NuFX

❧

Wikipedia

NuFX
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
Founded1990; 35 years ago (1990)
FounderLou Haehn
Pat Quinn
DefunctFebruary 2004 (2004-02)
FateMerged into EA Chicago
Headquarters
Hoffman Estates, Illinois
,
United States
ProductsBeavis and Butthead
PGA Tour series
NBA Live series
NBA Street series

NuFX was a video game developer, headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States. The studio is known for developing the NBA Street video game series, as well as Fight Night 2004, a continuation of the Knockout Kings series. NuFX also worked on the NCAA March Madness, NBA LIVE and FIFA Soccer series. The studio was acquired by Electronic Arts in February 2004 and merged into EA's operations to create EA Chicago.

History

NuFX was founded in 1990 by Lois Haehn and Patrick Quinn, headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. By 2000, the company had more than 20 developers and had developed games for Atari, Sega, and EA.[1] In 2003, the studio began working on a new Knockout Kings game. This would eventually evolve into Fight Night 2004.[2] By 2004, NuFX had developed 15 games for Electronic Arts.[3]

After a run of success working on NBA Street, NBA Street Vol. 2, and Fight Night 2004, NuFX was acquired by Electronic Arts in February 2004.[4][5] Soon after, the company was restructured as EA Chicago. Fight Night producer Kudo Tsunoda moved from EA Vancouver to serve as the new studio's general manager. Its first project was Fight Night Round 2. By 2006, EA Chicago had expanded from 38 to 130 developers across two locations in Hoffman Estates and downtown Chicago.[6] In October 2006, Def Jam: Icon, developed by EA Chicago, was announced for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 with a March 2007 release date.[7]

In July 2007, EA announced that the Chicago team would be developing a fighting game based on Marvel Comics characters. The game was due to release in 2008.[8] However, EA Chicago faced development issues, and was ultimately shut down in November as part of an effort to reduce its workforce by 4%.[9] In a leaked internal memo, the company referenced Chicago's expansion from 49 people in 2004 to 146 people and a new facility in downtown Chicago just three years later as a factor.[10][11] other factors were the poor performance of Def Jam: Icon earlier that year and the fact that EA didn't see the studio becoming profitable until at least 2011.[12] The game was cancelled after a year and a half of development.[13] With EA looking to get out of licensed games, it terminated the deal with Marvel in January 2008.[14][15]

Soon after the closure of EA Chicago, 27 team members formed a new studio, called Robomodo. The company's first project was published by Activision.[16]

Games developed

Year Title Platform(s) Refs
1990 Rygar Atari Lynx [17]
1990 Robo-Squash [18]
1991 Hard Drivin' [19]
Xybots [20]
Turbo Sub [21]
1992 Crüe Ball Sega Genesis [22]
Hydra Atari Lynx [20]
Steel Talons [19]
Taz-Mania Game Gear [23]
1993 Super Baseball 2020 Sega Genesis [24]
Surf Ninjas Game Gear [25]
1994 MTV's Beavis and Butt-Head [26]
1995 PGA Tour 96 3DO [27]
Sega Genesis[a] [28]
1996 Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory Microsoft Windows[b] [29]
NBA Live 97 Sega Genesis [30]
SNES [31]
1997 Aaron vs. Ruth: Battle of the Big Bats Microsoft Windows [1]
PGA Tour 98 PlayStation [32]
1998 NBA Live 99 Nintendo 64 [33]
1999 NBA Live 2000 [34]
2000 NBA Live 2001 PlayStation [35]
2001 NBA Live 2002 PlayStation [36]
NBA Street PlayStation 2 [37]
2002 NBA Live 2003 PlayStation [38]
NCAA March Madness 2002 PlayStation 2 [39]
NCAA March Madness 2003 [40]
2003 FIFA Football 2004 PlayStation
NBA Street Vol. 2 GameCube [41]
PlayStation 2
Xbox
2003 NCAA March Madness 2004 PlayStation 2 [42]
2004 Fight Night 2004 PlayStation 2[c] [43]
Xbox[d] [17]

Notes

  1. ↑ Assisted Hitmen Productions
  2. ↑ Assisted Kinesoft
  3. ↑ Assisted EA Canada
  4. ↑ Assisted EA Canada

