ACE Team is a Chilean

video game developer A video game developer is a software developer specializing in video game development – the process and related disciplines of creating video games. A game developer can range from one person who undertakes all tasks to a large business with em ...

based in

Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile (), is the capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is located in the country's central valley and is the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Regi ...

. Founded in the late 1990s by brothers Andres, Carlos and Edmundo Bordeu, the company started out by developing total conversions before turning to commercial game development. All operations were halted between 2003 and 2007 while Andres and Carlos were employed by

Wanako Games Behaviour Interactive Chile Ltda. (Behaviour Santiago; formerly Wanako Games Chile Ltda.) was a Chilean video game developer based in Santiago. The company was founded as Wanako Games in 2002, by Esteban Sosnik, Tiburcio de la Cárcova, Santiag ...

History

ACE Team was founded by brothers Andres, Carlos and Edmundo Bordeu in either 1998 or 1999. The studio name was formed from the initials of the three founders. Initially, ACE Team developed total conversions of older games, starting with ''Batman Doom'' for '' Doom II: Hell on Earth''. Other total conversions included ''ZanZan'' for ''Doom II'' and ''The Dark Conjunction'' for '' Quake III Arena''. For the latter, ACE Team hired a

programmer A programmer, computer programmer or coder is an author of computer source code someone with skill in computer programming. The professional titles Software development, ''software developer'' and Software engineering, ''software engineer' ...

, Juan Pablo Lastra. Following these releases, a scouting agency contacted ACE Team, asking whether they would consider developing commercial games, to which ACE Team agreed. The studio got a hold of LithTech Jupiter, the

game engine A game engine is a software framework primarily designed for the development of video games which generally includes relevant libraries and support programs such as a level editor. The "engine" terminology is akin to the term " software engine" u ...

also used in '' No One Lives Forever 2'', and began developing a game titled ''Zenozoik: Shattered Land'' in 2002. However, the game proved too ambitious due to the team's insufficient size and experience. By 2003, all development on ''Zenozoik'' was halted as Andres and Carlos were hired by local game developer

. During their time at Wanako Games, they met their soon-to-be company partner, David Caloguerea, and contributed to several of the studio's games, including ''

Assault Heroes ''Assault Heroes'' is an arcade-style, Shoot 'em up, top-down shooter video game developed by Wanako Games. The game has the player driving 4x4 vehicles, piloting speedboats, or proceeding on foot against enemy hordes. Players can play alone or c ...

''. However, most games developed at Wanako Games were casual games, so in 2007, Andres, Carlos and Caloguerea left Wanako Games to re-instantiate ACE Team. Development on ''Zenozoik'' continued and was moved over to the id Tech 4 engine, then to Source. By recommendation from

Valve A valve is a device or natural object that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid (gases, liquids, fluidized solids, or Slurry, slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically Pip ...

, the developers of Source, ''Zenozoik'' was retitled '' Zeno Clash''. The original ''Zenozoik'' prototype was scrapped and never released, with ''Zeno Clash'' was handled as a spiritual successor to that prototype. Leading up to the release of ''Zeno Clash'', ACE Team released the browser game ''The Malstrums Mansion'' on

April Fools' Day April Fools' Day or April Fool's Day (rarely called All Fools' Day) is an annual custom on the 1st of April consisting of practical jokes, hoaxes, and pranks. Jokesters often expose their actions by shouting "April Fool " at the recipient. ...

, 2009. ''Zeno Clash'' was first released on 21 April 2009, self-published by ACE Team for

Microsoft Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...

. A sequel, '' Zeno Clash 2'', was announced shortly thereafter. Retail releases of ''Zeno Clash'' came by hand of publishers Tripwire Interactive and Iceberg Interactive in February 2010 and March 2010, respectively. ACE Team co-operated with publisher

Atlus USA is a Japanese video game developer, video game publisher, publisher, Arcade game, arcade manufacturer and distribution company based in Tokyo. A subsidiary of Sega, the company is known for the ''Megami Tensei'', ''Persona (series), Persona'' ...

to release an

Xbox 360 The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the Xbox (console), original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detail ...

port of the game with additional features, titled ''Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition'', in 2010. ACE Team continued working with Atlus USA for their next game; originally referred to internally as ''Boulder'', Atlus USA christened that game '' Rock of Ages'' and released it 2011.

Games developed

References

External links

* {{Atlus 1997 establishments in Chile Companies based in Santiago, Chile Indie game developers Video game companies established in 1997 Video game companies of Chile Video game development companies Privately held companies of Chile