Editing Raven Software (section)

== History ==
=== Foundation and ''Black Crypt'' (1986–1992)===
In 1986, Brian Raffel was an [[art teacher]] at [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]] and [[Cross country running|cross country]]-track coach at [[Middleton High School (Middleton, Wisconsin)|Middleton High School]] and his brother, Steve, worked in a [[screen-print]] [[Shopping mall|shop]].<ref>{{cite web|date=September 21, 2011|access-date=August 4, 2024|work=Raven Software|title=Raven Software's Fun Facts|url=https://www.facebook.com/story.php?id=100047534393974&story_fbid=10150826383495061}}</ref><ref name="Isthmus">{{cite web|url=https://isthmus.com/screens/games/raven-software-still-soaring-25-years/|title=Raven Software: Still Soaring 25 years|first=Aaron|last=R. Conklin|date=August 20, 2015|work=[[Isthmus (newspaper)|Isthmus]]|access-date=August 4, 2024|publisher=Red Card Media}}</ref><ref name="RavenGameChange">{{cite web|url=https://www.ibmadison.com/industries/sports-entertainment/game-change-raven-software-s-raffel-goes-from-dreamer-to-player-and-beyond/article_9553db72-72e3-5072-8d61-787b51a8e26d.html|title=Game change: Raven Software's Raffel goes from dreamer to player and beyond|date=February 11, 2013|website=[[Madison metropolitan area|In Business]]|access-date=August 4, 2024}}</ref> Their late father, Don, was an influence on the two growing up playing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' [[Adventure (Dungeons & Dragons)|adventure module]]s such as ''[[Palace of the Silver Princess]]'', ''[[Tomb of Horrors]]'', ''[[Lost Tomb of Martek]]'', and ''[[Castle Amber (module)|Castle Amber]]'', who inspired Brian to draw a concept by the end of 1988 called "''The Well''"— a [[paper-and-pencil game|paper-and-pen]] [[role-playing game]] originally conceived as a ''D&D'' module until Steve came up and reworked it with Brian to be its own thing.<ref name="MJS">{{cite web|newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]|publisher=[[Gannett]]|url=https://archive.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/raven-software-brothers-turn-call-of-duty-other-games-into-a-career-664dnh6-141385813.html|first=Bill|last=Glauber|access-date=August 4, 2024|date=March 4, 2012|title=Raven Software brothers turn 'Call of Duty,' other games into a career}}</ref><ref name="USgamer">{{cite web|title=From Dungeon & Dragons to Call of Duty: The Story of Raven Software|first=Kat|last=Bailey|url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/raven-software|work=[[USgamer]]|publisher=[[Gamer Network]]|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161010112935/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/raven-software|archive-date=October 10, 2016|date=October 28, 2014|access-date=August 4, 2024}}</ref>

After seeing some of the recent games released to the [[Amiga]], Brian decided that their art was "as good as and in some cases better" than what was coming and chose to move ''The Well'' to the Amiga for taking advantage of its [[computing power]]. Brian brothers retooled the project from scratch while opening their own company to work on the now called ''[[Black Crypt]]''.<ref name="Isthmus"/> Raven Software was officially incorporated on May 23, 1990.<ref name="RVN25">{{cite web|title=Tech and Biotech: Celebrating Raven's 25th; and Dock Technologies gets East Coast visibility|first=Judy|last=Newman|newspaper=[[Wisconsin State Journal]]|publisher=[[Lee Enterprises]]|date=May 23, 2015|url=https://madison.com/business/technology/biotech/tech-and-biotech-celebrating-ravens-25th-and-dock-technologies-gets-east-coast-visibility/article_ec26fba4-5b0c-56e3-9337-d0566a17be68.html|access-date=August 4, 2024|url-access=limited}}</ref>

