 Final logo, used from 2002 to 2004 | |
| Formerly | Universal Interactive Studios, Inc. (1994–2001) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Division |
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | January 4, 1994; 32 years ago (1994-01-04) |
| Founders |
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| Defunct | 2004; 22 years ago (2004) |
| Fate | Consolidated |
| Successor | Vivendi Universal Games |
| Headquarters | , US |
| Parent |
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Universal Interactive, Inc., formerlyUniversal Interactive Studios, Inc. until 2001, was an Americanvideo game publisher and a subsidiary of Vivendi Universal Games (nowVivendi Games). It was established on January 4, 1994, by Skip Paul and Robert Biniaz as a subsidiary ofMCA Inc., laterUniversal Studios, Inc., and was based inUniversal City, California. It was best known for producing and later publishing theCrash Bandicoot andSpyro platform game franchises. Other key releases includeThe Grinch (2000) andHulk (2003).
In 2000, Universal Studios merged withVivendi, leading to Universal Interactive's integration into Vivendi Universal Games. Universal Interactive continued as a label until 2004, when Vivendi began divesting ownership of Universal Studios, retaining the newly renamed Vivendi Games.
MCA, parent ofUniversal Pictures, initially licensed video games directly as merchandise. In 1982, MCA licensed its filmE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial toAtari, securing a deal worthUS$20–25 million after negotiations withSteven Spielberg and MCA presidentSidney Sheinberg.[1][2][3][4] The agreement, finalized in late July 1982, pressured Atari to rush development under programmerHoward Scott Warshaw, who had just five weeks to create theAtari 2600 title ahead of the Christmas release tied to the film's success.[5][6] The resulting game was one of thebiggest commercial failures in video game history, with Atariburying millions of unsold cartridges in a New Mexico landfill in 1983.[7]
In 1985, MCA acquired toy manufacturerLJN for aboutUS$67.5 million, initially purchasing 63% in a stock exchange valued atUS$39.8 million before completing the deal.[8] Under MCA's ownership, LJN expanded into video game publishing in 1987, with notable releases includingFriday the 13th (1989) andBack to the Future (1989).[9] By 1990, amid financial losses at LJN, MCA announced the sale of the unit toAcclaim Entertainment for an undisclosed sum involving cash and stock, taking aUS$30 million charge against earnings; this occurred shortly before Matsushita Electric (nowPanasonic) acquired MCA itself in November 1990 forUS$6.13 billion.[10] In early 1993, Matsushita partnered withThe 3DO Company, with MCA/Universal committing as an equity investor and software provider for the3DO platform, unveiled at theConsumer Electronics Show to explore multimedia entertainment.[11]
Universal Interactive Studios was founded on January 4, 1994 as a subsidiary of MCA, with Charles "Skip" Paul serving as executive vice president and head of the new division, and Robert Biniaz appointed as chief operating officer.[12][13] On February 10, MCA acquired a minority stake inInterplay Productions,[14] which would publishDisruptor outside of North America, and later enter into a distribution deal with successor Vivendi Universal Games.
The company's first titles in mid-1994 wereJurassic Park Interactive, developed by Studio 3DO and initially announced in 1993; andWay of the Warrior, developed byNaughty Dog.[15][16]
Universal contracted with Naughty Dog andInsomniac Games to develop games utilizing the facilities atUniversal City, under vice presidentMark Cerny. They respectively releasedCrash Bandicoot in 1996[17] andSpyro the Dragon in 1998,[18] under publishing arrangements withSony Computer Entertainment.
Starting in 1995, with the purchase of MCA by Canadian beverage companySeagram, Universal Studios was reorganized. By 1998, the Interactive Studios division was brought under the Universal Studios New Media Group, led by Paul Rioux.[11] 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 developXena: Warrior Princess.
By the end of 1999, UIS transitioned solely from the PlayStation to includePC andDreamcast development as well, as well as planned support for next-generation systems.[19]
In July 2000, UIS announced one of their firstPlayStation 2 projects, a tie-in to the then-upcomingThe Mummy Returns, which would release near the time of the movie.[20]
On December 16, 1999, Universal Interactive Studios andKonami announced a global strategic alliance. The deal would allow Konami to distribute and market titles from UIS that were based on existing Universal Studios properties, with franchises part of the deal includingThe Mummy,Universal Studios Monsters,Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas andWoody Woodpecker.[19]
In January 2000, UIS and Konami officially announced that the first title under their new partnership would be the Dreamcast titleNightmare Creatures 2.[21]
The deal expanded further on April 27, allowing Konami to publish and market more titles.[22]
The four PlayStation titles released as part of this partnership were announced atE3 2000 by Konami:Woody Woodpecker Racing,The Grinch,The Mummy andMonster Force.
