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Gremlin Interactive

{{Short description|British software developer}}

{{Distinguish|Gremlin Industries}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Infogrames Studios Limited

| logo = Gremlin Interactive Logo.svg

| logo_caption = Logo used from 1994 to 2000

| type = Subsidiary

| former_name = {{Unbulleted list|Gremlin Graphics Software Limited (1984–1994)|Gremlin Interactive Limited (1994–2000)}}

| fate = Dissolved by parent, former employees formed Sumo Digital. Assets acquired by Zoo Digital, later reacquired by Urbanscan.

| predecessor =

| successor = Sumo Digital

| foundation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1984}}

| founder = {{Unbulleted list|Ian Stewart|Kevin Norburn}}

| defunct = {{End date and age|df=yes|2003}}

| location_city = Sheffield

| location_country = England

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| key_people = Paul Porter {{small|(studio manager)}}

| industry = Video games

| products =

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| parent = Infogrames (1999–2003)

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}}

Gremlin Graphics Software Limited, later Gremlin Interactive Limited and ultimately Infogrames Studios Limited,{{cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/01805165|title=INFOGRAMES STUDIOS LIMITED – Overview (free company information from Companies House)|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|access-date=2017-06-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722070622/https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/01805165|archive-date=2018-07-22|url-status=dead}} was a British software house based in Sheffield, working mostly in the home computer market. Like many software houses established in the 1980s, their primary market was the 8-bit range of computers such as the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX, Commodore 16 and Commodore 64. The company was acquired by French video game publisher Infogrames in 1999 and was renamed Infogrames Studios in 2000. Infogrames Studios closed down in 2003.

History

The company, originally a computer store called Just Micro, was established as a software house in 1984 with the name Gremlin Graphics Software Ltd by Ian Stewart and Kevin Norburn{{cite web|url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/18/gremlin.htm|title=CRASH 18 – Gremlin Graphics|website=www.crashonline.org.uk}} with US Gold's Geoff Brown owning 75% of the company{{Cite book|last1=Wilkins|first1=Chris|title=The Story Of U.S. Gold|last2=Kean|first2=Roger M|publisher=Fusion Retro Books|year=2015|isbn=9780993131530|page=69}}{{rp|65}} until mid-1989.{{cite magazine |title=Snippets|magazine=New Computer Express|issue=|publisher=Future Publishing|date=5 August 1989|page=5|url=https://archive.org/details/NH2021_New_Computer_Express_Issue039.pdf/page/n4/mode/2up|access-date=5 December 2021}} Gremlin's early success was based on games such as Wanted: Monty Mole for the ZX Spectrum and Thing on a Spring for the Commodore 64. {{citation needed|date=November 2013}}

In 1994, it was renamed as Gremlin Interactive, now concentrating on the 16-bit, PC and console market.{{cite web|url=http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/industry/publishers/gremlin.htm|title=Planet Sinclair: The Sinclair Industry: Publishers: Gremlin|website=www.nvg.ntnu.no}} Gremlin enjoyed major success with the Zool and Premier Manager series in the early 1990s, and then with Actua Soccer, the first football game in full 3D; other successful games included the Lotus racing series; a futuristic racing game, Motorhead; a stunt car racing game, Fatal Racing (1995); and the 1998 flight simulator Hardwar. Following EA's success with the EA Sports brand, Gremlin also released their own sports videogame series, adding Golf, Tennis and Ice Hockey to their Actua Sports series. During this time, they used a motif from the Siegfried Funeral March from Götterdämmerung as introductory music.

The company was floated on the stock market to raise funds.{{cite web|url=https://www.bitmapbooks.co.uk/products/a-gremlin-in-the-works|title=A Gremlin in the Works|website=Bitmap Books}}

In 1997, Gremlin acquired Imagitec Design{{cite magazine |title=Gremlin Buy Imagitec|magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine|issue=18 |publisher=Emap International Limited |date=April 1997|page=7}} and DMA Design (creators of Grand Theft Auto and Lemmings). In 1999, they themselves were bought by Infogrames for around £24 million {{cite web|url=http://startups.co.uk/zoo-digital-ian-stewart/|title=Zoo Digital: Ian Stewart – Startups.co.uk: Starting a business advice and business ideas}}{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CGN/is_1999_March_25/ai_54207493 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050322032848/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CGN/is_1999_March_25/ai_54207493 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 March 2005 |title=Infogrames Buys UK Games Company Gremlin | Computergram International | Find Articles at BNET.com |publisher=Findarticles.com |access-date=2 November 2009 |year=1999}} and renamed "Infogrames Sheffield House". Infogrames closed the studio in 2003. The building they latterly occupied near Devonshire Green has since been demolished when Infogrames Sheffield House was supposed to be renamed "Atari Sheffield House". In October 2003, Zoo Digital, the successor company to Gremlin, purchased the company's assets from the now-named Atari.{{cite web | url=https://www.investegate.co.uk/zoo-digital-group/rns/acquisition/200310010700113796Q/ | title=Investegate |Zoo Digital Group Announcements | Zoo Digital Group: Acquisition | access-date=6 January 2022 | archive-date=4 January 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104023118/https://www.investegate.co.uk/zoo-digital-group/rns/acquisition/200310010700113796Q/ | url-status=dead }}

