BBC Multimedia
{{Short description|Former division of the BBC}}
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{{Infobox company
| name = BBC Multimedia
| logo = BBC Mulitmedia.JPG
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| foundation = {{start date and age|1995}}
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| defunct = {{End date|2006}}
| location_city = Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London
| location_country = United Kingdom
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| products = Doctor Who
Robot Wars
Teletubbies
Tweenies
Bob the Builder
Noddy
Pingu
Wallace and Gromit
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| owner = BBC
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| parent = BBC Worldwide
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| subsid = Gamezlab
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}}
BBC Multimedia was a division of the BBC which dealt with the publishing of computer-game versions of well-known BBC television programmes.
History
The Multimedia division was founded in 1995{{cite news|last1=French|first1=Michael|title=BBC to return to games development? |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/bbc-to-return-to-games-development/017892|accessdate=30 June 2014|work=MCV|date=6 August 2007}} and mostly focused on CD-ROM software for Microsoft Windows and Macintosh.
The company attended E3 2002 by announcing its first game for the Xbox, Robot Wars: Extreme Destruction, set for a November 2002 release,{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2002/05_may/robot_wars_xbox.shtml|title=BBC - Worldwide Press Office - Robot Wars activated on Xbox|website=www.bbc.co.uk}} as well as a game adaptation of the CBBC series Ace Lightning for the PlayStation 2, with both games also on Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Advance.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2002/05_may/e3.shtml|title=BBC - Worldwide Press Office - BBC Multimedia at E3|website=www.bbc.co.uk}} Other CD-ROM games announced this time were Bob the Builder: Bob Builds a Park, set for a July 2002 release{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2002/05_may/bob_builds_a_park.shtml|title=BBC - Worldwide Press Office - Bob the Builder: Bob Builds a Park PC CD-ROM|website=www.bbc.co.uk}} and Tweenies: Messy Time, set for an October 2002 release.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2002/05_may/tweenies.shtml|title=BBC - Worldwide Press Office - Tweenies Get Messy|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}
In July 2002, the company launched a budget range called Favourites, consisting of pre-school games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2002/07_july/multimedia_childrens_software.shtml|title=BBC - Worldwide Press Office - Multimedia - Children's Titles|website=www.bbc.co.uk}} On 5 November 2002, the company announced a Fimbles CD-ROM for a June 2003 release.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2002/11_november/fimbles_cdrom.shtml|title=BBC - Worldwide Press Office - PC Fimbling Fun from BBC Multimedia|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}
On February 6, 2003, the company announced the Ace Lightning video game for March.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2003/02_february/ace_ps2.shtml|title=BBC - Worldwide Press Office - Fight the fear on PS2 with Ace Lightning|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}
At E3 2003, the company announced a video game based on FightBox for PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Advance for a pre-Christmas release window to tie-in with the show's airing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2003/05_may/fightbox_e3.shtml|title=BBC - Worldwide Press Office - BBC Multimedia brings FightBox to E3|website=www.bbc.co.uk}} The game adaptation was one of the many side-projects done for the FightBox IP, which was mostly worked on by Runecraft. After the company went out of business, the BBC acquired the developer's offices and some of their staff, and re-structured it under the "Gamezlab" name.{{cite web |last1=Yarwood |first1=Jack |title=Remembering FightBox, BBC's Big-Budget Video Game Failure |url=https://www.timeextension.com/features/remembering-fightbox-bbcrs-big-budget-video-game-failure |website=Time Extension |publisher=Hookshot Media |access-date=23 March 2023 |date=22 March 2023}} The company also showcased their Fimbles CD-ROM, in addition to a game based on Tiny Planets, a Bob the Builder game - Bob's Castle Adventure for a July 2003 release,{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2003/05_may/bob_castle.shtml|title=BBC - Worldwide Press Office - Award Winning Bob Returns on PC CD-ROM|website=www.bbc.co.uk}} and an Engie Benjy CD-ROM for a September 2003 release.