and continued to produce similar simulation tools, but eventually closed down in 1998. In 1994, Maxis decided to let this division go on its own MBS rebranded itself as Thinking Tools Inc. Among works developed under this included SimRefinery for the Chevron Corporation, and SimHealth for the Markle Foundation.
To support this, Maxis bought a small company, Delta Logic, and its owner John Hiles, who had been focused on more immediate business simulation software, and rebranded it as Maxis Business Simulations (MBS) for this work.
Around 1992, Maxis was approached by corporations and government agencies who wanted the company to use the same system simulation principles of SimCity to develop non-game simulations that they could manipulate for similar planning purposes. One of the unintended successes of SimCity was recognition of the means to gamify the intersection of multiple real-world systems that could be used for planning and development, such as using SimCity-type simulations for urban planning. Following the broad success of SimCity 2000, Maxis moved from Orinda, California, to Walnut Creek in 1994. To name the company, Braun required that the name was "from 5-7 letters, mean nothing, be easy to remember and contain a x,z or q" the name "Maxis" was presented by Braun's father.
#Sims 4 without origin series#
The SimCity series became a staple for the company and spawned multiple sequels and spin-offs. The title went on to become one of the most popular and successful video games of all time. Before then, the game was only available on a limited basis on the Commodore 64 due to few publishers showing any interest in porting a non-traditional game without definite "win" and "lose" conditions. Maxis was founded in 1987 by Will Wright and Jeff Braun to help publish SimCity on home computers.