TDK Mediactive#Take-Two Licensing
{{Short description|Video game publisher}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2018}}
TDK Mediactive was a brand name given to two multimedia divisions of Japanese multinational electronics company TDK; the first - TDK Mediactive Europe was a subsidiary of TDK Recording Media Europe that dealt with the distribution of music DVDs and the publication of video games and software, while the other - TDK Mediactive, Inc. was solely a video game publisher and a rebranding of developer/publisher Sound Source Interactive. Both companies were unaffiliated with one another in management aside from licensing each other's titles for each market they operated under, and went their separate ways following changes in ownership.
TDK Mediactive Europe
{{Infobox company
| name = TDK Mediactive Europe
| logo =
| type = Division
| industry = Video games, Computer software, Home video
| fate =
| founded = {{Start date and age|1999}}
| founder =
| location =
| location_city = Ratingen
| location_country = Germany
| defunct = {{End date and age|2005|05}}
| parent = TDK Recording Media Europe (1999–2005)
}}
TDK Mediactive Europe was a division of TDK Recording Media Europe founded in 1999{{cite web | url=https://beta.blickpunktfilm.de/details/118635 | title=TDK mediactive geht neue Wege }} that published video games, software and DVDs under the TDK brand.{{cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/label/256064-TDK-Mediactive | title=TDK Mediactive | website=Discogs }}
In April 2000, TDK Mediactive Europe announced they would secure exclusive international publishing rights to Sound Source Interactive's products.{{cite web | url=https://www.cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/news/0004/ssi_tdk_media.shtml | title=TDK Europe Joins With Company for PlayStation Launch This Fall}} This continued after the purchase of the company by TDK in September, with TDK Mediactive Europe became the exclusive European Publishing partner for technology and content licenses held by TDK Mediactive, Inc., which included publication and localization.{{cite web | url=https://www.gamezone.com/news/tdk_mediactive_announces_quot_shrek_quot_tm_kart_title_for_gba/ | title=TDK Mediactive Announces "Shrek"(TM) Kart Title for GBA | date=May 4, 2012 }} However, TDK Mediactive Europe continued to publish and distribute their own titles, such as Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade.{{cite web | url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/8615/tdk-mediactive-e3-lineup | title=TDK Mediactive E3 Lineup - News }}
On September 6, 2001, TDK Mediactive Europe supplied an exclusive North American licensing agreement to allow TDK Mediactive, Inc. to publish video games based on Mercedes-Benz.{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2001-09-06/tdk-mediactive-announces-agreement-to-publish-games-based-on | title=TDK Mediactive Announces Agreement to Publish Games Based on | newspaper=Bloomberg.com | date=September 6, 2001 }}
On March 15, 2002, the company signed a deal with O3 Games to publish Templar.{{cite web | url=https://news.cision.com/se/o3-games/r/o3-games-tecknar-avtal-med-tdk,e56724 | title=O3 Games tecknar avtal med TDK | date=March 15, 2002 }} In June, it moved from Bascharage, Luxembourg, to Ratingen, Germany, where TDK Recording Media Europe was already located.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesmarkt.de/games/tdk-mediactive-zieht-es-nach-deutschland-8ab70ec822b45a4fdbe19ddbdef49062 |title=TDK Mediactive zieht es nach Deutschland |language=de |trans-title=TDK Mediactive is drawn to Germany |date=27 June 2002 |website=GamesMarkt}}
