CDV Software

Credits

Descriptions by
Enormous Rat

Video captures courtesy of
hydratheme, esonator and Enormous Rat

Background

CDV was a German game publisher and distributor, started in 1989. During the 1990s, they operated only in its local market, but later became relatively known since 2000, when a distribution arm in the US was opened. Their first logo with three-strip yellow square had been found mainly in the German market. The company experienced layoffs and went bankrupt on April 12, 2010.

1st Logo (1999-2002)

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Visuals: The camera moves above a plain with the Egyptian pyramids under the night sky. A big rectangular object appears, and a laser beam appears for a couple of seconds, destroying it in an explosion. Inside, there is the CDV yellow square logo, crossed with three strips and glowing with blue light. It moves to the screen and stops shining.

Variant: Starting in 2000, the visuals have been improved and CDV's new logo, featuring the text with a yellow crescent on top, would appear.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Computerized zapping sounds, along with an explosion.

Availability: The original was used almost exclusively in Germany, but can be found on Lula Pinball. The second variant can be found on Sudden Strike, Sudden Strike 2, Mystery of the Druids and Cossacks: European Wars.

2nd Logo (2002-2006)

Visuals: The camera enters a crypt where a large sarcophagus stands, carved with pictures and hieroglyphs. The stone lid opens and blue light shines through, and inside a dust-covered golden pharaoh statue lies. The camera moves along the carvings of the statue, with the dust being blown off, and the CDV logo appears among the glyphs. The camera nearly misses it, but instantly returns and the logo comes into full view.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A hollow windy sound, followed by some lid movement and some wheezing and hissing.

Availability: Seen on American Conquest, Cossacks II: Napoleonic Wars, Breed and other games.

3rd Logo (December 8, 2005)

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Visuals: Several thin yellow lines swirl around the screen and fold into the CDV arc. The welding proceeds through the arc, and "cdv" zooms in a bright shine.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: The sound of welding.

Availability: Seen on Hard Truck Apocalypse - Rise of Clans.

4th Logo (2007-2010)

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Visuals: There is a new corporate CDV logo based on a rounded rectangle. The letters are cut into the rectangle. The logo revolves around before zooming to straight view.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: It was seen on Serious Sam HD and a few other releases.