# TalonSoft

> American video game developer and publisher

**Wikidata**: [Q2275894](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2275894)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TalonSoft)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/talonsoft

## Summary
TalonSoft was an American video game developer and publisher founded in 1995 and headquartered in Baltimore. The company was owned by Take-Two Interactive and operated as a subsidiary until its dissolution in 2005.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1995 in the United States
- Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland
- Owned by Take-Two Interactive as a subsidiary
- Dissolved in 2005
- Classified as both a video game developer and video game publisher
- Had 8 Wikipedia sitelinks across multiple languages
- ISNI identifier: 0000000109431649
- VIAF ID: 137407605
- PermID: 4296876114

### Q: What type of company was TalonSoft?
A: TalonSoft was an American video game developer and publisher that created and distributed video games.

### Q: Who owned TalonSoft?
A: TalonSoft was owned by Take-Two Interactive, operating as one of their subsidiaries.

### Q: When was TalonSoft founded and when did it close?
A: TalonSoft was founded in 1995 and dissolved in 2005.

### Q: Where was TalonSoft headquartered?
A: TalonSoft was headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.

### Q: What industry was TalonSoft in?
A: TalonSoft operated in the video game industry as both a developer and publisher.

## Why It Matters
TalonSoft played a significant role in the 1990s and early 2000s video game industry as both a developer and publisher. As a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive, it contributed to the growth and diversification of the parent company's portfolio during a crucial period of expansion in the gaming industry. The company's existence from 1995 to 2005 coincided with the rapid evolution of PC gaming and the emergence of 3D graphics, positioning it within a transformative era for interactive entertainment. While specific game titles are not mentioned in the source material, TalonSoft's dual role as both developer and publisher suggests it had control over its creative output and distribution, which was a valuable position in the competitive gaming market of that time.

## Notable For
- Being both a video game developer and publisher, giving it control over the full production and distribution process
- Operating as a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive, one of the major players in the video game industry
- Maintaining a presence across multiple Wikipedia language editions (8 total)
- Having a decade-long operation during a transformative period in video game history (1995-2005)
- Being headquartered in Baltimore, representing the geographic diversity of the American video game industry

## Body
### Corporate Structure and Ownership
TalonSoft operated as a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive, one of the largest video game publishers in the United States. This relationship placed TalonSoft within a larger corporate structure that included other notable game development studios. The company's ownership by Take-Two Interactive provided it with resources and distribution channels typical of major publishers while potentially maintaining some creative independence as a subsidiary.

### Geographic Presence
Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, TalonSoft represented the geographic diversity of the American video game industry, which was largely concentrated in traditional tech hubs like California. The Baltimore location may have provided access to local talent pools and potentially lower operational costs compared to West Coast alternatives.

### Industry Classification
The company was classified in multiple ways across different databases and authority systems. It was recognized as both a video game developer (specializing in creating games) and a video game publisher (responsible for distributing and marketing games). This dual classification suggests TalonSoft may have handled both the creative development process and the business aspects of bringing games to market.

### Digital Footprint and Identifiers
TalonSoft maintained a significant digital presence across various gaming and bibliographic databases. The company was listed on MobyGames with ID 238, had entries in the Internet Game Database, and was cataloged in academic and library systems including the Library of Congress (authority ID: n2011001296) and the Bibliothèque nationale de France. These multiple identifiers across different systems indicate the company's established presence in both commercial and academic contexts.

### Timeline and Lifecycle
Operating for approximately 10 years from 1995 to 2005, TalonSoft existed during a period of significant technological advancement in gaming, including the transition from 2D to 3D graphics and the rise of online gaming. The company's dissolution in 2005 came during a period of consolidation in the video game industry, where larger publishers were acquiring or closing smaller studios to streamline operations and focus on more profitable franchises.

## References

1. LastDodo
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. VideoGameGeek