Universal Interactive: Difference between revisions

Universal Interactive
Formerly	Universal Interactive Studios (1994–2001)
Company type	Division
Industry	Video games
Founded	January 4, 1994; 30 years ago
Founders	Skip Paul; Robert Biniaz;
Defunct	2006
Fate	Consolidated
Successor	Vivendi Universal Games
Headquarters	Universal City, California, US
Parent	Universal Studios (1994–2000); Vivendi Universal Games (2000–2006);

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Universal Interactive (formerly Universal Interactive Studios) was an American video game publisher. The company was established in January 1994, and led by Skip Paul and Robert Biniaz of MCA. It was best known for producing the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro platform game franchises.

In 2000, the merger of Vivendi and Universal Studios consolidated the division into Vivendi's Havas Interactive, which was renamed Vivendi Universal Games the next year. Universal Interactive continued as a label until 2006, when Vivendi began divesting ownership of Universal Studios, retaining the newly renamed Vivendi Games.

History

Predecessors (1982–1993)

MCA, Universal's parent company from 1962 to 1990, initially licensed video games directly as merchandise. In 1982, Atari licensed and released E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, a tie-in game cited as one of the biggest commercial failures in video game history. The licensing deal united director Steven Spielberg and MCA president Sidney Sheinberg with Atari general counsel Charles "Skip" Paul, who joined MCA after 1984.^[1] In 1985, MCA purchased LJN, a toy manufacturer which began publishing video games in 1987.^[2]

In 1990, MCA was sold to Matsushita Electric (now Panasonic), and LJN was sold to Acclaim Entertainment.^[3] Within the next two years, Matsushita partnered with The 3DO Company, pledging Panasonic as a manufacturer for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, and MCA as an entertainment software partner.^[4]

Universal Interactive Studios (1994–1999)

The company was founded on January 4, 1994, in tandem with the 1994 Winter Consumer Electronics Show.^[5] Leading key personnel for the foundation were Skip Paul and Robert Biniaz.^[6] On February 10, MCA acquired a minority stake in Interplay Productions,^[7] which would publish Disruptor outside of North America, and later enter into a distribution deal with successor Vivendi Universal Games.

The company's first titles in mid-1994 were Jurassic Park Interactive, developed by Studio 3DO and initially announced in 1993; and Way of the Warrior, developed by Naughty Dog.^[8]^[9]

Universal contracted with Naughty Dog and Insomniac Games to develop games utilizing the facilities at Universal City, under vice president Mark Cerny. They respectively released Crash Bandicoot in 1996^[10] and Spyro the Dragon in 1998,^[11] under publishing arrangements with Sony Computer Entertainment.

Starting in 1995, with the purchase of MCA by Canadian beverage company Seagram, Universal Studios was reorganized. By 1998, the Interactive Studios division was brought under the Universal Studios New Media Group, led by Paul Rioux.^[4] That year, Cerny resigned to launch Cerny Games, which continued to consult directly with Insomniac and Naughty Dog. An in-house development unit, Universal Studios Digital Arts, was created to develop Xena: Warrior Princess.

Vivendi merger (2000–2006)

When Seagram merged Universal with Vivendi in July 2000,^[12] Universal Interactive was absorbed into Vivendi's Havas Interactive (later Vivendi Universal Games) division the following year.^[13] With the name also changed to Universal Interactive, it solely became a label within the company and would be used for several titles published by Vivendi. These were primarily a mix of Spyro and Crash Bandicoot sequels and licensed properties, which would eventually be consolidated under Vivendi Universal Games.

Vivendi Universal then announced that on March 3, 2006, as a result of divesting Universal Studios to General Electric, it and several of its divisions, including Vivendi Universal Games, would cease using the "Universal" name and would simply become Vivendi, with Vivendi Universal Games becoming Vivendi Games.^[14] In this arrangement, Sierra Entertainment was assigned to publish future titles.

