Software Creations
{{Short description|British video game developer}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Acclaim Studios Manchester
| logo = Software Creations.png
| former_name = Software Creations (1985–2002)
| type = Subsidiary
| industry = Video games
| fate = Dissolved
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1985}}
| founder = Richard Kay
| defunct = {{End date and age|df=yes|2004|08|27}}
| hq_location_city = Manchester
| hq_location_country = England
| parent = Acclaim Entertainment (2002–2004)
}}
Acclaim Studios Manchester (formerly Software Creations) was a British video game developer based in Manchester, England. The company was established in 1985 by Richard Kay. They were primarily known for their video games based on movie and comic licences like Marvel Comics, Cutthroat Island, Disney's Beauty and the Beast and the original titles Plok!, Solstice, and its sequel Equinox.
History
According to Richard Kay, Software Creations began in 1986 when Steve Ruddy responded to an advertisement he had placed in the Manchester Evening News: {{Quote|Steve and I hit it off right away. He worked from home, and he did a boxing game called The Big KO. We worked very closely with each other for about 12 months. I hired Mike Ager and Andrew Threlfall, and we were the first four at Software Creations. I got an office on Oxford Road and it was above a computer shop directly opposite the BBC. We did a lot of games for Firebird - they were all for about three or four hundred pounds.{{cite magazine |title=Bubbles, Baseball and Buzz Saws... |first=Mike |last=Bevan |magazine=Retro Gamer |issue=122 |date=13 December 2013 |publisher=Imagine Publishing |pages=74–79}}|Richard Kay|Retro Gamer}}
Most of these early games were ports of budget titles to other platforms such as the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amiga, Atari ST, NES and the Game Boy. The company's breakthrough game was the Commodore 64 version of the arcade hit Bubble Bobble, a conversion which won critical acclaim and commercial success, and led to Software Creations being asked to do many more ports of popular arcade games. By this time the company had grown to include brothers Mike, Tim, and Geoff Follin, and artist Mark Wilson.
An early demo of Solstice won Software Creations a contract with Nintendo, leading to some high-profile NES and Super NES games.
During the mid-1990s, Software Creations was responsible for the development of sound tools used in the creation of music for the Nintendo 64 and its development systems.Gaming Gossip. Electronic Gaming Monthly. Issue 69. Pg.52. April 1995.
On 1 May 2002 Acclaim announced that they had acquired Software Creations, which was renamed Acclaim Studios Manchester.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/01/acclaim-acquires-new-studio |title=Acclaim Acquires New Studio |author=IGN Staff |date=1 May 2002 |website=ign.com |access-date=26 August 2018 |archive-date=5 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805172808/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/01/acclaim-acquires-new-studio |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_45868 |title=Acclaim Studios Manchester formed |website=eurogamer.net |date=May 2002 |access-date=26 August 2018 |archive-date=5 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805203017/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_45868 |url-status=live }} At the time, Software Creations had approximately 70 employees.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/acclaim-launches-new-studio-in-manchester-uk |title=Acclaim Launches New Studio In Manchester, UK |website=gamasutra.com |access-date=26 August 2018 |archive-date=5 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805203132/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/1163/Acclaim_Launches_New_Studio_In_Manchester_UK.php |url-status=live }} Acclaim Studios Manchester was closed as part of Acclaim Studios and all of its development facilities on 27 August 2004.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/08/27/acclaim-closes-offices |title=Acclaim Closes Offices |first=Douglass C. |last=Perry |date=27 August 2004 |website=ign.com |access-date=26 August 2018}} Rod Cousens and Barry Jafrato, who served as chief executive officer and head of publishing, respectively, for Acclaim, announced in September 2004 that they were planning to create as new video game publisher, Exclaim, with the help of Europlay Capital Advisers.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/rod-cousens-reclaims-uk-acclaim-studios |title=Gamasutra - The Art & Business of Making Games |first=David |last=Jenkins |website=www.gamasutra.com |date=30 September 2004 |access-date=26 August 2018 |archive-date=27 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827075304/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/95322/Rod_Cousens_Reclaims_UK_Acclaim_Studios.php |url-status=live }} Exclaim was set to acquire and reinstantiate Acclaim's two UK studios, namely Manchester and Cheltenham, and re-employ their roughly 160 previous members.{{cite news |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news011004acclaimboss |title=Former Acclaim boss in rescue bid for UK studios |website=eurogamer.net |date=October 2004 |access-date=26 August 2018 |archive-date=27 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827044027/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news011004acclaimboss |url-status=live }} Exclaim's opening was expected on 11 October,{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/acclaim-ceos-new-company-plans-to-launch-next-week |title=Acclaim CEO's new company plans to launch next week |website=gamesindustry.biz |date=6 October 2004 |access-date=26 August 2018 |archive-date=27 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827044026/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/acclaim-ceos-new-company-plans-to-launch-next-week |url-status=live }} however, Cousen's ownership over the two studios was challenged by Acclaim's liquidator, Allan Mendelsohn, leaving the UK staff in a state of limbo.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/acclaim-uk-studios-future-unclear-as-exclaim-deal-stalls |title=Acclaim UK studios' future unclear as Exclaim deal stalls |website=gamesindustry.biz |date=14 October 2004 |access-date=26 August 2018 |archive-date=27 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827044031/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/acclaim-uk-studios-future-unclear-as-exclaim-deal-stalls |url-status=live }} A successor to Acclaim Studios Manchester, SilverBack Studios, was founded by Jon Oldham in April 2005 and employed 15 former Acclaim Studios Manchester staff.{{cite news |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news030505acclaimsilverback |title=Former Acclaim title returns |website=eurogamer.net |date=3 May 2005 |access-date=26 August 2018 |archive-date=27 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827044025/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news030505acclaimsilverback |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/silverback-studios-launches-from-the-ashes-of-acclaim-uk |title=SilverBack Studios launches from the ashes of Acclaim UK |website=gamesindustry.biz |date=29 April 2005 |access-date=26 August 2018 |archive-date=24 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724154257/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/silverback-studios-launches-from-the-ashes-of-acclaim-uk |url-status=live }}
Games
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ As Creations ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Platforms |
| rowspan="5" | 2002
| rowspan="2" | Game Boy Advance |
| All-Star Baseball 2003 |
| 2002 FIFA World Cup
| GameCube, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Windows, Xbox |
| Stuart Little 2
| rowspan="2" | Game Boy Advance |
| Super Monkey Ball Jr. |
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ As Acclaim Studios Manchester ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Platforms |
| rowspan="2" | 2003
| Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance | PlayStation 2, Windows, Xbox |
| All-Star Baseball 2004
| Game Boy Advance |
| rowspan="2" | {{sort|9999|Cancelled}}
| PlayStation 2, Windows, Xbox |
| ATV Quad Power Racing 3
| PlayStation 2, Xbox |