In September, the deal was expanded further to include three brand new next-gen titles:The Thing, a sequel to the1982 movie of the same name for theXbox,[23] as well as separate titles for theGame Boy Color andGame Boy Advance, a tie-in game to the then-upcomingJurassic Park 3, and an upcomingCrash Bandicoot title.[24]
In July 2000,Seagram merged Universal Studios withVivendi.[25] After the merger closed, UIS was transitioned to Vivendi'sHavas Interactive division and was eventually downgraded to a publishing label of the now-named Vivendi Universal Interactive Publishing.[26] Titles that would be published under the name were primarily a mix ofSpyro andCrash Bandicoot sequels and licensed titles based on other Universal IPs.
At UIS' first E3 under their new owners in 2001, the company signed an exclusive worldwide partnership withMicrosoft to publish titles based onBruce Lee exclusively for the Xbox, with the first beingBruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon. No release window was announced for the title.[27] Other announced titles at the event included the firstSpyro title for a non-PlayStation system:Spyro: Season of Ice for the Game Boy Advance.[28] Previously announced titlesThe Mummy Returns[29] andCrash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex[30] were also showcased.
On August 13, UIS announced the firstCrash Bandicoot title for a non-PlayStation system:Crash Bandicoot XS for the Game Boy Advance (later renamed toCrash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure for North America), and would be released for an early 2002 release window.[31]
Near the end of the year, Universal Interactive Studios' name was shortened to simply Universal Interactive.
On January 17, the company announced to publish two titles based onThe Scorpion King:Rise of the Akkadian[32] for theGameCube andSword of Osiris for the Game Boy Advance. On January 31, an Xbox version ofCrash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex was announced by the company for a Q1 2002 release window.[33]
During Vivendi Universal Games' first Game Faire on February 19, 2002, Universal Interactive showcased twelve titles:[34] which featured previously announced titlesBruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon (which was announced to be released within the third quarter of 2002),The Scorpion King: Sword of Osiris,The Thing, and bothThe Scorpion King titles (with a PS2 version announced)[35] and newly announced titles such asJurassic Park: Project Genesis for a Q4 2002 window on the PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC,Spyro: Season of Flame for Game Boy Advance for Q3 2002, andSpyro: Enter the Dragonfly for the PlayStation 2 for a Q4 2002 release,[36] andMonster Force for Game Boy Advance for Q3 2002.[37] The already-announcedLord of the Rings titles for the Xbox and Game Boy Advance were also transferred over from VU'sSierra Entertainment subsidiary to Universal.
Before E3 2002 on May 7, Universal Interactive announced a GameCube port ofCrash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex for a Q3 2002 release.[38]
On June 11, Universal Interactive announced plans to publish titles based onThe Hulk, withone for consoles and PCs, andanother for the Game Boy Advance.[39] On July 9, the company's GameCube portfolio expanded with the announcements of a GCN port ofSpyro: Enter the Dragonfly,[40] and the acquisition of4x4 Evo 2 within an unknown time frame.[41] In August 2002, Vivendi Universal Games announced thatThe Thing andThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring were transferred over from Universal Interactive to the newly formedBlack Label Games label, which would be aimed for more mature titles.[42]
Near the summer, another Game Boy AdvanceCrash Bandicoot title was announced:Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced.[43]
On January 28, a Bruce Lee title for the Game Boy Advance titledBruce Lee: Return of the Legend was announced.[44]
On April 24, Universal Interactive's parent company announced their plans for E3 2003, and announced several new titles to be released under the Universal Interactive label:Spyro: Attack of the Rhynocs for the Game Boy Advance,[45]Battlestar Galactica for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox,[46]Crash Nitro Kart for consoles and Game Boy Advance,[47] andThe Fast and the Furious[48] for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox which ultimately never released.
By 2004, the Universal Interactive brand was effectively phased out, with publishing consolidated directly under Vivendi Universal Games, though the copyright persisted on select titles. Intellectual property management for flagship franchises likeCrash Bandicoot andSpyro shifted toSierra Entertainment, a Vivendi subsidiary.[49] On March 3, 2006, Vivendi Universal announced that, as a result of divesting Universal Studios toGeneral 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.[50]
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