Editing Maxis

{{short description|American video game developer}}
{{For|the Malaysian mobile telecommunications company|Maxis Communications}}
{{Distinguish|Maxxis}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Maxis
| logo = Maxis-logo-2022.svg
| logo_caption = Maxis logo used since 2022
| type = [[Division (business)|Division]]
| industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|1987}}
| defunct = 
| founders = {{Unbulleted list
| [[Will Wright (game designer)|Will Wright]]
| Jeff Braun
}}
| hq_location_city = [[Redwood City, California]]
| hq_location_country = US
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list
| Catharina Lavers Mallet<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-04-23-catharina-lavers-mallet-takes-over-as-maxis-boss|title=Catharina Lavers Mallet takes over as Maxis boss|website=GamesIndustry.biz|date=April 23, 2021 |access-date=December 14, 2021}}</ref>
| ([[general manager]])
}}
| products = {{Unbulleted list
| [[The Sims|''The Sims'' series]] (2000–present)
| [[SimCity|''SimCity'' series]] (1989–2014)
| [[List of Sim video games|''Sim'' series]] (1989–2010)
| ''[[Spore (2008 video game)|Spore]]'' (2008)
| ''[[Darkspore]]'' (2011)
}}
| parent = [[Electronic Arts]] (1997–present)
| subsid = Maxis Europe<br />Maxis Texas
| website = {{URL|https://www.ea.com/studios/maxis|ea.com/maxis}}
}}

'''Maxis''' is an American [[video game developer]] and a [[Division (business)|division]] of [[Electronic Arts]] (EA). The studio was founded in 1987 by [[Will Wright (game designer)|Will Wright]] and Jeff Braun, and acquired by Electronic Arts in 1997. Maxis is best known for its [[simulation game]]s, including ''[[The Sims]]'', ''[[Spore (2008 video game)|Spore]]'' and ''[[SimCity]]''.

== History ==
=== Independent studio (1987–1997) ===
[[File:Maxis logo (former).svg|thumb|right|The former logo of Maxis, used until 2012]]
[[File:Willwrightatsxsw.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Will Wright, Maxis co-founder]]
Maxis was founded in 1987 by [[Will Wright (game designer)|Will Wright]] and Jeff Braun to help publish ''[[SimCity (1989 video game)|SimCity]]'' on home computers. Before then, the game was only available on a limited basis on the [[Commodore 64]] due to few [[video game publisher|publishers]] showing any interest in [[porting]] a non-traditional game without definite "win" and "lose" conditions. The title went on to become one of the most popular and successful video games of all time. The [[SimCity|''SimCity'' series]] became a staple for the company and spawned multiple sequels and spin-offs. To name the company, Braun required that the name was "from 5-7 letters, mean nothing, be easy to remember and contain an x, z, or q"; the name "Maxis" was presented by Braun's father.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/697/697083p11.html |title=GameSpy Retro: Developer Origins, Page 11 of 19 |first=John |last=Keefer |date=March 31, 2006 |website=[[GameSpy]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609133138/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/697/697083p11.html |archive-date=June 9, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="SimplyGameSpot">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/maxis/index.html |title=GameSpot's SIMply Divine: The Story of Maxis Software |first=Geoff |last=Keighley |author-link=Geoff Keighley |date=1999 |website=[[GameSpot]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990508161449/http://www.gamespot.com/features/maxis/index.html |archive-date=May 8, 1999 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the broad success of ''[[SimCity 2000]]'', Maxis moved from [[Orinda, California]], to [[Walnut Creek, California|Walnut Creek]] in 1994.<ref name="SimplyGameSpot" />

