 | |
| Formerly | CSG Imagesoft (1989–1991) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | January 1989 (1989-01)[citation needed] |
| Defunct | March 1995 (1995-03) |
| Fate | Folded into Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Successors | Sony Computer Entertainment 989 Studios |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California |
| Parent | CBS/Sony Group (1989–1991) Sony Electronic Publishing (1991–1995) |
| Website | www.sony.com |
Sony Imagesoft Inc. was an American video game publisher that operated from 1989 to 1995 and was located in California. It was established in January 1989 in Los Angeles, California, as a subsidiary of the Japan-based CBS/Sony Group (CSG) and initially named CSG Imagesoft Inc.[1] Their focus at the beginning was on marketing games exclusively for Nintendo consoles.[2]
History
The first release was Super Dodge Ball in summer 1989.[2] UK-developed games such as Solstice and Dragon's Lair followed in 1990. Both were also published in Japan through Epic/Sony Records.
Sega partnership
On May 20, 1992, Sega of America and Sony Electronic Publishing announced a partnership to create content for Sega's consoles under the direction of Imagesoft.[3] Besides Sega's cartridge-based Genesis and Game Gear consoles the partnership targeted the upcoming Sega CD peripheral.[4]
Among the first titles released for Sega's consoles after the announcement are Sewer Shark and Hook. Sewer Shark, initially released exclusively to Sega CD, is a rail-shooter that years earlier had been shelved as part of the ill-fated Control-Vision platform. The Hook video games are tie-ins to the Spielberg feature film Hook that premiered in December 1991 and was produced by Sony-owned TriStar Pictures. Ports of the video game for Sega platforms are based on the Super NES game published earlier by Imagesoft. The Sega CD version was enhanced with better cut scenes with voice actors and digital stills and featured music from the film soundtrack.[5]
1995 changes
In March 1995, Sony Imagesoft announced that it had appointed Kelly Flock as president. Flock came from Trimark Interactive where he was executive vice president since March 1993.[6]
Starting in July 1995, just two months prior to the release of the PlayStation console in Western markets, Sony Electronic Publishing restructured and renamed its divisions. All video game marketing from Sony Imagesoft was folded into Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA), with about 100 employees transferred from Santa Monica to Foster City.[7][8][9] The video game business of Sony Imagesoft was merged with the product development branch of SCEA and became Sony Interactive Studios America[10] which would later be renamed to 989 Studios.
The computer software business of Imagesoft became Sony Interactive PC Software America and was headed by general manager Ray Sangster.[10] In August, the Los Angeles Times said Sony had canceled prior projects on computer and video game platforms other than its own PlayStation. It also said Psygnosis became Sony Interactive Europe.[11]
Games published
| Title | Platform | Genre | Release date | Developer | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Ninjas Kick Back | Sega Genesis | Action | &1994-06-01June 1, 1994 | Malibu Interactive | |
| Super NES | &1994-11-00November 19, 1994 | [12] | |||
| Altered Space | Game Boy | Puzzle adventure | &1991-09-30September 1991 | Software Creations | [13] |
| Bram Stoker's Dracula | Game Boy | Action | &1993-00-001993 | Psygnosis | |
| Super NES | &1993-09-00September 1993 | Traveller's Tales/Psygnosis | [12] | ||
| Championship Soccer '94 | Sports | &1994-06-00June 1994 | Sensible Software | [12] | |
| Cliffhanger | Sega Genesis | Action | &1993-10-25October 25, 1993 | Malibu Interactive | |
| Super NES | &1993-10-00October 1993 | [12] | |||
| Chuck Rock | Super NES | Side-scrolling platformer | &1992-11-00November 1992 | [12] | |
| Sega CD | &unknown | Core Design | |||
| Dragon's Lair | NES | Action | &1990-12-00December 29, 1990 | Motivetime | |
| Eastern Mind: The Lost Souls of Tong Nou | Microsoft Windows
Macintosh |
Point-and-click adventure | &1995-08-10Early August 1995 | OutSide Directors Company | |
| Equinox | Super NES | Action-adventure | &1994-03-00March 1994 | Software Creations | [12] |
| ESPN Baseball Tonight | Super NES | Sports | &1994-05-00May 1994 | Park Place Productions | |
| ESPN National Hockey Night | Sega Genesis
Sega CD |
&1994-08-01August 1, 1994 | |||
| ESPN NBA HangTime '95 | Sega CD | &19941994 | |||
| ESPN SpeedWorld | Sega Genesis | Racing | &1994-00-001994 | Park Place Productions | |
| ESPN Sunday Night NFL | Sega CD | Sports | &1993-00-001993 | Ringler Studios | |
| Sega Genesis | &1994-08-01August 1, 1994 | ||||
| Super NES | &1994-11-00November 1994 | ||||
| Extra Innings | Super NES | &1992-03-20March 20, 1992 | Sting Entertainment | ||
| Flashback | Super NES | Action-Adventure | 1993 | Tiertex | |
| Flink | Sega Mega Drive | Platform | &1994-05-00May 1994 | Psygnosis | |
| Gear Works | Game Gear
Game Boy |
Puzzle | 1993 | ||
| Ground Zero: Texas | Sega CD | Action | &1993-11-00November 1993 | Digital Pictures | [14] |
