Looking Glass Studios company

Their games were regarded for demonstrating innovative gameplay, pioneering physics simulation, and well-written, engaging stories. However, many of their games, despite wide critical acclaim, sold poorly in comparison to contemporary rivals.

Their best known games series were Ultima Underworld, System Shock, and Thief. In 1997, the company merged with Intermetrics, Inc to become Intermetrics Entertainment Software, LLC. Intermetrics became AverStar after it acquired Pacer Infotech in February of 1998. In March of 1999, Intermetrics divested Looking Glass Studios Inc.The company went out of business on May 24, 2000 during a financial crisis related to their publisher at the time, Eidos Interactive.

Originally based in Lexington, Massachusetts, in 1994 the company moved to Cambridge. A significant number of Looking Glass personnel were MIT graduates. Looking Glass also had satellite offices in Austin, TX and Redmond, Washington.