Davilex Software BV, trading as Davilex Games, was a video game developer and publisher located in Houten, Utrecht, Netherlands. A subsidiary of Davilex International, they are most well known for their Racer franchise of Racing video games.
History Davilex Games was formed in 1986. The company initially released PC software including accounting and edutainment programs before expanding to the video game market. Their Racer series of racing games were sold as budget titles and were top-sellers in the countries where they were sold. Autobahn Rasers sales in the German market totaled 103,000 units from January through September 1998, which made it the region's sixth-best-selling computer game during that period. In February 1999, Autobahn Rasers computer version received a "Gold" award from the Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland (VUD), indicating sales of at least 100,000 units across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. London Racer and London Racer II, released in the United Kingdom, sold over 600,000 copies in the UK.
In April 2001, the company signed a pan-European distribution deal with Infogrames for Europe Racer. This followed an existing distribution deal the two companies held for France and Belgium.https://web.archive.org/web/20011024033138/http://www.davilex.com/press/pressArticle.asp?ID=13 A distribution deal for North America followed in November.https://web.archive.org/web/20011216094220/http://www.davilex.com/press/pressArticle.asp?ID=29
In May 2002, the company signed a licensing deal with Universal Studios Licensing to develop and publish games based on Knight Rider, forming Devilex's debut in the licensed game realm.https://web.archive.org/web/20030618061111/http://www.davilex.com/press/pressRelease.asp?PressReleaseID=27 The company expanded its licensing agreement with Universal to publish a game based on Miami Vice in January 2004.https://web.archive.org/web/20040603104532/http://www.davilex.com/press/pressRelease.asp?PressReleaseID=46
In January 2003, the company announced that it would restructure to become a publisher only and close down its internal development studio.https://web.archive.org/web/20040603100903/http://www.davilex.com/press/pressRelease.asp?PressReleaseID=40
Davilex Games ceased operations after 2005 following a string of unprofitable games and poor reception.Lenting, T. (2019), Gamegeschiedenis van Nederland 1978-2018. Karel van Mander Academy: Arnhem, p. 42-43. Lenting, T. (2023), De mythe van Davilex Games. Karel van Mander Academy: Arnhem.
Games Year Title Developer(s) Platform(s) Alternate titles Note(s) 1993 Inspecteur Banaan en de ontvoering van Mabella Davilex Games Microsoft Windows Inspector Banana and the kidnapping of Mabella (English) 1996 A2 Racer N/A Released only in the Netherlands RedCat: Rekenen: De Razende Rekenrace 1997 RedCat Spookkasteel 1998 A2 Racer II Autobahn Racer: Ohne Regeln gnadenlos über deutsche Autobahnen (Germany) Released in the Netherlands and Germany 1999 A2 Racer III: Europa Tour Autobahn Racer II: Mit Vollgas über Original-Strecken Deutschlands heizen! (Germany)M25 Racer (UK)London Racer (UK, re-release)Paris-Marseille Racing (France) 2000 PlayStation Autobahn Racer II: Mit Vollgas über Original-Strecken Deutschlands heizen! (Germany)London Racer (UK)Paris-Marseille Racing (France) Vakantie Racer Microsoft Windows Urlaubs Raser (Germany)Holiday Racer (UK) A2 Racer: De Politie Slaat Terug! Autobahn Raser III: Die Polizei schlägt zurück! (Germany) Released in the Netherlands and Germany Amsterdam Monster Madness Invasion Deutschland (Germany)AmsterDoom (UK) 2001 Europe Racing Davilex Games Microsoft Windows Europa Raser (Germany)Europe Racer (UK)Euro Racer (Spain)Europe Crazy Racing (Italy) Inverse Entertainment PlayStation Grachten Racer Davilex Games Microsoft Windows Speedboat Raser Europa (Germany)Speedboat Racer Europe (UK) Casino Mogul Cat Daddy Games Casino Tycoon (US) Select European releases, others are published by Monte Cristo 2002 A2 Racer Goes USA! Davilex Games Microsoft Windows USA Raser (Germany)USA Racer (UK)USA Racing (France)US Racer (US) Inverse Entertainment PlayStation Davilex Games PlayStation 2 Autobahn Raser IV: Mit Vollgas durch die Innenstadt Davilex Games Microsoft Windows London Racer II (UK)Paris-Marseille Racing II (France) Was not released in the Netherlands, unlike prior entries Inverse Entertainment PlayStation Davilex Games PlayStation 2 Knight Rider: The Game Microsoft Windows K2000: The Game (France) PlayStation 2 2003 A2 Racer: World Challenge Microsoft Windows Autobahn Raser: World Challenge (Germany)London Racer: World Challenge (UK)Paris-Marseille Racing: Edition Tour du Monde (France) Last main entry to be released in the Netherlands PlayStation 2 Beach King: Stunt Racing Microsoft Windows Beach King Stunt Raser (Germany)Beach King: Stunt Racer (UK)Bikini Beach: Stunt Racer (US) PlayStation 2 2004 Autobahn Raser: Das Spiel zum Film PlayStation 2 N/A Video game adaptation of the film based on the Racer series, released only in Germany Knight Rider: The Game 2 Microsoft Windows K2000: La Revanche de Kitt (France) PlayStation 2 Amsterdam Taxi Madness Team6 Game Studios Microsoft Windows Taxi Raser (Germany)Taxi Racer (UK) 112 Reddingshelikopter Davilex Games Rettungshelicopter 112 (Germany)112 Rescue helicopter (UK) 2004 Miami Vice Atomic Planet Entertainment Microsoft Windows N/A PlayStation 2 Xbox 2005 Autobahn Raser: Destruction Madness Davilex Games Microsoft Windows London Racer: Destruction Madness (UK)Paris-Marseille Racing: Destruction Madness (France) PlayStation 2 Autobahn Raser: Police Madness Microsoft Windows London Racer: Police Madness (UK)Paris-Marseille Racing: Police Madness (France) PlayStation 2 SAS: Anti Terror Force Atomic Planet Entertainment Microsoft Windows GSG9 Anti-Terror Force (Germany)GIGN: Anti-Terror Force (France) PlayStation 2 Red Baron Microsoft Windows N/A PlayStation 2
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