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Titus Interactive

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Titus Interactive
ISINFR0000050122
IndustryVideo games
Founded1985; 39 years ago (1985) (as Titus France SA)
FoundersEric Caen, Hervé Caen
Defunct2005 (2005)
FateBankruptcy and dissolution; assets now owned by Interplay Entertainment
HeadquartersLagny-sur-Marne, France
Revenue€ 73.2 million (2002)
DivisionsDigital Integration Ltd.
BlueSky Software
SubsidiariesTitus Interactive Studio
Titus Software Corporation
Titus Japan K.K.
Titus Software UK Limited
PronostiX S.A.
Sofra Jeux
EyeOne A/S
Interplay Europe
Avalon Interactive
Avalon France
Websitewww.titus-interactive.com (archived)

Titus Interactive SA,[1] known as Titus France SA until March 1999,[2][3] was a French software publisher that produced and published video games for various platforms. Its head office was located in Parc de l'Esplanade in Lagny sur Marne in Greater Paris.[1] At one time, it was instead located in Montfermeil, also in Greater Paris.[2]

The company's mascot was Titus, the title character of Titus the Fox.

History

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Founding and early years

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The company was founded by brothers Eric Caen and Hervé Caen in France in 1985.[4] In 1991, Titus purchased Palace Software, the gaming division of the Palace Group.[5] In 1998, the company purchased the developers BlueSky Software[6] and Digital Integration Ltd.

Interplay Entertainment partnership and distribution agreements (1999–2002)

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In late 1999, the company acquired shares in struggling publisher Interplay Entertainment, including a stake in publisher/distributor Virgin Interactive.

Throughout the next few years, Titus signed North American distribution deals with smaller publishers. They signed a deal with Cryo Interactive in March 2000,[7] with Rage Software in September 2000,[8] and Microids in May 2001.[9][10] In 2002, Titus Japan K.K. signed a similar distribution deal with Konami for Japan.[11]

In August 2000, they signed a deal with Viacom Consumer Products to publish games based on the Top Gun franchise.[12]

In August 2001, Titus took the control of Interplay.[13] However prior to this, Titus took over distributing their own titles in the North American market as well as Virgin's from them.[14]

Closure

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In June 2004, Titus filed for bankruptcy, declaring an unseeable future for Interplay.[15] On January 9, 2005, a French district commercial court declared Titus bankrupt with a €33 million (US$43.8 million) debt.[16][17] Titus' French subsidiaries were later closed down, while their assets were soon purchased by Interplay.

Games

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Titus began releasing titles for home computers such as the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and IBM PC compatibles before moving on to consoles like the Master System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, and Game Boy Color, PlayStation, Dreamcast and Nintendo 64, followed by games for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox.

Titus designed games such as Virtual Kasparov, Automobili Lamborghini, Virtual Chess 64, Roadsters (the Nintendo 64 version), Incredible Crisis (developed by Polygon Magic), Prehistorik Man and Lamborghini American Challenge, that were given positive reviews. Titus however was also involved in the creation of games that were notable due to their negative reception. Superman for the Nintendo 64 was notorious for its negative status among gamers. GameTrailers called it the worst game of all time.[18] As of 2018, it holds a score of 23% at GameRankings.[19] Similarly, the 2003 game RoboCop also received negative reviews. GameSpot gave it 2.2/10 saying "RoboCop has a bevy of horrible problems that render the game practically unplayable".[20]

1988

  • Crazy Cars
  • Fire and Forget
  • Galactic Conqueror
  • Off Shore Warrior

1989

1990

  • Crime Does not Pay
  • Dark Century
  • Dick Tracy
  • Fire & Forget II
  • Un Indien dans la ville (Little Indian: An Indian in the City for US release), developed by TF1 Video and Titus
  • Wild Streets