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2003/05_may/enjie_benjy_pc.shtml|title=BBC - Worldwide Press Office - BBC Multimedia publishes Engie Benjy PC CD-ROM|website=www.bbc.co.uk}} In October, the company announced the FightBox video game for February 2004.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2003/10_october/fightbox_multimedia.shtml|title=BBC - Worldwide Press Office - FightBox on PC, PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Advance|website=www.bbc.co.uk}} On November 24, the company announced a Balamory CD-ROM for 2004.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2003/11_november/balamory.shtml|title=BBC - Worldwide Press Office - Top story for Balamory|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}
In January 2004, Balamory was announced for the following month.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2004/01_january/balamory_pc_cd.shtml|title=BBC - Worldwide Press Office - Balamory goes interactive|website=www.bbc.co.uk}} A compilation release titled Playtime! was announced.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2004/01_january/playtime_cdrom.shtml|title=BBC - Worldwide Press Office -|website=www.bbc.co.uk}} In February, the company announced a video game based on Spooks for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Windows, for a late 2004 release window.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2004/02_february/spooks_multimedia.shtml|title=BBC - Worldwide Press Office - Spooks revealed as multi-format computer game|website=www.bbc.co.uk}} On 2 November 2004, Global Software Publishing announced acquiring exclusive distribution rights to BBC Multimedia's library. This move was done so BBC Worldwide could refocus BBC Multimedia as a video game licensor instead of being a publisher.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gsp-licenses-bbc-worldwides-catalogue-of-award-winning-software|title=GSP licenses BBC Worldwide's catalogue of award winning software|date=2 November 2004|website=GamesIndustry.biz}} Shortly before this, BBC Worldwide closed down Gamezlab and cancelled the upcoming Spooks video game.
BBC Multimedia was closed in 2006 after sales declined in its boxed product business.{{cite news|last1=French|first1=Michael|title=BBC gets back into games|url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/bbc-gets-back-into-games|accessdate=30 June 2014|work=MCV|date=21 January 2010}}
Games
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Game !class="unsortable" | Platform(s) ! Release Date |
| Attenborough's Antarctic
|Windows 95 / 98 / 3.1 |1997 |
| Balamory
|Windows 98 / 95 / XP |2004 |
| Bill & Ben: Flowerpot Fun!
|Windows 98 / 95 |2001 |
| BBC Games Collection Featuring Toybox/Playtime
|Windows 98 / 95 / XP |2003 / 2005 |
| Blue Peter
|Windows 95 |1997 |
| Bob the Builder: Bob Builds a Park (Published in North America by THQ)
|Windows 98 / Me / XP |2001 |
| Bob the Builder: Bob's Castle Adventure (Published in North America by THQ)
|Windows 98 / Me / XP |2003 |
| Bob the Builder: Can We Fix It? (Published in North America by THQ)
|Microsoft Windows, PlayStation |2000 / 2001 |
| Bob the Builder: Fix it Fun! (Published in North America by THQ)
|Game Boy Color |2000 / 2001 |
| Changing Rooms
|Windows 95 / 98 |N/A |
| Doctor Who: Destiny of the Doctors
|Windows 95 |1997 |
| Fast Show Comedy Fun Pack
|Windows 95 / 98 |N/A |
| Fawlty Towers – Comedy Pack
|Windows 95 / 98 |N/A |
| Fimbles: Fimbling Fun
| Windows 95 / 98 / XP |2003 |
| Gardeners' World Magazine Garden Manager with Alan Titchmarsh
|Windows 95 / 98 |N/A |
| GCSE Bitesize Revision: Maths
|Windows 95 / 98 |2000 |
| GCSE Bitesize Revision: Science
|Windows 95 / 98 |2000 |
| {{sort|Human Body, The|The Human Body – Your Body}}
|Windows 95 / 98 |1999 |
| Key Stage 2 ReviseWise Science
|Windows 95 / 98 |1997 |
| Key Stage 3 Bitesize Revision English
|Windows 95 / 98 |1999 |
| Key Stage 3 Bitesize Revision Maths
|Windows 95 / 98 |1999 |
| Live & Kicking: Show Maker
|Windows 3.1 / 95 / 98 |1995 |
| Mastermind
|Windows 3.1 / 95 / 98 |1997 |
| Noddy: Let's Get Ready for School! (Released in North America as Noddy: Playtime in Toyland) (Published in North America by Knowledge Adventure)
|Windows 95 / 98 |1998 (UK) 1999 (US) |
| Noddy: The Magic of Toytown
|Windows 95 / 98 |1996 |
| Noddy's Magic Adventure
|PlayStation |2000 |
| Noddy and the Birthday Party
|Game Boy Color |2000 |
| Only Fools & Horses
|Windows 95 / 98 |N/A |
| Pingu & Friends
|Windows, Macintosh |1999 |
| Pingu: A Barrel of Fun!
