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{{Short description|British video game developer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Relentless Software
| logo = Relentless-logo 256x93.png
| type =
| founder = David Amor Andrew Eades
| defunct = 2016
| fate = Closed
| key_people = Andrew Eades (chief executive officer) Bruce Heather (chief technical officer)
| industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]]
| products = ''[[Buzz!]]''
| owner =
| num_employees = 30-50
| homepage = [http://www.relentless.co.uk/ relentless.co.uk]
| foundation = 2003
| location_city = [[Brighton]], [[East Sussex]], [[England]]
| location_country = [[United Kingdom]]
}}
'''Relentless Software''' was a British [[video game developer]] based in [[Brighton]]. Founded in 2003, the company was best known for developing most games in [[Sony Interactive Entertainment|Sony]]'s ''[[Buzz!]]'' series from 2005 to 2010. Relentless released its first self-published title, ''[[Blue Toad Murder Files]]'' on PC and PSN in 2009 and ''Quiz Climber Rivals'', for iPhone in 2011. Relentless has also developed ''Air Band'' and ''Mutation Station'', for the ''[[Kinect Fun Labs]]'' series. In 2012 it released ''[[Kinect Nat Geo TV]]'', after which co-founder David Amor left the studio. In 2014 the studio released ''Murder Files: The Enigma Express'' on [[iOS]], [[Google Play]], [[Google Chrome]] and [[Kindle Fire]]. In 2016, the studio was shut down. The studio was working on an unannounced title for [[PlayStation 4]] and [[Xbox One]] prior to its closure.

== History ==
Relentless Software was founded in 2003 by David Amor & Andrew Eades, who had previously worked together at the Brighton office of Computer Artworks.<ref name="InsideGameDesign"/>

Computer Artworks had been in the process of creating a [[Disc jockey|DJ]] simulation game for [[Sony Computer Entertainment#Internal organization|Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE)]], but the company went into receivership in October 2003<ref name="Artworks">
{{cite web
| title = Computer Artworks goes into receivership| work = [[Eurogamer]]
| date = 24 October 2003| url = http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=53590
| access-date = 13 August 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041231144513/http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=53590| archive-date = 31 December 2004| url-status = live}}
</ref> before the title could be completed. Amor and Eades persuaded SCEE that they could set up a company and complete the DJ project for them. Much to their shock, SCEE agreed and Relentless was set up just 36 hours after their meeting with SCEE.<ref name="InsideGameDesign">{{cite book| last = Simons| first = Iain| author-link = Iain Simons| title = Inside Game Design| publisher = Laurence King Publishing| year = 2007| isbn = 978-1-85669-532-9| pages = [https://archive.org/details/insidegamedesign0000simo/page/107 107–113]| url = https://archive.org/details/insidegamedesign0000simo/page/107}}</ref>

The company name arose from Amor & Eades ambition to develop video games in a different way to the perceived norms of the industry. They wanted development to be a steady flow of work rather than the more normal cycle of a slow start leading to a project ending with long "[[Game programming#Crunch time|crunch]]" periods. They typed ''unstoppable'' into an online thesaurus and of the synonyms returned they chose Relentless as the company name.<ref name="InsideGameDesign"/>

Whilst Relentless were completing work on the [[Disc jockey|DJ]] simulator - that had by now been named ''DJ: Decks & FX'' - they also carried out the conversion of an SCEE published title, ''[[EyeToy: Groove]]'', for the Japanese market. ''DJ: Decks & FX'' was released in September 2004 and was nominated in the audio category of the 2004 BAFTA awards.<ref name="Bafta2004"/> More conversion work for SCEE followed, with the conversion of ''[[SingStar|SingStar Popworld]]'' for the Swedish and Norwegian markets.

===''Buzz!'' (2004 - 2010)===
{{main|Buzz!}}

In 2004 SCEE were approached by a company called SleepyDog who had secured the rights to a large number of music tracks and wanted Sony to use them as the basis of a quiz game.<ref name="InsideGameDesign"/> SCEE approached Relentless and asked them to design a quiz game using the music that Sleepydog had the rights for.
Relentless ditched the idea Sony had presented them with, a board game on a screen, and instead developed the game along the lines of the player being in a TV studio, actually taking part in a TV quiz show. ''[[Buzz!: The Music Quiz]]'' was released in the run-up to Christmas 2005. Initially the game sold poorly, so poorly that Sony considered cancelling further titles in the series, but over Christmas sales dramatically picked up, so much so that ''Buzz!: The Music Quiz'' eventually sold over 1 million copies.<ref name="Sales">{{cite web| last = Elliott| first = Phil| title = David Amor - Still Buzzing| work = [[Gamesindustry.biz]]| date = 24 April 2008| url = http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/david-amor-still-buzzing| access-date = 13 August 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080801210801/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/david-amor-still-buzzing| archive-date = 1 August 2008| url-status = live}}</ref>

