Daydream Software

{{Short description|Swedish video game developer and publisher}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox company | name = Daydream Software | logo = Daydream Software AB Company Logo.png | caption = | type = Public | foundation = November 1994 | defunct = 2011 | location = Umeå, Sweden | key_people = {{Unbulleted list|Jan Phersson-Broberg|Erik Phersson|Nigel Papworth}} | area_served = | industry = Video games<br>Poker | products = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | num_employees = | parent = | subsid = | homepage = | footnotes = }} '''Daydream Software''' was a Swedish video game developer and publisher founded in 1994. In July 2006, they renamed to 24hPoker Holding AB,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2006-07-15 |title=Daydream |url=http://www.daydream.se/swe/index.php |access-date=2024-08-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060715053141/http://www.daydream.se/swe/index.php |archive-date=15 July 2006 }}</ref> and in 2007, to Entraction Holding AB and changed their operation to poker.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=24hPoker Holding AB to change name to Entraction Holding AB. - Free Online Library |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/24hPoker+Holding+AB+to+change+name+to+Entraction+Holding+AB.-a0172531769 |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=www.thefreelibrary.com}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Euro Poker News: 24hPoker Undertakes Restructuring - European Poker News |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/2570-euro-poker-news-24hpoker-undertakes-restructuring |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=www.cardplayer.com}}</ref> In May 2011, they were taken over by International Game Technology.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2012-12-14 |title=Offizielles Aus des Entraction Poker Netzwerk |url=https://www.pokerfirma.com/news/international-game-technology-igt-poker-network-entraction/156643 |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=PokerFirma |language=de-DE}}</ref>

== History == === Early years (1994–1996) === Daydream Software was established in November 1994 in Umeå, Sweden.<ref name=prospect /> Its founding members were Jan Phersson-Broburg, Erik Phersson, Jörgen Isaksson, Nigel Papworth and Leif Holm. All but Papworth were employees of Sombrero AB,<ref name=umea /> a local computer services company co-founded by Isaksson and the Phersson brothers in 1993.<ref name=background>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000408143424/http://www.daydream.se/background/daydream.html| url=http://www.daydream.se/background/daydream.html | title=Background | archivedate=8 April 2000 | publisher=Daydream Software | url-status=dead }}</ref> Daydream initially formed for the purpose of making ''Safecracker'', a project conceived earlier in 1994 by Papworth and Isaksson, influenced by ''Myst'' and the board game ''Mastermind''. The company's founders chose to make nonviolent gameplay their guiding principle in ''Safecracker'' and all future titles. Daydream soon obtained a handshake deal with publisher Warner Music Sweden for ''Safecracker'', but this arrangement fell through shortly after. However, the ''Safecracker'' plan was revived during the 1994 Christmas party at Daydream's new office space, when the team was contacted by Warner Interactive Entertainment (WIE) about the game.<ref name=umea />

[[File:Flygbild konstcampus 131 1283 130722 bsb-Älven.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.35|Daydream Software was among Sweden's earliest major computer game companies, and was the only game developer in Umeå (pictured) by 1996.]]

Following a period of negotiations,<ref name=pomo /> Daydream signed with WIE in March 1995,<ref name=prospect /><ref name=background /> as part of a three-year, multi-title deal set to run until March 1998.<ref name=umea /><ref name=prospect /> Funding was provided via an advance against royalties of 2.5 million kr; Daydream was set to earn 50 kr per unit sold, while Warner retained all revenues for the first 50,000 sales of the game.<ref name=prospect /><ref name=dn /> In retrospect, Papworth felt that Daydream was "lucky" to have joined the game industry when it did, as many of "the big record companies" were entering the computer game business with low standards as to the content they financed.<ref name=granade>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010219104347/http://interactfiction.about.com/games/interactfiction/library/chat/bltraitorsgatechat.htm | url=http://interactfiction.about.com:80/games/interactfiction/library/chat/bltraitorsgatechat.htm | title=Chat With The ''Traitors Gate'' Team | date=8 April 2000 | author=Granade, Stephen | work=About.com | archivedate=19 February 2001 | url-status=dead | access-date=19 July 2019 }}</ref> ''Safecracker'' had a tumultuous production, starting when GT Interactive bought initial publisher Warner Interactive Europe.<ref name=pomo>{{citation|title=Developers Postmortem: Safecracker|url =http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/features/590/| work = www.adventureclassicgaming.com|accessdate = 29 July 2013}}</ref>

