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Sony Imagesoft

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Sony Imagesoft Inc.
FormerlyCSG Imagesoft (1989–1991)
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
FoundedJanuary 1989; 37 years ago (1989-01)[citation needed]
DefunctAugust 1995; 30 years ago (1995-08)
FateFolded into Sony Computer Entertainment
SuccessorsSony Computer Entertainment
989 Studios
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California,
ParentCBS/Sony Group (1989–1991)
Sony Electronic Publishing (1991–1995)

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, and the company's initial of slate was derived from Japanese-originated titles, mostly titles from Epic/Sony Records.[2][3]

Its involvement in producing most video game adaptions of various movies at the time led to the company's poor reputation.[4] According to then Sony Imagesoft President Kelly Flock, he noted the involvement of nongaming executives in the decision making process.[4]

History

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The company's trademark was first registered on October 17, 1989.[5]

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.

In 1991, the company was reorganized, so Sony launched Sony Electronic Publishing, and CSG Imagesoft itself was renamed to Sony Imagesoft.[6]

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.[7] Besides Sega's cartridge-based Genesis and Game Gear consoles the partnership targeted the upcoming Sega CD peripheral.[8]

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.[9]

1993 expansion and development division

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In 1993, the company acquired successful British game publisher/developer Psygnosis, and ran as an autonomous video game publishing label, with Sony handling distribution of its titles.[10][11] The acquisition cost Sony £20 million.[12]

In late 1993, the company entered into its own in-house development division in the San Diego area, hiring away staff members from Park Place Productions. The company begin developing games internally, such as the ESPN game series.[13][14]

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.[15]

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. The main Sony Electronic Publishing company was renamed to Sony Interactive Entertainment.[16] 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.[17][18][19] The video game business of Sony Imagesoft was merged with the product development branch of SCEA and became Sony Interactive Studios America[16] 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.[16] 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.[20]

Games published

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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 [21]
Altered Space Game Boy Puzzle adventure &1991-09-30September 1991 Software Creations [22]
Bram Stoker's Dracula Game Boy Action &1993-00-001993 Psygnosis/Probe Software
NES
Game Gear
Super NES &1993-09-00September 1993 Traveller's Tales/Psygnosis [21]
Sega Genesis
Championship Soccer '94 Sega CD Sports &1994-06-00June 1994 Sensible Software [21]
Cliffhanger Sega Genesis Action &1993-10-25October 25, 1993 Malibu Interactive
Super NES &1993-10-00October 1993 [21]
Game Boy Spidersoft
Game Gear
Chuck Rock Super NES Side-scrolling platformer &1992-11-00November 1992 Core Design [21]
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 Point-and-click adventure &1995-08-10Early August 1995 OutSide Directors Company
Macintosh
Equinox Super NES Action-adventure &1994-03-00March 1994 Software Creations [21]
ESPN Baseball Tonight Super NES Sports &1994-05-00May 1994 Park Place Productions
Sega Genesis
Sega CD October 1994 Sony Imagesoft
ESPN National Hockey Night Sega Genesis &1994-08-01August 1, 1994
Sega CD
Super NES
ESPN NBA HangTime '95 Sega CD &19941994
ESPN SpeedWorld Sega Genesis Racing &1994-00-001994
Super NES
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 [23]
Gear Works Game Gear Puzzle 1993 Teque
Game Boy
Ground Zero: Texas Sega CD Action &1993-11-00November 1993 Digital Pictures [24]
Hook NES &1992-04-00April 1992 Ocean Software
Game Boy
Super NES &1992-10-00October 1992 Ukiyotei [21]
Sega Genesis &1993-03-001992/March 1993 (European Mega CD version) Core Design [25]
Sega CD
Hudson Hawk NES Platform &1991-00-001991 Ocean Software
Game Gear
Johnny Mnemonic Microsoft Windows Interactive movie &1995-05-26May 26, 1995 Propaganda Code, directed by Douglas Gayeton [26]
Macintosh
Sega CD &unreleased [27]
Last Action Hero Sega Genesis Action &1994-03-28November 1993 Bits Studios
Game Gear
Super NES &1993-10-00October 1993[21]
Game Boy
NES Teeny Weeny Games
Sega CD Beat 'em up &cancelled Psygnosis [28][29]
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 [30]
Mega Turrican Sega Mega Drive Run and gun &1994-11-00November 1994 Factor 5 [31][32]
Mickey Mania Sega Genesis Platform &1994-10-00October 1994 Traveller's Tales/Psygnosis [33]
Sega CD October 1994
Super NES &1994-10-00October 1994[21]
No Escape Super NES Action &1994-11-00November 1994 Bits Studios [21]
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 [34]
Sewer Shark Sega CD Shooter &1992-10-15October 15, 1992 Digital Pictures
Smart Ball Super NES Action-adventure &1992-03-00March 1992 Game Freak [21]
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 [35]

