Sony Imagesoft

Sony Imagesoft Inc. was an American video game publisher that operated from 1989 to 1995 and was located in California. It was established in January 1989 in Los Angeles, California, as a subsidiary of the Japan-based CBS/Sony Group (CSG) and initially named CSG Imagesoft Inc.[1] Their focus at the beginning was on marketing games exclusively for Nintendo consoles.[2]

Sony Imagesoft Inc.
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
FoundedJanuary 1989 (1989-01)
DefunctMarch 1995 (1995-03)
FateFolded into SCEA
SuccessorsSCEA
989 Studios
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California
OwnerSony
ParentCBS/Sony Group (1989–1991)
Sony Electronic Publishing (1991–1995)
Websitewww.sony.com

The first release was Super Dodge Ball in summer 1989.[2] Games by UK-based developers, Solstice and Dragon's Lair, followed in 1990. Both were also published in Japan through Epic/Sony Records.

After Sony had set up its North American division, Sony Electronic Publishing in April 1991,[3][4] Imagesoft operated as Sony Imagesoft Inc.

Other releases are localizations of SNES games previously developed for Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) and published under the Epic/Sony Records brand: Extra Innings and Smart Ball, both published in 1992. Following a shakeup at Sony in 1995, Sony Imagesoft was merged into Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) and has since only supported the PlayStation brand.

Sega partnership

On May 20, 1992, Sega of America and Sony Electronic Publishing announced a partnership to create content for Sega's consoles under the direction of Imagesoft.[5] Besides Sega's cartridge-based Genesis and Game Gear consoles the partnership targeted the upcoming Sega CD peripheral.[6] Among the first titles released for Sega's consoles after the announcement are Sewer Shark and Hook. Sewer Shark, initially released exclusively to Sega CD, is a rail-shooter that years earlier had been shelved as part of the ill-fated Control-Vision platform. The Hook video games are tie-ins to the Spielberg feature film Hook that premiered in December 1991 and was produced by Sony-owned TriStar Pictures. Ports of the video game for Sega platforms are based on the SNES game published earlier by Imagesoft. The Sega CD version was enhanced with better cut scenes with voice actors and digital stills and featured music from the film soundtrack.[7]

1995 changes

In March 1995 Sony Imagesoft announced that it had appointed Kelly Flock as president. Flock came from TriMark Interactive where he was executive vice president since March 1993.[8]

Starting in July 1995, just two months prior to the release of the PlayStation console in Western markets, Sony Electronic Publishing restructured and renamed its divisions. All video game marketing from Sony Imagesoft was folded into Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA), with about 100 employees transferred from Santa Monica to Foster City.[9][10][11] The video game business of Sony Imagesoft was merged with the product development branch of SCEA and became Sony Interactive Studios America[12] which would later be renamed to 989 Studios.

The computer software business of Imagesoft became Sony Interactive PC Software America and was headed by general manager Ray Sangster.[12]

Games published
TitleGenreRelease dateDeveloper
3 Ninjas Kick BackAction &1994-06-01June 1, 1994Malibu Interactive
3 Ninjas Kick Back for SNES &1994-11-00November 19, 1994[13]
Altered Space for Game BoyPuzzle adventure &1991-09-30September 1991[14]Software Creations
Bram Stoker's Dracula for Game BoyAction &1993-00-001993Psygnosis
Bram Stoker's Dracula for SNES &1993-09-00September 1993[13]Traveller's Tales/Psygnosis
Championship Soccer '94Sports &1994-06-00June 1994[13]Sensible Software
CliffhangerAction &1993-10-25October 25, 1993Malibu Interactive
Cliffhanger for SNES &1993-10-00October 1993[13]
Chuck Rock for SNESSide-scrolling platformer &1992-11-00November 1992[13]
Chuck Rock for Sega CD &unknownCore Design
Dragon's Lair for NESAction &1990-12-00December 29, 1990Motivetime
Eastern Mind: The Lost Souls of Tong NouPoint-and-click adventure &1995-08-10Early August 1995OutSide Directors Company
EquinoxAction-adventure &1994-03-00March 1994[13]Software Creations
ESPN Baseball TonightSports &1994-05-00May 1994[15]Park Place Productions
ESPN National Hockey Night &1994-08-01August 1, 1994
ESPN NBA HangTime '95 &
ESPN SpeedWorldRacing &1994-00-001994Park Place Productions
ESPN Sunday Night NFL for Sega CDSports &1993-00-001993[16]Ringler Studios
ESPN Sunday Night NFL for Genesis &1994-08-01August 1, 1994[17]
ESPN Sunday Night NFL for SNES &1994-11-00November 1994[18]
Extra Innings for SNES &1992-03-20March 20, 1992Sting Entertainment
Flashback (SNES version) Action-Adventure 1993 Tiertex
Flink (Mega Drive version)Platform &1994-05-00May 1994Psygnosis
Gear Works for Game Gear & Game BoyPuzzle 1993
Ground Zero: Texas for Sega CDAction &1993-11-00November 1993[19]Digital Pictures
Hook for NES and Game Boy &1992-04-00April 1992Ocean Software
Hook for SNES &1992-10-00October 1992[13]Ukiyotei
Hook for Genesis and Sega CD &1993-03-001992/March 1993 (European Mega CD version)[20][21]Core Design
Hudson Hawk for NES and Game BoyPlatform &1991-00-001991Ocean Software
Johnny Mnemonic for PC and MacInteractive movie &1995-05-26May 26, 1995Propaganda Code,[22] directed by Douglas Gayeton
Johnny Mnemonic for Sega CD &unreleased[23]
Last Action HeroAction &1994-03-28March 28, 1994Bits Studios
Last Action Hero for SNES &1993-10-00October 1993[13]
Last Action Hero for Sega CDBeat 'em up &cancelled[24]Psygnosis[25]
Mary Shelley's FrankensteinAction &1994-03-04March 4, 1994Bits Studios
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein for SNES &1994-11-00November 1994
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein for Sega CD &1994-00-001994Psygnosis[26]
Mickey ManiaPlatform &1994-10-00October 1994Traveller's Tales/Psygnosis[27]
Mickey Mania for SNES &1994-10-00October 1994[13]
No Escape for SNESAction &1994-11-00November 1994[13]Bits Studios
Super Battletank 2 for SNES (European version) &1994-10-001993Absolute
Super Bomberman for SNES (European version) &1994-10-00November 1993Hudson Soft
Skyblazer &1994-03-16March 16, 1994[28]Ukiyotei
Sewer Shark for Sega CDShooter &1992-10-15October 15, 1992Digital Pictures
Smart Ball for SNESAction-adventure &1992-03-00March 1992[13]Game Freak
Soccer Mania for Game BoySports &1992-03-00March 1992[29]Kitty Group Japan
Solstice for NESPuzzle &1990-06-00June 1990Software Creations
Super Dodge Ball for NESSports &1989-06-00June 1989Technōs Japan