Games

Year	Title	System	Developer	Publisher
1994	Jurassic Park Interactive	3DO Interactive Multiplayer	Studio 3DO	Universal Interactive Studios
1994	Way of the Warrior	3DO Interactive Multiplayer	Naughty Dog	Universal Interactive Studios
1996	Crash Bandicoot	PlayStation	Naughty Dog	Sony Computer Entertainment
1996	Disruptor		Insomniac Games	Universal Interactive Studios (NA) Interplay Productions (EU/JP)
1997	Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back		Naughty Dog	Sony Computer Entertainment
1998	Spyro the Dragon		Insomniac Games	Sony Computer Entertainment
	Running Wild		Blue Shift	989 Studios (NA) Sony Computer Entertainment (EU)
	Crash Bandicoot: Warped		Naughty Dog	Sony Computer Entertainment
1999	Xena: Warrior Princess		Universal Studios Digital Arts	Electronic Arts
	Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!		Insomniac Games	Sony Computer Entertainment
	Crash Team Racing		Naughty Dog
2000	Spyro: Year of the Dragon		Insomniac Games
	The Grinch	Dreamcast, Game Boy Color, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation	Artificial Mind and Movement	Konami
	Crash Bash	PlayStation	Eurocom Entertainment Software	Sony Computer Entertainment
	The Mummy	Game Boy Color, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation	Rebellion Developments	Konami
	Woody Woodpecker Racing	Game Boy Color, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation	Syrox Developments	Konami
2001	The Mummy Returns	PlayStation 2	Blitz Games	Universal Interactive^[c]
	Spyro: Season of Ice	Game Boy Advance	Digital Eclipse
	Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex	PlayStation 2	Traveller's Tales
2002	Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure	Game Boy Advance	Vicarious Visions
	Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex	GameCube, Xbox	Eurocom Entertainment Software, Traveller's Tales
	Bruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon	Xbox	Ronin Entertainment
	4x4 EVO 2	GameCube	Terminal Reality
	The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian	GameCube, PlayStation 2	Point of View, Inc.
	Spyro 2: Season of Flame	Game Boy Advance	Digital Eclipse
	Monster Force	Game Boy Advance	Digital Eclipse
	Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly	GameCube, PlayStation 2	Check Six Games, Equinoxe Digital Entertainment
2003	Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced	Game Boy Advance	Vicarious Visions
	Bruce Lee: Return of the Legend	Game Boy Advance	Vicarious Visions
	Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox	Blue Tongue Entertainment
	Hulk	GameCube, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox	Radical Entertainment
	The Incredible Hulk	Game Boy Advance	Pocket Studios
	Spyro: Attack of the Rhynocs	Game Boy Advance	Digital Eclipse
	Crash Nitro Kart	Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox	Vicarious Visions
	Battlestar Galactica	PlayStation 2, Xbox	Warthog Games

References

^ Burr, Chandler (November 30, 2000). "Hollywood's New Game". Fast Company. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^ Harris, Kathryn (March 27, 1985). "MCA Agrees to Acquire L.J.N. Toys : Entertainment Firm to Exchange Up to $39.8 Million in Stock". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 24, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ "MCA in Pact With Acclaim". The New York Times. March 13, 1990. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^ ^a ^b Salas, Jacob (July 25, 2021). "The Universal Interactive Story". Pop History. Retrieved December 24, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ Marx, Andy (January 5, 1994). "MCA gets into interactive". variety.com. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
^ HARMON, AMY (January 5, 1994). "MCA Branching Out to Video Game Publishing". Retrieved July 20, 2018 – via LA Times.
^ Marx, Andy (February 11, 1994). "MCA interacts with Interplay". Variety. Retrieved December 24, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ Meston, Zach. "Jurassic Park Underactive". Wired. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
^ "Jurassic Park Interactive". ew.com. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
^ Ahmed, Shahed (September 22, 2000). "Q&A: Universal Interactive Studios". gamespot.com. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
^ "Spyro the Dragon official website". Universal Studios. Archived from the original on April 23, 1999. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
^ Teather, David (June 19, 2000). "Vivendi seals merger". the Guardian. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
^ "Buy Low, Sell High: Vivendi's History in Video Games". Kotaku UK. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
^ "Vivendi Universal to shorten company name". gamesindustry.biz. Retrieved July 20, 2018.

Notes

^ After 2000, the company became a label of Vivendi Universal Publishing.
^ The company existed until 2003 and was still used from 2004–2006 as a label.
^ As label of Vivendi

[3] Burr, Chandler (November 30, 2000). "Hollywood's New Game". Fast Company. Retrieved December 24, 2021.

[4] Harris, Kathryn (March 27, 1985). "MCA Agrees to Acquire L.J.N. Toys : Entertainment Firm to Exchange Up to $39.8 Million in Stock". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 24, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[5] "MCA in Pact With Acclaim". The New York Times. March 13, 1990. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 24, 2021.