Games developed

[edit]
Title Platform Genre Release date Notes
ESPN Baseball Tonight Sega CD Sports October 1994
ESPN National Hockey Night SNES, Sega Genesis, Sega CD Sports August 1, 1994
ESPN NBA HangTime '95 Sega CD Sports 1994
ESPN SpeedWorld SNES, Sega Genesis Racing 1994
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

Games unreleased

[edit]
Title Platform Genre Release date Notes
Super Sushi Pinball NES Pinball Unreleased based on Super Pinball, cancelled in early 1990[36][37]
Bug Blasters: The Exterminators Sega CD Unreleased Developed by Stargate Entertainment[38][39]

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. ^ "The Video Game Update". Computer Entertainer. January 1989. p. 8.
  4. ^ a b Next Generation, September 1998, page 111.
  5. ^ Trade-marks Journal: Journal Des Marques de Commerce · Volume 37, Issues 1866-1870, page 104.
  6. ^ "Sony's micro movie tie-in". New Computer Express. 1991-03-16. p. 2.
  7. ^ Sony Electronic Publishing and Sega of America announce broad business partnership. Business Wire, May 20, 1992
  8. ^ Adam Bryant: Sega Links with Sony to Make CD Video Games. New York Times, May 21, 1992. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (archived version)
  9. ^ Janet Wasko: Hollywood in the information age: beyond the silver screen. University of Texas Press 1995, ISBN 0-292-79094-5. Page 62.
  10. ^ "SCE Worldwide Studios – SCE Studio Liverpool". Worldwidestudios.net. 20 February 2009. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  11. ^ "The 7th International Computer Game Developers Conference". Computer Gaming World. July 1993. p. 34. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  12. ^ Foster, Michael (March 5, 1995). "Britain faces game drain". The Observer. p. 38. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Park Place Isn't Bankrupt, but Payroll's Empty". The San Diego Union-Tribune. January 4, 1994.
  14. ^ Kunkel, Bill (May 1994). "Park Place: Raid or Rescue?". Electronic Games. p. 9.
  15. ^ Sony Imagesoft names Kelly Flock president. Business Wire New York, March 8, 1995.
  16. ^ a b c Sony Electronic Publishing Co. renamed; Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. is established. Business Wire, August 17, 1995.
  17. ^ Carl DiOrio: Sony to Transfer 100 Workers. In: The Hollywood Reporter, July 12, 1995.
  18. ^ Scott Hettrick: -- no title given -- In: The Hollywood Reporter, August 8, 1995.
  19. ^ Sony in Disarray on Eve of Playstation Debut. In: Television Digest with Consumer Electronics, August 14, 1995, ISSN 0497-1515, page 9.
  20. ^ Harmon, Amy (1995-08-18). "Company Town". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  21. ^ 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)
  22. ^ "Altered Space – Game Boy – IGN". uk.ign.com. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  23. ^ https://www.retrogames.cz/manualy/SNES/Flashback-_The_Quest_for_Identity_-_Manual_-_SNES.pdf
  24. ^ Peter M. Nichols: Home Video. In: New York Times, December 10, 1993. Accessed: 2010-09-16. (archived version)
  25. ^ "The Milwaukee Journal – Google News Archive Search – The earliest reviews available online are from March 1993". Retrieved 2015-07-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  26. ^ Philips Teams With Propagande. In: Billboard, June 24, 1995, page 54
  27. ^ Sony Imagesoft to showcase "Johnny Mnemonic" Archived 2016-03-13 at the Wayback Machine Business Wire, Santa Monica, California, March 13, 1995
  28. ^ Last Action Hero – Sega Mega CD unseen64.net
  29. ^ 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."
  30. ^ Mary Shelley's Frankenstein for Sega CD at MobyGames
  31. ^ https://retrofaith.net/2022/09/21/mega-turrican-directors-cut-mega-drive-review/
  32. ^ "Mega Drive Review - Mega Turrican". Sega Magazine. EMAP. November 1994. pp. 88–89. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  33. ^ Mickey Mania for Sega Genesis Credits at MobyGames
  34. ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 5 March 1994. p. 67. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  35. ^ https://www.engadget.com/2007-09-02-promotional-consideration-beaning-the-red-army.html
  36. ^ McFerran, Damien (2024-01-03). "Sony's Lost NES Game, Super Sushi Pinball, Has Been Found And Preserved". Time Extension. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  37. ^ Cifaldi, Frank (2023-12-25). "Super Sushi Pinball". Video Game History Foundation. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  38. ^ https://fmvworld.com/bugblasters.html
  39. ^ https://kotaku.com/games/bug-blasters-the-exterminators
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