Universal Interactive

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 Inc.. In 2000, the company was absorbed into Havas Interactive, which was later renamed Vivendi Universal Games following the merger of Vivendi and Universal Studios, Universal Interactive's ownership of its IPs would also be transferred to Havas.

Universal Interactive
FormerlyUniversal Interactive Studios (1994–2001)[lower-alpha 1]
TypeDivision
IndustryVideo games
FoundedJanuary 4, 1994 (1994-01-04)
Founders
  • Skip Paul
  • Robert Biniaz
Defunct2000 (2000)[lower-alpha 2]
FateConsolidated
SuccessorVivendi Universal Games
Headquarters
Universal City, California
,
US
Parent

History

Early years as Universal Interactive Studios (1994-1996)

The company was founded on January 4, 1994.[1] Leading key personnel for the foundation were Skip Paul and Robert Biniaz.[2] The company's first product was Jurassic Park Interactive, which was previously announced in 1993 and was released on May 10, 1994, to mixed reception.[3][4] The most successful title in both sales and reception that the company has released was the title Crash Bandicoot, developed by Naughty Dog and released in 1996.[5]

In 1998 the company partnered with Insomniac Games, who had previously developed the title Disruptor for Universal, releasing the title Spyro the Dragon, as a PlayStation exclusive under an agreement with Sony and Universal.[6]

Vivendi and Universal merger (2000)

When Universal, parent company of Universal Interactive, merged with Vivendi in July 2000,[7] Universal Interactive would be absorbed into Vivendi's Havas Interactive (later Vivendi Universal Games) division the following year.[8] It would then solely become a label within the company and would be used for several titles published by Vivendi. Vivendi Universal had then announced that on March 3, 2006, it and several of its divisions, including Vivendi Universal Games, would divest from using the "Universal" name and would simply become Vivendi with Vivendi Universal Games becoming Vivendi Games.[9]

Games
Year Title System Developer Publisher
1994 Jurassic Park Interactive 3DO Interactive Multiplayer Studio 3DO Universal Interactive Studios
Way of the Warrior Naughty Dog
1996 Crash Bandicoot PlayStation Sony Computer Entertainment
Disruptor Insomniac Games Universal Interactive Studios (NA)

Interplay Productions (EU/JP)

1997 Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back Naughty Dog Sony Computer Entertainment
1998 Spyro the Dragon Insomniac Games
Running Wild Blue Shift 989 Studios (NA)

Sony Computer Entertainment (EU)

Crash Bandicoot: Warped Naughty Dog Sony Computer Entertainment
1999 Xena: Warrior Princess Universal Studios Digital Arts Electronic Arts
Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! Insomniac Games Sony Computer Entertainment
Crash Team Racing Naughty Dog
2000 Spyro: Year of the Dragon Insomniac Games
The Grinch Dreamcast, Game Boy Color, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Artificial Mind and Movement Konami
Crash Bash PlayStation Eurocom Entertainment Software Sony Computer Entertainment
The Mummy Game Boy Color, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Rebellion Developments Konami
Woody Woodpecker Racing Syrox Developments
2001 The Mummy Returns PlayStation 2 Blitz Games Universal Interactive[lower-alpha 3]
Spyro: Season of Ice Game Boy Advance Digital Eclipse
Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex PlayStation 2 Traveller's Tales
2002 Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure Game Boy Advance Vicarious Visions
Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex GameCube, Xbox Eurocom Entertainment Software, Traveller's Tales
Bruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon Xbox Ronin Entertainment
4x4 EVO 2 GameCube Terminal Reality
The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian GameCube, PlayStation 2 Point of View, Inc.
Spyro 2: Season of Flame Game Boy Advance Digital Eclipse
Monster Force
Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly GameCube, PlayStation 2 Check Six Games, Equinoxe Digital Entertainment
2003 Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced Game Boy Advance Vicarious Visions
Bruce Lee: Return of the Legend
Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox Blue Tongue Entertainment
Hulk GameCube, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox Radical Entertainment
The Incredible Hulk Game Boy Advance Pocket Studios
Spyro: Attack of the Rhynocs Digital Eclipse
Crash Nitro Kart Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox Vicarious Visions
Battlestar Galactica PlayStation 2, Xbox Warthog Games

References
  1. Marx, Andy (January 5, 1994). "MCA gets into interactive". variety.com. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  2. HARMON, AMY (January 5, 1994). "MCA Branching Out to Video Game Publishing". Retrieved July 20, 2018 – via LA Times.
  3. Meston, Zach. "Jurassic Park Underactive". Wired. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  4. "Jurassic Park Interactive". ew.com. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  5. Ahmed, Shahed (September 22, 2000). "Q&A: Universal Interactive Studios". gamespot.com. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  6. "Spyro the Dragon official website". Universal Studios. Archived from the original on April 23, 1999. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  7. Teather, David (June 19, 2000). "Vivendi seals merger". the Guardian. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  8. "Buy Low, Sell High: Vivendi's History in Video Games". Kotaku UK. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  9. "Vivendi Universal to shorten company name". gamesindustry.biz. Retrieved July 20, 2018.

Notes
  1. After 2000, the company became a label of Vivendi Universal Publishing.
  2. The company name continued to be used until 2003 as a label.
  3. As label of Vivendi
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