Klei Entertainment
Klei Entertainment Inc. (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>) is an independent video game developer located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Klei was formed in July 2005 by Jamie Cheng. They are best known for Eets series, Shank series, Mark of the Ninja, Don't Starve, Invisible, Inc. and Oxygen Not Included.
History
Jamie Cheng founded Klei Entertainment in July 2005.<ref name=":0" /> Prior to the formation of Klei, Cheng worked as a specialist AI programmer at Relic Entertainment, then owned by THQ.<ref name="gamasutra igf">Template:Cite web</ref> Cheng acquired seed funding for Klei by selling his THQ shares earned at Relic and getting a $10,000 loan from his brother.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Klei had 11 employees in 2009<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and as of May 2013 has grown to 35 employees.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
Their first title, Eets was first released March 27, 2006, for Microsoft Windows,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> then for Mac OS X on December 9, 2010.<ref name="mac release">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Between those two releases the game was ported to the Xbox 360 via the Xbox Live Arcade platform and released on April 25, 2007. Retitled Eets: Chowdown, this version featured 120 new levels and an action minigame called Marsho Madness.<ref name="kotaku announce">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="xbla">Template:Cite web</ref>
The company assisted with Slick Entertainment's N+, the Xbox Live Arcade port of the Adobe Flash game N.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2008 Klei developed Sugar Rush, a casual massively multiplayer online game.<ref name="Kotaku">Template:Cite web</ref> They announced in late August 2010, that development had stopped and the game was canceled.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The company's fourth original title, Shank, was announced at Penny Arcade Expo 2009.<ref name="Shankhandon-GSpot">Template:Cite web</ref> It was released on August 24, 2010, for the PlayStation 3, August 25, 2010, for the Xbox 360 and October 26, 2010, on for Microsoft Windows.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Klei's survival adventure game Don't Starve was released on April 23, 2013. Don't Starve was released in a 2-for-1 beta format on Steam, allowing players to purchase two copies of the game for the price of one. Before being officially self-published, Klei sold more than 300,000 copies of Don't Starve at $15 each.<ref name=":0" /> On April 21, 2016, Klei released a stand-alone multiplayer version of Don't Starve called Don't Starve Together, which has regular updates and individual downloadable content.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On July 2, 2013, it was announced that their next release would to be titled Invisible, Inc., a turn-based espionage game released on May 12, 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2017, Klei Entertainment acquired Slick Entertainment. Slick founder Nick Waanders and Jamie Cheng previously worked together at Relic Entertainment, which established a working relationship that later allowed the companies to merge.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Culture
The video game industry is infamous for long hours and unpaid overtime, with little protection for employees. Co-founder Jamie Cheng thought that type of culture was not only unhealthy but less productive than a company where employees live balanced lives.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> He built Klei with the theory that game studios can make popular, interesting games with a reasonable budget on normal hours at a fair price and still be successful.<ref name=":1" /> Since then, Klei has gained a reputation in the video game industry as a successful studio that treats its employees well and maintains balance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Games developed by Klei Entertainment
| Year | Title | Platform(s) | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Eets | Mac OS X, Windows, Xbox 360 | ||
| 2008 | N+ | PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS | Engine only | |
| 2010 | Sugar Rush | Windows | Cancelled | |
| 2010 | Shank | Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | ||
| 2012 | Shank 2 | Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | ||
| 2012 | Mark of the Ninja | Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, Xbox 360 | ||
| 2013 | Don't Starve | Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Wii U, iOS, Android | ||
| 2014 | Eets Munchies | Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, iOS | ||
| 2015 | Invisible, Inc. | Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, PlayStation 4, iOS | ||
| 2016 | Don't Starve Together | Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | ||
| 2017 | Oxygen Not Included | Linux, Mac OS X, Windows | ||
| 2018 | Mark of the Ninja: Remastered | Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch | ||
| TBA | Griftlands | Windows | ||
| TBA | Hot Lava | Linux, Mac OS X, Windows |
