psygnosis

{{Anchor|Psyclapse}}

File:Psyclapse logo.png

Psygnosis was the eventual successor of the defunct 8-bit software house Imagine Software, where Lawson was one of the founders and Hetherington was financial director. Finchspeed, a company created by the directors,{{cite magazine|title=Secrets of the Imagine Megagames|magazine=Personal Computer Games|issue=|publisher=VNU|date=September 1984|page=12|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=1626&page=12|access-date=9 September 2021|archive-date=29 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929021805/https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=1626&page=12|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine |title=The Bubble Bursts|magazine=Crash|issue=7|publisher=Newsfield|date=August 1984|page=32|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=974&page=32|access-date=9 September 2021}} attempted to acquire the assets of the failing company but this was unsuccessful and the remains of Imagine, including their much-hyped but never completed "megagames", were sold by the receivers.{{cite magazine |title=Future of the Megagames|magazine=Popular Computing Weekly|issue=33|publisher=Sunshine Publications|date=16 August 1984|page=5|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2819&page=5|access-date=9 September 2021}} While the name and trademarks were bought by Ocean Software,{{cite magazine|title=A Life On The Ocean Wave|magazine=Retro Gamer|issue=101|pages=53–62|author=Stuart Hunt}} Sinclair Research paid a rumoured £100,000 for the rights to Bandersnatch and contracted a new company set up by Hetherington and Lawson, Fire Iron, to produce the game for the Sinclair QL for release in early 1985.{{cite magazine |title=Imagine phoenix|magazine=Home Computing Weekly|issue=84|publisher=Argus Specialist Publications|date=16 October 1984|page=1|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2650&page=1|access-date=9 September 2021}}{{cite magazine |title=Megagame for QL|magazine=Popular Computing Weekly|issue=41|publisher=Sunshine Publications|date=11 October 1984|page=1|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2827&page=1|access-date=9 September 2021}}{{cite magazine |title=Sinclair admits to megagames|magazine=Your Computer|issue=1|publisher=IPC|date=January 1985|page=45|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=182&page=45|access-date=9 September 2021}}

Sinclair withdrew funding from Fire Iron in early 1985{{cite magazine |title=Imagine Team Resurfaces|magazine=Popular Computing Weekly|issue=38|publisher=Sunshine Publications|date=19 September 1985|page=8|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2875&page=5|access-date=9 September 2021}} and Psygnosis, which became a limited company under United Kingdom company law in July 1985,{{cite web |title=PSYGNOSIS LIMITED |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01039371 |website=Companies House |publisher=UK Government |access-date=2 September 2021 |archive-date=2 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902130725/https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01039371 |url-status=live }} launched their first title Brataccas, which featured many of the concepts originally intended for Bandersnatch,{{cite web|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/making-bandersnatch?page=2 |title=The Making Of: Bandersnatch – Edge Magazine |publisher=Edge-online.com |date=4 September 2009 |access-date=14 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102002140/http://www.edge-online.com/features/making-bandersnatch/2/ |archive-date=2 January 2015 }} at the 1985 Personal Computer World show in September.{{cite magazine |title=PCW Show News|magazine=Popular Computing Weekly|issue=37|publisher=Sunshine Publications|date=12 September 1985|page=11|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2874&page=11|access-date=9 September 2021}}

The name of another Imagine Megagame (the proposed but never developed Psyclapse) was later used by Psygnosis as an alternative label for some of its releases,{{cite web|url=http://home.iprimus.com.au/danmcpharlin/purpleowl/psygnosis-history.html |title=Psygnosis History |quote=Psyclapse was actually the name of a Commodore 64 game that was never released [but] was to live on as a division of Psygnosis. |access-date=1 January 2015 |publisher=The Purple One |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829232531/http://home.iprimus.com.au/danmcpharlin/purpleowl/psygnosis-history.html |archive-date=29 August 2015 }} such as Ballistix and Captain Fizz Meets The Blaster-Trons.{{cite web|url=http://www.lemonamiga.com/games/advert.php?id=1826|title=Captain Fizz Meets the Blaster-Trons (Advert)|work=Lemon Amiga|access-date=2 January 2015|archive-date=22 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922113309/http://www.lemonamiga.com/games/advert.php?id=1826|url-status=live}}

