Jester Interactive
{{Short description|Welsh video game development company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Jester Interactive
| logo = Jester Interactive.png
| type =
| industry = Video games
| foundation = {{start date and age|1997}}
| founder =
| defunct =
| location_city = Flintshire
| location_country = Wales
| area_served =
| key_people =
| products =
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| homepage = {{URL|http://www.jesterinteractive.com/}}
}}
Jester Interactive is a video game developer based in Flintshire, Wales in the United Kingdom.{{cite web |title=JESTER |url=http://www.jesterinteractive.co.uk/noFlash.html |website=Jester Interactive |access-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020206001428/http://www.jesterinteractive.co.uk/noFlash.html |archive-date=6 February 2002 |url-status=dead}} It was founded in 1997 as a trading arm of Morgan Computing Limited. It would later trade under the name Jester Interactive Limited, and after going into administration in 2003,{{Cite web |title=jesterdead.jpg |url=http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/pics3/jesterdead.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620174749/http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/pics3/jesterdead.jpg |archive-date=2023-06-20 |access-date=2023-06-26}} it would re-emerge as Jester Interactive Publishing Limited.
History
Jester Interactive Limited was formed as part of a Database Software company based in North Wales, through funding from Morgan Computing Limited. The key staff who initiated this venture were Lee Wright, Tim Wright and Gavin Morgan, managing director of Morgan Computing Limited.
Jester Interactive initially consisted of a small team of five people working in offices based at Liverpool's Port of Liverpool Building where they began development on the company's first title NoiseToys.{{cite web |url=http://www.coldstorage.org.uk/images/noisetoys.jpg |title=Archived copy |website=www.coldstorage.org.uk |access-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611050608/http://www.coldstorage.org.uk/images/noisetoys.jpg |archive-date=11 June 2011 |url-status=dead}} NoiseToys was later renamed as Music Station, then shortened to Music with the strapline Music Creation for the PlayStation Generation. This line of software also featured a DJ character known as 'Scratchy'{{cite web |url=http://www.coldstorage.org.uk/images/scratchy.jpg |title=Archived copy |website=www.coldstorage.org.uk |access-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611050750/http://www.coldstorage.org.uk/images/scratchy.jpg |archive-date=11 June 2011 |url-status=dead}} which usually appeared on all Jester's Music products.
After about 9 months{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}, Jester launched its first title, Music, through Codemasters to critical acclaim. As the winners of the Official PlayStation Magazine award for the Most Innovative Game 1999 and Sony Computer Entertainment America's award for Most Innovative Game 2000, Jester also twice reached final nomination for the highly acclaimed BAFTA awards in the category of the user interface.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamezone.com/news/04_02_01_08_02AM.htm |title=Video Game News - Jester Interactive Concludes Deal for Isle of Man TT Game |website=www.gamezone.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004005717/http://www.gamezone.com/news/04_02_01_08_02AM.htm |archive-date=2008-10-04}} Jester went on to develop several racing games involving Super Trucks and the Isle of Man TT races.
In 2000, Jester won the Achievement Wales 2000 Business of the Year Award from the Daily Post / Wales 2000 initiative.{{cite web |url=http://www.xsgames.biz/news/jul24.php |title=XS Games {{!}} News Releases |website=www.xsgames.biz |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607104854/http://www.xsgames.biz/news/jul24.php |archive-date=2010-06-07}}
In 2001, it was ranked No. 4 in the Fast Growth 50 company list.http://fg50.community.sequence.co.uk/fg50/fg50-2001 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212210020/http://fg50.community.sequence.co.uk/fg50/fg50-2001 |date=12 December 2009 }} {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}
Jester's most recent titles include TT Superbikes Real Road Racing and TT Superbikes Legends.{{cite web |url=http://www.jesterinteractive.com/ttsuperbikes/ |title=TT Superbikes |website=www.jesterinteractive.com |access-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727054436/http://www.jesterinteractive.com/ttsuperbikes/ |archive-date=27 July 2010 |url-status=dead}} As of 2008, they were working on new titles in multiple of their key franchises, including the Music Generator series.{{Cite web |date=April 2008 |title=Jester Interactive returns with a flurry of new releases |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/30047/Jester-Interactive-returns-with-a-flurry-of-new-releases |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724112251/https://www.mcvuk.com/business-news/jester-interactive-returns-with-a-flurry-of-new-releases/ |archive-date=2021-07-24 |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=MCV}}
Games developed
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20230620174746/http://www.jesterinteractive.com/ Official Jester Interactive Website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110719024817/http://community.codemasters.com/forum/codemasters-general-discussion-17/196825-music-2000-pc-version.html Codemasters MUSIC 2000 forum]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150424162547/http://londonbikers.com/news/9033/biker-paul-stars-in-new-playstation-2-game Interview with bike racer Paul Owen, Regarding Jester Bike Racing Game]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20230622190423/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/6227331.stm BBC News Article - Jester Interactive Computer game is Wales Creative IP Fund's first new media investment]
Category:Organisations based in Flintshire
Category:Software companies of Wales
Category:Video game companies established in 1997
Category:Video game companies of the United Kingdom