=== Public offering and expansion (1997–2000) === Daydream Software went public in late 1996.<ref name=umea>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821192105/https://www.umea.se/arkiv/langaartiklar/artiklar/daydreamomettforetagforesintid.5.30ef415915f7bdea1ee1ecec.html | trans-title=Daydream – about a company before its time|language=sv|url=https://www.umea.se/arkiv/langaartiklar/artiklar/daydreamomettforetagforesintid.5.30ef415915f7bdea1ee1ecec.html | title=Daydream – om ett företag före sin tid | author=Staff | publisher=Umeå | archivedate=21 August 2018 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=dn>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821193309/http://www.dn.se/arkiv/jobb/nyemission-for-umeaforetag-daydream-far-in-20-miljoner-spelet-safecracker-mot-internationell-marknad/ | url=https://www.dn.se/arkiv/jobb/nyemission-for-umeaforetag-daydream-far-in-20-miljoner-spelet-safecracker-mot-internationell-marknad/ | title=Nyemission för Umeåföretag. Daydream får in 20 miljoner. Spelet "''Safecracker''" mot internationell marknad | date=12 December 1996 | author=Lindstrand, Niclas | work=Dagens Nyheter | archive-date=21 August 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref> The company's goal was to increase its economic and decision-making freedom, and to secure the ability to select a publisher at the end of each game's development rather than at the beginning.<ref name=dn /> President Jans Phersson-Broburg argued that self-financing Daydream's future games with money from Swedish investors, instead of obtaining "funding linked to specific projects" from publishers, would offer the developer more stability, flexibility and room for growth.<ref name=prospect>{{cite report | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030810121650/http://www.daydream.se/finans/prospekt/prospekt.pdf | url=http://www.daydream.se:80/finans/prospekt/prospekt.pdf | title=Inbjudan till förvärv av aktier i Daydream Software AB | date=26 November 1996 | archivedate=10 August 2003 | publisher=Daydream Software | url-status=dead | access-date=19 July 2019 }}</ref> For Daydream's public launch, roughly 20 million kr worth of shares, or 45.5% of the company, were offered to investors in Sweden.<ref name=dn /> The initial public offering was a success,<ref name=wsj>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://archive.today/20180821192859/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB960323277576143223 | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB960323277576143223 | title=Back in the Game? | author=Latour, Almar | date=13 June 2000 | work=The Wall Street Journal | archivedate=21 August 2018 | url-status=live | access-date=26 August 2018 }}</ref> and Daydream opened on the Stockholm Stock Exchange's Stockholm Börsinformation (SBI) list in January 1997.<ref name=prospect2002>{{cite report | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030810105927/http://www.daydream.se/finans/prospekt/DD_Prospekt.pdf | url=http://www.daydream.se:80/finans/prospekt/DD_Prospekt.pdf | title=Inbjudan till förvärv av aktier i Daydream Software AB [publ] | date=6 June 2002 | publisher=Daydream Software | archivedate=10 August 2003 | url-status=dead | access-date=19 July 2019 }}</ref> Daydream was eventually able to buy back the rights to ''Safecracker''.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

Their next title would be ''Traitors Gate'' (a game initially pitched to GT Interactive in 1996), an adventure game using an interface similar to ''Safecracker'' but with an espionage theme. The game was released in 1999 and (as with ''Safecracker'') was published by DreamCatcher Interactive. The game received mostly positive reviews,<ref>{{citation|title=Traitors Gate MobyRank|url =http://www.mobygames.com/game/traitors-gate/mobyrank| work = www.mobygames.com|accessdate = 30 July 2013}}</ref> and proved a financial success for the company, selling over 300,000 copies.<ref name="pomo" />

Daydream's next game was a more ambitious title called ''Clusterball'', a futuristic sports game released in late 2000 for PC computers after a successful run as a downloadable title on Real.com. The game garnered mixed to positive reviews<ref>{{citation|title=Clusterball MobyRank|url =http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/clusterball/mobyrank| work = www.mobygames.com|accessdate = 30 July 2013}}</ref> but low sales for the company.<ref>{{citation|title=Clusterball (Game)|url =http://www.giantbomb.com/clusterball/3030-18217/| work = www.giantbomb.com|accessdate = 30 July 2013}}</ref>

=== Final years (2001–2003) === Their next project was ''Ski-Doo: X-Team Racing'', a snowmobile racing game. The title was released by Simon & Schuster Interactive in 2001 for PC computers. The game received little media attention.