Following the administration of Zoo Digital (later renamed Zushi Games), Gremlin Interactive's catalogue and name were bought up by Ian Stewart's new company Urbanscan.{{cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2011/07/22/gremlin-graphics-presents-bounders-world-and-the-return-of-super-cars-88959/|title=Gremlin Graphics presents: Bounder's World and the return of Super Cars|date=22 July 2011}}

The Gremlin trademarks (including the g Gremlin logo) are now owned by Warner Bros Entertainment.{{Cite web |title=GREMLIN – UK00001122987 |url=https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Results/1/UK00001122987 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=trademarks.ipo.gov.uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=GREMLIN – UK00001313745 |url=https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Results/1/UK00001313745 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=trademarks.ipo.gov.uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=g Gremlin – UK00002032262 |url=https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Results/1/UK00002032262 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=trademarks.ipo.gov.uk |language=en}}

Key staff

Gremlin staff had included:

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

  • Kevin Bulmer – Designer/graphics artist
  • Jon Harrison – Designer/graphics artist
  • Gary Priest – Programmer
  • Bill Allen – Programmer
  • Richard Stevenson – Programmer
  • David Martin – Marketing Director
  • Ben Daglish – Outsourced Musician
  • Ade Carless – Designer/graphics artist
  • Shaun McClure – Graphics artist / Art Resource Manager
  • Antony Crowther ('Ratt') – Designer, programmer
  • Asad Habib – Lead Tester
  • Paul Whitehead – Tester / Designer
  • Ian Stewart – Managing director{{cite web|url=http://www.retrogamesmaster.co.uk/gremlin-founder-ian-stewart/|title=Gremlin founder Ian Stewart – RETRO GAMESMASTER|website=www.retrogamesmaster.co.uk|date=3 September 2016 }}
  • Kevin Norburn – Operations director
  • Patrick Phelan – Software manager/sound engineer
  • Chris Harvey – Lead console programmer
  • Wayne Laybourn – Artist
  • Chris Shrigley – Designer / Programmer{{cite web|url=https://www.gremlinarchive.com/?s=chris+shrigley|title=Search Results for "chris shrigley" – The Gremlin Graphics Archive|first=Mark James Hardisty|last=@hardistymark|website=www.gremlinarchive.com}}
  • Peter Harrap – Programmer
  • Chris Kerry – Programmer
  • Shaun Hollingworth – Programmer
  • MicroProjects Ltd (Jason Perkins, Mark Rogers, Anthony Clarke)

{{div col end}}

  • Richard Hall – Production Manager

Video games

{{See also|Category:Gremlin Interactive games}}

=As Gremlin Interactive=

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

{{div col end}}

=As Infogrames Sheffield House=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year

! Title

! Platform(s)

! Publisher(s)

{{Dts|1999}}

| PGA European Tour Golf

| rowspan="2" | PlayStation

| rowspan="12" | Infogrames

rowspan="4" | {{Dts|2000}}

| Premier Manager 2000

Hogs of War

| PlayStation, Windows

PGA European Tour Golf

| Nintendo 64

Wacky Races

| Dreamcast

rowspan="2" | {{Dts|2001}}

| UEFA Challenge

| PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Windows

Wacky Races: Starring Dastardly and Muttley

| PlayStation 2

rowspan="3" | {{Dts|2002}}

| Slam Tennis

| PlayStation 2, Xbox

Superman: Shadow of Apokolips

| PlayStation 2

Micro Machines

| PlayStation 2, Xbox

rowspan="2" | {{Dts|2003}}

| Superman: Shadow of Apokolips

| rowspan="2" | GameCube

Micro Machines (2002)

See also

  • Sumo Digital: Game developer founded by former members of Gremlin management.
  • Martech: Video game publisher founded in the 1980s by David Martin.

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/19970119095452/http://www.gremlin.co.uk/ Wayback Archive]
  • [http://www.mobygames.com/company/infogrames-studios-ltd Gremlin Interactive profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318032522/http://www.mobygames.com/company/infogrames-studios-ltd |date=18 March 2017 }} from MobyGames

{{Authority control}}

Category:1984 establishments in England

Category:2003 disestablishments in England

Category:Atari

Category:Defunct video game companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Video game companies established in 1984

Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2003

Category:Defunct companies based in Sheffield

Category:Video game development companies