.gif)
Software Creations (UK)
Encyclopedia
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
based in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, first established in 1987. They are primarily known for their video games based on movie and comic licenses like Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
, Cutthroat Island
Cutthroat Island
Cutthroat Island is a 1995 action adventure film directed by Renny Harlin. The film stars Geena Davis, Matthew Modine, and Frank Langella. The film received mixed reviews from critics and was a major box office bomb: listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest box office flop of...
, Disney's Beauty and the Beast and original titles Solstice
Solstice (video game)
Solstice: The Quest for the Staff of Demnos is a puzzle-oriented video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System created by Software Creations and heavily influenced by Ultimate Play the Game's Knight Lore and Pentagram...
and the sequel Equinox
Equinox (1994 video game)
Equinox, also known as Solstice II, is an isometric 3D action–puzzle-hybrid video game for the Super NES. It is the sequel to Solstice, a Nintendo Entertainment System game.-Plot:...
.
In their early history, Software Creations ported popular titles to other platforms such as the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
, ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
, Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
, Atari ST
Atari ST
The Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
, NES
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
and the Game Boy
Game Boy
The , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
. Besides a few exceptions it wasn't until the 16-bit consoles, i.e. the Super Nintendo
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
and Mega Drive/Genesis did the developer begin to produce titles with significant appeal.
During the early 1990s, Software Creations was responsible for the development of sound tools used in the creation of music for the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
and its development systems
Software development kit
A software development kit is typically a set of software development tools that allows for the creation of applications for a certain software package, software framework, hardware platform, computer system, video game console, operating system, or similar platform.It may be something as simple...
.
Software Creations titles in their later years were all published by now defunct company, Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment was an American video game developer and publisher. It developed, published, marketed and distributed interactive entertainment software for a variety of hardware platforms, including Sega's Mega Drive/Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, and Game Gear, Nintendo's NES, SNES, Nintendo...
and by May 2002, Acclaim had purchased most of their assets and established their own in-house development unit, Acclaim Studios Manchester. Software Creations CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
- Paul Hibbard - moved over to the new company as General Manager after the take-over, with all titles produced under the name "Acclaim Entertainment". Just prior to Acclaim's collapse in 2004, the Manchester studio was dismantled and sold off to try and cover Acclaim's financial difficulties.
Notable games
- Bionic CommandoBionic CommandoBionic Commando may refer to the following video games:* Bionic Commando , the original arcade game released in 1987* Bionic Commando , a 1988 NES video game, partly based on the arcade game...
(1988) (AmigaAmigaThe Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
, Amstrad CPCAmstrad CPCThe Amstrad CPC is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, where it successfully established itself primarily in the United Kingdom,...
, Atari STAtari STThe Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
, Commodore 64Commodore 64The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
, ZX SpectrumZX SpectrumThe ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
) - Plotting (AmigaAmigaThe Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
, Atari STAtari STThe Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
) - Silver Surfer (1990) (NESNintendo Entertainment SystemThe Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
) - SolsticeSolstice (video game)Solstice: The Quest for the Staff of Demnos is a puzzle-oriented video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System created by Software Creations and heavily influenced by Ultimate Play the Game's Knight Lore and Pentagram...
(1990) (NESNintendo Entertainment SystemThe Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
) - WolverineWolverine (video game)Wolverine is an action video game developed by Software Creations and published by LJN for the NES, and was released exclusively in North America in 1991...
(1991) (NESNintendo Entertainment SystemThe Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
) - Tom & Jerry (& Tuffy) (1991) (NESNintendo Entertainment SystemThe Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
) - Altered SpaceAltered SpaceAltered Space: A 3-D Alien Adventure is a 1991 video game produced for the Nintendo Game Boy. The basic concept is that the player is an astronaut trapped on an alien spaceship who has to try to find his way out while avoiding aliens and continually replenishing his oxygen supply.This was the first...
(1991) (Game BoyGame BoyThe , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
) - Spider-Man/X-Men: Arcade's Revenge (1992) (SNES, Mega Drive/Genesis, Game Gear)
- Double Dragon 3: The Arcade GameDouble Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stoneis a side-scrolling beat 'em up produced by Technos Japan Corp. that was originally released as a coin-operated arcade game in . It is the second sequel to Double Dragon for the arcades, following Double Dragon II: The Revenge...
(1992) (Mega Drive/Genesis) - PlokPlokPlok is a Super Nintendo game developed by Software Creations and published by Tradewest Games in 1993 in North America, and later by Nintendo in Europe and Activision in Japan...