Games developed
TitleGenreRelease date
Jeopardy ClassicPuzzleMay 22, 1994
Wheel of FortuneStrategy1994

References
  1. Sony in U.S. Videogame Venture. In: Television Digest with Consumer Electronics. Volume 28, December 26, 1988, page 51.
  2. CSG Imagesoft Enters U.S. Home Video Game Market. PR Newswire, Los Angeles, September 6, 1989
  3. Sony Software Establishes Sony Electronic Publishing. PR Newswire, New York, February 26, 1991.
  4. Consumer Electronics (Communications Daily), Vol. 11, No. 44, Warren Publishing. Page 9.
  5. Sony Electronic Publishing and Sega of America announce broad business partnership. Business Wire, May 20, 1992
  6. Adam Bryant: Sega Links with Sony to Make CD Video Games. New York Times, May 21, 1992. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (archived version)
  7. Janet Wasko: Hollywood in the information age: beyond the silver screen. University of Texas Press 1995, ISBN 0-292-79094-5. Page 62.
  8. Sony Imagesoft names Kelly Flock president. Business Wire New York, March 8, 1995.
  9. Carl DiOrio: Sony to Transfer 100 Workers. In: The Hollywood Reporter, July 12, 1995.
  10. Scott Hettrick: -- no title given -- In: The Hollywood Reporter, August 8, 1995.
  11. Sony in Disarray on Eve of Playstation Debut. In: Television Digest with Consumer Electronics, August 14, 1995, ISSN 0497-1515, page 9.
  12. Sony Electronic Publishing Co. renamed; Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. is established. Business Wire, August 17, 1995.
  13. Super NES Release List from nintendo.com at the Wayback Machine (archived September 30, 2007)
  14. "Altered Space – Game Boy – IGN". uk.ign.com. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  15. "ESPN Baseball Tonight". GameSpot.
  16. "ESPN Sunday Night NFL Release Information for Sega CD – GameFAQs". gamefaqs.com. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  17. "ESPN Sunday Night NFL Release Information for Genesis – GameFAQs". gamefaqs.com. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  18. "ESPN Sunday Night NFL Release Information for Super Nintendo – GameFAQs". gamefaqs.com. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  19. Peter M. Nichols: Home Video. In: New York Times, December 10, 1993. Accessed: 2010-09-16. (archived version)
  20. "The Milwaukee Journal – Google News Archive Search – The earliest reviews available online are from March 1993". Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  21. "Hook for Sega Cd". GameFaqs.
  22. Philips Teams With Propagande. In: Billboard, June 24, 1995, page 54
  23. Sony Imagesoft to showcase "Johnny Mnemonic" Business Wire, Santa Monica, California, March 13, 1995
  24. Last Action Hero – Sega Mega CD unseen64.net
  25. Notebooks. In: Television Digest with Consumer Electronics, Vol. 33, No. 21, Pg. 19. – "...Psygnosis, founded in 1984, published noteworthy "Lemmings" software series, and has developed 2 titles – "Bram Stoker's Dracula" and "Last Action Hero" – for Sega CD."
  26. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein for Sega CD at MobyGames
  27. Mickey Mania for Sega Genesis Credits at MobyGames
  28. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 5 March 1994. p. 67. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  29. "Soccer Mania Release Information for Game Boy – GameFAQs". gamefaqs.com. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
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