Difference between revisions of "Virgin Interactive Entertainment"

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| founded=1983{{intref|Interview: Nick Alexander (2008-09-17) by Sega-16}}
 
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| headquarters=London, United Kingdom/Irvine, CA
 
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'''Virgin Interactive''' was a British video game developer and publisher. Founded in 1983{{intref|Interview: Nick Alexander (2008-09-17) by Sega-16}} as '''Virgin Games Ltd.''', it was the [[wikipedia:Virgin Group|Virgin Group]]'s first foray into the video game market.
  
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'''Virgin Interactive''' was a British video game publisher. It was formed as '''Virgin Games Ltd.''' in 1981. The company became much larger after purchasing budget label [[Mastertronic]] in 1988 to form '''Virgin Mastertronic'''. It was part of the [[wikipedia:Virgin Group|Virgin Group]]. In 1994, it was renamed Virgin Interactive.
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==History==
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In its initial form, Virgin Games, like many British video game companies of the day, developed and published video games for home computer platforms, such as the [[ZX Spectrum]] and [[Commodore 64]].
  
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It published games for PC and systems, including the Amiga, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, C64, [[Sega Master System]], [[Sega Mega Drive]], [[Sega Game Gear]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[Sega Saturn]], [[Sony PlayStation]], [[Nintendo 64]] and [[Dreamcast]].
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In 1987, Virgin Games bought a minority stake in budget label cash-strapped [[Mastertronic]], as Virgin Games wanted to be in the budget computer games business{{intref|Interview: Nick Alexander (2008-09-17) by Sega-16}}. Mastertronic, set to be the official distributor of the [[Sega Master System]] in the UK, suffered a setback after Sega delivered the first order of consoles too late, leading to Virgin Games acquiring the company in full later in the year, creating '''Virgin Mastertronic, Ltd.''' in the process{{intref|Interview: Nick Alexander (2008-09-17) by Sega-16}}.
  
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It helped the career of many developers, including [[Westwood Studios]] (who developed the ''Command & Conquer'' series and the PC port of ''[[Resident Evil]]'') and Synergistic. Also, many workers for [[Shiny Entertainment]], including David Perry, worked for Virgin before splitting off to create ''[[Earthworm Jim]]''. Also among Virgin Interactive alumni are famed video game composer [[sonic:Tommy Tallarico|Tommy Tallarico]], artist Doug TenNapel, designer David Bishop, animator Bill Kroyer, animator/artists Andy Luckey and Mike Dietz and programmer Andy Astor.
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Virgin Mastertronic, essentially given free reign over Sega's products after they left Japan, was extremely successful at marketing the Master System in the region. It was given control over France and Germany in mid-1988{{intref|Interview: Nick Alexander (2008-09-17) by Sega-16}}, later taking on the launch of the [[Sega Mega Drive]] in 1990.  
  
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In 1993 Virgin Interactive created the "Digicel" process, originally for an unpublished game called "Dynoblaze". Key to developing the process were Dr. Stephen Clarke-Willson, David Perry, designer David Bishop, animator Bill Kroyer, animator artists Andy Luckey, animator Mike Dietz and programmer Andy Astor. The technology was first released to the general public in Disney's Aladdin for the Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis and subsequently on such projects as The Lion King video game.
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Seeing its success, Sega acquired the publishing arm of Virgin Mastertronic in 1991, turning it into [[Sega Europe]]{{intref|Interview: Nick Alexander (2008-09-17) by Sega-16}}. The development arm, which Sega was not interested in, returned to its original name as Virgin Games. Over the next few years, Virgin Games would see a string of successes, the most notable of which being the hand-animated ''[[Disney's Aladdin]]'' which redefined computer animation in games.
  
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The British studio operations were acquired in a management buyout led by former Managing Director Tim Chaney in 1998. The U.S. operations were sold to [[Electronic Arts]] as part of its acquisition of Westwood Studios that same year. The company's assets were acquired in 1999 by the French publisher Titus Software—its name was changed to Avalon Interactive on July 1, 2003.
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1993 saw the company rename itself as '''Virgin Interactive Entertainment'''. During this period it capitalised on the work of [[Westwood Studios]], among others. Virgin Interactive would transition more towards a publishing and distribution company in the years which followed
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The British studio operations were acquired in a management buyout led by former Managing Director Tim Chaney in 1998. The U.S. operations were sold to [[Electronic Arts]] as part of its acquisition of Westwood Studios that same year. The company's assets were acquired in 1999 by the French publisher Titus Software, with its name being changed to Avalon Interactive on July 1, 2003.
  
