Access Software

Background

Access Software was an American video game developer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Founded in November 1982 by Bruce Carver and Chris Jones, the studio created the Beach Head, Links and Tex Murphy series, as well as Raid Over Moscow. Access Software was acquired by Microsoft in April 1999, transitioning in name twice before being acquired by Take-Two Interactive in October 2004, receiving the name Indie Built.

1st Logo (1992) (Amazon: Guardians of Eden variant)

Visuals: A frame from a film leader fades in, specifically the "PICTURE START" frame, followed by a countdown starting from 5. Once it reaches 3, the frame fades out, and a different frame fades in consisting of a cloudy field with a mountain peak in the center, adorned with a vulture. Below the vulture, a large slab reading "AN ACCESS SERIAL" is shown below. This is a parody of the Republic Pictures logo.

Technique: Cutting and fading effects.

Audio: The sound of a film projector, followed by the "2-beep" when the 3 frame fades out. A majestic synth orchestral fanfare plays over the logo.

Availability: Seen only on Amazon: Guardians of Eden as a custom logo.

2nd Logo (October 27, 1994-August 1, 1996)

Under a Killing Moon
The Pandora Directive

Visuals: On a space background, several filmstrips (with scenes of the game on it, which depends) are shown rotating, while "ACCESS", in a golden Arial Black font, slides in from the left letter-by-letter. The filmstrips open up to reveal four purple lights with a gold segmented shape in the shape of an "A" nested inside it, rotating around. Later on, the text slides around to the nested shape at the right as the camera tilts straight up in the process. The filmstrip and purple lights then go off-screen and "INTERACTIVE MOVIE" flies to the bottom of, "ACCESS" and, upon reaching it, "SOFTWARE INCORPORATED" appears at the right of the nested shape. The logo rises up slightly to the middle of the screen.

Variant: On The Pandora Directive, the logo is shortened. Also, a light is seen on the top-right corner at the beginning of the logo, the lights are blue, the space background is different and a light runs through "INTERACTIVE MOVIE" as soon as it reaches the top.

Technique: CGI animation at a low framerate.

Audio: An ascending triumphant fanfare. The Pandora Directive had the theme abridged.

Availability: Seen on Under a Killing Moon and The Pandora Directive.

3rd Logo (July 2, 1997-February 25, 1998)

Visuals: Time-lapse footage of a cloudy sky cuts in with rolling clouds, starting off at mid-day before the sun appears and sets on the right side of the screen. This creates a lens flare and the sky fades to an evening sky, and then fades out altogether to a space background with a faint red nebula. 10 translucent turquoise bars then zoom out from off-screen and turn towards the camera, forming up the same "A" logo from before. From the right, the "ACCESS SOFTWARE INCORPORATED" text, now also in a translucent turquoise color, slides in and pushes the logo to the left of the screen before finally settling in the center and resting for a few seconds, before it fades out, leaving the space background.

Variant: On Links LS: 1998 Edition, a large golf ball fades in behind the logo as it forms, and then fades to the opening sequence of the game. The logo also has a lower framerate and takes up the whole screen.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: An ambient synth tune with additional synth whirs, reverse cymbals, and string notes throughout. A "bong" sound effect that echoes also is heard when the logo is pushed by the text.

Availability: Seen on Links LS: 1998 Edition and Tex Murphy: Overseer.

Access Software

Indie Built

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