Universal Interactive

Universal Interactive

Formerly	Universal Interactive Studios (1994–2001)
Type	Division
Industry	Video games
Founded	January 4, 1994; 28 years ago (1994-01-04)
Founders	Skip Paul Robert Biniaz
Defunct	2006 (2006)
Fate	Consolidated
Successor	Vivendi Universal Games
Headquarters	Universal City, California , US
Parent	Universal Studios (1994–2000) Vivendi Universal Games (2000–2006)

Universal Interactive (formerly Universal Interactive Studios) was an American video game publisher. The company was established in January 1994, and led by Skip Paul and Robert Biniaz of MCA. It was best known for producing the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro platform game franchises.

In 2000, the merger of Vivendi and Universal Studios consolidated the division into Vivendi's Havas Interactive, which was renamed Vivendi Universal Games the next year. Universal Interactive continued as a label until 2006, when Vivendi began divesting ownership of Universal Studios, retaining the newly renamed Vivendi Games.

History[]

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Predecessors (1982–1993)[]

MCA, Universal's parent company from 1962 to 1990, initially licensed video games directly as merchandise. In 1982, Atari licensed and released E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, a tie-in game cited as one of the biggest commercial failures in video game history. The licensing deal united director Steven Spielberg and MCA president Sidney Sheinberg with Atari general counsel Charles "Skip" Paul, who joined MCA after 1984.^[1] In 1985, MCA purchased LJN, a toy manufacturer which began publishing video games in 1987.^[2]

In 1990, MCA was sold to Matsushita Electric (now Panasonic), and LJN was sold to Acclaim Entertainment.^[3] Within the next two years, Matsushita partnered with The 3DO Company, pledging Panasonic as a manufacturer for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, and MCA as an entertainment software partner.^[4]

Universal Interactive Studios (1994–1999)[]

The company was founded on January 4, 1994, in tandem with the 1994 Winter Consumer Electronics Show.^[5] Leading key personnel for the foundation were Skip Paul and Robert Biniaz.^[6] On February 10, MCA acquired a minority stake in Interplay Productions,^[7] which would publish Disruptor outside of North America, and later enter into a distribution deal with successor Vivendi Universal Games.

The company's first titles in mid-1994 were Jurassic Park Interactive, developed by Studio 3DO and initially announced in 1993; and Way of the Warrior, developed by Naughty Dog.^[8][9]

Universal contracted with Naughty Dog and Insomniac Games to develop games utilizing the facilities at Universal City, under vice president Mark Cerny. They respectively released Crash Bandicoot in 1996^[10] and Spyro the Dragon in 1998,^[11] under publishing arrangements with Sony Computer Entertainment.

Starting in 1995, with the purchase of MCA by Canadian beverage company Seagram, Universal Studios was reorganized. By 1998, the Interactive Studios division was brought under the Universal Studios New Media Group, led by Paul Rioux.^[4] 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 develop Xena: Warrior Princess.

Vivendi merger (2000–2006)[]

When Seagram merged Universal with Vivendi in July 2000,^[12] Universal Interactive was absorbed into Vivendi's Havas Interactive (later Vivendi Universal Games) division the following year.^[13] With the name also changed to Universal Interactive, it solely became a label within the company and would be used for several titles published by Vivendi. These were primarily a mix of Spyro and Crash Bandicoot sequels and licensed properties, which would eventually be consolidated under Vivendi Universal Games.

Vivendi Universal then announced that on March 3, 2006, as a result of divesting Universal Studios to General 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.^[14] In this arrangement, Sierra Entertainment was assigned to publish future titles.

Games[]

References[]

External links[]

• Universal Interactive at MobyGames