A sequel, ''[[Buzz! The Big Quiz]]'' quickly followed in March 2006 and its sales kept it in the PlayStation 2 UK top 20 for a whole year.<ref name="PS2Top_Twenty">{{cite web| title =Buzz!: The BIG Quiz| url =http://www.relentless.co.uk/games/?product=buzzbigquiz| access-date =13 August 2008| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20081227100842/http://www.relentless.co.uk/games/?product=buzzbigquiz| archive-date =27 December 2008| url-status =live}}</ref> In July 2006 Relentless and SCEE were joint winners of two Develop Industry awards. Winning ''Best New Intellectual Property'' for ''Buzz!'' and the Best Innovation category for the [[Buzz!#Buzz! Buzzers|Buzz buzzers]].<ref name="Develop_Awards">{{cite web| last = Loveday| first = Samantha| title = Big night for development talent| publisher = developmag.com| date = 13 July 2006| url = http://www.developmag.com/news/1175/Big-night-for-development-talent| access-date = 13 August 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080329160358/http://www.developmag.com/news/1175/Big-night-for-development-talent| archive-date = 29 March 2008| url-status = live}}</ref> Greater recognition arrived later in the year at the BAFTA Video Games awards, where ''Buzz! The Big Quiz'', won the BAFTA award for ''Best Casual and Social Game''.<ref name="Bafta2006">{{cite web| title = Games Nominations 2006| publisher = [[BAFTA]]| year = 2006| url = http://www.bafta.org/awards/video-games/nominations/?year=2006| access-date = 1 February 2006| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081220123035/http://www.bafta.org/awards/video-games/nominations/?year=2006| archive-date = 20 December 2008| url-status = live}}</ref>

Further Buzz! titles followed in 2007, along with an educational version of the series. Relentless had been trialling an educational version of Buzz! in schools and after a successful trial a full version - ''[[Buzz!: The Schools Quiz]]'' - was developed in association with the UK Government's [[Department for Education and Skills (United Kingdom)|Department for Education and Skills (DfES)]], with the game's 5,000 questions being based on the Key Stage 2 Curriculum that covers children between the ages of 7 and 11 years.<ref>{{cite web | last = Bramwell | first = Tom | title = Buzz!: The Schools Quiz | work = [[Eurogamer]]| date = 11 January 2007| url = http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=90450| access-date =11 January 2007}}</ref>

In total Relentless developed 13 titles in the ''Buzz!'' series which accumulated total sales of over 10 million.<ref name="Edge_Relentless"/>

===Self-publishing (2009 - 2013)===

In 2009 Relentless repositioned the company so that as well as developing for external publishers it would also publish its own titles as well. July 2009 saw Relentless announce their first self-published game, ''[[Blue Toad Murder Files]]''. The episodic game was released for the PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Store in December 2009.<ref>{{cite web |author=Robert Purchese |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/relentless-reveals-non-buzz-venture |title=Relentless reveals non-Buzz! venture PlayStation 3 News - Page 1 |publisher=Eurogamer.net |date=14 July 2009 |access-date=29 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927175045/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/relentless-reveals-non-buzz-venture |archive-date=27 September 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.relentless.co.uk/news/?id=75 |title=Relentless Software |publisher=Relentless.co.uk |access-date=29 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803214128/http://www.relentless.co.uk/news/?id=75 |archive-date=3 August 2009}}</ref> Along with the release of a PC version at a later date. The 1-4 player game leans towards TV murder mysteries with "witnesses, alibis [and] motives" rather than being a logic puzzle like [[Cluedo]].<ref>{{cite web|first= Keith|last= Stuart|title= Tech Weekly: Develop videogames conference special|url= https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/audio/2009/jul/21/tech-weekly-podcast-develop-video-games-eidos-braben|work= The Guardian|format= Podcast|date= 1 July 2009|access-date= 31 July 2009|quote= "Cluedo's quite, sort of a logic puzzle really. We were kind of looking to recreate the kind of experience that people are used to with seeing TV shows like Midsomer Murders, Agatha Christie type stuff where there are witnesses, alibis, motives, more that kind of style."|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131004222043/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/audio/2009/jul/21/tech-weekly-podcast-develop-video-games-eidos-braben|archive-date= 4 October 2013|url-status= live}}</ref> As of July 2012, the game had sold over half a million copies, with the free episodes taking the downloaded total to 827,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.relentless.co.uk/news/latest/latest/we-love-blue-toad/ |title=We love Blue Toad! |publisher=Relentless.co.uk |date=24 January 2012 |access-date=24 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730172627/http://www.relentless.co.uk/news/latest/latest/we-love-blue-toad/ |archive-date=30 July 2012}}</ref>

