments 1 |publisher=United States Patent and Trademark Office |access-date=August 22, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229000430/http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=tm&rno=1711906 |archive-date=December 29, 2014 }}</ref> Originally, it was unclear if MicroProse's titles and [[intellectual properties]] were also acquired by the Interactive Game Group from Atari/Infogrames, but was soon confirmed that the latter had remained the owners of the properties.<ref name="gamasutra">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=5663 |title=Gamasutra.com |publisher=Gamasutra.com |date=June 9, 2005 |access-date=August 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114122931/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=5663 |archive-date=November 14, 2013 }}</ref>

In January 2008, the Interactive Game Group sub-licensed the MicroProse brand and trademark to I-Drs At in January 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=tm&qt=asne&reel=&frame=&sno=&rno=&asnr=&asnri=&asne=INTERACTIVE+GAME+GROUP&asnei=&asns=&apct=&apcti=&rgst=&rgsti= |title=Assignments 2 |publisher=United States Patent and Trademark Office |date=July 8, 2013 |access-date=August 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505211858/http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=tm&qt=asne&reel=&frame=&sno=&rno=&asnr=&asnri=&asne=INTERACTIVE+GAME+GROUP&asnei=&asns=&apct=&apcti=&rgst=&rgsti= |archive-date=May 5, 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=tm&qt=asne&reel=&frame=&sno=&rno=&asnr=&asnri=&asne=ID-RS+AT&asnei=&asns=&apct=&apcti=&rgst=&rgsti= |title=Assignments 3 |publisher=United States Patent and Trademark Office |date=July 8, 2013 |access-date=August 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505211240/http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=tm&qt=asne&reel=&frame=&sno=&rno=&asnr=&asnri=&asne=ID-RS+AT&asnei=&asns=&apct=&apcti=&rgst=&rgsti= |archive-date=May 5, 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref> The company also licensed the MicroProse brand to the Legacy Engineering Group (LEG), which used the license to form subsidiaries called Microprose Systems and Microprose Consumer Electronics Division, selling consumer electronics from February 2008 to the second half of 2008. In October, the licensing agreement between LEG and Frederic Chesnais, owner of Interactive Game Group, was discontinued, forcing LEG to rebrand its subsidiaries to Legacy Consumer Electronics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediasyndicate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=10729 |title=Legacy Engineering Group Parts Ways With Microprose Brand |date=October 20, 2008 |location=New York, NY |publisher=Media Syndicate |access-date=July 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002203005/http://mediasyndicate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=10729 |archive-date=October 2, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2010, the Cybergun Group, manufacturer of [[airsoft gun]] products, merged with the Interactive Game Group, acquiring the MicroProse brand within the merger.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cybergun 2010 Key Figures |url=http://www.cybergun.com/en/about-us/investors/key-figures/ |access-date=February 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229001545/http://www.cybergun.com/en/about-us/investors/key-figures/ |archive-date=December 29, 2014 }}</ref> In 2011, the Interactive Game Group was rebranded under the MicroProse name and began licensing and executive producing various casual and budget video game titles that the Interactive Game Group had already licensed<ref>{{cite web | url=http://microprose.com/all-games | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417160308/http://microprose.com/all-games | archive-date=April 17, 2012 | title=All Games - Microprose }}</ref> including ''Jaws: Ultimate Predator''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/majesco-announces-new-em-jaws-em-game-for-wii-3ds | title=Majesco Announces New Jaws Game for Wii, 3DS }}</ref> and fitness games featuring Jillian Michaels.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/07/20/jillian-michaels-fitness-adventure-coming-exclusively-to-kinect-this-fall | title=Jillian Michaels' Fitness Adventure Coming Exclusively to Kinect this Fall | date=July 20, 2011 }}</ref> In August 2012, MicroProse announced that they would re-partner with their former owner Atari to release ''Special Forces: Team X'' for 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://pressreleases.triplepointpr.com/2012/08/22/microprose-announces-special-forces-team-x-3rd-person-team-based-tactical-shooter/ | title=Microprose Announces "Special Forces: Team X" Third-Person, Team-Based Tactical Shooter | date=August 22, 2012 }}</ref> The MicroProse brand continued in use until the end of 2013, when it's domain lapsed and the brand fell into dormancy.

On July 22, 2013, during the Atari bankruptcy sale, most of MicroProse's former IPs that remained with the publisher were sold to [[Tommo]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://docs.bmcgroup.com/Atari/nysb_1-13-bk-10176_313.pdf|title = Purchase Agreement between Atari, Inc. and Rebellion Developments, Stardock & Tommo|date = July 22, 2013|publisher = [[BMC Group]]|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303173012/http://docs.bmcgroup.com/Atari/nysb_1-13-bk-10176_313.pdf|archive-date = March 3, 2016|url-status = live}}</ref> In October 2014, Tommo announced the launch of the "Retroism" brand and re-released a majority of MicroProse's catalogue through digital media platforms such as Steam.

