Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Underground Development
open-in-new
<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>Z-Axis was founded by David Luntz in 1994,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> originally located in <a href="/facts/San_Mateo%2c_California/JpnCprVs">San Mateo, California</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> On May 22, 2002, <a href="/facts/Activision/NmDDD1wW">Activision</a> announced that they had acquired Z-Axis in exchange for a payment of US$20.5 million in cash and stock, and up to 93,446 additional shares in Activision linked to the studio's performance.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> At the time, the studio was located in <a href="/facts/Hayward%2c_California/ycM80bBN">Hayward, California</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> In February 2008, Z-Axis was rebranded as Underground Development.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p><p>Activision reported in April 2008 that they were closing Underground Development, which had the time had under 45 employees in a <a href="/facts/Foster_City%2c_California/tNyvUg4R">Foster City, California</a> office, at the end of the coming May.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> The studio was fully closed on February 12, 2010.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="games-developed-as-z-axis">Games developed as Z-Axis</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Platform(s)</th></tr><tr><td>1996</td><td><i><a href="/facts/Madden_NFL_%252796/msBCrlSR">Madden NFL '96</a></i></td><td><a href="/facts/Sega_Genesis/7GuPYDhM">Sega Genesis</a></td></tr><tr><td>1998</td><td><i><a href="/facts/Fox_Sports_College_Hoops_%252799/8QsS3Auv">Fox Sports College Hoops '99</a></i></td><td><a href="/facts/Nintendo_64/p1rI4VQ2">Nintendo 64</a></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">1999</td><td><i><a href="/facts/Alexi_Lalas_International_Soccer/74XnNtTe">Alexi Lalas International Soccer</a></i></td><td><a href="/facts/PlayStation_1/z1vlbrvo">PlayStation</a>, <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows/bwhAhuSL">Microsoft Windows</a>, <a href="/facts/Game_Boy_Color/ewfPtCNQ">Game Boy Color</a></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/List_of_Space_Invaders_video_games/eYxU6CxE">Space Invaders</a></i></td><td><a href="/facts/PlayStation_(console)/z1vlbrvo">PlayStation</a>, <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows/bwhAhuSL">Microsoft Windows</a>, <a href="/facts/Nintendo_64/p1rI4VQ2">Nintendo 64</a></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Thrasher_Presents_Skate_and_Destroy/5djdd9GW">Thrasher Presents Skate and Destroy</a></i></td><td><a href="/facts/PlayStation_(console)/z1vlbrvo">PlayStation</a></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2000</td><td><i>Freestyle Motocross: McGrath vs Pastrana</i></td><td><a href="/facts/PlayStation_(console)/z1vlbrvo">PlayStation</a></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Dave_Mirra_Freestyle_BMX_(video_game)/1yTqvDQF">Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX</a></i></td><td><a href="/facts/PlayStation_(console)/z1vlbrvo">PlayStation</a>, <a href="/facts/Game_Boy_Color/ewfPtCNQ">Game Boy Color</a>, <a href="/facts/Dreamcast/jdPb5uBX">Dreamcast</a>, <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows/bwhAhuSL">Microsoft Windows</a></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2001</td><td><i><a href="/facts/Dave_Mirra_Freestyle_BMX%3a_Maximum_Remix/1yTqvDQF">Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX: Maximum Remix</a></i></td><td><a href="/facts/PlayStation_(console)/z1vlbrvo">PlayStation</a></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Dave_Mirra_Freestyle_BMX_2/Ka85gQRf">Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2</a></i></td><td><a href="/facts/PlayStation_2/gbFBT7AX">PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="/facts/GameCube/acH9qVxz">GameCube</a>, <a href="/facts/Game_Boy_Advance/oRJksVAa">Game Boy Advance</a>, <a href="/facts/Xbox_(console)/2FuQrJeX">Xbox</a></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2002</td><td><i><a href="/facts/Aggressive_Inline_(video_game)/wHxaEIv7">Aggressive Inline</a></i></td><td><a href="/facts/PlayStation_2/gbFBT7AX">PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="/facts/GameCube/acH9qVxz">GameCube</a>, <a href="/facts/Game_Boy_Advance/oRJksVAa">Game Boy Advance</a>, <a href="/facts/Xbox_(console)/2FuQrJeX">Xbox</a></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/BMX_XXX/hRBz29zH">BMX XXX</a></i></td><td><a href="/facts/PlayStation_2/gbFBT7AX">PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="/facts/GameCube/acH9qVxz">GameCube</a>, <a href="/facts/Xbox_(console)/2FuQrJeX">Xbox</a></td></tr><tr><td>2006</td><td><i><a href="/facts/X-Men%3a_The_Official_Game/SnVKbTp4">X-Men: The Official Game</a></i></td><td><a href="/facts/PlayStation_2/gbFBT7AX">PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="/facts/Xbox_(console)/2FuQrJeX">Xbox</a>, <a href="/facts/Xbox_360/dYlE3mL5">Xbox 360</a></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Cancelled</td><td><i>Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 3</i><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a></td><td><a href="/facts/PlayStation_2/gbFBT7AX">PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="/facts/GameCube/acH9qVxz">GameCube</a>, <a href="/facts/Xbox_(console)/2FuQrJeX">Xbox</a></td></tr><tr><td><i>Iron Man</i><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a></td><td><a href="/facts/PlayStation_2/gbFBT7AX">PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="/facts/GameCube/acH9qVxz">GameCube</a>, <a href="/facts/Xbox_(console)/2FuQrJeX">Xbox</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="games-developed-as-underground-development">Games developed as Underground Development</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Platform(s)</th></tr><tr><td>2009</td><td><i><a href="/facts/Guitar_Hero%3a_Van_Halen/gftPfP5g">Guitar Hero: Van Halen</a></i></td><td><a