Relentless returned to its quiz heritage with its next title, ''Quiz Climber'', an iPhone game that was released in July 2011<ref name=Quiz_Climber>{{cite web |author=Robert Purchese |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-02-16-relentless-software-reveals-quiz-climber |title=Relentless Software reveals Quiz Climber News - iPhone - Page 1 |publisher=Eurogamer.net |date=16 February 2011 |access-date=5 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908183847/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-02-16-relentless-software-reveals-quiz-climber |archive-date=8 September 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> and renamed and updated in December 2011 as ''Quiz Climber Rivals''. It pits players against friends in a test of knowledge. Correctly answering as many consecutive questions as possible to climb the quiz tree, with questions growing in difficulty the further players progress.

The game was Relentless' first title following its restructuring to a digital release only, multi-platform developer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vg247.com/2011/02/16/report-relentless-lays-off-20-staff-following-restructure/ |title=Report – Relentless lays off 20 staff following restructure |publisher=VG247 |date=16 February 2011 |access-date=5 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816123124/http://www.vg247.com/2011/02/16/report-relentless-lays-off-20-staff-following-restructure/ |archive-date=16 August 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2011 Relentless announced a deal with [[PlayJam]] to create content for their TV based gaming network.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/34583/Buzz_Developer_Relentless_Signed_For_PlayJam_TV_Games.php |title=News - Buzz! Developer Relentless Signed For PlayJam TV Games |publisher=Gamasutra |date=10 May 2011 |access-date=5 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109162055/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/34583/Buzz_Developer_Relentless_Signed_For_PlayJam_TV_Games.php |archive-date=9 November 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Relentless released two titles for Microsoft's ''[[Kinect Fun Labs]]'' series in 2011. ''Air Band'' (formally known as ''Music in Motion'') is an augmented reality gadget that allows users to play virtual musical instruments.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stuart |first=Keith |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2011/aug/19/gamescom-2011-microsoft |title=Gamescom 2011: Microsoft Kinect and dashboard goodies | Technology | guardian.co.uk |work=The Guardian|date=19 August 2011 |access-date=5 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313024730/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2011/aug/19/gamescom-2011-microsoft |archive-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> The second title ''[[Mutation Station]]'' is set in a mad scientist's lab and uses morphing of the Kinect video feed to transform players' appearances.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.relentless.co.uk/games/mutation-station/ |title=Relentless Software |publisher=Relentless.co.uk |access-date=24 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719004024/http://www.relentless.co.uk/games/mutation-station/ |archive-date=19 July 2012}}</ref>

In 2012 Relentless announced ''[[Kinect Nat Geo TV]]'' which combines National Geographic wildlife films with interactive entertainment using Kinect.<ref>{{cite web |last=Batchelor |first=James |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/press-releases/read/kinect-nat-geo-tv/091234 |title=Kinect Nat Geo TV | games industry | MCV |publisher=Mcvuk.com |date=27 June 2012 |access-date=24 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310124802/http://www.mcvuk.com/press-releases/read/kinect-nat-geo-tv/091234 |archive-date=10 March 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Self-publishing (2013 - 2016)===

After the release of Kinect Nat Geo TV, co-founder David Amor left the studio. In 2014, Relentless released Murder Files: The Enigma Express on [[iOS]], [[Google Play]], [[Google Chrome]] and [[Kindle Fire]]. [[The Trace (video game)|The Trace]] for iOS and Google Play was also released.