| Hook | NES
Game Boy |
&1992-04-00April 1992 | Ocean Software | ||
| Super NES | &1992-10-00October 1992 | Ukiyotei | [12] | ||
| Sega Genesis
Sega CD |
&1993-03-001992/March 1993 (European Mega CD version) | Core Design | [15] | ||
| Hudson Hawk | NES
Game Boy |
Platform | &1991-00-001991 | Ocean Software | |
| Johnny Mnemonic | Microsoft Windows
Macintosh |
Interactive movie | &1995-05-26May 26, 1995 | Propaganda Code, directed by Douglas Gayeton | [16] |
| Sega CD | &unreleased | [17] | |||
| Last Action Hero | Sega Genesis | Action | &1994-03-28March 28, 1994 | Bits Studios | |
| Super NES | &1993-10-00October 1993[12] | ||||
| Sega CD | Beat 'em up | &cancelled | Psygnosis | [18][19] | |
| Mary Shelley's Frankenstein | Sega Genesis | Action | &1994-03-04March 4, 1994 | Bits Studios | |
| Super NES | &1994-11-00November 1994 | ||||
| Sega CD | &1994-00-001994 | Psygnosis | [20] | ||
| Mickey Mania | Sega Genesis | Platform | &1994-10-00October 1994 | Traveller's Tales/Psygnosis | [21] |
| Sega CD | October 1994 | ||||
| Super NES | &1994-10-00October 1994[12] | ||||
| No Escape | Super NES | Action | &1994-11-00November 1994 | Bits Studios | [12] |
| Super Battletank 2 (European version) | Super NES | &1994-10-001993 | Absolute | ||
| Super Bomberman (European version) | Super NES | &1994-10-00November 1993 | Hudson Soft | ||
| Skyblazer | Super NES | &1994-03-16March 16, 1994 | Ukiyotei | [22] | |
| Sewer Shark | Sega CD | Shooter | &1992-10-15October 15, 1992 | Digital Pictures | |
| Smart Ball | Super NES | Action-adventure | &1992-03-00March 1992 | Game Freak | [12] |
| Soccer Mania | Game Boy | Sports | &1992-03-00March 1992 | Kitty Group Japan | |
| Solstice | NES | Puzzle | &1990-06-00June 1990 | Software Creations | |
| Super Dodge Ball | NES | Sports | &1989-06-00June 1989 | Technōs Japan | [23] |
Games developed
| Title | Platform | Genre | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeopardy! Classic | Sega CD, PC | Puzzle | May 22, 1994 | Sega CD version co-developed by Absolute |
| Wheel of Fortune | Sega CD, PC | Strategy | 1994 | Sega CD version co-developed by Absolute |
Unreleased Games
| Title | Platform | Genre | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bug Blasters: The Exterminators | Sega CD | Unreleased | Developed by Digital Pictures[24][25] |
References
- ^ Sony in U.S. Videogame Venture. In: Television Digest with Consumer Electronics. Volume 28, December 26, 1988, page 51.
- ^ a b CSG Imagesoft Enters U.S. Home Video Game Market. PR Newswire, Los Angeles, September 6, 1989
- ^ Sony Electronic Publishing and Sega of America announce broad business partnership. Business Wire, May 20, 1992
- ^ Adam Bryant: Sega Links with Sony to Make CD Video Games. New York Times, May 21, 1992. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (archived version)
- ^ Janet Wasko: Hollywood in the information age: beyond the silver screen. University of Texas Press 1995, ISBN 0-292-79094-5. Page 62.
- ^ Sony Imagesoft names Kelly Flock president. Business Wire New York, March 8, 1995.
- ^ Carl DiOrio: Sony to Transfer 100 Workers. In: The Hollywood Reporter, July 12, 1995.
- ^ Scott Hettrick: -- no title given -- In: The Hollywood Reporter, August 8, 1995.
- ^ Sony in Disarray on Eve of Playstation Debut. In: Television Digest with Consumer Electronics, August 14, 1995, ISSN 0497-1515, page 9.
- ^ a b Sony Electronic Publishing Co. renamed; Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. is established. Business Wire, August 17, 1995.
- ^ Harmon, Amy (1995-08-18). "Company Town". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Super NES Release List from nintendo.com at the Wayback Machine (archived September 30, 2007)
- ^ "Altered Space – Game Boy – IGN". uk.ign.com. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
- ^ Peter M. Nichols: Home Video. In: New York Times, December 10, 1993. Accessed: 2010-09-16. (archived version)
- ^ "The Milwaukee Journal – Google News Archive Search – The earliest reviews available online are from March 1993". Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
- ^ Philips Teams With Propagande. In: Billboard, June 24, 1995, page 54
- ^ Sony Imagesoft to showcase "Johnny Mnemonic" Archived 2016-03-13 at the Wayback Machine Business Wire, Santa Monica, California, March 13, 1995
- ^ Last Action Hero – Sega Mega CD unseen64.net
- ^ Notebooks. In: Television Digest with Consumer Electronics, Vol. 33, No. 21, Pg. 19. – "...Psygnosis, founded in 1984, published noteworthy "Lemmings" software series, and has developed 2 titles – "Bram Stoker's Dracula" and "Last Action Hero" – for Sega CD."
- ^ Mary Shelley's Frankenstein for Sega CD at MobyGames
- ^ Mickey Mania for Sega Genesis Credits at MobyGames
- ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 5 March 1994. p. 67. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
- ^ https://www.engadget.com/2007-09-02-promotional-consideration-beaning-the-red-army.html
- ^ https://fmvworld.com/bugblasters.html
- ^ https://kotaku.com/games/bug-blasters-the-exterminators
External links
- Sony Imagesoft profile on MobyGames
