# 3D Realms

> American-Danish video game developer and publisher

**Wikidata**: [Q229459](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q229459)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_Realms)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/3d-realms

## Summary
3D Realms is an American-Danish video game developer and publisher. Originally founded as Apogee Software in 1987 by Scott Miller, the company rebranded to 3D Realms in 1996. It operates within the video game industry and is headquartered in Garland, United States.

## Key Facts
- **Previous Name**: Apogee Software (1987–1996)
- **Current Name**: 3D Realms (since 1996)
- **Inception**: 1994 (as 3D Realms, succeeding Apogee Software)
- **Founder**: Scott Miller
- **Industry**: Video game industry
- **Headquarters**: Garland, United States
- **Legal Form**: Privately held company
- **Developed Games**: *Crystal Caves* (1991), *Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure* (1992)
- **Official Website**: https://3drealms.com/

## FAQs
### Q: What was 3D Realms called before?
A: Before being known as 3D Realms, the company operated under the name Apogee Software. The name change occurred in 1996.

### Q: Who founded 3D Realms?
A: 3D Realms was founded by Scott Miller. The company was originally established as Apogee Software in 1987.

### Q: What kind of company is 3D Realms?
A: 3D Realms is a privately held video game company that both develops and publishes video games. It is classified as a video game developer within the video game industry.

## Why It Matters
3D Realms holds a significant place in video game history, primarily through its original identity as Apogee Software. Founded in 1987, Apogee pioneered the shareware distribution model, which fundamentally changed how independent games were marketed and sold in the pre-internet era. This model allowed players to try a portion of a game for free and purchase the full version later, helping launch the careers of many notable developers.

The company's transition to 3D Realms in 1996 marked a shift in focus, but it continued its role as both a developer and publisher. Its catalog includes foundational titles from the early 1990s, and its history is intertwined with the evolution of PC gaming. The company's longevity and dual role as a creator and publisher make it a noteworthy entity in the video game industry.

## Notable For
- **Pioneering History as Apogee Software**: The company was originally Apogee Software from 1987 to 1996, a name closely associated with the rise of shareware PC gaming.
- **Dual Role**: 3D Realms operates as both a video game developer, creating its own software, and a publisher, bringing other developers' games to market.
- **Early 90s Game Development**: The company developed classic PC titles under its Apogee brand, including the platformers *Crystal Caves* (1991) and *Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure* (1992).
- **Association with Classic Shooters**: The company is related to influential first-person and third-person shooter games, including *Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold* (1993) and *Max Payne* (2001).

## Body
### ### Company History and Identity
3D Realms was founded by Scott Miller. The company was initially established as **Apogee Software** in 1987 and operated under that name until 1996. In 1994, the 3D Realms brand was created, and it officially replaced the Apogee Software name in 1996. The company is a privately held American-Danish entity with headquarters located in Garland, United States.

### ### Business Operations
3D Realms is a **video game developer** and publisher operating within the **video game industry**. Its primary product is software, specifically video games. The company maintains an active online presence with an official website and profiles on various social and gaming platforms.

- **Official Website**: `https://3drealms.com/`
- **Twitter**: `@3drealms`
- **YouTube**: `@3drealmsgames`
- **Twitch**: `3drealms`

### ### Developed and Related Works
As Apogee Software, the company developed several notable titles in the early 1990s.
- **Crystal Caves** (1991)
- **Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure** (1992)

The company is also associated with other well-known games.
- **Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold** (1993)
- **Max Payne** (2001)

## Schema Markup
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## References

1. LastDodo
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. MusicBrainz
4. National Software Reference Library
5. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
6. Quora
7. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/3D_Realms-VG3XR)
8. YouTube API
9. VideoGameGeek
10. [3D Realms - List of Developer's Best Games on RAWG • RAWG](https://rawg.io/developers/3d-realms)