One of the unintended successes of ''SimCity'' was recognition of the means to gamify the intersection of multiple real-world systems that could be used for planning and development, such as using ''SimCity''-type simulations for [[urban planning]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/jul/13/simcity-legacy-smarter-cities-when-urban-planners-play-for-keeps | title = SimCity legacy: smarter cities when urban planners play for keeps | first = Tony | last= Yoo | date = July 12, 2016 | access-date = May 12, 2020 | work = [[The Guardian]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-simcity-inspired-urban-planners-20190305-story.html | title = Must Reads: From video game to day job: How 'SimCity' inspired a generation of city planners | first = Jessica | last = Roy | date = March 5, 2019 | access-date = May 12, 2020 | work = [[The Los Angeles Times]] }}</ref> Around 1992, Maxis was approached by corporations and government agencies who wanted the company to use the same system simulation principles of ''SimCity'' to develop non-game simulations that they could manipulate for similar planning purposes. To support this, Maxis bought a small company, Delta Logic, and its owner John Hiles, who had been focused on more immediate business simulation software, and rebranded it as Maxis Business Simulations (MBS) for this work. Among works developed under this included ''[[SimRefinery]]'' for the [[Chevron Corporation]], and ''[[SimHealth]]'' for the [[Markle Foundation]]. In 1994, Maxis decided to let this division go on its own; MBS rebranded itself as Thinking Tools Inc. and continued to produce similar simulation tools, but eventually closed down in 1998. Most of the information on MBS and Thinking Tools has been lost as upon being told of the company's closure, the few remaining employees burned most of the company's archives and only remnants of MBS' output exists.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/05/the-sprawling-must-read-history-of-maxis-former-serious-games-division/ | title = The sprawling, must-read history of Maxis' former "serious games" division | first = Sam | last = Machkovech | date = May 19, 2020 | access-date = May 19, 2020 | work = [[Ars Technica]] }}</ref>

In what ''[[Kotaku]]'' later referred to as the "era of scattergun experimentation", Maxis released numerous titles throughout the 1990s, including "sim" titles as well as some non-simulation titles, such as ''[[RoboSport]]'' (1991) and ''[[Full Tilt! Pinball|3D Pinball for Windows]]'' (1995), which was included as one of the standard system games in several Windows releases; however, these newer games were not successful.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/a-history-of-maxis-thanks-for-simcity-1689490370|title=A History Of Maxis: Thanks For SimCity|website=Kotaku.com|date=March 5, 2015 |access-date=December 14, 2021}}</ref> On June 1, 1995, Maxis became a [[public company]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computerhistory.org/tdih/June/1/|title=Maxis Goes Public|date=June 1, 1995|access-date=May 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404072701/https://www.computerhistory.org/tdih/june/1/|archive-date=April 4, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Heavy losses and lack of direction led Maxis to begin considering acquisition offers.

=== Early years under Electronic Arts (1997–2006) ===
In 1997, Maxis agreed to be [[List of acquisitions by Electronic Arts|acquired]] by Electronic Arts by means of a [[stock swap]] which valued Maxis at $125 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/05/business/electronic-arts-will-buy-maxis-in-swap.html |title=Electronic Arts Will Buy Maxis in Swap |date=June 5, 1997 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128135657/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/05/business/electronic-arts-will-buy-maxis-in-swap.html |archive-date=November 28, 2016}}</ref> In a [[press release]], Maxis stated it agreed to the acquisition in order to take advantage of Electronic Arts' strong distribution channel.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Maxis Merges with EA|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=108|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=September 1997|page=22}}</ref> The transaction was complete on July 28, 1997, and triggered major changes at the company. Jeff Braun left, having received a sizeable amount of money during the purchase, and nearly half of the Maxis staff were laid off.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_07/28_ea/index.html |title=Maxis Now Under EA's Wing |website=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=July 28, 1997 |access-date=November 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990423194615/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_07/28_ea/index.html |archive-date=April 23, 1999}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA"/>

Over 1998, Maxis was allowed to finish ''[[SimCity 3000]]'' on its own time; following this, Wright's efforts were thrown into ''[[The Sims (video game)|The Sims]]'', at the time seen as a major gamble for the company, as the dollhouse game was not seen as a match for the video game market's demographics. EA backed the title on the basis of the economic potential for expansion releases. In 2000, Maxis South (Austin, Texas) was closed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-to-close-down-maxis-south/1100-2467068/|title=EA To Close Down Maxis South|website=Gamespot.com|access-date=December 14, 2021}}</ref> ''The Sims'' was released in February 2000 to widespread success, and would become one of Maxis' core focuses until a 2006 reorganisation shifted it away from their core team.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> ''[[SimCity 4]]'' was released in 2003, the first title in the series to implement true 3D, as well as the first where Wright was not directly involved with work. In 2004, Maxis' longtime studios in [[Walnut Creek, California|Walnut Creek]] were closed,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/electronic-arts-moves-maxis-6089213 |title=Electronic Arts moves Maxis |last=Feldman |first=Curt |website=GameSpot |date=February 11, 2004 |access-date=August 5, 2012}}</ref> and the staff moved to EA offices in [[Redwood City, California|Redwood City]] and [[Emeryville, California|Emeryville]].