|Windows 95 / 98 |1997 |
| Play with the Teletubbies (Published in North America by Knowledge Adventure)
|Windows 95 / 98 /PlayStation |1998 / 2000 |
| Teletubbies 2: Favourite Games (Published in North America by Knowledge Adventure)
|Windows 95 / 98 |1999 |
| Result: The BBC Sports Quiz presented by Desmond Lynam
|Windows 95 |N/A |
| Robot Wars: Advanced Destruction (Published in North America by Vivendi Universal Games)
|2001 |
| Robot Wars: Metal Mayhem
|2000 |
| Rotten Ralph – Big Night In
|Windows 95 / 98 |2000 |
| S Club 7: On The Road
|Windows 95 / 98 / Me / 2000 / XP |2003 |
| Shakespeare on CD-ROM: Macbeth
|Windows 3.1 / 95 / 98 |1995 |
| Shakespeare on CD-ROM: Romeo and Juliet
|Windows 95 / 98 |
| SMart
|Windows 95 / 98 / NT |N/A |
| Spark Island Adventures in Literacy 7-9
|Windows, Macintosh |1997 |
| Spark Island Adventures in Literacy 9-11
|Windows, Macintosh |1997 |
| Spark Island Adventures in Maths 7-9
|Windows, Macintosh |1997 |
| Spark Island Farmer Rumtums Letter Fun 3-5
|Windows, Macintosh |1999 |
| Spark Island Farmer Rumtums Number Fun 3-5
|Windows, Macintosh |1999 |
| Spark Island Maths Adventures 9-11
|Windows, Macintosh |2001 |
| Spark Island Number Games 5-7
|Windows, Macintosh |2001 |
| Spark Island Reading Games 5-7
|Windows, Macintosh |2001 |
| Top Of The Pops: Mix Factory
|Windows 95 / 98 |N/A |
| Top Of The Pops: Mix Factory 2
|Windows 95 / 98 |
| Tweenies: Doodles' Bones
|Windows 95 / 98, Game Boy Color |2000 |
| Tweenies: Game Time
|PlayStation |2001 |
| Tweenies: Messy Time Magic
|Windows 95 / 98 |2002 |
| Tweenies: Play to the Music
|Windows 95 / 98 / Me / XP |2004 |
| Tweenies: Ready to Play
|Windows 95 / 98 |2000 |
| Wallace & Gromit Cracking Animator
|Windows 95 / 98 |1997 |
| Wallace & Gromit Print-o-matic
|Windows 95 / 98 |1998 |
| The Weakest Link (published by Activision)
|Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, PlayStation 2 |2001 |
| Yoho Ahoy: All Aboard!
|Windows 98 |2000 |
=Gamezlab=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Game !class="unsortable" | Platform(s) ! Release Date |
| Robot Wars: Arenas of Destruction (Published in North America by Vivendi Universal Games)
|Windows 98 / Me, PlayStation 2 |2001 |
| Robot Wars: Extreme Destruction
|Windows 95 / 98 / 2000 / Me / XP, Xbox, Game Boy Advance |2002 |
| Ace Lightning
|Windows, PlayStation 2 |2002 |
| FightBox
|Windows, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance |2004 |
| Spooks
|PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows |Cancelled |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.bbc.co.uk bbc.co.uk}}
{{BBC|state=collapsed}}
Category:Video game publishers
Category:Video game companies established in 1995