The box artwork was very distinctive with a black background and fantasy artwork by Roger Dean{{cite web |last1=Lien |first1=Tracey |title=The art outside the box: The story of Roger Dean |url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/2/14/3768030/roger-dean-outside-the-box-psygnosis |website=Polygon |publisher=Vox Media |access-date=8 September 2021 |date=14 February 2013 |archive-date=8 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908174409/https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/2/14/3768030/roger-dean-outside-the-box-psygnosis |url-status=live }} bordered in red. This style was maintained for the better part of 10 years. For the next few years, Psygnosis' releases contained increasingly improved graphics, but were marred by similarly difficult gameplay and control methods. The original company headquarters were located at the Port of Liverpool Building at the Pier Head in Liverpool, but soon moved to Century Buildings in Liverpool's Brunswick Business Park, and later moved down the road to South Harrington Building by the docks.

Although Psygnosis primarily became a game publisher, some games were developed fully or partly in-house. During the early days, artists were employed full-time at the headquarters, offering third-party developers, who were often just single programmers, a high-quality art resource. This allowed Psygnosis to maintain high graphical standards across the board. The original artists were Garvan Corbett, Jeff Bramfitt, Colin Rushby and Jim Bowers, with Neil Thompson joining a little later.

Obliterator, released in 1988, contained an opening animation by Jim Bowers. This short scene would pave the way for increasingly sophisticated intro animations, starting with 2D hand drawn sequences, and progressing into FMV and 3D rendered movies created with Sculpt 4D on the Amiga. Eventually, Psygnosis would buy Silicon Graphics workstations for the sole purpose of creating these animations.

While most game companies of the mid-to-late 1980s (including Psygnosis) were releasing identical games on both the Amiga and Atari ST, Psygnosis started to use the full potential of the Amiga's more powerful hardware to produce technically stunning games, with the landmark title Shadow of the Beast bringing the company its greatest success so far in 1989. Its multi-layered parallax scrolling and music were highly advanced for the time and as such led to the game being used as a showcase demonstration for the Amiga in many computer shops.

Psygnosis consolidated its fame after publishing the DMA Design Lemmings game franchise: debuting in 1991 on the Amiga, Lemmings was ported to a plethora of different computer and video game platforms, generating many sequels and variations of its concept through the years. Microcosm, a game that appeared on the FM Towns, Amiga CD32, and 3DO furthered the company's reputation for games with excellent graphics.

Psygnosis also created the "Face-Off" games in the Nickelodeon 1992 television game show, Nick Arcade, such as "Post Haste", "Jet Jocks" and "Battle of the Bands".

In 1993 the company was acquired by Sony Electronic Publishing.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldwidestudios.net/liverpool |title=SCE Worldwide Studios – SCE Studio Liverpool |publisher=Worldwidestudios.net |date=20 February 2009 |access-date=14 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131070427/http://www.worldwidestudios.net/liverpool |archive-date=31 January 2013 }}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=108 |title=The 7th International Computer Game Developers Conference |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=July 1993 |access-date=12 July 2014 |pages=34 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714200342/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=108 |archive-date=14 July 2014 }} The acquisition cost Sony £20 million.{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Foster|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99178270/the-observer/|title=Britain faces game drain|newspaper=The Observer|page=38|date=March 5, 1995|access-date=April 6, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=6 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406123014/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99178270/the-observer/|url-status=live}} In preparation for the September 1995 introduction of Sony's PlayStation console in Western markets, Psygnosis started creating games using the PlayStation as primary reference hardware. Among the most famous creations of this period were Wipeout, G-Police, and the Colony Wars series, some of which were ported to PC and to other platforms. The PlayStation marked a turning point in Psygnosis's game design, moving away from the prerendered graphics and limited gameplay that the company had become associated with.{{cite magazine |title=PlayStation: Sony's Bid for Power |magazine=Next Generation|issue=3 |publisher=Imagine Media|date=March 1995|page=41}}{{cite magazine |first1=David |last1=Rider |first2=Ed |last2=Semrad |title=British Invasion: Psygnosis |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |issue=101 |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=December 1997|page=170 |quote=In the 16-Bit days, Psygnosis was best known for attractive titles lacking gameplay, but that all changed with the launch of the PlayStation.}} This was a successful period for the company; in the 1995–96 financial year, Psygnosis games accounted for 40% of all video games sales in Europe.{{cite magazine |title=Sony's Video Games Onslaught Continues!|magazine=Maximum: The Video Game Magazine|issue=7 |publisher=Emap International Limited|date=June 1996|pages=72–73}}

