2015

2015, Inc. was an American video-game development company established in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in May 1997 by Tom Kudirka. The studio became part of the development network around the late-1990s PC shooter market and built its early reputation through work connected to Ritual Entertainment. Its first credited release was Sin Mission Pack: Wages of Sin, an expansion for Ritual's Sin, released in 1999. The company expanded beyond contract and expansion-pack work with projects such as Laser Arena and CIA Operative: Solo Missions, released under its Trainwreck Studios division. Trainwreck was introduced in 2000 as a label for lower-priced games intended for a broader audience. The division's projects contrasted with 2015's larger-scale action productions and gave the company a way to pursue smaller or more accessible releases. 2015's most prominent project was Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, developed for Electronic Arts after DreamWorks and its Medal of Honor interests sought an external development partner. Released in 2002, the World War II first-person shooter received strong critical and commercial attention and sold approximately 1.5 million copies within its first year, according to the cited reference material. The project also produced a major organizational break: most of the development team left around the time of release. Vince Zampella and Jason West subsequently helped establish Infinity Ward, which recruited many former 2015 employees. The departures led to litigation between Kudirka and Zampella that was later settled. After Allied Assault, 2015 developed Men of Valor, a first-person action game for Windows and Xbox released in 2004. It did not achieve the same commercial performance as Allied Assault. The company reduced staff in 2005, and Kudirka dissolved the original operation for a period before returning to game development. Later work continued through Trainwreck Studios and a new Tornado Studios division. In 2008, Kudirka announced private funding described in contemporary reporting as several million dollars, allowing Tornado to pursue casual, console, mobile, and digitally distributed games while 2015 continued to target action titles. The later portfolio included Time Ace, Powerbike, Project Runway, and Fun with Death. Time Ace was released by Konami in 2007, while Powerbike and Project Runway were released under the Trainwreck Studios name in 2009 and 2010 respectively. Project Runway was based on the television franchise after Atari licensed the name. Tornado Studios also worked on Fun with Death for iOS and planned Anomaly for personal computers and PlayStation 3, although the available reference does not establish a final release for Anomaly. The company’s later corporate status is unclear from the supplied material. In 2015, Nordic Games acquired the Men of Valor intellectual property. By 2017, Kudirka had returned to Omaha and created vGolf, a mixed-reality golf simulator business. The available sources do not provide a confirmed current website, ownership structure, operating status, or comprehensive list of releases after this period.

Tom Kudirka founded 2015 in Tulsa in May 1997 after earlier work in business information systems, electronics, field engineering, and multimedia ventures. He recruited developers online, with Zied Rieke identified as the company's first hire. Through Kudirka's relationship with Ritual Entertainment chief executive officers and staff, 2015 obtained work on Wages of Sin, an expansion for Sin. The expansion shipped in February 1999 and gave the young studio an early commercial credit. The company announced Trainwreck Studios in April 2000. This division was intended to produce budget-priced games for a wider audience. Its first release, Laser Arena, arrived in September 2000 and was designed around accessibility, including playability for Kudirka's young son. CIA Operative: Solo Missions followed in May 2001. During this period the company also worked on larger projects, including Heavy Gear Extreme, which was ultimately listed among its canceled projects. A reported Half-Life expansion, Hostile Takeover, was scheduled for 2000 but was canceled by Sierra Entertainment. Around the same period, 2015 was introduced to Steven Spielberg after Kudirka contacted id Software about another project. Spielberg's DreamWorks organization had explored a PC follow-up to Medal of Honor and chose to work with an external developer. In May 2000, 2015 began development of what became Medal of Honor: Allied Assault. Allied Assault became the studio's defining release. The World War II first-person shooter was released in 2002 and was both critically and commercially successful. However, shortly before release, development leadership changes and discussions involving Electronic Arts were followed by the departure of most of the team. Vince Zampella and Jason West later founded Infinity Ward, and that studio recruited many former 2015 employees. Kudirka sued Zampella; the dispute was ultimately settled. The episode substantially changed 2015's staffing and its position in the developer market. In January 2003, Vivendi Universal Games announced Men of Valor, a Windows and Xbox title developed by 2015. By March of that year the company reportedly employed 39 people, with John Whitmore serving as director of development. Men of Valor was released in 2004 but did not replicate Allied Assault's commercial results. After unsuccessful attempts to secure additional publishing agreements, 2015 laid off an unspecified number of staff in March 2005. Kudirka later dissolved the company and moved to Florida, although he returned to game development after deciding to continue in the industry. Trainwreck Studios subsequently released Time Ace through Konami Digital Entertainment in June 2007. In September 2008, Kudirka announced new private funding and the formation of Tornado Studios. Tornado initially focused on casual games, including projects for Wii, while the broader 2015 operation continued to pursue action games. By March 2009, Tornado had approximately 15 employees and was preparing Powerbike, released through Majesco in April under the Trainwreck label. Project Runway, first conceived as World of Fashion, followed in March 2010 after Atari licensed the television brand. Tornado also released Fun with Death for iOS in November 2010 and worked on Anomaly for PC and PlayStation 3, though the supplied material does not confirm its final release. Nordic Games bought the Men of Valor intellectual property in April 2015. By 2017, Kudirka had returned to Omaha and established vGolf, a mixed-reality golf simulator venture. The sources supplied for this entry do not establish whether 2015, Inc. remains active as a legal entity.

