Beam Software: Difference between revisions

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Latest revision as of 08:47, 5 November 2024

Background

Beam Software was originally a subsidiary of Melbourne House (MH), both founded in 1977 by Naomi Beson and Alfred Milgrom. After MH was sold to Mastertronic in 1987, Beam operated independently. They purchased back the Melbourne House brand from Virgin Interactive in 1996 and used it as a distributor for some of their releases. In 2000, Beam changed its name to "Blaze International" and left the gaming market for good. The Melbourne House division was sold to Infogrames a year before.

Contents

1st Logo (October 1991-November 1995)	2nd Logo (October 1994)	3rd Logo (1994)	4th Logo (1995-April 30, 1996)	5th Logo (February 27, 1997-July 21, 1998)

1st Logo (October 1991-November 1995)

Visuals: A custom "B" appears with a yellow-orange gradient lightning bolt sign attached over it. The rest of the name ("eam Software") in a script-like font, is being written by a quill (a feather-like pen), with a curved line below finishing the drawing.

Variants:

On NES games, a simpler variant was used, with orange text on a black background.
On the Genesis version of George Foreman's KO Boxing, the words "A" and "PRODUCTION" are seen above and below the logo respectively. Plus, the quill has a red-yellow coloring.
On some Game Gear games such as True Lies and MLBPA Baseball, the quill is seen still with the completed logo.
On True Lies for the Sega Genesis, the animation is sped-up.

Technique: Sprite-based 2D animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on many games during the era, particularly for SNES. The black background version is seen on Bo Jackson Baseball and Nightshade for NES.

2nd Logo (October 1994)

Visuals: On a blue gradient background, the words "BEAM Software" are seen with shadows.

Technique: A sprite-based graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on Radical Rex for Sega CD.

3rd Logo (1994)

Visuals: There is the word "BEAM" covered with white sparks, with a hand-written "Software" below. A kangaroo comes in and jumps over the logo.

Technique: Sprite-based animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Only seen on Super International Cricket for SNES.

4th Logo (1995-April 30, 1996)

Visuals: Two light spots enter the screen and start to swing around. The word "Software" comes in and heads to the center, while the light spots reveal "BEAM" and stop. One stops over the customly made "B", (with a yellow-orange gradient lightning bolt on it), the other under the "M". Some static motion is seen over "BEAM".

Variant: There is a still version used on Bug!, with no light spots.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A specially made soundtrack theme.

Availability: Seen on The Dame Was Loaded.

5th Logo (February 27, 1997-July 21, 1998)

Visuals: The camera moves through some constructions over a blue surface. As we proceed, the letters of "BEAM" can be recognized below. The construction rotates and stands still to reveal the Beam logo on a complicated background, with motion shadows over it.

Variant: There is a shortened version.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A soundtrack similar to the one used in the previous logo, with two synth splashes as the letters emerge, that later repeat.