The acquisition was rewarding for Sony in another aspect: development kits for PlayStation consoles. As it had previously published PSY-Q development kits for various consoles by SN Systems, Psygnosis arranged for them to create a development system for the PS based on cheap PC hardware. Sony evaluated the system during CES in January 1994 and decided to adopt it.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/08/28/history-of-the-playstation |title=History of the PlayStation|work=IGN |date=28 August 1998 |access-date=November 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307114254/http://uk.psx.ign.com/articles/060/060188p1.html |archive-date=7 March 2012 }}

As Psygnosis expanded after the Sony buyout, another satellite office was opened in Century Building with later offices opening in Stroud, London, Chester, Paris, Germany, and Foster City in California (as the Customer Support & Marketing with software development done in San Francisco), now the home of Sony Computer Entertainment America. The company headquarters has resided at Wavertree Technology Park since 1995.

The Stroud studio was opened in November 1993 in order to attract disgruntled MicroProse employees. Staff grew from initially about 50 to about 70 in 1997.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/06/19/e3-psygnosis-co-founder-speaks-part-2 |title=E3: Psygnosis Co-founder Speaks: part 2 |work=IGN |date=19 June 1997 |access-date=13 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213083304/http://uk.psx.ign.com/articles/062/062933p1.html |archive-date=13 February 2012 }} Among the titles created at Stroud are Overboard! and G-Police. The Wheelhouse—its publishing name—was closed in 2000 as part of the Sony Computer Entertainment takeover of Psygnosis. Some members joined Bristol-based Rage Software, but faced a similar demise a number of years later.

Despite being owned by Sony, Psygnosis retained a degree of independence from its parent company during this period and continued to develop and publish titles for other platforms,{{cite web|url=http://gamespy-archives.quaddicted.com/sites/www.strategyplanet.com/metalfatigue/info_psygnosis.shtml.html |title=Publisher: Psygnosis |access-date=23 March 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402092402/http://gamespy-archives.quaddicted.com/sites/www.strategyplanet.com/metalfatigue/info_psygnosis.shtml.html |archive-date=2 April 2015 }} including the Sega Saturn{{cite web|url=http://www.gamezero.com/team-0/whats_new/past/psygnosis-saturn.html |title=Psygnosis Develops for Saturn |work=gamezero.com |date=2 February 1996 |access-date=23 March 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403030655/http://www.gamezero.com/team-0/whats_new/past/psygnosis-saturn.html |archive-date=3 April 2015 }}{{cite magazine |title=Sleeping with the Enemy |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |issue=81 |publisher=Sendai Publishing |date=April 1996 |page=20}} and the Nintendo 64.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/psygnosis-to-develop-for-n64/1100-2463204/ |title=Psygnosis to Develop for N64 |work=gamespot.com |date=17 April 1998 |access-date=23 March 2015 |archive-date=5 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705030843/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/psygnosis-to-develop-for-n64/1100-2463204/ |url-status=live }} This caused friction between Psygnosis and Sony, and in 1996 Sony engaged SBC Warburg's services in finding a buyer for Psygnosis.{{cite magazine|title=Divorce for Sony and Psygnosis |magazine=Next Generation|issue=19|publisher=Imagine Media |date=July 1996|page=14}}{{cite magazine|title=Sony May Sell Psygnosis |magazine=GamePro|issue=95|publisher=IDG|date=August 1996|pages=16–17}} However, though bids reportedly went as high as $300 million (more than ten times what Sony paid for the company just three years before),{{cite magazine |last=Svensson|first=Christian |title=Psygnosis Bidding Hits $300 Million|magazine=Next Generation|issue=23|publisher=Imagine Media |date=November 1996|page=26}} after six months Sony rescinded its decision to sell Psygnosis. Relations between the two companies had improved during this time, and Sony became reconciled to Psygnosis releasing games for competing platforms.{{cite magazine |last=Svensson|first=Christian |title=Sony Halts Psygnosis Sale|magazine=Next Generation |issue=26|publisher=Imagine Media|date=February 1997|page=28}} Shortly after, Psygnosis took over distribution of its own titles, a task that Sony had been handling following the buyout.{{cite magazine |title=Tidbits...|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=94 |publisher=Ziff Davis|date=May 1997|page=20}}

