Difference between revisions of "RazorSoft"

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{{sub-stub}}'''''RazorSoft Inc.''''' was a video game development and publishing company.
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{{sub-stub}}'''''RazorSoft Inc.''''' was an American video game developer, and one of the earliest third-party developers for the North American [[Sega Genesis]].
  
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They were among the earliest licensees to produce games for the Genesis. However, Sega and RazorSoft soon got involved in a legal spat whose exact circumstances are still unclear.
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==History==
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The majority of RazorSoft's releases were developed by their subsidiary [[Punk Development]]. In 1991, the subsidiary was closed, and its founder Jeff Spangenberg started a new studio composed mostly of former Punk personnel: [[Iguana Entertainment]].{{ref|http://www.nintendoplayer.com/unreleased/shooter/}}
  
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RazorSoft's first two games, ''Stormlord'' and ''Techno Cop'', were developed under license, but the cartridges were manufactured by RazorSoft itself. It is speculated that this displeased Sega, who usually made a good profit from this service, and this led them to rescind RazorSoft's license. In July 1991, RazorSoft sued, alleging that Sega's actions were a violation the Sherman Antitrust Act. Sega immediately countersued, alleging that RazorSoft had committed fraud, breach of contract, and unauthorized use of Sega's intellectual property. {{magrow|nce|147|28
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===Lawsuit===
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In 1991, disagreements between [[RazorSoft]] and [[Sega]] over the cost and order size of Sega's proprietary [[Sega Mega Drive]] cartridges{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20210608052404/http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Interview:Kevin_Seghetti}}{{ref|https://www.gamingalexandria.com/wp/2019/01/the-history-of-stormlord/}} led to Stormlord being released in a smaller run of self-manufactured cartridges (as opposed to purchasing them directly from [[Sega]], as contractually-obliged.){{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20210608052404/http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Interview:Kevin_Seghetti}} While the company still paid full royalties to [[Sega]]{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20210608052404/http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Interview:Kevin_Seghetti}}{{ref|https://www.gamingalexandria.com/wp/2019/01/the-history-of-stormlord/}}, their developer license was revoked in June 1991, and Sega refused to publish any of their future games. RazorSoft then sued for breach of the Sherman Antitrust Act on July 22, 1991, with [[Sega]] then counter-suing both [[RazorSoft]] and [[Punk Development]] in August for copyright infringement and breach of contract.{{fileref|PhoenixtheFallandRiseofVideoGames Book US 3rd.pdf|page=153}}{{magref|gamepro|28|142}}
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}}[https://newsok.com/article/2364929/video-game-makers-exchange-lawsuits][http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Punk_Development]
 
  
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The two companies ended their lawsuits in a sealed settlement. RazorSoft's subsequent games for the Genesis were manufactured by Sega.[http://www.sega-16.com/2013/03/interview-kevin-seghetti/]
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The final outcome was settled out of court, with RazorSoft agreeing to purchase future cartridges from Sega, having their developer license restored, and Sega dropping the lawsuit. {{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20210608052404/http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Interview:Kevin_Seghetti}}
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Most of RazorSoft's games were developed by subsidiary Punk Development, located in Sunnyvale, CA. When RazorSoft ended this partnership in 1991, Punk's founder Jeff Spangenberg started a new studio, composed mostly of former Punk personnel: [[Iguana Entertainment]]. [http://www.nintendoplayer.com/unreleased/shooter/]
 
  
 
==Softography==
 
==Softography==
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{{CompanyHistoryAll|RazorSoft|Punk Development}}
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{{CompanyHistoryAll|RazorSoft}}
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references />
 
<references />

Revision as of 00:47, 19 June 2021

https://segaretro.org/images/0/02/RazorSoft_logo.png

RazorSoft logo.png
RazorSoft
T-series code: T-56
Headquarters:
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States

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RazorSoft Inc. was an American video game developer, and one of the earliest third-party developers for the North American Sega Genesis.

History

The majority of RazorSoft's releases were developed by their subsidiary Punk Development. In 1991, the subsidiary was closed, and its founder Jeff Spangenberg started a new studio composed mostly of former Punk personnel: Iguana Entertainment.[1]

Lawsuit

In 1991, disagreements between RazorSoft and Sega over the cost and order size of Sega's proprietary Sega Mega Drive cartridges[2][3] led to Stormlord being released in a smaller run of self-manufactured cartridges (as opposed to purchasing them directly from Sega, as contractually-obliged.)[2] While the company still paid full royalties to Sega[2][3], their developer license was revoked in June 1991, and Sega refused to publish any of their future games. RazorSoft then sued for breach of the Sherman Antitrust Act on July 22, 1991, with Sega then counter-suing both RazorSoft and Punk Development in August for copyright infringement and breach of contract.[4][5]

The final outcome was settled out of court, with RazorSoft agreeing to purchase future cartridges from Sega, having their developer license restored, and Sega dropping the lawsuit. [2]

Softography

Mega Drive

References

  1. ↑ http://www.nintendoplayer.com/unreleased/shooter/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Interview:Kevin_Seghetti (Wayback Machine: 2021-06-08 05:24)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://www.gamingalexandria.com/wp/2019/01/the-history-of-stormlord/
  4. ↑ File:PhoenixtheFallandRiseofVideoGames Book US 3rd.pdf, page 153
  5. ↑ GamePro, "November 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 142
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