This is an article about the games software company. For information about the astronomical phenomenon, see Ion storm.

Ion Storm Inc. (sometimes spelled ION Storm) was a Texas based developer of computer games that was founded by John Romero and Tom Hall in Dallas in 1996. Ion Storm was comprised of ex-id Software employees.

The company was divided into two branches: the main office in Dallas, and another office in Austin. The expensive Dallas office sat on the 54th and top floor of the most exclusive building in the city and produced the commercially unsuccessful Anachronox and Daikatana games. Romero, who headed the Dallas offices, was widely criticised for the extravagance of the operation compared to the eventual output. The Austin branch, however, was more successful — under Warren Spector, it developed the highly successful and critically acclaimed Deus Ex with a staff gathered in part of ex-Looking Glass Studios employees.

Romero and Hall left the company after producing Anachronox in July 2001. Later that year, Eidos Interactive, owner of Ion Storm, closed the Dallas offices. The Austin office remained open, led by Spector until his departure to "pursue personal interests outside the company" in 2004. A number of other senior staff also left at about the same time. On 9 February 2005, Eidos announced that the Austin office would also close, meaning the end of Ion Storm as a company.

Games by Ion Storm

• Daikatana — (2000) (PC, N64, Game Boy Color), produced by the Dallas branch, led by John Romero
• Deus Ex — (2000) (PC, Playstation 2), produced by the Austin branch
• Anachronox — (2001) (PC), produced by the Dallas branch, led by Tom Hall
• Deus Ex: Invisible War — (2003) (PC, Xbox), produced by the Austin branch
• Thief: Deadly Shadows — (2004) (PC, Xbox), produced by the Austin branch

External links

• Ion Storm homepage