href="/facts/PlayStation_2/gbFBT7AX">PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="/facts/PlayStation_3/obhuo97V">PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="/facts/Wii/BxUgl2da">Wii</a>, <a href="/facts/Xbox_360/dYlE3mL5">Xbox 360</a></td></tr><tr><td>Cancelled</td><td><i><a href="/facts/Call_of_Duty/HxndDMlr">Call of Duty: Devil's Brigade</a></i><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a></td><td><a href="/facts/Xbox_360/dYlE3mL5">Xbox 360</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Nutt, Christian (January 4, 2008). "Q&A: Nunchuck Games' Luntz On Testing His Ninja Reflex". gamasutra.com. Retrieved August 11, 2018. <a href="https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/107632/QA_Nunchuck_Games_Luntz_On_Testing_His_Ninja_Reflex.php" target="_blank">https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/107632/QA_Nunchuck_Games_Luntz_On_Testing_His_Ninja_Reflex.php</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>IGN Staff (February 18, 1998). "Z-Axis Dunks High". ign.com. Retrieved August 11, 2018. <a href="http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/02/19/z-axis-dunks-high" target="_blank">http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/02/19/z-axis-dunks-high</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"Activision Acquires Dave Mirra Developer, Z-Axis". gamasutra.com. May 22, 2002. Retrieved August 11, 2018. <a href="https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/92243/Activision_Acquires_Dave_Mirra_Developer_ZAxis.php" target="_blank">https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/92243/Activision_Acquires_Dave_Mirra_Developer_ZAxis.php</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Activision goes straight up". eurogamer.net. June 3, 2002. Retrieved August 11, 2018. <a href="https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_46084" target="_blank">https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_46084</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"Activision Acquires Dave Mirra Developer, Z-Axis". gamasutra.com. May 22, 2002. Retrieved August 11, 2018. <a href="https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/92243/Activision_Acquires_Dave_Mirra_Developer_ZAxis.php" target="_blank">https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/92243/Activision_Acquires_Dave_Mirra_Developer_ZAxis.php</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Z-Axis renamed to Underground Development - VG247". vg247.com. February 14, 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2018. <a href="https://www.vg247.com/2008/02/14/z-axis-renamed-to-underground-development/" target="_blank">https://www.vg247.com/2008/02/14/z-axis-renamed-to-underground-development/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Activision rebrands one of its internal studios". mcvuk.com. February 18, 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2018. <a href="https://www.mcvuk.com/development/activision-rebrands-one-of-its-internal-studios" target="_blank">https://www.mcvuk.com/development/activision-rebrands-one-of-its-internal-studios</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"Activision confirms Underground closure". gamesindustry.biz. April 19, 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2018. <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/activision-confirms-underground-closure" target="_blank">https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/activision-confirms-underground-closure</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Activision closing Underground Developments?". mcvuk.com. April 18, 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2018. <a href="https://www.mcvuk.com/development/activision-closing-underground-developments" target="_blank">https://www.mcvuk.com/development/activision-closing-underground-developments</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"Activision closes Underground Development studio". engadget.com. April 21, 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2018. <a href="https://www.engadget.com/2008/04/21/activision-closes-underground-development-studio/" target="_blank">https://www.engadget.com/2008/04/21/activision-closes-underground-development-studio/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Plunkett, Luke (February 12, 2010). "Activision Shutters Guitar Hero Creators, GH: Van Halen Developers [Update]". kotaku.com. Retrieved August 11, 2018. <a href="https://kotaku.com/5470149/activision-shutters-guitar-hero-creators-gh-van-halen-developers-update" target="_blank">https://kotaku.com/5470149/activision-shutters-guitar-hero-creators-gh-van-halen-developers-update</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"Activision shuts down RedOctane, Underground Development". engadget.com. February 13, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2018. <a href="https://www.engadget.com/2010/02/12/activision-shuts-down-redoctane-underground-development/" target="_blank">https://www.engadget.com/2010/02/12/activision-shuts-down-redoctane-underground-development/</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>"Activision Nabs Z-Axis - News". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved January 1, 2025. <a href="http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/7426/activision-nabs-z-axis" target="_blank">http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/7426/activision-nabs-z-axis</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Perry, Douglass C. (November 21, 2003). "Z-Axis Hiring for Iron Man, X-Men". IGN. Retrieved January 1, 2025. <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/11/21/z-axis-hiring-for-iron-man-x-men-2" target="_blank">https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/11/21/z-axis-hiring-for-iron-man-x-men-2</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>"What Was Call of Duty: Devil's Brigade?". May 14, 2010. <a href="https://kotaku.com/what-was-call-of-duty-devils-brigade-5539160" target="_blank">https://kotaku.com/what-was-call-of-duty-devils-brigade-5539160</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>