Acclaim Studios Manchester (formerly Software Creations) was a British video game developer based in Manchester, England. The company was established in 1985 by Richard Kay. They were primarily known for their video games based on movie and comic licences like Marvel Comics, Cutthroat Island, Disney's Beauty and the Beast and the original titles Plok, Solstice, and its sequel Equinox.
 | |
| Formerly | Software Creations (1985–2002) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Richard Kay |
| Defunct | 27 August 2004 |
| Fate | Dissolved |
| Headquarters | , England |
| Parent | Acclaim Entertainment (2002–2004) |
History
editAccording to Richard Kay, Software Creations began in 1986 when Steve Ruddy responded to an advertisement he had placed in the Manchester Evening News:
Steve and I hit it off right away. He worked from home, and he did a boxing game called The Big KO. We worked very closely with each other for about 12 months. I hired Mike Ager and Andrew Threlfall, and we were the first four at Software Creations. I got an office on Oxford Road and it was above a computer shop directly opposite the BBC. We did a lot of games for Firebird - they were all for about three or four hundred pounds.[1]
— Richard Kay, Retro Gamer
Most of these early games were ports of budget titles to other platforms such as the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amiga, Atari ST, NES and the Game Boy. The company's breakthrough game was the Commodore 64 version of the arcade hit Bubble Bobble, a conversion which won critical acclaim and commercial success, and led to Software Creations being asked to do many more ports of popular arcade games.[1] By this time the company had grown to include brothers Mike, Tim, and Geoff Follin, and artist Mark Wilson.[1]
An early demo of Solstice won Software Creations a contract with Nintendo, leading to some high-profile NES and Super NES games.[1]
During the mid-1990s, Software Creations was responsible for the development of sound tools used in the creation of music for the Nintendo 64 and its development systems.[2]
On 1 May 2002 Acclaim announced that they had acquired Software Creations, which was renamed Acclaim Studios Manchester.[3][4] At the time, Software Creations had approximately 70 employees.[5] Acclaim Studios Manchester was closed as part of Acclaim Studios and all of its development facilities on 27 August 2004.[6] Rod Cousens and Barry Jafrato, who served as chief executive officer and head of publishing, respectively, for Acclaim, announced in September 2004 that they were planning to create as new video game publisher, Exclaim, with the help of Europlay Capital Advisers.[7] Exclaim was set to acquire and reinstantiate Acclaim's two UK studios, namely Manchester and Cheltenham, and re-employ their roughly 160 previous members.[8] Exclaim's opening was expected on 11 October,[9] however, Cousen's ownership over the two studios was challenged by Acclaim's liquidator, Allan Mendelsohn, leaving the UK staff in a state of limbo.[10] A successor to Acclaim Studios Manchester, SilverBack Studios, was founded by Jon Oldham in April 2005 and employed 15 former Acclaim Studios Manchester staff.[11][12]
Games
edit| Year | Title | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | The Ripping Friends | Game Boy Advance |
| All-Star Baseball 2003 | ||
| 2002 FIFA World Cup | GameCube, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Windows, Xbox | |
| Stuart Little 2 | Game Boy Advance | |
| Super Monkey Ball Jr. |
| Year | Title | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance | PlayStation 2, Windows, Xbox |
| All-Star Baseball 2004 | Game Boy Advance | |
| Cancelled | Interview with a Made Man | PlayStation 2, Windows, Xbox |
| ATV Quad Power Racing 3 | PlayStation 2, Xbox |
References
edit- ^ a b c d Bevan, Mike (13 December 2013). "Bubbles, Baseball and Buzz Saws...". Retro Gamer. No. 122. Imagine Publishing. pp. 74–79.
- ^ Gaming Gossip. Electronic Gaming Monthly. Issue 69. Pg.52. April 1995.
- ^ IGN Staff (1 May 2002). "Acclaim Acquires New Studio". ign.com. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
- ^ "Acclaim Studios Manchester formed". eurogamer.net. May 2002. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
- ^ "Acclaim Launches New Studio In Manchester, UK". gamasutra.com. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
- ^ Perry, Douglass C. (27 August 2004). "Acclaim Closes Offices". ign.com. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
- ^ Jenkins, David (30 September 2004). "Gamasutra - The Art & Business of Making Games". www.gamasutra.com. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
- ^ "Former Acclaim boss in rescue bid for UK studios". eurogamer.net. October 2004. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
- ^ "Acclaim CEO's new company plans to launch next week". gamesindustry.biz. 6 October 2004. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
- ^ "Acclaim UK studios' future unclear as Exclaim deal stalls". gamesindustry.biz. 14 October 2004. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
- ^ "Former Acclaim title returns". eurogamer.net. 3 May 2005. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
- ^ "SilverBack Studios launches from the ashes of Acclaim UK". gamesindustry.biz. 29 April 2005. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
- ^ Hamza, Kati (January 1991). "Running the Gauntlet". The One. No. 28. emap Images. pp. 37–38.
- ^ Extension, Time (19 July 2023). "Cancelled Motocross Game For SNES Finally Released Almost 30 Years Later". Time Extension.
- ^ "Barbie Vacation Adventure". snescentral.com. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ Yarwood, Jack (23 September 2022). "The Tale Of Spiral Saga, The Lost PlayStation 1 Exclusive". Time Extension. Hookshot Media. Retrieved 19 December 2022.