==Company culture==
Relentless was notable amongst video game developers in that it never had a [[Video game development#Release schedules and "crunch time"|crunch]] period during the development of its games.<ref name="Edge_Relentless">{{cite web| title = FEATURE: Relentless, Buzz! and Social Gaming| work = edge-online.com| date = 8 May 2008| url = http://www.next-gen.biz/features/feature-relentless-buzz-and-social-gaming| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130115050749/http://www.next-gen.biz/features/feature-relentless-buzz-and-social-gaming| url-status = dead| archive-date = 15 January 2013| access-date = 13 August 2008}}</ref> The company used to operate on a 9 to 5 basis with no overtime or weekend working.<ref name="GI_Biz_Crunch">{{cite web| last = Fahey| first = Rob| title = Focus: Relentless puts its finger on the Buzz!| publisher = gamesindustry.biz| date = 10 November 2005| url = http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/focus-relentless-puts-its-finger-on-the-buzz| access-date = 12 August 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080523150748/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/focus-relentless-puts-its-finger-on-the-buzz| archive-date = 23 May 2008| url-status = live}}</ref>

== Games ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
|-
|2004
|''[[DJ Decks & FX]]''
|-
|2005
|''[[Buzz!: The Music Quiz]]''
|-
|2006
|''[[Buzz!: The Big Quiz]]''
|-
|rowspan=2|2007
|''[[Buzz!: The Mega Quiz]]''
|-
|''[[Buzz!: The Hollywood Quiz]]''
|-
|rowspan=5|2008
|''[[Buzz!: The Schools Quiz]]''
|-
|''[[Buzz!: The Pop Quiz]]''
|-
|''[[Buzz!: Quiz TV]]''
|-
|''[[Buzz!: Master Quiz]]''
|-
|''[[Buzz!: Brain Bender]]''
|-
|rowspan=3|2009
|''[[Buzz!: Brain of the UK|Buzz!: Brain of...]]''
|-
|''[[Buzz!: Quiz World]]''
|-
|''[[Blue Toad Murder Files]]''
|-
|rowspan=2|2010
|''[[Buzz!: The Ultimate Music Quiz]]''
|-
|''Buzz!: Quiz Player''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.relentless.co.uk/games/buzz-quiz-player/ |title=Relentless Software |publisher=Relentless.co.uk |access-date=24 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905042034/http://www.relentless.co.uk/games/buzz-quiz-player/ |archive-date=5 September 2012}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=3|2011
|''Quiz Climber Rivals''
|-
|''[[Air Band]]''
|-
|''[[Mutation Station]]''
|-
|2012
|''[[Kinect Nat Geo TV]]''
|-
|2013
|''Murder Files''
|-
|2014
|''Murder Files: The Enigma Express''
|-
|2015
|''[[The Trace (video game)|The Trace]]''
|}

===Awards===

*2006 [[BAFTA]] for ''Buzz!: The Big Quiz''. Casual and Social Game category<ref name="Bafta2006"/>
*2006 Develop Award in conjunction with SCEE in the category Best New Intellectual Property for Buzz!<ref name="Develop_Awards"/>
*2006 Develop Award in conjunction with SCEE in the category Best Innovation for Buzz buzzers<ref name="Develop_Awards"/>

===Nominations===
*2004 BAFTA Nomination in Audio category for''DJ Decks & FX: House Edition''<ref name="Bafta2004">{{cite web| title = Bafta Games Nominations 2004: Audio category| publisher = [[BAFTA]]| year = 2004| url = http://www.bafta.org/awards/video-games/nominations/?year=2004| access-date = 13 March 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110525124145/http://www.bafta.org/awards/video-games/nominations/?year=2004| archive-date = 25 May 2011| url-status = live}}</ref>
*2007 Develop Award Nomination for Business Development
*2007 Develop Award Nomination for Independent Developer

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.relentless.co.uk Relentless company website]
*[http://www.thetracegame.com "The Trace" game website]
*[http://www.bluetoadmurderfiles.co.uk/ ''Blue Toad Murder Files'' website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20121113160545/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/quiz-climber-free/id434593301?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo=4 Quiz Climber]
*[http://www.relentless.co.uk/games/kinect-air-band Air Band]

{{Buzz! video games}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Companies based in Brighton and Hove]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 2003]]
[[Category:Defunct companies of England]]
[[Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2016]]
[[Category:Defunct video game companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Video game development companies]]
[[Category:2016 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:2003 establishments in England]]

Relentless Software - Revision history

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