Editing Raven Software (section)

== Development philosophy ==
[[File:Brian Raffel, 2009.jpg|thumb|Co-founder and co-studio head Brian Raffel at [[D.I.C.E. Summit|D.I.C.E. Summit 2009]]]]
Raven is known for its approach to multi-project development teams and choice to use [[project lead]]s and "state-of-the-art [[Video game programming#Tools|tools]]" that can help incubate ideas before they evolve into [[Video game development#Production|production]].<ref name="RavenCulture">{{cite magazine|title=Soaring into Year 15 Middleton-based Raven Software is set to release two A-List video games in the coming weeks|first=Aaron|last=R. Conklin|date=September 16, 2005|access-date=July 30, 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522012049/https://madison.com/business/soaring-into-year-middleton-based-raven-software-is-set-to/article_7c45558a-01c3-509f-8315-f02a41a8f694.html|archive-date=May 22, 2020|newspaper=[[Wisconsin State Journal]]|publisher=[[Lee Enterprises]]|url=https://madison.com/business/soaring-into-year-15-middleton-based-raven-software-is-set-to-release-two-a-list/article_7c45558a-01c3-509f-8315-f02a41a8f694.html|url-access=limited}}</ref> Eric Biessman, Raven's project director, said: "It's very laid back here. We're left alone to be as creative as we can be".<ref name="RavenCulture"/> The work culture at Raven is focused in their mentality of team-driven initiatives, extensive [[playtest]]s, [[emergent narrative]]-focused gameplay and less [[middle-management]] involvement.<ref>{{cite web|first=Natasha|last=Kassulke|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/403998064/?terms=Black%20Crypt%20Raven%20Software&match=1|title=In video-game wars, Raven is the victor|publisher=[[Lee Enterprises]]|work=[[Wisconsin State Journal]]|date=August 1, 1999|access-date=July 30, 2024|url-access=limited}}</ref><ref name="GI-119">{{cite magazine| magazine = Game Informer| publisher = GameStop| title = Activision's X-Factor| author = Staff| issue = 119|date=March 2003| pages = 30–43}}</ref><ref name="WarzoneInterview">{{cite web|url=https://www.activisionblizzard.com/content/atvi/activisionblizzard/ab-touchui/ab/web/en/newsroom/2022/04/unlocked-character-mike-button-warzone-caldera.html|title=An "Everyone Plays" culture: Raven Software's Senior Lead Artist on the development of Warzone's Caldera|work=Activision Blog|publisher=[[Activision Blizzard]]|date=April 18, 2022|access-date=July 31, 2024}}</ref>  Brian Raffel ascribes the company's [[motto]] as "move or die", explaining that different directions and creative opportunities are a key element in [[Video game design|game design]] to help Raven determinate which market and public their games are visioning.<ref name="DICE2009Speech">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/02/20/dice-2009-ravens-lessons-learned|first=Eric|last=Brudvig|title=D.I.C.E. 2009: Raven's Lessons Learned|work=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis, Inc.]]|date=February 20, 2009|access-date=July 30, 2024}}</ref><ref name="30YAnniversary">{{cite web|url=https://blog.activision.com/activision/2020-05/Raven-Software-Celebrates-30th-Anniversary|date=May 26, 2020|first=James|last=Mattone|title=Raven Software celebrates 30th Anniversary|work=Activision Blog|publisher=[[Activision Blizzard]]|access-date=July 30, 2024}}</ref> The studio's vice-president Steve Raffel also head '''Raven Scout Team''' (RST), a [[Research and development|research]] group within the company who spend time with analysis, planning and creating [[vertical slice]]s-based methods to be purposeful improved in company's future projects.<ref name="RavenCulture"/><ref name="ATVIPressRelease">{{Cite web|title=Advanced Warfare Developed and Designed by Sledgehammer Games|url=https://www.callofduty.com/content/dam/atvi/callofduty/advanced/common/credits.pdf|access-date=July 31, 2024|work=Activision Press Release|publisher=[[Activision Blizzard]]}}</ref>