=== ''Spore'' and ''SimCity'' reboot (2006–2014) ===
[[File:Maxis 2012 logo.svg|thumb|right|The second logo of Maxis, used until 2022]]
As ''The Sims'' became a steady success, [[Will Wright (game designer)|Will Wright]] began to focus on ''[[Spore (2008 video game)|Spore]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jon |first=Scott |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/13/joystiq-interviews-spores-chaim-gingold-and-chris-hecker/ |title=interviews Spore's Chaim Gingold and Chris Hecker |publisher=Joystiq |date=November 13, 2006 |access-date=April 29, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115031208/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/13/joystiq-interviews-spores-chaim-gingold-and-chris-hecker/ |archive-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> The three years between its public announcement and its release were protracted enough to attract use of the term "[[vaporware]]" by some,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/software/softwarereviews/news/2006/12/72350?currentPage=all |title=Vaporware '06: Return of the King |last=Calore |first=Michael |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=December 27, 2006 |access-date=August 5, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113052220/http://www.wired.com/software/softwarereviews/news/2006/12/72350?currentPage=all |archive-date=November 13, 2012}}</ref> and upon its 2008 release, found itself subject to harsh criticism and the target of a consumer protest against [[Electronic Arts]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Naraine |first=Ryan |url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/security/ea-spore-backlash-could-help-end-drm/1969 |title=EA Spore backlash could help end DRM |work=ZDNet |date=September 25, 2008 |access-date=April 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404053053/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/security/ea-spore-backlash-could-help-end-drm/1969 |archive-date=April 4, 2011}}</ref> Despite the poor launch publicity, ''Spore'' sold 1 million units in its first month.<ref>{{cite web |last=Quillen |first=Dustin |url=http://www.1up.com/news/spore-sales-skyrocket-million |title=Spore Sales Skyrocket Beyond One Million |publisher=1up.com |date=September 24, 2008 |access-date=April 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402183919/http://www.1up.com/news/spore-sales-skyrocket-million |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Will Wright (game designer)|Will Wright]] left Maxis in 2009, with Maxis going on to produce the poorly received spinoff ''[[Darkspore]]'' in 2011. During this time, Maxis.com redirected to the ''Spore'' website, then later once more to the website for ''The Sims''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beyondsims.com/38996/maxis-com-now-redirects-to-the-sims-franchise-site/ |title=Maxis.com Now Redirects to The Sims Franchise Site? |publisher=BeyondSims |date=February 11, 2012 |access-date=April 29, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115083228/http://www.beyondsims.com/38996/maxis-com-now-redirects-to-the-sims-franchise-site/ |archive-date=November 15, 2013}}</ref> At the 2012 [[Game Developers Conference]], EA announced a new ''[[SimCity (2013 video game)|SimCity]]'' along with a new logo for the Maxis brand. Maxis became one of four primary labels at EA, replacing the "EA Play" brand.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ea.com/labels |title=EA Company Labels l Electronic Arts |publisher=Ea.com |date=April 9, 2012 |access-date=April 29, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429152716/http://www.ea.com/labels |archive-date=April 29, 2013}}</ref> A Mobile focused Maxis studio was opened in Helsinki by EA in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ea.com/news/ea-maxis-opens-new-mobile-studio-in-finland?isLocalized=true|title=EA Maxis Opens New Mobile Studio in Finland|first=Electronic|last=Arts|date=September 27, 2012|website=Electronic Arts Inc.|access-date=December 14, 2021}}</ref> Development of ''[[The Sims]]'' continued,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/538147.page |title=Forums – Community – The Sims 3 |publisher=Forum.thesims3.com |access-date=April 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601191302/http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/538147.page |archive-date=June 1, 2013}}</ref> and Maxis branding returned in 2013 with the launch of ''[[The Sims 3: University Life]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.simified.com/2013/02/13/the-maxis-logo-returns-to-the-sims-3/ |title=The Maxis Logo Returns To The Sims 3 – Simified.com – Latest news and more for The Sims 3 & SimCity! |publisher=Simified.com |access-date=April 29, 2013}}</ref> and ''[[SimCity (2013 video game)|SimCity]]''. While Maxis were focusing on graphical improvements with the ''SimCity'' reboot, EA wanted to make the game multiplayer and always-online, in part to combat piracy. The game was subject to "one of the most disastrous launches in history", as the game was released in a highly buggy state, with server failures plaguing players, and the open regions swiftly filling with abandoned cities.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SimCity (2013) Review|url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/59266-simcity-2013-review|access-date=2021-09-09|website=GameRevolution}}</ref> Maxis would continue to support the game with patches, but it remained buggy even a year after launch. The reboot effectively ended the ''SimCity'' franchise, and was the last game to be developed by Maxis' core location in Emeryville.<ref name="Kuosmanen">{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/why-simcity-died-and-how-an-indie-developer-saved-the-city-building-genre-2163ae2f07a1|title=Why SimCity died — and how an indie developer saved the city-building genre|first=Ville|last=Kuosmanen|date=February 13, 2020|website=Medium}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-04-25-the-funny-bugs-of-simcity-post-update-2-0|title=The funny bugs of SimCity - post update 2.0|first=Wesley|last=Yin-Poole|newspaper=Eurogamer.net |date=April 25, 2013}}</ref>