Shortly after established Raven, Brian got together [[Video game programming|programmer]]s Rick Johnson and Ben Gokey, and [[musician]] Kevin Schilder to join the company. Johnson was the youngest crew member at 18 years old.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/BlackCryptManualClueBook/BlackCryptManualClueBooken_djvu.txt|website=[[Internet Archive]]|access-date=August 4, 2024|title=''Black Crypt'' Manual and Clue Book (.txt)|date=1992 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=1992 |title=''Black Crypt'' Manual and Club Book |url=https://archive.org/details/BlackCryptManualClueBook/page/n1/mode/1up?view=theater |access-date=August 4, 2024 |website= |publisher=Elecronic Arts |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> ''Black Crypt'' production started in April 1990 and lasted nearly two years, with Raffel brothers and the team moving to a $200 per month office, which sat under a [[workshop]] in [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]].<ref name="USgamer"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ravengames.com/blackcrypt/blackcrypt.php |title=Origins of Black Crypt|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223230504/http://www.ravengames.com/blackcrypt/blackcrypt.php|archive-date=February 23, 2007|website=Raven Software|access-date=August 4, 2024}}</ref> The game's budget was $40,000.<ref>{{cite web|first=Aaron|last=R. Conklin|url=https://madison.com/business/soaring-into-year-middleton-based-raven-software-is-set-to/article_7c45558a-01c3-509f-8315-f02a41a8f694.html|title=Soaring into year 15 Middleton-Based Raven Software is set two release two A-list Video Games in the coming weeks|url-access=limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522012049/https://madison.com/business/soaring-into-year-middleton-based-raven-software-is-set-to/article_7c45558a-01c3-509f-8315-f02a41a8f694.html|archive-date=May 22, 2020|newspaper=[[Wisconsin State Journal]]|publisher=[[Lee Enterprises]]|date=September 16, 2005|access-date=August 4, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> Described as a "[[Dark Ages (historiography)|Age of Darkness]] [[first-person video game|first-person]] [[Tile rendering|tile]]-based [[real-time tactics|real-time combat]] dungeon simulator", ''Black Crypt'' draws inspirations from [[FTL Games]]' ''[[Dungeon Master (video game)|Dungeon Master]]'' [[3D computer graphics|3D]] [[continuous game|realtime]] style and consists of twelve interconnected dungeons rendered in 64-colour [[Amiga Halfbrite mode|extra half-brite graphics]], which allowed players to define a [[Palette (computing)|palette]] customization of sixty-four colours—unlike ''Dungeon Master'' and its clones.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ravengames.com/blackcrypt/blackcrypt_maps.php|access-date=August 4, 2024|title=Maps of "Tomb of Four Heroes"|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223231132/http://www.ravengames.com/blackcrypt/blackcrypt_maps.php|archive-date=February 23, 2007|work=Raven Software}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Once More into the Dungeon...|date=January 1992|url=https://archive.org/details/theone-magazine-40/page/n13|magazine=[[The One (magazine)|The One]]|publisher=[[Ascential|EMAP Images]]|issue=40|page=14|issn=0955-4084}}</ref>

===id Software===
Raven Software was founded in 1990 by brothers Brian and Steve Raffel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ravensoftware.com/about |title=Raven Software - About the Studio|work=ravensoftware.com |access-date= May 7, 2020}}</ref> Originally a three-person company, they were discovered by [[John Romero]], co-founder of [[id Software]], who collaborated with Raven to make games using their game engine beginning with ''[[ShadowCaster]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Romero |first1=John |title=The Early Days of id Software |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2MIpi8pIvY  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/E2MIpi8pIvY| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|website=YouTube |date=October 5, 2016 |access-date=18 July 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Raven then started making games with id Software; the company even briefly moved to the same street as id Software.<ref>{{cite web|title = From Dungeon & Dragons to Call of Duty: The Story of Raven Software|url = http://www.usgamer.net/articles/raven-software|website = USgamer.net|url-status=dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161010112935/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/raven-software|archive-date=October 10, 2016|date = October 28, 2014|access-date = February 15, 2016}}</ref> They used id's [[game engine|engine]]s for many of their games, such as ''[[Heretic (video game)|Heretic]],'' ''[[Hexen: Beyond Heretic]]'' and ''[[Hexen II]]''.