In 2003, the company announced ''Campfire: Become Your Nightmare'', for the Microsoft Xbox and Sony PlayStation 2 consoles. It was dubbed as a "reverse survival horror game" (similar to Rockstar's ''Manhunt'' and 505 Games' ''Naughty Bear'') that put the player in the role of a serial killer on a campground.<ref name="Campfire Preview">{{citation |title=Campfire Preview |date=3 November 2003 |work=www.ign.com |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/11/03/campfire |accessdate=30 July 2013}}</ref> The game was inspired by slasher films of the 1970s and 1980s. However, the game received little press other than a live-action trailer and concept artwork. It was cancelled in 2004 for unknown reasons.<ref>{{citation|title=Campfire [PS2/XBOX – Cancelled]|url =http://www.unseen64.net/2010/04/15/campfire-ps2-xbox-cancelled/| work = www.unseen64.net|date =15 April 2010|accessdate = 30 July 2013}}</ref> The rights to ''Campfire'' were eventually sold first to Gamefederation and then to Nordic VFX Company AB in 2007 with a planned release around Halloween 2009 for mobile phones, PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.<ref>{{citation |title="Campfire: Become Your Nightmare" Slasher Game |work=www.softpedia.com |date=13 July 2007 |url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Campfire-Become-Your-Nightmare-Slasher-Game-59771.shtml |accessdate=30 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Contributor |first=GamesIndustry biz |date=2007-07-12 |title=Gamefederation divests of Campfire IP to Nordic VFX Company |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gamefederation-divests-of-campfire-ip-to-nordic-vfx-company |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}</ref> That version was also never heard of again.

== Renaming == Up to 2006 Daydream Software developed and published different mobile games. In 2006 they renamed themself to 24hPoker Holding AB.<ref name=":0" /> They moved their operations to online gambling. One year later they announced another renaming to Entraction Holding AB.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> In May 2011 they were taken over by International Game Technology.<ref name=":3" />

Most employees moving on to form a new development company: '''Resolution Interactive''', which focused on iPhone games.<ref>{{citation|title=Resolution Interactive AB|url =http://www.mobygames.com/company/resolution-interactive-ab| work = www.mobygames.com|accessdate = 30 July 2013}}</ref> The company filed for bankruptcy in 2012.<ref>{{citation|title=Resolution Interactive (Company)|url =http://www.giantbomb.com/resolution-interactive/3010-7085/| work = www.giantbomb.com|accessdate = 30 July 2013}}</ref>

== Associated titles == Most of Daydream Software's games were continued by other companies later. *''Safecracker'' received an unrelated sequel for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii, as well as PC computers in 2006 by The Adventure Company called ''Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure''. *''Traitors Gate 2: Cypher'' was released in 2003, also by The Adventure Company. The game is unrelated to the original and, unlike its predecessor, the game was universally panned by critics. *''Clusterball'' received a sequel, originally titled ''Clusterball 2'' and renamed ''Clusterball Arcade'', for the iPhone in 2008.<ref>{{citation|title='Clusterball Arcade' Lands on the iPhone|url =http://toucharcade.com/2008/10/23/clusterball-arcade-lands-on-the-iphone/| work = www.toucharcade.com|date =23 October 2008|accessdate = 30 July 2013}}</ref>

== Games developed == *''Safecracker'' (1997) *''Traitors Gate'' (1999) *''Clusterball'' (2000) *''Ski-Doo: X-Team Racing'' (2001) *''Happy Tree Friends: Spin Fun'' (2005)<ref>{{cite web | title=Happy Tree Friends | url=http://www.daydream.se/htf/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050508045252/http://www.daydream.se/htf/ | archive-date=8 May 2005 }}</ref> *''Botfighters''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-12-10 |title=BotFighters |url=http://botfighters.com/ |access-date=2024-08-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051210072802/http://botfighters.com/ |archive-date=10 December 2005 }}</ref> *''Bouncy''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-12-25 |title=Bouncy |url=http://www.daydream.se/bouncy/index.php |access-date=2024-08-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051225035209/http://www.daydream.se/bouncy/index.php |archive-date=25 December 2005 }}</ref> *Netbaby Grand Prix Ghosting Version<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-05-22 |title=Daydream |url=http://www.daydream.se/swe/sub.php?submenu=submenu/produkter&contents=content/produkter/netbabygp/index |access-date=2024-08-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060522131043/http://www.daydream.se/swe/sub.php?submenu=submenu/produkter&contents=content/produkter/netbabygp/index |archive-date=22 May 2006 }}</ref> *''Campfire: Become Your Nightmare'' (cancelled)

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == *[https://web.archive.org/web/20030326060938/http://www.daydream.se/ Official site] (archived)

Category:Defunct video game companies of Sweden Category:Video game companies established in 1994 Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2004 Category:Companies based in Västerbotten County Category:Swedish companies established in 1994 Category:2004 disestablishments in Sweden Category:Umeå Category:20th-century establishments in Västerbotten County