Psygnosis had a subsidiary studio at Camden Town which developed Blast Radius, Kingsley's Adventure and Team Buddies.{{cite web |last=Strohm |first=Axel |date=13 April 2000 |title=First Look: PlayStation2 Dropship [date mislabeled as "May 8, 2000"] |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/first-look-playstation2-dropship/1100-2565426/ |accessdate=15 August 2014 |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive}} It was moved to Sony as a separate studio named SCE Studio Camden and released Dropship: United Peace Force before being merged with Team Soho into London Studio.{{cite web |last=Exposed |first=Marco |date=25 May 2019 |title=Blood & Truth: who are the guys from London Studio and what The Getaway was |url=https://it.ign.com/blood-and-truth-ps4/154913/feature/blood-truth-chi-sono-i-ragazzi-di-london-studio-e-cosa-e-stato-the-getaway |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609133956/https://it.ign.com/blood-and-truth-ps4/154913/feature/blood-truth-chi-sono-i-ragazzi-di-london-studio-e-cosa-e-stato-the-getaway |archive-date=9 June 2019 |access-date=25 October 2020 |work=IGN}}

File:Studio Liverpool Logo.png

In 1999, a process to consolidate Psygnosis into Sony Computer Entertainment was underway, resulting in the bulk of Psygnosis' sales, marketing and PR staff being made redundant and the development teams reporting directly into Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's president of software development.{{cite journal |page=28 |title=Sony Swallows Psygnosis |journal=Official UK PlayStation Magazine |issue=44 |year=1999 |publisher=Future Publishing}} To reflect this, in 2000, the Psygnosis brand was dropped in favour of SCE Studio Liverpool. During the year, as its American division was shut down, Midway Home Entertainment acquired the remaining titles of Psygnosis' PlayStation lineup.{{Cite web |author=I. G. N. Staff |date=2000-05-14 |title=E3: Midway Acquires Psygnosis PS Lineup |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/14/e3-midway-acquires-psygnosis-ps-lineup |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=IGN |language=en}}

The newly named SCE Studio Liverpool released its first title, Formula One 2001, in 2001. The game was also the studio's first release on the PlayStation 2, and the first entry in the Formula One series after taking over from developer Studio 33. From 2001 to 2007, Studio Liverpool released eight instalments in the series between the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3. However, Sony Computer Entertainment's exclusive licence with the Formula One Group expired, without renewal, before the 2007 season, marking the end of any further Formula One series instalments from the developer.

Studio Liverpool also developed Wipeout Fusion, the first of two instalments of the series on the PlayStation 2, released in 2002. Next they developed Wipeout Pure for the PlayStation Portable, which launched alongside the handheld in 2005 to significant acclaim, with many media outlets heralding it a return to glory for the series. They followed up with the sequel Wipeout Pulse in 2007 which was later ported to the PlayStation 2 and released in Europe.

In 2008 it released Wipeout HD, a downloadable title for the PlayStation 3's PlayStation Network service, consisting of various courses taken from both Wipeout Pure and Wipeout Pulse remade in high definition. An expansion pack for Wipeout HD named Wipeout HD Fury is available at PlayStation Network, including new game modes, new tracks, new music and new ship skins/models.{{cite web|url=http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2009/06/01/wipeout-hd-fury-expansion-pack-details/ |title=WipEout HD Fury Expansion Pack – PlayStation.Blog.Europe |first=Tony |last=Buckley |work=blog.eu.playstation.com |date=1 June 2009 |access-date=14 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224053919/http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2009/06/01/wipeout-hd-fury-expansion-pack-details/ |archive-date=24 February 2012 }} In 2007, a copy of Manhunt 2 was leaked online prior to its release by an employee from the Sony Europe Liverpool office.{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/22/manhunt_2_leaked_by_sony_europe_employee/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911073344/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/22/manhunt_2_leaked_by_sony_europe_employee/ |archive-date=11 September 2016 |title=Manhunt 2 leaked by Sony Europe employee |website=The Register }}