On May 4, 2005, TDK Mediactive Europe signed a publishing deal with Playlogic Entertainment to allow the latter to publish their existing video game titles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tdk-games.com/press/press_release_id_22.html|title = TDK Mediactive Europe - PLAYLOGIC INTERNATIONAL AND TDK MEDIACTIVE SIGN WORLDWIDE PUBLISHING AGREEMENT}} The fate of the TDK Mediactive Europe company itself is currently unknown, although the company's website remains open.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tdk-games.com/index.html|title=TDK Mediactive Europe|website=www.tdk-games.com}}
= Video games =
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Title !Platform(s) !Release date !Developer !Ref. |
| rowspan="2" |Babe and Friends: Animated Preschool Adventure
| rowspan="2" |{{Date table sorting|1999}} | rowspan="2" |Sound Source Interactive |
| Microsoft Windows |
| rowspan="2" |The Land Before Time: Math Adventure
| rowspan="2" |{{Date table sorting|1999}} | rowspan="2" |Digital Media International |
| Microsoft Windows |
| The Land Before Time: Return to the Great Valley
|{{Date table sorting|2000|9|15}} |
| Casper: Friends Around the World
|{{Date table sorting|2000|11|16}} |
| Elevator Action EX
|{{Date table sorting|2000}} |Altron |
| rowspan="2" |Westlife Fan-O-Mania
|{{Date table sorting|2002|6|6}} | rowspan="2" |Runecraft |
| PlayStation
|{{Date table sorting|2002|6|28}} |
| Outlaw Golf
|Xbox |{{Date table sorting|2003|2|4}} |
| Darkened Skye
|{{Date table sorting|2003|5|28}} |
| Outlaw Volleyball
|Xbox |{{Date table sorting|2003|7|3}} |Hypnotix |
| rowspan="2" |Mercedes-Benz World Racing
| rowspan="2" |{{Dts|2003|9|19}} | rowspan="2" |Synetic |
| PlayStation 2 |
| rowspan="3" |Outlaw Golf
|{{Date table sorting|2003|11|4}} | rowspan="2" |Hypnotix |
| Microsoft Windows
|{{Date table sorting|2003|11|21}} |
| PlayStation 2
|{{Date table sorting|2003|11|24}} |
| Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade
|{{Dts|2004|3|19}} |
| rowspan="3" |Conan
| rowspan="3" |{{Dts|2004|4|8}} | rowspan="3" |Cauldron |
| PlayStation 2 |
| Xbox |
| rowspan="2" |Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade
| rowspan="2" |{{Dts|2004|4|8}} | rowspan="2" |Starbreeze Studios |
| Xbox |
| Mercedes-Benz World Racing
|{{Dts|2004|4|8}} |
| Conan
|{{Dts|2004|4|30}} |
| Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade
|{{Dts|2004|6|4}} |
Take-Two Licensing
{{Infobox company
| name = Take-Two Licensing, Inc.
| former_name = {{Unbulleted list|Sound Source Interactive, Inc. (1988–2000)|TDK Mediactive, Inc. (2000–2003)}}
| logo = TDK Mediactive Logo.png
| type = Subsidiary
| industry = Video games
| fate = Folded into 2K
| founded = {{Start date and age|1988}}{{cite web |title=Company Background |url=http://www.soundsourceinteractive.com/ |website=Sound Source Interactive |access-date=24 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981201062854/http://www.soundsourceinteractive.com/ |archive-date=1 December 1998 |url-status=dead}}
| founder = Vincent Bitetti
| defunct = {{End date and age|2005|1|25}}
| hq_location_city = Westlake Village, California
| hq_location_country = United States
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|Shin Tanabe (president, CEO)|Martin Paravato (CFO)}}
| parent = {{Unbulleted list|TDK (2000–2003)|Take-Two Interactive (2003–2005)}}
}}
TDK Mediactive, Inc. (formerly Sound Source Interactive, Inc., later renamed Take-Two Licensing, Inc.) was an American video game publisher based in Westlake Village, California. Founded as Sound Source Interactive by Vincent Bitetti in 1988, the company acquired BWT Labs in March 1998. In September 2000, the company was acquired by TDK and became TDK Mediactive. Take-Two Interactive acquired the company's North American operations in September 2003, renaming itself as Take-Two Licensing the following December. With the foundation of Take-Two Interactive's 2K Games label in January 2005, Take-Two Licensing was effectively folded into the new subsidiary.
