Rockstar acquires Mad Doc Software

Rockstar Games has grown its stable of studios further with the acquisition of Mad Doc Software.

Massachusetts-based Mad Doc recently worked on the 360 port of Bully: The Scholarship Edition for Rockstar. The studio was established in 1999, by Dr Ian Lane Davis – the studio previously developed the likes of Star Trek: Legacy and Empire Earth II.

Mad Doc has a particular focus on AI and networking technologies and its proprietary Mad3D Game Engine and Mad AI middleware haas been available for licensing. In a statement about the acquisition, Rockstar singled out the firm’s technical expertise as a key motivation for the purchase.

"The team at Mad Doc Software is extremely talented," said Sam Houser, founder of Rockstar Games. "Bringing them within the Rockstar Games family will enhance our core technology and further support our commitment to creating progressive and innovative gaming experiences."

Davis added: "To be a part of Rockstar Games is an amazing opportunity for everyone here

"We’re eager to bring our expertise to bear in the character-driven, open-world stories that make Rockstar Games titles so uniquely compelling."

In the announcement Rockstar-owner Take Two added that the studio would be renamed to Rockstar New England.

Rockstar owns studios in Edinburgh, Leeds, London, San Diego, Vancouver and Toronto; its coporate HQ is in New York.