 
In May 2002, the Spanish division of Virgin Interactive, known as Virgin Interactive España, was purchased by Tim Chaney along with former Spanish president and founder Paco Encinas. The branch was then separated from the main Virgin Interactive company, already part of [[Titus Software]], and kept its own identity as a Virgin brand. Renamed Virgin Play in October 2002, this Spanish publisher remained as the sole representation of the Virgin Group in the video game industry until it filed for liquidation in 2009. Virgin Play distributed the PSP version of [[Puyo Pop Fever]] in the spanish market.
 
In May 2002, the Spanish division of Virgin Interactive, known as Virgin Interactive España, was purchased by Tim Chaney along with former Spanish president and founder Paco Encinas. The branch was then separated from the main Virgin Interactive company, already part of [[Titus Software]], and kept its own identity as a Virgin brand. Renamed Virgin Play in October 2002, this Spanish publisher remained as the sole representation of the Virgin Group in the video game industry until it filed for liquidation in 2009. Virgin Play distributed the PSP version of [[Puyo Pop Fever]] in the spanish market.
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VirginGames logo.png|Virgin Games logo
 
VirginGames logo.png|Virgin Games logo
 
Virgininteractive logo.png|Virgin Interactive logo (1993)
 
Virgininteractive logo.png|Virgin Interactive logo (1993)
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VirginInteractive logo 2000.png|Virgin Interactive logo (2000)
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VirginInteractive logo 2000.png|Virgin Interactive logo (1999)
 
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</gallery>
  

Revision as of 16:01, 1 December 2018

320x240px
Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Founded: 1983[1]
T-series code: T-70
Merged into: Titus (UK division), EA (US division)
Headquarters:
London, United Kingdom/Irvine, CA

Virgin Interactive was a British video game developer and publisher. Founded in 1983[1] as Virgin Games Ltd., it was the Virgin Group's first foray into the video game market.

History

In its initial form, Virgin Games, like many British video game companies of the day, developed and published video games for home computer platforms, such as the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64.

In 1987, Virgin Games bought a minority stake in budget label cash-strapped Mastertronic, as Virgin Games wanted to be in the budget computer games business[1]. Mastertronic, set to be the official distributor of the Sega Master System in the UK, suffered a setback after Sega delivered the first order of consoles too late, leading to Virgin Games acquiring the company in full later in the year, creating Virgin Mastertronic, Ltd. in the process[1].

Virgin Mastertronic, essentially given free reign over Sega's products after they left Japan, was extremely successful at marketing the Master System in the region. It was given control over France and Germany in mid-1988[1], later taking on the launch of the Sega Mega Drive in 1990.

Seeing its success, Sega acquired the publishing arm of Virgin Mastertronic in 1991, turning it into Sega Europe[1]. The development arm, which Sega was not interested in, returned to its original name as Virgin Games. Over the next few years, Virgin Games would see a string of successes, the most notable of which being the hand-animated Disney's Aladdin which redefined computer animation in games.

1993 saw the company rename itself as Virgin Interactive Entertainment. During this period it capitalised on the work of Westwood Studios, among others. Virgin Interactive would transition more towards a publishing and distribution company in the years which followed

The British studio operations were acquired in a management buyout led by former Managing Director Tim Chaney in 1998. The U.S. operations were sold to Electronic Arts as part of its acquisition of Westwood Studios that same year. The company's assets were acquired in 1999 by the French publisher Titus Software, with its name being changed to Avalon Interactive on July 1, 2003.

In May 2002, the Spanish division of Virgin Interactive, known as Virgin Interactive España, was purchased by Tim Chaney along with former Spanish president and founder Paco Encinas. The branch was then separated from the main Virgin Interactive company, already part of Titus Software, and kept its own identity as a Virgin brand. Renamed Virgin Play in October 2002, this Spanish publisher remained as the sole representation of the Virgin Group in the video game industry until it filed for liquidation in 2009. Virgin Play distributed the PSP version of Puyo Pop Fever in the spanish market.

Softography

Master System

Mega Drive

Mega-CD

Game Gear

Saturn

Saturn (Capcom Titles Europe)

Dreamcast

Dreamcast (Capcom Titles Europe)

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Mega Drive/Master System software library print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #134: "January 1993" (1992-12-15)
Logo-pdf.svg

Gallery

  • Virgin Mastertronic logo

  • Virgin Games logo

  • Virgininteractive logo.png

    Virgin Interactive logo (1993)

  • Virgin Interactive logo (1999)

References

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NEC Retro has more information related to Virgin Interactive Entertainment
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Interview: Nick Alexander (2008-09-17) by Sega-16
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