= History =
Sound Source Interactive was founded in 1988{{cite web |url=http://www.soundsourceinteractive.com/aboutus/corp_backgrnd.html |title=Company Background |publisher=Sound Source Interactive |archive-date=May 5, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990505145850/http://www.soundsourceinteractive.com/aboutus/corp_backgrnd.html |url-status=dead}} by Vincent Bitetti.{{cite web|url=https://sec.report/Document/0000944209-99-001566/|title=Form 10KSB 1 FORM 10KSB|page=10|date=October 13, 1999|accessdate=November 22, 2021}} In March 1998, Sound Source Interactive announced that they had acquired BWT Labs, a Berkeley, California-based video game developer.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bwt-bought-by-sound-source/1100-2463097/ |title=BWT Bought by Sound Source |first=Harley |last=Jebens |date=March 26, 1998 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 10, 2018}}
On September 11, 2000, TDK acquired a 72% controlling stake in Sound Source Interactive, with an initial investment of {{US$|1.425 million|link=yes}}, followed by another of {{US$|3.575 million}}, totaling to {{US$|5 million}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tdk-plans-sound-source-acquisition/1100-2626740/ |title=TDK Plans Sound Source Acquisition |first=Shahed |last=Ahmed |date=September 11, 2000 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 10, 2018}} The buyout resulted in Sound Source rebranding under the TDK Mediactive name, with the company's founder, Vincent Bitetti, remaining chief executive officer and Shin Tanabe, President of TDK Recording Media Europe and the European division of TDK Mediactive, becoming the publisher's chief operating officer.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/tdk-buys-sound-source |title=TDK Buys Sound Source |first=Quang |last=Hong |date=September 12, 2000 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=February 10, 2018}} As TDK Mediactive, the company published various video games, of which many based on licensed properties.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/take-two-completes-tdk-acquisition-but-without-shrek |title=Take Two completes TDK acquisition – but without Shrek |first=Rob |last=Fahey |date=December 3, 2003 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=October 1, 2017}} With this, TDK inherited Sound Source's existing licenses with Universal Pictures for The Land Before Time and The Harvey Entertainment Company for the Harvey Comics characters, among others.
On December 20, 2000, the company signed an exclusive video game licensing deal with DreamWorks SKG to produce and publish games based on Shrek.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/12/21/shrek-signs-with-tdk-mediactive |title=Shrek Signs with TDK Mediactive |author=IGN staff |date=December 20, 2000 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=October 13, 2020 |archive-date=March 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317094905/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/12/21/shrek-signs-with-tdk-mediactive |url-status=live}}
On April 13, 2001, the company signed a five-year deal with clothing brand No Limits to publish games based on the license.{{cite news | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/12/no-rules-for-game-boy-advance | title=No Rules for Game Boy Advance | newspaper=Ign | date=April 12, 2001 }} At E3 2001, the company secured the video game licensing rights to RoboTech from Mattel.{{cite web | url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2001-tdk-mediactive-snags-robotech-license/1100-2761890/ | title=E3 2001: TDK Mediactive snags Robotech license }} The company later signed a deal with The Beanstalk Group to produce games based on Dinotopia. On September 27, 2001, the company announced a two-year co-publishing agreement with Activision Value to handle the Right of first refusal for TDK's PC titles.{{cite web | url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/tdk-signs-a-co-publishing-agreement-with-activision | title=TDK Signs a Co-Publishing Agreement with Activision }} In November 2001, the company announced to publish games for the GameCube.{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/11/30/shrek-and-robotech-to-gamecube | title=Shrek and Robotech to GameCube | date=November 30, 2001 }} This was followed with a licensing agreement from DC to produce video games based on Aquaman in December.{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/10/09/tdk-hooks-aquaman-license | title=TDK Hooks Aquaman License | date=October 9, 2001 }}