=== Studio closures and layoffs (2014–2019) ===
In the wake of the ''SimCity'' launch, Maxis went through a series of layoffs and studio closures, which continued throughout the late 2010s.<ref name="Kuosmanen"/> This began with the 2014 restructure of [[EA Salt Lake]], dissolving the Maxis group that had been headquartered there.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=57473847&itype=CMSID|title=EA Salt Lake lays off part of staff|website=The Salt Lake Tribune}}</ref> A number of Maxis devs were migrated to the Redwood Shores studio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/01/30/the-sims-dev-ea-salt-lake-focusing-on-mobile-following-layoffs|title=The Sims Dev EA Salt Lake Focusing on Mobile Following Layoffs |website=Ign.com|date=January 30, 2014 }}</ref> Maxis' principal studio in Emeryville was closed in 2015, leaving only the smaller Redwood Shores team and a newly opened mobile developer in Helsinki under the Maxis name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/its-a-sim-ea-closes-simssimcity-developer-maxis|title=It's A Sim: EA Closes Sims/SimCity Developer Maxis|first=Alec|last=Meer|date=March 4, 2015|access-date=December 14, 2021|website=Rockpapershotgun.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/ea-shuts-down-simcity-developer-maxis-1689454903 |title=EA Shuts Down SimCity Developer Maxis |author=Jason Schreier |author-link=Jason Schreier|publisher=Gawker Media |work=Kotaku |date=March 4, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505092445/http://kotaku.com/ea-shuts-down-simcity-developer-maxis-1689454903 |archive-date=May 5, 2015}}</ref>

In September 2015, EA announced that the consolidated Maxis team would work alongside the [[EA Mobile]] division under Samantha Ryan. EA indicated that the "collaboration" would still see most of Maxis' future products available for [[personal computers]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-sims-boss-lucy-bradshaw-leaves-ea-after-23-yea/1100-6430880/ |title=The Sims Boss Lucy Bradshaw Leaves EA After 23 Years |first=Eddie |last=Makuch |work=[[GameSpot]] |date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=September 25, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925194616/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-sims-boss-lucy-bradshaw-leaves-ea-after-23-yea/1100-6430880/ |archive-date=September 25, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Maxis Organizational Update">{{Cite web |date=September 24, 2015 |title=Maxis Organizational Update |url=https://www.ea.com/news/maxis-organizational-update |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502170201/http://www.ea.com/news/maxis-organizational-update |archive-date=May 2, 2016 |access-date=May 19, 2016 |website=Electronic Arts}}</ref> The group was then reorganised under EA Worldwide Studios in 2016, with the rest of Salt Lake shut down in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ea.com/news/an-organizational-update |title=Organizational Update |website=Electronic Arts |date=September 13, 2016 |access-date=September 14, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916150431/http://www.ea.com/news/an-organizational-update |archive-date=September 16, 2016}}</ref> Redwood Shores faced further layoffs in 2018, which included 15-20 Maxis staff.<ref name="pcgamesn.com">{{Cite web |title=Multiple Sims developers have been let go – PCGamesN |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/the-sims-4/sims-developers-laid-off |access-date=September 20, 2021}}</ref> Development of ''[[The Sims Mobile]]'' was relocated away from the remaining Maxis developers in 2019, with [[Firemonkeys Studios|Firemonkeys]] taking over. This left continued support for ''The Sims 4'' as the sole Maxis-fronted project at EA.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ea.com/en-gb/games/the-sims/the-sims-4/news/tsm-moves-to-the-land-down-under|title=THE SIMS MOBILE MOVES TO THE LAND DOWN UNDER|website=Es.com|date=May 5, 2019 |access-date=December 14, 2021}}</ref>