On 29 January 2010, Sony made a public statement on its restructuring of Studio Liverpool.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/sony-to-restructure-liverpool-studio |title=Sony to restructure Liverpool studio | GamesIndustry International |first=Phil |last=Elliott |work=gamesindustry.biz |date=28 January 2010 |access-date=14 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014032407/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/sony-to-restructure-liverpool-studio |archive-date=14 October 2012 }} The closure of Studio Liverpool was announced on 22 August 2012. In a press release, Sony stated that after an assessment of all European studios, it had decided to close Studio Liverpool. Sony said that the Liverpool site would remain in operation, as it is home to a number of Sony Worldwide Studios and SCEE Departments.

Eurogamer was told by an unnamed source that, at the time of its closure, Studio Liverpool was working on two PlayStation 4 launch titles. One was a Wipeout title described as "dramatically different"; the other was a motion capture-based game along the lines of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell.{{cite web|last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-08-22-sources-sony-liverpool-was-working-on-wipeout-ps4-and-a-splinter-cell-style-game-for-ps4 |title=Sources: Sony Liverpool was working on WipEout PS4 and a Splinter Cell style game for PS4 • News • |publisher=Eurogamer.net |date= 22 August 2012|access-date=22 August 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824052227/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-08-22-sources-sony-liverpool-was-working-on-wipeout-ps4-and-a-splinter-cell-style-game-for-ps4 |archive-date=24 August 2012 }}

In 2013 a number of former Studio Liverpool employees formed two new studios: Firesprite,{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/former-psygnosis-studio-liverpool-devs-unite-to-form-firesprite |title=Former Psygnosis/Studio Liverpool devs unite to form Firesprite |last=Wawro |first=Alex |date=5 December 2013 |work=Gamasutra |publisher=Think Services |access-date=6 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214095325/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/206413/Former_PsygnosisStudio_Liverpool_devs_unite_to_form_Firesprite.php |archive-date=14 December 2013 }} which worked on the visuals of The Playroom for the PlayStation 4,{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-12-06-from-the-ashes-of-wipeout-dev-studio-liverpool-rises-firesprite |title=From the ashes of WipEout dev Studio Liverpool rises Firesprite |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=6 December 2013 |work=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=6 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208145506/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-12-06-from-the-ashes-of-wipeout-dev-studio-liverpool-rises-firesprite |archive-date=8 December 2013 }} and Playrise Digital, who had success with their Table Top Racing games. In September 2021, Sony acquired Firesprite.{{cite news |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-09-08-why-playstation-is-buying-firesprite-one-of-the-uks-fastest-growing-games-studios |title=Why PlayStation is buying Firesprite, one of the UK's fastest growing studios |website=Gamesindustry.biz |date=8 September 2021 |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-date=20 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220135531/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-09-08-why-playstation-is-buying-firesprite-one-of-the-uks-fastest-growing-games-studios |url-status=live }}

XDev, Sony's external development studio, is responsible for managing the development of titles at developers that are outside of Sony's own developer group. It has won 14 British Academy (BAFTA) video game awards and AIAS awards for LittleBigPlanet, 3 BAFTA awards for the Buzz! series and Develop Industry Excellence Awards for MotorStorm and Buzz!.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldwidestudios.net/xdev |title=SCE Worldwide Studios – Publishing Europe |publisher=Worldwidestudios.net |date=25 February 2009 |access-date=14 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615013734/http://www.worldwidestudios.net/xdev |archive-date=15 June 2012 }}

• London Studio
• Guerrilla Cambridge
• Evolution Studios
• Bigbig Studios

{{Reflist}}

• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131070427/http://www.worldwidestudios.net/liverpool |date=31 January 2013 |title=Official website }}
• {{Discogs label|Psygnosis}}

{{Psygnosis}}

{{PlayStation Studios}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1984 establishments in England

Category:1993 mergers and acquisitions

Category:2012 disestablishments in England

Category:British companies disestablished in 2012

Category:British companies established in 1984

Category:Defunct companies based in Liverpool

Category:Defunct video game companies of the United Kingdom

Category:First-party video game developers

Category:PlayStation Studios

Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2012

Category:Video game companies established in 1984

Category:Video game development companies

Category:Video game publishers

Category:British subsidiaries of foreign companies