The company continued gaining exclusive video game rights to franchises through 2002. They secured a deal with Jim Henson Interactive to produce games based on The Muppets in April,{{cite web | url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tdk-grabs-the-muppets/1100-2861931/ | title=TDK grabs the Muppets }} an extension of their Shrek license to also include video game rights to Shrek 2,{{cite web | url=https://www.awn.com/news/tdk-and-dreamworks-extend-shrek-license-agreement-include-sequel | title=TDK and DreamWorks Extend Shrek License Agreement to Include Sequel }} a deal with Mattel for He-Man,{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/14/by-the-power-of-grayskull-2 | title=By the Power of Grayskull | date=May 14, 2002 }} a Nintendo-only deal with Hasbro for the Tonka franchise in May (under a sub-licensing agreement with Infogrames),{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/tdk-mediactive-gets-tonka-license|title=TDK Mediactive Gets Tonka License|date=May 21, 2002}} and Disney Interactive with Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and The Haunted Mansion from Disney Interactive in July.{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/07/09/its-a-pirates-life-for-tdk | title=It's a Pirates Life for TDK | date=July 9, 2002 }} On October 18, 2002, the company launched TDK Impulse, a publishing label intended for games that had "broad consumer appeal and a low price point".{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/tdk-mediactive-launches-new-publishing-label |title=TDK Mediactive Launches New Publishing Label |date=October 18, 2002 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=October 1, 2017}}
In January 2003, the company purchased the video game licensing rights to the UFC from Crave Entertainment.{{cite web | url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tdk-signs-the-ufc/1100-2909874/ | title=TDK signs the UFC }} May 2003, the company announced their Shrek 2 video game tie-in would be a co-publishing collaboration with Activision.{{Cite web | url=https://investor.activision.com/news-releases/news-release-details/activision-and-tdk-mediactive-set-debut-shrek-2tm-game-e3-expo
| title=Activision and TDK Mediactive Set to Debut Shrek 2™: The Game at E3 Expo 2003 | website=investor.activision.com}}{{cite web |author=IGN staff |date=May 6, 2003 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/06/e3-2003-tdk-reveals-lineup |title=E3 2003: TDK reveals lineup |publisher=IGN |accessdate=July 18, 2014 |archive-date=July 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725144010/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/06/e3-2003-tdk-reveals-lineup |url-status=live }}
On September 3, 2003, TDK Mediactive, Inc. announced that they were to be acquired by Take-Two Interactive for an estimated {{US$|22.7 million}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/take-two-buys-tdk-mediactive-brings-gta-to-xbox-as-profits-rise |title=Take-Two buys TDK Mediactive, brings GTA to Xbox as profits rise |first=Rob |last=Fahey |date=September 3, 2003 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=October 1, 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/09/03/take-two-acquires-tdk-mediactive |title=Take-Two Acquires TDK Mediactive |author=IGN |date=September 3, 2003 |website=IGN |access-date=October 1, 2017}} The transaction was finalized on December 2, 2003, with 23,005,885 shares, valued at {{US$|12.6 million}}, and another {{US$|200,000}} in cash awarded to TDK.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/take-two-acquire-tdk-mediactive |title=Take-Two Acquire TDK Mediactive |first=David |last=Jenkins |date=December 2, 2003 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=October 1, 2017}}
Afterwards, Take-Two rebranded TDK Mediactive, Inc. as Take-Two Licensing, Inc. and received all their licenses except for the Shrek license, which was fully obtained Activision after they signed a new deal with DreamWorks, with Activision terminating its previous existing licensing agreement they previously had with TDK for Shrek 2 games.[https://investor.activision.com/news-releases/news-release-details/activision-signs-agreement-dreamworks-video-game-rights-upcoming Activision Signs Agreement With Dreamworks For Video Game Rights To Upcoming Feature Film], investor.activision.com, December 19, 2003, Retrieved 2024-01-24{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/12/02/take-two-takes-one |title=Take-Two Takes One |first=Ed |last=Lewis |date=December 2, 2003 |website=IGN |access-date=October 1, 2017}}
