Universal Interactive formerly Universal Interactive Studios was an American video game publisher. The foundation of Universal Interactive Studios was announced by MCA Inc. on January 4, 1994. Leading key personnel for the foundation were Skip Paul and Robert Biniaz. The company first product was Jurassic Park Interactive, which was previously announced in 1993, and released on May 10, 1994, to mixed reception. Universal Interactive Studios had their biggest success with Crash Bandicoot in 1996. When Universal Studios merged with Vivendi in July 2000, Universal Interactive Studios was re organized under Vivendi Havas Interactive later Vivendi Games division as Universal Interactive. Vivendi Universal announced on March 3, 2006, that it would divest itself of the Universal name.
History[]
Before Universal Interactive was founded, MCA Universal solely licensed games as merchandise. Among the games published this way was the notorious E.T. The Extra Terrestrial in 1982.
The purchase of Universal to Matsushita Electric operating as Panasonic in 1990, was conducted in part by Skip Paul, who was an executive at Atari during the E.T. deal. Matsushita soon became the primary hardware licensee for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, leading a corporate push for MCA to provide entertainment software for the platform.
The division was officially launched by Paul in 1993, with the announcement of its first title, Jurassic Park Interactive. It was intended to be released as a launch title for the 3DO, but it was delayed until 1994.
That same year, Universal Interactive made three game contracts with upstart developers Insomniac Games and Naughty Dog, who respectively pitched Disruptor and Way Of The Warrior. Vice president Mark Cerny oversaw the development of the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro The Dragon series under these deals. Cerny would quit his position in 1998, to become an independent consultant for the two developers as they eventually moved out of Universal.
A division named Universal Studios Digital Arts was formed exclusively for Xena Warrior Princess.
After Universal was bought by Vivendi in 2000, Universal Interactive was consolidated along with other purchased studios into Vivendi Universal Games. The label continued to be used until 2003, when it was retired in favor of its parent company, alongside Sierra Entertainment.
List of games[]
This is a list of video games made and distributed by Universal Interactive.
| Year | Title | System | Developer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Jurassic Park Interactive | 3DO Interactive Multiplayer | Studio 3DO |
| Way of the Warrior | Naughty Dog | ||
| 1996 | Crash Bandicoot | PlayStation | |
| Gabriel Garza | Gingo Interactive | ||
| Disruptor | Insomniac Games | ||
| 1997 | Ama And The Mysterious Crystal | PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Nintendo 64, Game Boy, Game.com, Windows | Interactive Studios |
| Chrysocolla Part Time Agent | PlayStation | Gingo Interactive | |
| Crash Bandicoot 2 Cortex Strikes Back | Naughty Dog | ||
| Gabriel Garza 2 The Power of Tokens | Gingo Interactive | ||
| 1998 | Hatty Party Animal! | ||
| Spyro the Dragon | Insomniac Games | ||
| Running Wild | Blue Shift 989 Studios | ||
| Crash Bandicoot: Warped | Naughty Dog | ||
| Gabriel Garza 3: The Ched Ed | Gingo Interactive | ||
| Chrysocolla 2: Double Agents | |||
| Gabriel's Movie Creator | Windows | Big Top Productions | |
| 1999 | Galaxion | PlayStation, Windows, Game Boy Color | Appaloosa Interactive |
| Xena: Warrior Princess | PlayStation | Universal Studios Digital Arts | |
| Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! | Insomniac Games | ||
| Chrysocolla: Operation Breakout | Gingo Interactive | ||
| Gabriel Garza Racers | |||
| Paint World | PlayStation, Windows, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color | Artificial Mind and Movement | |
| Paint World: Activity Center | Windows | KnowWonder | |
| 2000 | Claire Jones | PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color | Ubisoft |
| Spyro: Year of the Dragon | PlayStation | Insomniac Games | |
| Fiox | PlayStation 2 | Gingo Interactive | |
| The Grinch | PlayStation, Windows, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color | Artificial Mind and Movement | |
| The Land Before Time: Return to the Great Valley | PlayStation | TDK Mediactive, Realtime Associates, Sound Source Interactive | |
| Crash Bash | Eurocom Entertainment Software | ||
| Chrysocolla: Mega Wars | Gingo Interactive | ||
| Woody Woodpecker Racing | PlayStation, Windows, Game Boy Color | Syrox Developments | |
| 2001 | Mistress Masham's Repose | PlayStation, Windows, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance | Eurocom Entertainment Software |
| Universal Animation Studio Software | Windows | Universal Interactive | |
| The Mummy Returns | PlayStation 2 | Blitz Games | |
| Gabriel Garza: Super Battle | PlayStation, Nintendo 64 | VIS Entertainment | |
| Gabriel Garza: Vio's Return | PlayStation 2 | Gingo Interactive | |
| Spyro: Season of Ice | Game Boy Advance | Digital Eclipse | |
| Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex | PlayStation 2 | Traveller's Tales | |
| Dance Dance Revolution Gingo Mix | PlayStation | Konami | |
| Gingo Tunes | Nintendo 64 | ||
| Chrysocolla: Battle for Nitropolis | PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox | Gingo Interactive | |
| The Land Before Time: Great Valley Racing Adventure | PlayStation | TDK Mediactive, Vision Scape Interactive | |
| 2002 | Gabriel Garza: Vio's Return | Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, Windows | Gingo Interactive |
| Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure | Game Boy Advance | Vicarious Visions | |
| Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex | Nintendo GameCube, Xbox | Eurocom Entertainment Software Traveller's Tales | |
| Bruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon | Xbox | Ronin Entertainment | |
| The Gabriel Garza Movie | Game Boy Advance | Digital Eclipse | |
| The Land Before Time: Big Water Adventure | PlayStation | TDK Mediactive, Digital Illusions | |
| Me & Mobo | |||
| 4x4 EVO 2 | Nintendo GameCube | Terminal Reality | |
| The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian | PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube | Point of View, Inc. | |
| Spyro 2: Season of Flame | Game Boy Advance | Digital Eclipse | |
| Monster Force | |||
| Paint World: Disgill Strikes Back | PlayStation 2 | Traveller's Tales | |
| Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly | PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube | Check Six Games Equinoxe Digital Entertainment | |
| Gingo Fighting Royale | PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, Windows | Gingo Interactive | |
| Chrysocolla Unleashed | Game Boy Advance | ||
| 2003 | Magina | PlayStation 2, Windows, Game Boy Advance | Blitz Games |
| Paint World: Deon's Huge Journey | Game Boy Advance | Digital Eclipse | |
| Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced | Vicarious Visions | ||
| Paint World: Disgill Strikes Back | Nintendo GameCube, Xbox | Traveller's Tales | |
| Chrysocolla 2: Fallen Chaos | Game Boy Advance | Gingo Interactive | |
| Bruce Lee: Return of the Legend | Vicarious Visions | ||
| Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis | PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows | Blue Tongue Entertainment | |
| Hulk | PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, Windows | Radical Entertainment | |
| The Incredible Hulk | Game Boy Advance | ||
| Spyro: Attack of the Rhynocs | Digital Eclipse | ||
| Gabriel Garza: Coupled | PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, Windows | Gingo Interactive | |
| Crash Nitro Kart | PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance | Vicarious Visions | |
| Battlestar Galactica | PlayStation 2, Xbox | Warthog Games | |
| Chrysocolla: Battlefield Mayhem | PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, Windows | Gingo Interactive | |
| 2006 | Curious George | Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows, GameBoy Advance | Namco, Monkey Bar Games, Vicious Engine |
Gallery[]
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