The company we have all grown to love was founded in 1987 by designers Will Wright and Jeff Braun to launch their game, Simcity. The game didn't show much interest among the community because of it's lack of "winning and losing" concept; which is what, then, defined a video game. After the amazing success of the game, the young company went on to create several other games such as RoboSport and the ever popular 3D pinball game for the Windows Operating System.
With Simcity's success Maxis attempted other various 'Sim' games such as: SimAnt, SimFarm, SimEarth (a possible inspiration for Spore) and SimLife. Maxis then looked to other game genres creating The Crystal Skull and SimCopter, both flops, then leading to a decline in what Maxis has to offer.
Electronic Arts acquired the company in 1997, and it seems to be ridding of the name. With the release of the Sims 2: Pets, the Maxis logo was omitted entirely from the game. But we see it's return at the bottom of the Official Spore Website. The teaser trailer for Spore even features a "Brought to you by the makers of The Sims 2.." So perhaps EA wants to keep the popular name.
In 2000, Maxis released The Sims, despite the ridicules and almost certainty of failure by the EA officials. The game went on to become the best selling PC game of all time. And with the release of the extremely popular The Sims 2 in 2004, and Spore to be seen released September of 2008, the company has a very bright future.
