Infogrames Studios Limited
Formerly
  • Gremlin Graphics Software Limited (1984–1994)
  • Gremlin Interactive Limited (1994–2000)
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
Founded1984 (1984)
Founder
  • Ian Stewart
  • Kevin Norburn
Defunct2003 (2003)
FateDissolved by parent, former employees formed Sumo Digital. Assets acquired by Zoo Digital, later reacquired by Urbanscan.
SuccessorSumo Digital
Headquarters
Sheffield
,
England
Key people
Paul Porter (studio manager)
ParentInfogrames

Gremlin Graphics Software Limited, later Gremlin Interactive Limited and ultimately Infogrames Studios Limited[1] 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[2] with US Gold's Geoff Brown owning 75% of the company[3]: 65  until mid-1989.[4] 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.

In 1994, it was renamed as Gremlin Interactive, now concentrating on the 16-bit, PC and console market.[5] 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.[6]

In 1997, Gremlin acquired Imagitec Design[7] and DMA Design (creators of Grand Theft Auto and Lemmings). In 1999, they themselves were bought by Infogrames for around £24 million [8][9] 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.[10]

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.[11]

The Gremlin trademarks (including the g Gremlin logo) are now owned by Warner Bros Entertainment.[12][13][14]

Key staff

Gremlin staff had included:

  • 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[2]
  • Asad Habib – Lead Tester
  • Paul Whitehead – Tester / Designer
  • Ian Stewart – Managing director[15]
  • Kevin Norburn – Operations director
  • Patrick Phelan – Software manager/sound engineer
  • Chris Harvey – Lead console programmer
  • Wayne Laybourn – Artist
  • Chris Shrigley – Designer / Programmer[16]
  • Peter Harrap – Programmer[2]
  • Chris Kerry – Programmer[2]
  • Shaun Hollingworth – Programmer[2]
  • MicroProjects Ltd (Jason Perkins, Mark Rogers, Anthony Clarke)
  • Richard Hall – Production Manager

Video games

As Gremlin Interactive

As Infogrames Sheffield House

Year Title Platform(s) Publisher(s)
1999 PGA European Tour Golf PlayStation Infogrames
2000 Premier Manager 2000
Hogs of War PlayStation, Windows
PGA European Tour Golf Nintendo 64
Wacky Races Dreamcast
2001 UEFA Challenge PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Windows
Wacky Races: Starring Dastardly and Muttley PlayStation 2
2002 Slam Tennis PlayStation 2, Xbox
Superman: Shadow of Apokolips PlayStation 2
Micro Machines PlayStation 2, Xbox
2003 Superman: Shadow of Apokolips 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

  1. ↑ "INFOGRAMES STUDIOS LIMITED – Overview (free company information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "CRASH 18 – Gremlin Graphics". www.crashonline.org.uk.
  3. ↑ Wilkins, Chris; Kean, Roger M (2015). The Story Of U.S. Gold. Fusion Retro Books. p. 69. ISBN 9780993131530.
  4. ↑ "Snippets". New Computer Express. Future Publishing. 5 August 1989. p. 5. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  5. ↑ "Planet Sinclair: The Sinclair Industry: Publishers: Gremlin". www.nvg.ntnu.no.
  6. ↑ "A Gremlin in the Works". Bitmap Books.
  7. ↑ "Gremlin Buy Imagitec". Sega Saturn Magazine. No. 18. Emap International Limited. April 1997. p. 7.
  8. ↑ "Zoo Digital: Ian Stewart – Startups.co.uk: Starting a business advice and business ideas".
  9. ↑ "Infogrames Buys UK Games Company Gremlin | Computergram International | Find Articles at BNET.com". Findarticles.com. 1999. Archived from the original on 22 March 2005. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  10. ↑ "Investegate |Zoo Digital Group Announcements | Zoo Digital Group: Acquisition".
  11. ↑ "Gremlin Graphics presents: Bounder's World and the return of Super Cars". 22 July 2011.
  12. ↑ "GREMLIN – UK00001122987". trademarks.ipo.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  13. ↑ "GREMLIN – UK00001313745". trademarks.ipo.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  14. ↑ "g Gremlin – UK00002032262". trademarks.ipo.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  15. ↑ "Gremlin founder Ian Stewart – RETRO GAMESMASTER". www.retrogamesmaster.co.uk. 3 September 2016.
  16. ↑ @hardistymark, Mark James Hardisty. "Search Results for "chris shrigley" – The Gremlin Graphics Archive". www.gremlinarchive.com.
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