The closure of Emeryville in particular—as Maxis' long-lived core location—was described by commentators as the end of Maxis as it had been known in the past, with only the brand name persisting.<ref name="kotaku.com">{{Cite web |date=March 4, 2015 |title=EA Shuts Down SimCity Developer Maxis |url=https://kotaku.com/ea-shuts-down-simcity-developer-maxis-1689454903 |access-date=2021-09-22 |website=Kotaku |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name="thegamer.com">{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2019 |title=10 Of The Saddest Game Developer Studio Closures Of The Decade |url=https://www.thegamer.com/saddest-video-game-developer-studio-closures-decade-2010s/ |access-date=December 14, 2021 |website=TheGamer.com}}</ref>

=== New studios under the ''Maxis'' brand (2019–present) ===
EA announced two new studios that would bear the Maxis name over the following years – Maxis Texas in 2019 and Maxis Europe in 2021. The announcements only came in the form of job postings on the EA careers website. The Texas team was set up at the existing EA offices in Austin to work on a new IP,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/the-sims-4/maxis-new-game|title=The Sims developer Maxis is working on its first new IP in a decade|website=PCGamesn.com|access-date=December 14, 2021}}</ref> while the Europe studio was created specifically to support ''The Sims 4''. Unlike the Texas office, Maxis Europe is a "distributed development team", composed of staff working remotely.<ref name="gamingbolt.com">{{Cite web |title=The Sims Developer Maxis Is Working On A New Unannounced IP – Gaming Bolt |url=https://gamingbolt.com/the-sims-developer-maxis-is-working-on-a-new-unannounced-ip |access-date=September 21, 2021}}</ref>

The move came amid a number of job postings at the Redwood Shores studio for a new ''The Sims'' title, as well as EA CEO Andrew Wilson hinting at an online multiplayer-focused iteration of the franchise.<ref name="maxistexas">{{Cite web|title=The Sims Developer Maxis Is Working on a New Unannounced IP - Gaming Bolt|url=https://gamingbolt.com/the-sims-developer-maxis-is-working-on-a-new-unannounced-ip|access-date=September 21, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Sims 5 in development 'for a new generation' says EA|url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/02/04/sims-5-development-new-generation-says-ea-12182361/|access-date=30 September 2021|website=Metro|date=February 4, 2020 }}</ref> In 2021, EA reaffirmed their commitment to long-term support for ''The Sims 4'', citing a "shift across the entire games industry to support and nurture our communities long-term".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Catharina Lavers Mallet takes over as Maxis boss - GamesIndustry.biz|date=April 23, 2021 |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-04-23-catharina-lavers-mallet-takes-over-as-maxis-boss|access-date=September 21, 2021}}</ref>

== Notable games ==
Maxis is regarded for its innovative [[simulation]] games, in which there is no specific goal to the player, making its games almost endless.

=== ''SimCity'' series ===
{{Main|SimCity{{!}}''SimCity''}}
''[[SimCity (1989 video game)|SimCity]]'', released in 1989, was Maxis' first release. The player is a mayor that may, at their leisure, take a city from a single village to a successful [[metropolis]], laying down zones, taking care of the public services and stimulating the city's economy. The series includes six main games (''[[SimCity (1989 video game)|SimCity]]'', ''[[SimCity 2000]]'', ''[[SimCity 3000]]'', ''[[SimCity 4]]'', ''[[SimCity Societies]]'' and ''[[SimCity (2013 video game)|SimCity]]'') and three spin-offs, ''[[Sim City: The Card Game]]'', ''[[SimCopter]]'' and ''[[Streets of SimCity]]''. ''[[SimCity Societies]]'', the fifth main release, was not produced by Maxis, but by [[Tilted Mill Entertainment]], being described as a 'social engineering simulator' and criticized for the lack of ''SimCity''{{'}}s traditional formula. In 2013, Maxis Emeryville released a reboot, simply titled ''[[SimCity (2013)|SimCity]]'', to mixed reviews, due to technical issues at launch surrounding its mandatory online connectivity.<ref name="forbes">{{cite news |author=Thier, Dave |date=March 6, 2013 |title=Maxis Working to Fix SimCity's Server Problems |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2013/03/06/maxis-working-to-fix-simcitys-server-problems/ |access-date=March 6, 2013}}</ref><ref name="GBM">{{cite web |last=Ingram |first=Shawn |date=March 6, 2013 |title=SimCity Connectivity Issues Leave Game Almost Unplayable &#124; Gotta Be Mobile |url=http://www.gottabemobile.com/2013/03/06/simcity-connectivity-issues-leave-game-almost-unplayable/ |access-date=March 6, 2013 |publisher=gottabemobile.com}}</ref> TrackTwenty (formerly Maxis Helsinki) developed ''[[SimCity: BuildIt]]'' in 2014.

