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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Astraware Limited
Astraware creates software for Microsoft Pocket PCs and Smartphones as well as Palm OS PDAs and the Apple iPod. It is based in Keele.
Astraware was founded in the United Kingdom by current CEO, Howard Tomlinson and Chief technical officer, David Oakley in 1993. At that time they wrote software for the Atari ST. Their first successful software released was the DeskTracker tracker. This was followed by their first commercial success, their StormTracker music editor.
In 1995 Astraware released their first PC game called "Bzzz!" -- A game where you play a frog with insects buzzing around you and have to click on the insects to activate the frog's tongue to catch them for points and bonus combos.
1998 saw Astraware move to developing games for the Palm OS platform and saw the critically acclaimed "Zap!2000" Shoot 'em up game. It was one of the first colour games released on the Palm OS platform on the Palm IIIc.
In the Spring of 2000, Astraware was incorporated as Astraware Limited and Howard and David both left their jobs to concentrate on their new company.
They released the first two-player Bluetooth game, "Biplane Ace" after demoing it at the PalmSource developer conference in 2001.
Astraware's first licensed title was Bejeweled, a PopCap Games title. It was also their first Pocket PC title though it was initially called Diamond Mine on the platform. Bejeweled was a huge success topping all PDA game charts for a long time. It has only been surpassed by "Bejeweled 2" and "Astraware Sudoku".
In December 2001 Astraware launched their own online store and in 2002 moved into their own premises, hiring full-time support staff. Their offices reside in the Keele University Science Park in the Midlands, UK.
Two of their major successes in the programming field are their technology systems, including their Core Technology Library and their Common Games Library which allowed easier cross-platform production. Their Aurora Audio Library allows playing of tracker tunes on each of their supported platforms.
Most of the music in Astraware games is created by Adelaide, Australia-based Yannis Brown of Groovy Audio. They are mostly created using ModPlug Tracker and Impulse Tracker.
Astraware often license games from PopCap Games and GameHouse, among others.
Before release Astraware's games are tested by a group of beta testers, who discuss the software on Astraware's forums.
On January 7, 2008, Handmark and Astraware announced a new business relationship, in which Astraware will become part of the Handmark family.Through the new relationship, Astraware will expand its existing UK games development studio to develop new high profile licenses as well as continuing work on original titles. In addition to Palm OS and Windows Mobile, Astraware will release their first titles for Symbian S60 and UIQ in the first quarter of 2008, and will add games for BlackBerry devices later in the year.