Availability: Seen on Alien Earth and Norse by Norsewest: The Return of the Lost Vikings. Also appears on Caesar's Palace for PS1.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{PageCredits|edits=NotPurpleHoodieBoi}}
+{{PageCredits|capture=NotPurpleHoodieBoi|edits=NotPurpleHoodieBoi}}
 ===Background===
-'''Beam Software''' was originally a subsidiary of [[Melbourne House (Australia)|Melbourne House]] (MH), both founded in 1977 by Naomi '''Be'''son and '''A'''lfred '''M'''ilgrom. After MH was sold to Mastertronic in 1987, Beam operated independently. Interestingly, they purchased back the Melbourne House brand from [[Virgin Interactive]] in 1996 and used it as a distributor for some of their releases. In 2000, Beam changed its name to "Blaze International" and left the gaming market for good. The Melbourne House division was sold to [[Infogrames (France)|Infogrames]] a year before.
+'''Beam Software''' was originally a subsidiary of [[Melbourne House |Melbourne House]] (MH), both founded in 1977 by Naomi '''Be'''son and '''A'''lfred '''M'''ilgrom. After MH was sold to Mastertronic in 1987, Beam operated independently.  They purchased back the Melbourne House brand from [[Virgin Interactive]] in 1996 and used it as a distributor for some of their releases. In 2000, Beam changed its name to "Blaze International" and left the gaming market for good. The Melbourne House division was sold to [[Atari SA|Infogrames]] a year before.
+{{ImageTOC
+|Beam Software (1991-95) - 1.png|1st Logo (October 1991-November 1995)
+|Beam Software (October 1994).png|2nd Logo (October 1994)
+|Beam Software (1994).png|3rd Logo (1994)
+|Beam Software (1995).png|4th Logo (1995-April 30, 1996)
+|Beam Software (1997).png|5th Logo (February 27, 1997-July 21, 1998)
+}}
-===1st Logo (1991-1995) ===
+===1st Logo (October 1991-November 1995)===
 <gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
 File:Beam Software (1991-95) - 1.png
@@ Line 14: / Line 21: @@
 </gallery>
-'''Logo:''' A custom "{{color|gray|B}}" appears with a {{color|gold|yellow}}-{{color|orange}} gradient lightning bolt sign attached over it. The rest of the name ("eam Software") in a script-like font, is being written by a quill (a feather-like pen), with a curved line below finishing the drawing.
+'''Visuals:''' A custom "{{color|gray|B}}" appears with a yellow-orange gradient lightning bolt sign attached over it. The rest of the name ("eam Software") in a script-like font, is being written by a quill (a feather-like pen), with a curved line below finishing the drawing.
 '''Variants:'''
-*On NES games, a simpler variant was used, with {{color|orange}} text on a black background.
+*On NES games, a simpler variant was used, with orange text on a black background.
-*On the Genesis version of ''George Foreman's KO Boxing'', the words "A" and "PRODUCTION" are seen above and below the logo respectively. Plus, the quill has a {{color|red}}-{{color|gold|yellow}} coloring.
+*On the Genesis version of ''George Foreman's KO Boxing'', the words "A" and "PRODUCTION" are seen above and below the logo respectively. Plus, the quill has a red-yellow coloring.
 *On some Game Gear games such as ''True Lies'' and ''MLBPA Baseball'', the quill is seen still with the completed logo.
 *On ''True Lies'' for the Sega Genesis, the animation is sped-up.
-'''Technique:''' The text drawing.
+'''Technique:''' Sprite-based 2D animation.
-'''Music/Sounds:''' None.
+'''Audio:''' None.
-'''Availability:''' Common on many games during the era, particularly for SNES. The black background version is seen on ''Bo Jackson Baseball'' and ''Nightshade'' for NES.
+'''Availability:''' Seen on many games during the era, particularly for SNES. The black background version is seen on ''Bo Jackson Baseball'' and ''Nightshade'' for NES.
 ===2nd Logo (October 1994)===
-[[File:Beam Software (October 1994).png|center|frameless]]
+[[File:Beam Software (October 1994).png|center|350px]]
-'''Logo:''' On a {{color|blue}} gradient background, the words "BEAM Software" are seen with shadows.
+'''Visuals:''' On a blue gradient background, the words "BEAM Software" are seen with shadows.
-'''Technique:''' None.
+'''Technique:''' A sprite-based graphic.
-'''Music/Sounds:''' None.
+'''Audio:''' None.
-'''Availability:''' This placeholder logo can be seen on ''Radical Rex'' for Sega CD.
+'''Availability:''' Seen on ''Radical Rex'' for Sega CD.
 ===3rd Logo (1994)===
-[[File:Beam Software (1994).png|center|frameless]]
+[[File:Beam Software (1994).png|center|350px]]
-'''Logo:''' We see the word "{{color|blue|BEAM}}" covered with white sparks, with a hand-written "Software" below. A kangaroo comes in and jumps over the logo.
+'''Visuals:''' There is the word "{{color|blue|BEAM}}" covered with white sparks, with a hand-written "Software" below. A kangaroo comes in and jumps over the logo.
-'''Technique:''' Only the kangaroo moving.
+'''Technique:''' Sprite-based animation.
-'''Music/Sounds:''' None.
+'''Audio:''' None.
-'''Availability:''' Only seen on ''International Cricket'' for SNES.
+'''Availability:''' Only seen on ''Super International Cricket'' for SNES.
-===4th Logo (1995-1996) ===
+===4th Logo (1995-April 30, 1996)===
 <gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
 File:Beam Software (1995).png
 File:Beam Software (1995) - 2.png
+</gallery>
-</gallery>'''Logo:''' Two light spots enter the screen and start to swing around. The word "Software" comes in and heads to the center, while the light spots reveal "BEAM" and stop. One stops over the customly made "B", (with a {{color|gold|yellow}}-{{color|orange}} gradient lightning bolt on it), the other under the "M". Some static motion is seen over "BEAM".
+'''Visuals:''' Two light spots enter the screen and start to swing around. The word "Software" comes in and heads to the center, while the light spots reveal "BEAM" and stop. One stops over the customly made "B", (with a yellow-orange gradient lightning bolt on it), the other under the "M". Some static motion is seen over "BEAM".
 '''Variant:''' There is a still version used on ''Bug!'', with no light spots.
-'''Technique:''' All the animation on the screen, not bad.
+'''Technique:''' CGI.
-'''Music/Sounds:''' A specially made soundtrack theme.
+'''Audio:''' A specially made soundtrack theme.
 '''Availability:''' Seen on ''The Dame Was Loaded''.
 ===5th Logo (February 27, 1997-July 21, 1998)===
-[[File:Beam Software (1997).png|center|frameless]]
+[[File:Beam Software (1997).png|center|350px]]
-'''Logo:''' We move through some constructions over a {{color|blue}} surface. As we proceed, the letters of "BEAM" can be recognized below. The construction rotates and stands still to reveal the Beam logo on a complicated background, with motion shadows over it.
+'''Visuals:''' The camera moves through some constructions over a blue surface. As we proceed, the letters of "BEAM" can be recognized below. The construction rotates and stands still to reveal the Beam logo on a complicated background, with motion shadows over it.
 '''Variant:''' There is a shortened version.
-'''Technique:''' The panning, the construction rotating.
+'''Technique:''' CGI.
-'''Music/Sounds:''' A soundtrack similar to the one used in the previous logo, with two synth splashes as the letters emerge, that later repeat.
+'''Audio:''' A soundtrack similar to the one used in the previous logo, with two synth splashes as the letters emerge, that later repeat.
-'''Availability:''' Seen on ''Alien Earth'' and ''Norse by Norsewest: The Return of the Lost Vikings''. Also appears on ''Caesar's Palace'' for PS.
+'''Availability:''' Seen on ''Alien Earth'' and ''Norse by Norsewest: The Return of the Lost Vikings''. Also appears on ''Caesar's Palace'' for PS1.
 [[Category:Australian video game logos]]
 [[Category:Australia]]
 [[Category:Video game logos]]
+[[Category:English-language logos]]