(1993) (SNES) - Disney's Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Quest (1993) (Mega Drive/Genesis)
- Blaster Master 2Blaster Master 2Blaster Master 2 is a video game developed by Software Creations and published exclusively in North America by Sunsoft of America for the Sega Genesis on March 15, 1993...
(1993) (Mega Drive/Genesis) - Equinox (Solstice 2) (1993) (SNES)
- Spider-Man & Venom: Maximum Carnage (1994) (Mega Drive/Genesis, SNES)
- The TickThe Tick (video game)The Tick was a side-scrolling beat 'em up video game developed by Software Creations and released by Fox Interactive in 1994. The game was released on the Super NES and Sega Genesis systems and was based on the comic book and Fox Kids animated series of the same name...
(1994) (Mega Drive/Genesis, SNES) - The Simpsons: Bart and the Beanstalk (1994) (Game Boy)
- Kid Klown in Crazy ChaseKid Klown in Crazy Chaseis a platform video game developed and published by Kemco for the Super NES video game console. It was released in Europe in 1994, in North America in September 1994, and in Japan on October 21, 1994. The game features the Kid Klown, the player character who is tasked with rescuing the Princess...
(1994) (SNES) - Tin Star (1994) (SNES)
- Spider-Man & Venom: Separation AnxietySpider-Man & Venom: Separation AnxietyVenom/Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety is a side-scrolling beat 'em up video game and sequel to Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage, released for Sega Mega Drive and Super NES and then ported to PC, in which one or two players could team up as Spider-Man and Venom to defeat the evil symbiote Carnage...
(1995) (Mega Drive/Genesis, SNES) - Foreman for Real (1995) (SNES)
- Cutthroat Island Video Game (1996) (Super Nintendo, Mega Drive/Genesis, Game Boy, Game Gear)
- HexenHexenHexen is a first-person shooter video game developed by Raven Software, published by id Software, and distributed by GT Interactive beginning on September 30, 1995. It is the sequel to 1994's Heretic, and the second game in the Serpent Riders series...
(1996) (Nintendo 64 port) - CarmageddonCarmageddonCarmageddon is the first of a series of graphically violent vehicular combat video games produced by Stainless Games, published by Interplay and SCi...
(1997) (Nintendo 64Nintendo 64The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
) - NASCAR 2000NASCAR 2000For the 2000 NASCAR Season bearing the same name, see 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series.NASCAR 2000 is a racing simulator video game developed and published by EA Sports and co-developed by Stormfront Studios. The game was released on September 15, 1999 for the Nintendo 64, November 30, 1999 for the...
(1999) (Game Boy ColorGame Boy ColorThe is Nintendo's successor to the 8-bit Game Boy handheld game console, and was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan, November 19, 1998 in North America, November 23, 1998 in Europe and November 27, 1998 in the United Kingdom. It features a color screen and is slightly thicker and taller than...
) - Border ZoneBorder ZoneBorder Zone is an interactive fiction computer game written by Marc Blank and published by Infocom in 1987. It was released for most popular personal computers of the day, such as the IBM PC, Apple II, and Commodore 64. Unlike most other purely text-based games, however, Border Zone incorporated...
(1999) (Game Boy Color) - Ken Griffey Jr.'s SlugfestKen Griffey Jr.'s SlugfestKen Griffey Jr.'s Slugfest is a baseball game for the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color. It was released in 1999. It is a sequel to Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey, Jr., released for the Nintendo 64, which itself was a sequel to Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball and Ken...
(1999) (Game Boy Color) - All-Star BaseballAll-Star BaseballAll-Star Baseball is a baseball video game series developed and published by Acclaim Entertainment. The series began in 1998 with the release of All-Star Baseball '99. The announcers John Sterling and Michael Kay have been added during the ballgame from 1998-2000 for N64...
(2002) (Game Boy AdvanceGame Boy AdvanceThe is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
) - 2002 FIFA World Cup2002 FIFA World Cup (video game)2002 FIFA World Cup is the official World Cup video game published by EA Sports.An amalgamation between the game engines of FIFA 2002 and FIFA 2003, the game still incorporates the power bar for shots and crosses but with a steeper learning curve and customisation of the chances of being penalised...
(2002) (Nintendo GameCubeNintendo GameCubeThe , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
, PlayStationPlayStationThe is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
, PlayStation 2PlayStation 2The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, WindowsMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, XboxXboxThe Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
)
External links
- Archived copy of Software Creations' first website
- Archived copy of Software Creations' second website
- www.acclaim.com
- Software Creations (UK) entry on MobyGamesMobyGames-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...