In 2005 and 2009, Raven developed two games from id's catalog: ''[[Quake 4]]'' and ''[[Wolfenstein (2009 video game)|Wolfenstein]]'' respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investor.activision.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=175541 |title=id Software and Activision, Inc. Confirm Wolfenstein(R) for the Xbox 360 Video Game and Entertainment System |date=October 5, 2005 |publisher=[[PR Newswire]]}}</ref>

===Activision===
The company was independent until 1997, when it was acquired by [[Activision]] for $12 million.<ref>{{cite web|first=Karen|last=Kaplan|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-aug-07-fi-20136-story.html|title=Activision to Expand Game Lineup with Raven Purchase|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=August 7, 1997|access-date=August 17, 2021}}</ref> They were still collaborating with id Software but at the same time developed other titles as well such as ''[[Soldier of Fortune (video game)|Soldier of Fortune]]'' in 2000, ''[[Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy]]'' in 2003, ''[[X-Men Legends]]'' in 2004 and many more.

In August 2009, following poor performance and possible over-budget of ''[[Wolfenstein (2009 video game)|Wolfenstein]],''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.next-gen.biz/news/raven-software-hit-layoffs|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905060520/http://www.next-gen.biz/news/raven-software-hit-layoffs|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 5, 2012|title=Raven Software Hit By Layoffs|first=Tom|last=Ivan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://kotaku.com/5346302/raven-hit-by-layoffs-some-point-to-lackluster-wolfenstein-sales |title= Raven Hit By Layoffs, Some Point to Lackluster Wolfenstein Sales |date= August 26, 2009 |access-date= December 1, 2013 |first= Brian |last= Crecente |work= Kotaku}}</ref> the company made a major layoff of 30 to 35 staff, leaving two development teams. This was reduced to one after more layoffs in October 2010, after delays with ''[[Singularity (video game)|Singularity]];'' as many as 40 staff were released. Following the layoffs and after id Software was bought over by [[ZeniMax Media]], Raven has since become a primary developer for the ''[[Call of Duty]]'' series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/65958/report-layoffs-hit-raven-software |title=Report: Layoffs Hit Raven Software, Focusing on DLC |website=Shacknews.com |date=October 11, 2010 |access-date=July 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/news/raven-software-loses-staff |title=Raven Software Loses More Staff |access-date=January 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017191921/http://www.1up.com/news/raven-software-loses-staff |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://kotaku.com/5661071/singularity-game-developer-hit-with-layoffs |title= Singularity Game Developer Hit with Layoffs |date= October 11, 2010 |access-date= December 1, 2013 |first= Brian |last= Crecente |work= Kotaku}}</ref> By July 2021, Raven Software had grown to roughly 350 employees.<ref>{{cite web |title=Analysis: Call of Duty Warzone's developer has grown by nearly 50% in a year |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/analysis-call-of-duty-warzones-developer-has-grown-by-nearly-50-in-a-year/ |website=Video Games Chronicle |date=July 19, 2021 }}</ref>

{{See also|Activision Blizzard worker organization|Microsoft and unions#United States}}