=== ''The Sims'' ===
{{Main|The Sims{{!}}''The Sims''}}
Maxis' most successful series to date and one of the best-selling PC games of all time is ''[[The Sims (video game)|The Sims]]'' (2000).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/the-sims-overtakes-myst-2857556 |title=The Sims overtakes Myst |last=Walker |first=Trey |website=GameSpot |date=March 22, 2002 |access-date=March 17, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401185642/http://www.gamespot.com/news/the-sims-overtakes-myst-2857556 |archive-date=April 1, 2012}}</ref> Maxis has developed seven [[expansion pack]]s for the game, as well as an online spin-off titled ''[[The Sims Online]]''. Maxis released ''[[The Sims 2]]'' in 2004, a sequel title that features a full [[3D computer graphics|3D]] environment, as opposed to the original's [[Axonometric projection|dimetric]] engine. From 2006 to 2013, all ''The Sims'' games and expansion packs were developed by The Sims Studio, and the Maxis logo was not included on ''The Sims'' game covers until 2013, with the release of ''[[The Sims 3: University Life]]''. On May 6, 2013, it was announced that Maxis would be developing ''[[The Sims 4]]'', and the game was released internationally in September 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.edge-online.com/news/maxis-announces-the-sims-4/ |title=The Sims 4 moves into fall 2014 |work=edge-online.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511001025/http://www.edge-online.com/news/maxis-announces-the-sims-4/ |archive-date=May 11, 2013}}</ref> Maxis also developed ''[[The Sims Mobile]]'', until development was transferred to Firemonkeys in February 2019.

=== ''Spore'' ===
{{Main|Spore (2008 video game){{!}}''Spore'' (2008 video game)}}
''[[Spore (2008 video game)|Spore]]'' was released in September 2008. Players create [[species]] starting at the single [[Cell (biology)|cell]] level, and develop them into sentient [[life]]. The goal is for them to eventually gain the intelligence to create [[spacecraft|spaceships]]. The ''[[Spore Creature Creator]]'' allows users to create species for later use in the game. This is one of few Maxis' games to feature goals on its plot as the player must complete five different phases and reach the [[Spaceflight|space-traveling]] technology. There is also an ultimate goal, which is entering the galactic core, a massive [[black hole]] surrounded by a powerful and hostile [[cyborg]] species called the Grox; however, the player can stay in a single phase as long as they wish, even after completing it. The game received a critic score of 84% on [[Metacritic]], indicating generally positive reviews from critics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spore |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/spore/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |access-date=2022-09-27 |website=Metacritic |language=en}}</ref> Electronic Arts confirmed the production of expansion packs due to ''Spore''{{'}}s financial success,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18029 |title=Opinion: Is Spore 'For Everyone'? |last=Bogost |first=Ian |website=[[Gamasutra]] |date=March 31, 2008 |access-date=August 5, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019215156/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18029 |archive-date=October 19, 2012}}</ref> later releasing ''[[Spore Galactic Adventures]]'' in 2009, as well as several spin-offs such as ''[[Darkspore]]''.

== See also ==
* [[List of Sim video games]]
* [[List of Maxis games]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/maxis/index.html |title=GameSpot's SIMply Divine: The Story of Maxis Software |first=Geoff |last=Keighley |author-link=Geoff Keighley |date=1999 |website=[[GameSpot]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990508161449/http://www.gamespot.com/features/maxis/index.html |archive-date=May 8, 1999 |url-status=dead}}
* <!--this is reliable, see e.g. attestation from Ars Technica: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/05/the-sprawling-must-read-history-of-maxis-former-serious-games-division/ and the Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/25/21269612/simcity-maxis-business-simulations-department-history-simenergy-simhealth-->{{Cite news|last=Salvador|first=Phil|date=May 19, 2020|title=When SimCity got serious: the story of Maxis Business Simulations and SimRefinery|work=The Obscuritory|url=https://obscuritory.com/sim/when-simcity-got-serious/|access-date=May 19, 2020}}

== External links ==
* {{commons category-inline}}
* {{Official website|https://www.ea.com/studios/maxis}}

{{Electronic Arts}}
{{Sim series|all=yes}}
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