Maxis
From SporeWiki, the knowledge base dedicated to Spore
Maxis Software was founded as a video game developer and is now a brand name of Electronic Arts (EA). Its initial software title was the seminal SimCity, a city simulation and planning game. Maxis is also the creator of the best-selling computer game of all time, The Sims. These two titles and their related products are the brand's most popular and successful lines.
Most Maxis titles are simulation-based, though none are considered traditional simulations. Maxis founder Will Wright likens them to "digital playgrounds." Maxis has also released games developed by other production houses, such as A-Train, sometimes with less than stellar results.
Contrary to popular myth, the company's name was not based on the words "six AM" spelled backwards. Rather, it was derived from a formula suggested by Jeff Braun's father: computer game companies should have two-syllable names and should include an 'x'.
[edit] Maxis's Presentation and Marketing of Spore
In March of 2005, Will Wright, head of Maxis, showed off Spore publicly for the first time. He did so in a GDC presentation vaguely titled "The Future of Content". No public mention of Spore being shown was announced prior to the presentation, taking most spectators by surprise. Initially after the presentation no images of Spore were available, but soon after someone leaked images of Spore online, in a Viral Marketing campaign over the next several months.
Spore's Next public appearance was at E3 in May. This time the showing of the game was announced, but the game was to be shown behind closed doors at the conference. The presentation of the game was reported to have been very similar to the GDC presentation.