In December 2021, Activision did not renew the contract of several members of the [[Software testing|quality assurance]] (QA) department that were contract employees.  One of the associate managers said that "valuable members" were fired although they "were promised, for months, that Activision was working towards a pay restructure to increase their wages".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Obedkov|first=Evgeny|date=2021-12-07|title=Call of Duty: Warzone developers protest layoffs of contract testers who were promised promotions|url=https://gameworldobserver.com/2021/12/07/call-of-duty-warzone-developers-protest-layoffs-of-contract-testers-who-were-promised-promotions/|access-date=2021-12-15|website=Game World Observer|language=en-US}}</ref> Following these firings as well as other [[California Department of Fair Employment and Housing v. Activision Blizzard|controversies]] involving Activision Blizzard, a [[Strike action|strike]] has been initiated.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nightingale|first=Ed|date=2021-12-07|title=Raven Software employees walk out following layoffs in the QA team|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-12-06-raven-software-employees-walk-out-following-layoffs-in-the-qa-team|access-date=2021-12-15|website=Eurogamer|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Blizzard QA Staff Join Walkout As Raven Software Strike Continues|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-qa-staff-join-walkout-as-raven-software-strike-continues/1100-6498688/|access-date=2021-12-15|website=GameSpot|language=en-US}}</ref> On January 21, 2022, Raven's QA team formed a union named the [[Game Workers Alliance]] with [[Communications Workers of America]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2022-01-21/workers-at-activision-blizzard-owned-game-studio-raven-software-vote-to-unionize|title=Workers at Activision Blizzard-owned game studio Raven Software vote to unionize|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=January 21, 2022}}</ref>

In May 2022, workers of the Raven QA team voted to unionize with a count of 19 – 2 in favor.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Liao |first=Shannon |date=May 23, 2022 |title=Raven Software employees win union election |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/05/23/activision-blizzard-union-raven/ |access-date=May 23, 2022}}</ref> In June 2022 Activision Blizzard CEO [[Bobby Kotick]] stated that the company would recognize the union and begin negotiations with it.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=LeBlanc |first=Wesley |title=Activision Blizzard CEO Says Company Will Recognize Raven Software Union And Begin Negotiations |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/06/10/activision-blizzard-ceo-says-company-will-recognize-raven-software-union-and-begin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610160057/https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/06/10/activision-blizzard-ceo-says-company-will-recognize-raven-software-union-and-begin |url-status=live |archive-date=June 10, 2022 |access-date=2022-06-11 |magazine=Game Informer |language=en}}</ref> Following the Raven QA team's successful unionization, the 20-member QA team of [[Blizzard Albany]] announced a unionization drive in July 2022 as GWA Albany.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 19, 2022 |title=Blizzard QA workers in Albany are organizing Activision's second union |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/19/23270108/blizzard-qa-workers-union-activision-gwa-albany-vicarious-visions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801055231/https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/19/23270108/blizzard-qa-workers-union-activision-gwa-albany-vicarious-visions |archive-date=August 1, 2022 |access-date=August 1, 2022}}</ref> The vote passed (14–0), forming the second union at an Activision Blizzard subsidiary.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Carpenter |first1=Nicole |date=2022-12-02 |title=Blizzard Albany becomes second unionized studio at Activision Blizzard |url=https://www.polygon.com/23490063/activision-blizzard-albany-qa-union-vote-win |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126175937/https://www.polygon.com/23490063/activision-blizzard-albany-qa-union-vote-win |archive-date=January 26, 2023 |access-date=2023-02-11 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |language=en-US |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On March 8, 2024, 600 QA testers at 3 [[Activision]] studios in [[Austin, Texas]], [[Eden Prairie, Minnesota]] and [[El Segundo, California]] joined Raven and Blizzard's unionizations to form the union "Activision Quality Assurance United-CWA" and voted to unionize (390–8) in favor, making it the largest video game union in the United States. Following [[Acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft|Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard]], who included Raven Software, the company [[NLRB election procedures|voluntarily recognized]] the union.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=2024-03-08 |title=600 Activision QA workers unionize, Microsoft voluntarily recognizes |url=https://www.polygon.com/24093254/activision-qa-600-workers-union-microsoft |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Parrish |first=Ash |date=2024-03-09 |title=Activision QA workers form the largest US video game union yet |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/8/24094602/activision-blizzard-qa-workers-unionizing-microsoft |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Eidelson |first=Josh |date=2024-07-24 |title=Microsoft's 'World of Warcraft' Gaming Staff Votes to Unionize |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-24/world-of-warcraft-unionizes-growing-foothold-at-microsoft-s-activision-blizzard |access-date=2024-07-24 |work=[[Bloomberg.com]] |language=en}}</ref>