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

Year Title Platform(s) Developer(s)
2001 Worms World Party Microsoft Windows, Dreamcast Team17
Virtual Kasparov PlayStation Titus Interactive Studio
Exhibition of Speed Dreamcast Player 1
Hands of Time Game Boy Color Mirage
Top Gun: Firestorm Fluid Studios
Xena: Warrior Princess Titus Interactive Studio
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
RoboCop
Prehistorik Man Game Boy Advance Titus Interactive Studio
Top Gun: Combat Zones PlayStation 2 Digital Integration
Stunt GP Team17
Planet Monsters Game Boy Advance Planet Interactive
Kao the Kangaroo Titus Interactive Studio
Original War[a] Microsoft Windows Altar Interactive
Codename: Outbreak[b] GSC Game World
Screamer 4x4[c] Clever's Games
2002 Nightstone[d] Microsoft Windows New Horizon Studios
Virtual Kasparov Game Boy Advance Titus Interactive Studio
Tir et But: Edition Champions du Monde
Barbarian PlayStation 2 Saffire
Downforce Smart Dog
Top Gun: Combat Zones GameCube Digital Integration
Top Gun: Firestorm Advance Game Boy Advance Fluid Studios
Downforce Karma Studios
2003 Barbarian GameCube[e], Xbox[f] Saffire
Top Gun: Combat Zones Microsoft Windows[g] Digital Integration
RoboCop Microsoft Windows[h], Xbox, PlayStation 2[i] Titus Interactive Studio
2004 RoboCop GameCube[j]
Top Gun: Combat Zones[k] Game Boy Advance

Subsidiaries

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Titus had several subsidiaries. The United States subsidiary, Titus Software Corporation, had its head office in Chatsworth, Los Angeles. The Japanese subsidiary, Titus Japan K.K., had its head office on the eighth floor of the Kotubuki Dogenzaka Building in Dōgenzaka (JA), Shibuya, Tokyo.[1] The UK subsidiary, Titus Software UK Limited, had its head office in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.[21]

References

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  1. ^ North American distribution only; published by Virgin Interactive.
  2. ^ North American distribution only; published by Virgin Interactive.
  3. ^ North American distribution only; published by Virgin Interactive.
  4. ^ North American distribution only; published by Virgin Interactive.
  5. ^ Exclusively released in Japan.
  6. ^ Exclusively released in Europe.
  7. ^ Exclusively released in Europe.
  8. ^ Exclusively released in Europe.
  9. ^ Exclusively released in Europe and Japan.
  10. ^ Exclusively released in Japan.
  11. ^ Published by Mastiff.
  1. ^ a b c "Contact". Titus Interactive. 3 June 2004. Retrieved on 4 September 2012. "Titus Interactive SA : Parc de l'Esplanade 12, rue Enrico Fermi 77462 Lagny sur Marne Cedex. FRANCE"
  2. ^ a b "Profile." Titus Games. 30 June 1998. Retrieved on 4 September 2012. "310 Avenue Daniel Perdrige, 93370 Montfermeil".
  3. ^ "Also Known As". Moby Games. Retrieved on 15 October 2020.
  4. ^ IGN Staff (1998). "Eric Caen of Titus Software (interview)". IGN. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  5. ^ Carroll, Martyn (30 March 2006). "Company Profile: Palace Software". Retro Gamer. No. 23. Bournemouth, United Kingdom: Imagine Publishing. pp. 66–69. ISSN 1742-3155.
  6. ^ IGN
  7. ^ "Titus Interactive Group". 2004-06-03. Archived from the original on 2004-06-03. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  8. ^ "Titus Interactive Group". 2004-02-24. Archived from the original on 2004-02-24. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  9. ^ "Titus Interactive signe avec Microïds". 22 May 2001.
  10. ^ "Titus Interactive Group". Archived from the original on 2004-02-24.
  11. ^ "Titus interactive : Accord avec Konami". 24 May 2002.
  12. ^ "Titus Interactive Group". Archived from the original on 2004-06-08.
  13. ^ "Titus Takes Control of Irvine's Interplay". Los Angeles Times. August 17, 2001. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  14. ^ "Titus Interactive Group". Archived from the original on 2004-02-29.
  15. ^ "Titus goes into receivership as Interplay goes back to work". 10 June 2004.
  16. ^ "Titus bankrupt, Interplay's future uncertain". Gamespot. 2005-01-05. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
  17. ^ "Interplay's position unclear as Titus is declared bankrupt". 6 January 2005.
  18. ^ "Top 10 Best and Worst Video Games of All Time". 2006-11-17. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  19. ^ "Superman Reviews". GameRankings. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  20. ^ "Robocop Review". Gamespot. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  21. ^ "Contacts". Titus Interactive. 3 February 2002. Retrieved on 4 September 2012.
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