=== Brand revival (2018–present) ===
[[File:PXL 20230720 230143906.MP.jpg|alt=Image of 9 former MicroProse employees, including Sid Meier, sitting down on a stage under a sign that says Ashland Bar&Grill. Several unopened original MicroProse game boxes are sitting on a table in the foreground. The MicroProse logo is projected onto a screen beside them.|thumb|MicroProse reunion, July 2023, hosted by the Baltimore chapter of the [[International Game Developers Association]] (IGDA)]]

In 2018, David Lagettie, an Australian simulation software entrepreneur and one of the makers of ''TitanIM'' open world military simulation software, purchased the MicroProse brand from the Cybergun Group. Lagettie was a former developer for [[Bohemia Interactive]] at their Australian studios before starting his own company to create video game simulators to be used by military groups. Lagettie had been a fan of the original MicroProse games growing up, and as he saw the games ownership transition made the company eventually disappear, he started investigating the fate of MicroProse around 2005. When possible, he began buying whatever IP from MicroProse he could, including the name and original logo trademarks.<ref name="new microprose">{{cite web | url = https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-05-06-the-resurrection-of-microprose-and-return-of-wild-bill-stealey | title = The resurrection of MicroProse and return of "Wild Bill" Stealey | first = James | last = Batchelor | date = May 6, 2020 | access-date = May 6, 2020 | work = [[GamesIndustry.biz]] | archive-date = May 7, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200507205948/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-05-06-the-resurrection-of-microprose-and-return-of-wild-bill-stealey | url-status = live }}</ref> In February 2019, MicroProse was officially revived as a full publisher of video game and simulation titles, working with the [[iEntertainment Network]] on the ''[[WarBirds]]'' series of combat flight simulators.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-resurrection-of-microprose-and-return-of-wild-bill-stealey |title= The resurrection of MicroProse and return of "Wild Bill" Stealey |last= Batchelor |first= James |date=February 21, 2019|website= [[GamesIndustry.biz]] |language=en-US|access-date= April 3, 2024}}</ref> Within the rest of 2019, MicroProse announced ''Sea Power: Naval Combat in the Missile Age'' by the developer Triassic Games AB, ''Task Force Admiral - Vol.1: American Carrier Battles'' by Drydock Dreams Games, ''Operation: Harsh Doorstop'' by Drakeling Labs, and ''Warfare 1944'' by Drakeling Labs. Lagettie's acquisitions drew the attention of Stealey, who subsequently inquired Lagettie about his plans, leading to Stealey joining Lagettie in an unofficial manner in the new MicroProse.<ref name="new microprose"/>

The new company announced in May 2020 the first of three new games to be released for personal computers: Triassic Games' ''[[Sea Power (video game)|Sea Power]]'', Drydock Dreams' ''Task Force Admiral'', and Hexdraw's ''Second Front'',<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamesn.com/second-front/microprose | title = Civilization dev MicroProse returns – with three new Steam games | first = Carrie | last = Talbot | date = May 5, 2020 | access-date = May 5, 2020 | work = [[PCGamesN]] | archive-date = May 8, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200508174128/https://www.pcgamesn.com/second-front/microprose | url-status = live }}</ref> with about twenty additional titles planned out for publishing in the future. Lagettie said that while the new MicroProse will branch out to other genres such as adventure and racing games, their core portfolio will be centered on combat-based ones.<ref name="new microprose"/> MicroProse re-released ''[[B-17 Flying Fortress (video game)|B-17 Flying Fortress]]'' on Steam in November 2021.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://strategyandwargaming.com/2021/11/23/microprose-re-releases-the-classic-b-17-games-to-steam/ | title=MicroProse Re-releases the Classic B-17 Flying Fortress to Steam | date = November 21, 2021 | access-date = May 4, 2023}}</ref> In 2022, Microprose announced the purchase of the [[Outerra]] game engine, which they said will complete, release, and also use as the engine for some of their future games.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.realovirtual.com/noticias/12040/proyecto-outerra-resucita-mano-microprose/ |title=El proyecto Outerra resucita de la mano de MicroProse |website=realovirtual.com |access-date=2024-09-26}}</ref> On May 4, 2023, the company announced it had re-acquired the copyright to the ''[[Falcon (series)|Falcon]]'' series.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/microprose/announcements/detail/3680047495733505345 | title=MicroProse is back on the Falcon series | date=May 4, 2023 | access-date=May 4, 2023}}</ref>