Editing PF.Magic

{{Short description|American video game developer}}
'''PF.Magic, Inc.''' was a [[video game developer]] founded in 1991 and located in [[San Francisco, California]], United States. Though it developed other types of [[video game]]s, it was best known for its [[virtual pet]] games, such as ''[[Dogz]]'' and ''[[Petz|Catz]]''. The company was able to make extra revenue by selling plush toys under the Petz trademark.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pfmagic.com/toy.htm|title=Plush Toy Petz|date=October 11, 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19971011045522/http://www.pfmagic.com/toy.htm |archive-date=1997-10-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.allbusiness.com/manufacturing/miscellaneous-mfg-doll-toy-games-games/6873052-1.html |title=Dogz and Catz Dash Past 1.5 Million Mark;PF.Magic's Virtual Petz Brand Established as Leader... - BusinessWire 1998 |access-date=2009-07-29 |archive-date=2010-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322233053/http://www.allbusiness.com/manufacturing/miscellaneous-mfg-doll-toy-games-games/6873052-1.html |url-status=live}}</ref> It was bought out in 1998 by [[Mindscape Group|Mindscape, Inc.]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.petz.com/pfm/index.htm|title=Petz.com|date=May 8, 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990508062902/http://www.petz.com/pfm/index.htm |archive-date=1999-05-08}}</ref> After changing hands a few more times, [[Ubisoft]] now owns the [[copyright]] on its ''[[Petz]]'', ''[[Oddballz]]'' and ''[[Babyz]]'' titles.

One of PF.Magic's earliest efforts was the 1994 video game ''[[Ballz]]'', [[video game publisher|published]] by [[Accolade, Inc.|Accolade]]. The innovative game featured main characters composed completely of [[sphere]]s. This early game failed in the marketplace, though it would inspire many of their following games, such as ''Petz''.

PF.Magic's designer and programmer, Andrew Stern, created an experimental project with Michael Mateas and others for five years. The project became ''[[Façade (interactive story)|Façade]]'', a freeware game in which the player interacts with a couple whose ten-year marriage is in trouble.

==History==
PF.Magic was born out of a failed hardware venture with [[AT&T]] and [[Sega]] to build a [[Sega Genesis]] accessory called "The Edge", which was to allow for [[online multiplayer]] over telephone lines. AT&T pulled out of the venture due to the cost of the device, leaving the company with half their initial funding.<ref name=Gamasutra>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/the-replay-interviews-rob-fulop|last=Donovan|first=Tristan|date=March 23, 2011|title=The Replay Interviews: Rob Fulop|publisher=UBM|work=Gamasutra|access-date=March 16, 2024|archive-date=August 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823234041/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/134686/the_replay_interviews_rob_fulop.php|url-status=live}}</ref> The company's predecessor was Interactive Productions, a company Fulop had founded in Foster City after his stints at [[Atari, Inc.|Atari]] and [[Imagic]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wallis |first=Alistair |date=November 23, 2006 |title=Playing Catch Up: Night Trap's Rob Fulop |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/playing-catch-up-i-night-trap-i-s-rob-fulop |access-date=2023-09-02 |website=[[Game Developer (website)|Game Developer]] |language=en |archive-date=2023-09-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902181724/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/playing-catch-up-i-night-trap-i-s-rob-fulop |url-status=live}}</ref>

With their hardware project cancelled, the company needed a new product to work on. Co-founder [[Rob Fulop]] saw the controversy generated by ''[[Night Trap]]'', a game he worked on, and wanted to make something that was the complete opposite of it. Fulop talked with a [[mall Santa]] who told him that the number one gift children requested for Christmas was still a puppy. After this conversation, the idea of doing a title about animals came about, resulting in ''Petz'', which was based on the graphics technology they previously used in ''Ballz''. ''Petz'' was an enormous success, became one of the company's flagship products and has been credited with popularizing [[virtual pet]]s.<ref name=Gamasutra />

==Selected titles==
=== Ballz ===
{{Main|Ballz}}
''Ballz'' is a two-player 3D action fighting game for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]], and the [[3DO Interactive Multiplayer|3DO]]. It was developed by PF.Magic and published by [[Accolade, Inc.|Accolade]] in 1994. The 3DO version was released as a director's cut in 1995. ''Ballz'' offered three difficulty levels over a total of 21 matches. Its distinguishing quality was that each of the characters were composed completely of balls, with a pseudo-3D look.

=== Petz ===
{{Main|Petz|Dogz and Catz}}
''Petz'' (''Dogz'' and ''Catz'') is a series of games dating back to 1995, designed by Adam C. Frank<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://web.stanford.edu/class/sts129/Alife/html/Creatures.htm|title=Creatures|access-date=2024-03-16|archive-date=2021-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618180106/https://web.stanford.edu/class/sts129/Alife/html/Creatures.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and Ben Resner. The player can adopt, raise, care for and breed their own [[virtual pet]]s. The original ''Petz'' has sold over 3 million copies worldwide, and the brand has grown to over 22 million copies since coming under [[Ubisoft]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ubisoft 2010-11 H1 Earnings Presentation|url=http://www.ubisoftgroup.com/gallery_files/site/270/1042/2349.pdf|access-date=2024-03-16|archive-date=2010-11-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121230140/http://www.ubisoftgroup.com/gallery_files/site/270/1042/2349.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

The player starts at the Adoption Center and chooses a Dogz or Catz to adopt of a Breedz and gender of their choice. Once the player has found a Petz, the user can adopt and name the new Puppyz or Kittenz. After around three days (real time) the Petz become adults. Adult Petz can then breed and have Kittenz or Puppyz of their own in ''Petz 3'', ''Petz 4'', and ''Petz 5''. Cross-breeding can create different types of Petz, called 'Mixed Breeds'.

=== ''Oddballz'' ===
{{main|Oddballz}}
''Oddballz'' is a [[virtual pet]] game created by PF.Magic in 1996<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/home/986155.html |title=Oddballz for PC - GameFAQs |access-date=2024-03-16 |archive-date=2010-03-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325091914/http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/home/986155.html |url-status=live}}</ref> as an alternative to their ''Dogz'' and ''Catz'' titles. The game had 13 creatures that could be cared for. Along with the creatures, the game has various objects ('toyz') that the player and Oddballz can manipulate. Toyz have different uses ranging from playing to disciplining.

=== Babyz ===
{{Main|Babyz}}
''Babyz'' is a [[computer game]] in which one can play with and take care of a group of [[infant|babies]] who live in a virtual house on the [[computer]]. The game was released in 1999 by [[The Learning Company]], developed by members of PF.Magic working there at the time.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.pfmagic.com/ Archived versions of the defunct PFMagic.com website]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/company/pf-magic PF.Magic profile] from [[MobyGames]]

=== Oddballz ===
* [http://www.oddballz.co.uk/ Oddballz.co.uk]
* {{moby game|id=/oddballz-your-wacky-computer-petz|name=''Oddballz: Your Wacky Computer Petz''}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Defunct video game companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 1991]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in California]]
[[Category:Companies based in San Francisco]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in California]]