Difference between revisions of "Virgin Interactive"

From Sega Retro
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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}}.
 
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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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 took over distribution in France and Germany in mid-1988, with Spain to follow in 1990{{intref|Interview: Nick Alexander (2008-09-17) by Sega-16}}. Whilst in mid-1989 they tied up a 5 year extension for their European [[Sega Master System]] distribution rights, whilst adding the [[Sega Mega Drive]] rights, which would eventually get released in 1990. The deal was said to be worth £100 million{{magref|nce|31|2}}, and including over one million units of hardware and seven million units of software{{magref|tgm|20|8}} until 1994, figures that they would sail through by just the end of 1990.
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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 took over distribution in France and Germany in mid-1988, with Spain to follow in 1990{{intref|Interview: Nick Alexander (2008-09-17) by Sega-16}}. Whilst in mid-1989 they tied up a 5 year extension for their European [[Sega Master System]] distribution rights, also adding the [[Sega Mega Drive]] rights, which they would eventually release in 1990. The deal was said to be worth £100 million{{magref|nce|31|2}}, and included over one million units of hardware and seven million units of software{{magref|tgm|20|8}} until 1994, figures that they would sail through by just the end of 1990.
  
 
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.
 
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.

Revision as of 07:09, 14 April 2020

https://retrocdn.net/images/4/4e/VirginInteractiveEntertainment_logo.png

VirginInteractiveEntertainment logo.png
Virgin Interactive
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 took over distribution in France and Germany in mid-1988, with Spain to follow in 1990[1]. Whilst in mid-1989 they tied up a 5 year extension for their European Sega Master System distribution rights, also adding the Sega Mega Drive rights, which they would eventually release in 1990. The deal was said to be worth £100 million[2], and included over one million units of hardware and seven million units of software[3] until 1994, figures that they would sail through by just the end of 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. In late 1995 it acquired the distribution rights for Capcom titles in Europe[4].

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

Game Gear

Mega-CD

32X

Commodore 64

IBM PC

Amstrad CPC

ZX Spectrum

Atari ST

Amiga

Saturn

Dreamcast

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

  • 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
  2. ↑ New Computer Express, "June 10, 1989" (UK; 1989-06-08), page 2
  3. ↑ New Computer Express, "June 10, 1989" (UK; 1989-06-08), page 8
  4. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-11-24), page 10
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