[:0-6] Salas, Jacob (July 25, 2021). "The Universal Interactive Story". Pop History. Retrieved December 24, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[7] Marx, Andy (January 5, 1994). "MCA gets into interactive". variety.com. Retrieved July 20, 2018.

[8] HARMON, AMY (January 5, 1994). "MCA Branching Out to Video Game Publishing". Retrieved July 20, 2018 – via LA Times.

[9] Marx, Andy (February 11, 1994). "MCA interacts with Interplay". Variety. Retrieved December 24, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[10] Meston, Zach. "Jurassic Park Underactive". Wired. Retrieved July 20, 2018.

[11] "Jurassic Park Interactive". ew.com. Retrieved July 20, 2018.

[12] Ahmed, Shahed (September 22, 2000). "Q&A: Universal Interactive Studios". gamespot.com. Retrieved July 20, 2018.

[site-13] "Spyro the Dragon official website". Universal Studios. Archived from the original on April 23, 1999. Retrieved April 23, 2019.

[14] Teather, David (June 19, 2000). "Vivendi seals merger". the Guardian. Retrieved July 22, 2018.

[15] "Buy Low, Sell High: Vivendi's History in Video Games". Kotaku UK. Retrieved July 20, 2018.

[16] "Vivendi Universal to shorten company name". gamesindustry.biz. Retrieved July 20, 2018.

[1] After 2000, the company became a label of Vivendi Universal Publishing.

[2] The company existed until 2003 and was still used from 2004–2006 as a label.

[17] As label of Vivendi

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@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 === Vivendi merger (2000–2006) ===
-When Universal and Segram, parent company of Universal Interactive, merged with [[Vivendi]] in July 2000,<ref>{{cite web|last=Teather|first=David|date=June 19, 2000|title=Vivendi seals merger|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2000/jun/19/media1|website=the Guardian|accessdate=July 22, 2018}}</ref> Universal Interactive was absorbed into Vivendi's [[Havas Interactive]] (later Vivendi Universal Games) division the following year.<ref>{{cite web|author=|date=|title=Buy Low, Sell High: Vivendi's History in Video Games|url=http://www.kotaku.co.uk/2018/06/26/buy-low-sell-high-vivendis-history-in-video-games|website=Kotaku UK|accessdate=July 20, 2018}}</ref> It would then solely become a label within the company and would be used for several titles published by Vivendi. Vivendi Universal had then announced that on March 3, 2006, as a result of divesting Universal Studios to [[General Electric]], it and several of its divisions, including Vivendi Universal Games, would cease using the "Universal" name and would simply become Vivendi, with Vivendi Universal Games becoming Vivendi Games.<ref>{{cite web|author=|date=|title=Vivendi Universal to shorten company name|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/vivendi-universal-to-shorten-company-name|website=gamesindustry.biz|accessdate=July 20, 2018}}</ref>
+When Seagram merged Universal with [[Vivendi]] in July 2000,<ref>{{cite web|last=Teather|first=David|date=June 19, 2000|title=Vivendi seals merger|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2000/jun/19/media1|website=the Guardian|accessdate=July 22, 2018}}</ref> Universal Interactive was absorbed into Vivendi's [[Havas Interactive]] (later Vivendi Universal Games) division the following year.<ref>{{cite web|author=|date=|title=Buy Low, Sell High: Vivendi's History in Video Games|url=http://www.kotaku.co.uk/2018/06/26/buy-low-sell-high-vivendis-history-in-video-games|website=Kotaku UK|accessdate=July 20, 2018}}</ref> With the name also changed to Universal Interactive, it solely became a label within the company and would be used for several titles published by Vivendi. These were primarily a mix of ''Spyro'' and ''Crash Bandicoot'' sequels and licensed properties, which would eventually be consolidated under Vivendi Universal Games.
+Vivendi Universal then announced that on March 3, 2006, as a result of divesting Universal Studios to [[General Electric]], it and several of its divisions, including Vivendi Universal Games, would cease using the "Universal" name and would simply become Vivendi, with Vivendi Universal Games becoming Vivendi Games.<ref>{{cite web|author=|date=|title=Vivendi Universal to shorten company name|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/vivendi-universal-to-shorten-company-name|website=gamesindustry.biz|accessdate=July 20, 2018}}</ref> In this arrangement, [[Sierra Entertainment]] was assigned to publish future titles.
 == Games ==