On January 25, 2005, Take-Two Interactive announced the opening of publishing label 2K Games, into which Take-Two Licensing was folded.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/take-two-acquires-visual-concepts-announces-2k-games-brand |title=Take-Two Acquires Visual Concepts, Announces 2K Games Brand |first=David |last=Jenkins |date=January 25, 2005 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=February 3, 2018}}
= Games published =
== As Sound Source Interactive ==
{{incomplete list|date=April 2025}}
== As TDK Mediactive ==
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ !Title !Platform(s) !Release date !Developer !Ref. |
| The Land Before Time: Great Valley Racing Adventure
|{{Date table sorting|2001|5|4}} |Vision Scape Interactive |
| Shrek: Fairy Tale Freakdown
|{{Date table sorting|2001|5|30}} |Prolific |
| Wendy: Every Witch Way
|{{Date table sorting|2001|9}} |
| Casper: Spirit Dimensions
|{{Date table sorting|2001|10|1}} |
| Lady Sia
|{{Date table sorting|2001|10|16}} |RFX Interactive |
| No Rules: Get Phat
|{{Date table sorting|2001|11|15}} |Flying Tiger Development |
| Shrek
|Xbox |{{Date table sorting|2001|11|15}} |Digital Illusions Canada |
| Rainbow Islands
|{{Date table sorting|2001}} |Dreams Co. |
| Shrek: Swamp Kart Speedway
|{{Date table sorting|2002|3|25}} |Prolific Publishing |
| Dinotopia: The Timestone Pirates
|{{Date table sorting|2002|4|30}} |RFX Interactive |
| Pryzm: Chapter One - The Dark Unicorn
|{{Date table sorting|2002|6|10}} |
| rowspan="3" |Robotech: Battlecry
|{{Date table sorting|2002|8|23}} | rowspan="3" |Vicious Cycle Software |
| PlayStation 2
| rowspan="2" |{{Date table sorting|2002|9|23}} |
| Xbox |
| Casper: Spirit Dimensions
|{{Date table sorting|2002|10|1}} |
| Shrek: Hassle at the Castle
|{{Date table sorting|2002|10|10}} |Tose |
| Shrek: Treasure Hunt
|{{Date table sorting|2002|10|18}} |
| Shrek Extra Large
|{{Date table sorting|2002|10|30}} |Digital Illusions Canada |
| Masters of the Universe: He-Man - Power of Grayskull
|{{Date table sorting|2002|11|2}} |Taniko |
| Robotech: The Macross Saga
|{{Date table sorting|2002|11|15}} |
| rowspan="2" |Shrek: Super Party
| rowspan="2" |{{Date table sorting|2002|11|15}} | rowspan="2" |Mass Media Games |
| Xbox |
| The Land Before Time: Big Water Adventure
|{{Date table sorting|2002|11|27}} |
| Ultimate Fighting Championship: Tapout 2
|Xbox |{{Date table sorting|2003|3|20}} |
| SeaBlade
|Xbox |{{Date table sorting|2003|3|28}} |Vision Scape Interactive | |
| The Muppets: On with the Show
|{{Date table sorting|2003|4|17}} |
| Shrek: Super Party
|{{Date table sorting|2003|5|29}} |
| Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
|{{Date table sorting|2003|7|1}} |Pocket Studios |
| Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis
|{{Date table sorting|2003|7|23}} |
| Dinotopia: The Sunstone Odyssey
|{{Date table sorting|2003|7|23}} |
| Shrek: Reekin' Havoc
|{{Date table sorting|2003|7|31}} |Tose |
| Dinotopia: The Sunstone Odyssey
|Xbox |{{Date table sorting|2003|8|5}} |
| rowspan="3" |Disney's The Haunted Mansion
| rowspan="3" |{{Dts|2003|10|14}} | rowspan="3" |High Voltage Software |
| PlayStation 2 |
| Xbox |
| Corvette
|{{Dts|2003|11|11}} |Visual Impact |
| rowspan="2" |Jim Henson's Muppets Party Cruise
| rowspan="2" |{{Dts|2003|11|11}} | rowspan="2" |Jim Henson Interactive / Mass Media Games |
| PlayStation 2 |
| Spy Muppets: License to Croak
|{{Dts|2003|11|18}} |
| Tonka Rescue Patrol
|{{Dts|2003|11|18}} |
== As Take-Two Licensing ==
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Title !Platform(s) !Release date !Developer !Ref. |
| rowspan="2" |Corvette
| rowspan="2" |{{Dts|2003|12|10}} | rowspan="2" |Steel Monkeys |
| Xbox |
| rowspan="2" |Star Trek: Shattered Universe
|{{Dts|2004|1|13}} | rowspan="2" |Starsphere Interactive |
| Xbox
|{{Dts|2004|1|14}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Take-Two Interactive}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Take-Two Interactive divisions and subsidiaries
Category:Video game publishers
Category:Video game companies established in 1990
Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2005
Category:Defunct video game companies of the United States
Category:Defunct companies based in Greater Los Angeles