References

  1. 1 2 "NuFX". Video Game History Foundation Library. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  2. ↑ "Kudo Tsunoda". Game Informer (168): 36. April 2007 – via Video Game History Foundation Library.
  3. ↑ Thorsen, Tor (February 13, 2004). "EA absorbs NuFX". GameSpot. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  4. ↑ "NuFX Joins EA Worldwide Studios; Long-Time Development Partner on NBA STREET and EA SPORTS Fight Night 2004 Acquired by EA". Business Wire. February 13, 2004. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Data File". Game Informer (132): 32. April 2004 – via Video Game History Foundation Library.
  6. ↑ Van Zelfden, N. Evan (July 5, 2006). "Tour of Chicago - Pt. 3: EA Chicago". Game Developer. Archived from the original on 2024-12-03. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  7. ↑ "EA Announces DEF JAM: ICON for PLAYSTATION 3 and Xbox 360". ir.ea.com. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  8. ↑ "EA Chicago to Head Development on an All New Marvel Super Hero Fighting Game". ir.ea.com. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  9. ↑ Konrad, Rachel (2007-11-07). "Electronic Arts closes Chicago office". NBC News. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  10. ↑ Keighley, Geoff (November 6, 2007). "EA Confirms EA Chicago is Closing". Kotaku. Archived from the original on March 4, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  11. ↑ Androvich, Mark (2007-11-06). "EA closing Chicago studio". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  12. ↑ "Down For the Count: EA Closes Fight Night Studio". Game Informer (177): 15. January 2008 – via Video Game History Foundation Library.
  13. ↑ Hayward, Andrew (2013-03-05). "Punched out: EA's ill-fated Marvel Comics fighter". Polygon. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  14. ↑ Hatfield, Daemon (2008-01-29). "Marvel, EA Call the Whole Thing Off". IGN. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  15. ↑ Kohler, Chris. "EA, Marvel Cancel Fighting Game". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  16. ↑ Alexander, Leigh (September 29, 2008). "Interview: Activision Deal Launches New Studio For EA Chicago Vets". Game Developer. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  17. 1 2 "EA Sports Fight Night 2004". Official Xbox Magazine (29): 73. March 2004 – via The Video Game History Foundation.
  18. ↑ "Robo-Squash". Nufx.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2004. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  19. 1 2 "Gaming On the Go". VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (44): 86. September 1992 – via The Video Game History Foundation.
  20. 1 2 Fahs, Travis (2008-04-09). "Atari Lynx Buyer's Guide". IGN. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  21. ↑ "Turbo Sub". Nufx.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2004. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Crue Ball". Nufx.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2003. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Taz-Mania". Nufx.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2004. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Super Baseball 2020 (Sega Genesis) 48-Bit 1200dpi Box Scan". The Internet Archive. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Gaming On the Go". VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (55): 66. August 1993 – via Video Game History Foundation.
  26. ↑ "Previews". VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (70): 48. November 1994 – via The Video Game History Foundation.
  27. ↑ Alan, Brett. "PGA Tour 96". allgame.com. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  28. ↑ "PGA Tour 96". Nufx.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2004. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory". Nufx.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2004. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Reviews". Videogame Advisor. 2 (10): 38. October 1996 – via The Video Game History Foundation.
  31. ↑ "NBA Live 97". Nufx.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2004. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  32. ↑ "PGA Tour 1998". Electronic Gaming Monthly. 10 (101). December 1997 – via The Video Game History Foundation.
  33. ↑ "NBA Live 99". Nufx.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2003. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  34. ↑ "NBA Live 2000". PSM. 4 (29): 36. January 2000 – via The Video Game History Foundation.
  35. ↑ "NBA Live 2001". Nufx.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2004. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  36. ↑ Zuniga, Todd (February 2002). "NBA Live 2002". Official US Playstation Magazine (53): 116 – via The Internet Archive.
  37. ↑ "NBA Street". PSM. 5 (49): 37. September 2001 – via The Video Game History Foundation.
  38. ↑ "NBA Live 2003". Nufx.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2003. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  39. ↑ "PS2 Reviews". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (53): 110. February 2002 – via The Video Game History Foundation.
  40. ↑ "NCAA Basketball Roundup". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (64): 138. January 2003 – via The Video Game History Foundation.
  41. ↑ "NBA Street Vol. 2". Official Xbox Magazine (18): 82. May 2003 – via The Video Game History Foundation.
  42. ↑ "NCAA March Madness 2004". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (70): 71. July 2003 – via The Video Game History Foundation.
  43. ↑ "Fight Night 2004". PSM. 8 (84): 24. May 2004 – via The Video Game History Foundation.