Titus Interactive

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Titus Interactive
ISINFR0000050122
IndustryVideo games
Founded1985; 37 years ago (1985) (as Titus France SA)
FoundersEric Caen, Hervé Caen
Defunct2005 (2005)
FateBankruptcy and Dissolution; assets now owned by Interplay Entertainment
HeadquartersLagny-sur-Marne, France
Revenue€ 73.2 million (2002)
Divisions
BlueSky Software
SubsidiariesTitus Interactive Studio
Titus Software Corporation
Titus Japan K.K.
Titus Software UK Limited
PronostiX S.A.
Sofra Jeux
EyeOne A/S
Interplay Europe
Avalon Interactive
Avalon France
Websitewww.titus-interactive.com (archived)

Titus Interactive SA,[1] known as Titus France SA until March 1999,[2][3] was a French software publisher that produced and published video games for various platforms. Its head office was located in Parc de l'Esplanade in Lagny sur Marne in Greater Paris.[1] At one time, it was instead located in Montfermeil, also in Greater Paris.[2]

The company's mascot was Titus, the title character of Titus the Fox.

History[]

The company was founded by brothers Eric Caen and Hervé Caen in France in 1985,[4]

In 1991, Titus purchased Palace Software, the gaming division of the Palace Group.[5]

In 1998, the company purchased the developers BlueSky Software[6] and

In Late-1999, the company acquired shares in struggling publisher Interplay Entertainment, including a stake in publisher/distributor Virgin Interactive.

On August 17, 2001, Titus announced they would take control of Interplay.[7]

On May 21, 2001, Titus signed a distribution deal with Microids for the United States.[8] On May 24, 2002, Titus Japan K.K. signed a similar distribution deal with Konami for Japan.[9]

On June 10, 2004, Titus announced they would file for bankruptcy, declaring an unseeable future for Interplay.[10] On January 9, 2005, a french district commercial court declared Titus bankrupt with a €33 million (US$43.8 million) debt.[11][12] Titus' French subsidiaries were later closed down, while their assets were soon purchased by Interplay.

Games[]

Titus began releasing titles for home computers such as the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum and PC before moving on to consoles like the Sega Master System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy and Game Boy Color, PlayStation, Sega Dreamcast and Nintendo 64, followed by publishing titles for the GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox.

Titus designed games such as Virtual Kasparov, Automobili Lamborghini, Virtual Chess 64, Roadsters (the Nintendo 64 version), Incredible Crisis (developed by Polygon Magic), Prehistorik Man and Lamborghini American Challenge, that were given positive reviews. Titus however was also involved in the creation of games that were notable due to their negative reception. Superman for the Nintendo 64 was notorious for its negative status among gamers. GameTrailers called it the worst game of all time.[13] As of 2018, it holds a score of 23% at GameRankings.[14] Similarly, the 2003 game RoboCop also received negative reviews. GameSpot gave it 2.2/10 saying "RoboCop has a bevy of horrible problems that render the game practically unplayable."[15]

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

  • (Published under Virgin Interactive name, Titus distributing the game in North America.)
  • Virtual Kasparov (Game Boy Advance version)
  • Tir et But: Edition Champions du Monde
  • Barbarian (PlayStation 2 version)
  • Top Gun: Combat Zones (GameCube version)
  • Top Gun: Firestorm Advance

2003

2004

2006

  • Garfield: Saving Arlene (published by Titus in Japan only)
  • Counter Terrorist Special Forces: Fire for Effect (published by Titus in Japan only)

Subsidiaries[]

Titus had several subsidiaries. The United States subsidiary, Titus Software Corporation, had its head office in Chatsworth, Los Angeles. The Japanese subsidiary, Titus Japan K.K., had its head office on the eighth floor of the Kotubuki Dogenzaka Building in Dōgenzaka (JA), Shibuya, Tokyo.[1] The UK subsidiary, Titus Software UK Limited, had its head office in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.[17]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Contact." Titus Interactive. 3 June 2004. Retrieved on 4 September 2012. "Titus Interactive SA : Parc de l'Esplanade 12, rue Enrico Fermi 77462 Lagny sur Marne Cedex. FRANCE"
  2. ^ a b "Profie." Titus Games. 30 June 1998. Retrieved on 4 September 2012. "310 Avenue Daniel Perdrige, 93370 Montfermeil."
  3. ^ "Also Known As." Moby Games. Retrieved on 15 October 2020.
  4. ^ IGN Staff (1998). "Eric Caen of Titus Software (interview)". IGN. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  5. ^ Carroll, Martyn (30 March 2006). "Company Profile: Palace Software". Retro Gamer. No. 23. Bournemouth, United Kingdom: Imagine Publishing. pp. 66–69. ISSN 1742-3155.
  6. ^ IGN
  7. ^ LA Times (August 17, 2001). "Titus Takes Control of Irvine's Interplay". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  8. ^ "Titus Interactive signe avec Microïds".
  9. ^ "Titus interactive : Accord avec Konami".
  10. ^ "Titus goes into receivership as Interplay goes back to work".
  11. ^ "Titus bankrupt, Interplay's future uncertain". Gamespot. 2005-01-05. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
  12. ^ "Interplay's position unclear as Titus is declared bankrupt".
  13. ^ "Top 10 Best and Worst Video Games of All Time". 2006-11-17. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  14. ^ "Superman Reviews". GameRankings. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  15. ^ "Robocop Review". Gamespot. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  16. ^ F/A-18E Super Hornet for Windows, mobygames.com
  17. ^ "Contacts." Titus Interactive. 3 February 2002. Retrieved on 4 September 2012.

External links[]

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