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Sony Imagesoft

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Sony Imagesoft Inc.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
FoundedJanuary 1989; 35 years ago (1989-01)[citation needed]
DefunctMarch 1995; 29 years ago (1995-03)
FateFolded into Sony Computer Entertainment
SuccessorsSony Computer Entertainment
989 Studios
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California
ParentCBS/Sony Group (1989–1991)
Sony Electronic Publishing (1991–1995)
Websitewww.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]

The first release was Super Dodge Ball in summer 1989.[2] Games by UK-based developers, Solstice and Dragon's Lair, followed in 1990. Both were also published in Japan through Epic/Sony Records.

After Sony had set up its North American division, Sony Electronic Publishing in April 1991,[3][4] Imagesoft operated as Sony Imagesoft Inc.

Other releases are localizations of SNES games previously developed for Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) and published under the Epic/Sony Records brand: Extra Innings and Smart Ball, both published in 1992. Following a shakeup at Sony in 1995, Sony Imagesoft was merged into Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) and has since only supported the PlayStation brand.

Sega partnership

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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.[5] Besides Sega's cartridge-based Genesis and Game Gear consoles the partnership targeted the upcoming Sega CD peripheral.[6] 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 SNES 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.[7]

1995 changes

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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.[8]

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.[9][10][11] The video game business of Sony Imagesoft was merged with the product development branch of SCEA and became Sony Interactive Studios America[12] 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.[12]

Games published

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Title Platform Genre Release date Developer
3 Ninjas Kick Back Sega Genesis Action &1994-06-01June 1, 1994 Malibu Interactive
SNES &1994-11-00November 19, 1994[13]
Altered Space Game Boy Puzzle adventure &1991-09-30September 1991[14] Software Creations
Bram Stoker's Dracula Game Boy Action &1993-00-001993 Psygnosis
SNES &1993-09-00September 1993[13] Traveller's Tales/Psygnosis
Championship Soccer '94 Sports &1994-06-00June 1994[13] Sensible Software
Cliffhanger Sega Genesis Action &1993-10-25October 25, 1993 Malibu Interactive
SNES &1993-10-00October 1993[13]
Chuck Rock SNES Side-scrolling platformer &1992-11-00November 1992[13]
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 SNES Action-adventure &1994-03-00March 1994[13] Software Creations
ESPN Baseball Tonight SNES Sports &1994-05-00May 1994[15] 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[16] Ringler Studios
Sega Genesis &1994-08-01August 1, 1994[17]
SNES &1994-11-00November 1994[18]
Extra Innings SNES &1992-03-20March 20, 1992 Sting Entertainment
Flashback SNES 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[19] Digital Pictures
Hook NES

Game Boy

&1992-04-00April 1992 Ocean Software
SNES &1992-10-00October 1992[13] Ukiyotei
Sega Genesis

Sega CD

&1993-03-001992/March 1993 (European Mega CD version)[20][21] Core Design
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,[22] directed by Douglas Gayeton
Sega CD &unreleased[23]
Last Action Hero Sega Genesis Action &1994-03-28March 28, 1994 Bits Studios
SNES &1993-10-00October 1993[13]
Sega CD Beat 'em up &cancelled[24] Psygnosis[25]
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Sega Genesis Action &1994-03-04March 4, 1994 Bits Studios
SNES &1994-11-00November 1994
Sega CD &1994-00-001994 Psygnosis[26]
Mickey Mania Sega Genesis Platform &1994-10-00October 1994 Traveller's Tales/Psygnosis[27]
Sega CD October 1994
SNES &1994-10-00October 1994[13]
No Escape SNES Action &1994-11-00November 1994[13] Bits Studios
Super Battletank 2 (European version) SNES &1994-10-001993 Absolute
Super Bomberman (European version) SNES &1994-10-00November 1993 Hudson Soft
Skyblazer SNES &1994-03-16March 16, 1994[28] Ukiyotei
Sewer Shark Sega CD Shooter &1992-10-15October 15, 1992 Digital Pictures
Smart Ball SNES Action-adventure &1992-03-00March 1992[13] Game Freak
Soccer Mania Game Boy Sports &1992-03-00March 1992[29] Kitty Group Japan
Solstice NES Puzzle &1990-06-00June 1990 Software Creations
Super Dodge Ball NES Sports &1989-06-00June 1989 Technōs Japan

Games developed

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Title Genre Release date
Jeopardy Classic Puzzle May 22, 1994
Wheel of Fortune Strategy 1994

References

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  1. ^ Sony in U.S. Videogame Venture. In: Television Digest with Consumer Electronics. Volume 28, December 26, 1988, page 51.
  2. ^ a b CSG Imagesoft Enters U.S. Home Video Game Market. PR Newswire, Los Angeles, September 6, 1989
  3. ^ Sony Software Establishes Sony Electronic Publishing. PR Newswire, New York, February 26, 1991.
  4. ^ Consumer Electronics (Communications Daily), Vol. 11, No. 44, Warren Publishing. Page 9.
  5. ^ Sony Electronic Publishing and Sega of America announce broad business partnership. Business Wire, May 20, 1992
  6. ^ Adam Bryant: Sega Links with Sony to Make CD Video Games. New York Times, May 21, 1992. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (archived version)
  7. ^ Janet Wasko: Hollywood in the information age: beyond the silver screen. University of Texas Press 1995, ISBN 0-292-79094-5. Page 62.
  8. ^ Sony Imagesoft names Kelly Flock president. Business Wire New York, March 8, 1995.
  9. ^ Carl DiOrio: Sony to Transfer 100 Workers. In: The Hollywood Reporter, July 12, 1995.
  10. ^ Scott Hettrick: -- no title given -- In: The Hollywood Reporter, August 8, 1995.
  11. ^ Sony in Disarray on Eve of Playstation Debut. In: Television Digest with Consumer Electronics, August 14, 1995, ISSN 0497-1515, page 9.
  12. ^ a b Sony Electronic Publishing Co. renamed; Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. is established. Business Wire, August 17, 1995.
  13. ^ 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)
  14. ^ "Altered Space – Game Boy – IGN". uk.ign.com. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  15. ^ "ESPN Baseball Tonight". GameSpot.
  16. ^ "ESPN Sunday Night NFL Release Information for Sega CD – GameFAQs". gamefaqs.com. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  17. ^ "ESPN Sunday Night NFL Release Information for Genesis – GameFAQs". gamefaqs.com. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  18. ^ "ESPN Sunday Night NFL Release Information for Super Nintendo – GameFAQs". gamefaqs.com. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  19. ^ Peter M. Nichols: Home Video. In: New York Times, December 10, 1993. Accessed: 2010-09-16. (archived version)
  20. ^ "The Milwaukee Journal – Google News Archive Search – The earliest reviews available online are from March 1993". Retrieved 2015-07-07.[permanent dead link‍]
  21. ^ "Hook for Sega Cd". GameFaqs.
  22. ^ Philips Teams With Propagande. In: Billboard, June 24, 1995, page 54
  23. ^ Sony Imagesoft to showcase "Johnny Mnemonic" Archived 2016-03-13 at the Wayback Machine Business Wire, Santa Monica, California, March 13, 1995
  24. ^ Last Action Hero – Sega Mega CD unseen64.net
  25. ^ 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."
  26. ^ Mary Shelley's Frankenstein for Sega CD at MobyGames
  27. ^ Mickey Mania for Sega Genesis Credits at MobyGames
  28. ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 5 March 1994. p. 67. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  29. ^ "Soccer Mania Release Information for Game Boy – GameFAQs". gamefaqs.com. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
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