1. 2015Men of Valor intellectual property is sold

   Nordic Games acquires the Men of Valor intellectual property from 2015.

   Source
2. 2008Tornado Studios is established

   New private funding supports a division focused on casual, console, mobile, and digital games.

   Source
3. 2004Men of Valor launches

   2015 releases its next major action title for Windows and Xbox.

   Source
4. 2002Medal of Honor: Allied Assault is released

   The company's major World War II shooter reaches the market and becomes its best-known commercial success.

   Source
5. 2000Trainwreck Studios division opens

   2015 launches Trainwreck Studios to develop lower-priced games for broader audiences.

   Source
6. 1999Wages of Sin is released

   The company releases Sin Mission Pack: Wages of Sin, developed as an expansion connected to Ritual Entertainment's Sin.

   Source
7. 19972015, Inc. is founded in Tulsa

   Tom Kudirka establishes the independent game developer in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

   Source

An independent American game developer that combined high-profile PC and console action projects with smaller-budget and casual releases developed through affiliated studio labels.

• Sin Mission Pack: Wages of SinPC game expansion1999

  An expansion for Ritual Entertainment's Sin and 2015's first credited release. It was produced through the company's early relationship with Ritual and shipped in February 1999.

• Laser ArenaBudget PC game2000

  The first game released through Trainwreck Studios. It was designed as an accessible, lower-priced title intended to reach a broad audience and was released in September 2000.

• CIA Operative: Solo MissionsBudget PC game2001

  A Trainwreck Studios title released in May 2001 as part of 2015's effort to develop smaller, budget-oriented games alongside larger action projects.

• Medal of Honor: Allied AssaultFirst-person shooter2002

  A World War II first-person shooter developed for Electronic Arts. Released in 2002, it became 2015's signature project and sold approximately 1.5 million copies in its first year according to the cited reference.

• Men of ValorFirst-person shooter2004

  A military action game developed for Windows and Xbox and released in 2004. It followed Allied Assault but was not as commercially successful.

• Time AceAction game2007

  A game developed under the Trainwreck Studios name and released by Konami Digital Entertainment in June 2007.

• PowerbikeCasual game2009

  A casual-oriented project developed through the later studio structure and released through Majesco in April 2009 under the Trainwreck Studios name.

• Project RunwayFashion and lifestyle game2010

  Originally developed under the working title World of Fashion, the game was renamed after Atari licensed the Project Runway television brand. It was released in March 2010.

• Fun with DeathMobile game2010

  A game released for iOS devices by Tornado Studios in November 2010, reflecting the company's later interest in mobile and self-published digital distribution.

• AnomalyPC and console game

  A planned project for personal computers and PlayStation 3 through PlayStation Network. The supplied reference describes it as partially complete in 2010 but does not confirm a final release.

• 2008Expand into casual and digital games through Tornado StudiosStrategy

  After the company's earlier restructuring, Tom Kudirka announced new private investment and a plan to pursue additional game categories.

  What changed. 2015 opened Tornado Studios to develop casual games, including Wii projects, while maintaining an action-game development capability.

  Aftermath. The division moved toward mobile and digital distribution, producing projects including Fun with Death and the planned Anomaly.

  Private investment. Several million dollars (2008)

  Source
• 2000Create Trainwreck Studios for budget gamesStrategy

  2015 was developing larger action games but also wanted a broader and more accessible product range.

  What changed. The company opened Trainwreck Studios as a division focused on lower-priced games for a wider audience.

  Aftermath. The label released Laser Arena, CIA Operative: Solo Missions, Time Ace, Powerbike, and other smaller projects.

  Source

• 2015Nordic Games acquires Men of Valor intellectual property

  Nordic Games purchased the Men of Valor intellectual property from 2015.

  M&A
  Source
• 2008Tornado Studios opens with private investment

  Kudirka announced that private investors had provided several million dollars in funding, enabling the creation of Tornado Studios for casual, console, and digitally distributed games.

  Other
  Source
• 20052015 reduces staff after Men of Valor

  The company laid off an unspecified number of employees after Men of Valor failed to match the commercial performance of Allied Assault. Kudirka denied that the company was closing at that time.

  Other
  Source
• 2003Men of Valor announced as 2015's next major game

  Vivendi Universal Games announced Men of Valor, a Windows and Xbox action game in development by 2015.

  Product launch
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• 2002Most of the Allied Assault development team leaves 2015

  Around the release of Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, 20 of the studio's 27 employees reportedly resigned. Many later joined Infinity Ward.

  Leadership changeOther
  Source
• 2002Kudirka files and settles lawsuit related to employee departures

  Tom Kudirka brought legal action against Vince Zampella after the team departures and the creation of Infinity Ward. The dispute was later settled in connection with Activision's acquisition of a minority stake in Infinity Ward.

  Lawsuit
  Source
• 20002015, Inc. begins development of Medal of Honor: Allied Assault

  The Tulsa developer began work on a new Medal of Honor project after being selected as an external development partner for the franchise's PC follow-up.

  Product launch
  Source

1. 2015 (company)