MicroProse: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 11:47, 9 August 2024

Background

MicroProse Software was founded in 1982 by Sid Meier and Bill Stealey. In the early years, they mostly released wargames. The company started to experience financial problems in the mid 90's, which led to their acquisition by Spectrum HoloByte, followed by staff layoffs in 1996. Both co-founders left to their new studios. GT Interactive Software attempted to purchase the company in 1997, but the deal was cancelled. In June 1998, MicroProse was acquired by Hasbro Interactive for $70 million. The layoffs continued and MicroProse finally ended as just a brand name. It was dissolved in 2001 by Infogrames and ceased to exist. The last development studio based in Maryland was closed in 2003. The company was revived in 2019.

Contents

1st Logo (1982-September 10, 2002)	2nd Logo (1994)	3rd Logo (May 31, 1999-April 18, 2001)

1st Logo (1982-September 10, 2002)

Visuals: There are the words "MICRO PROSE" barely divided, the first one streaked with four black lines.

Variants:

The logo sometimes appears in 3D.
There is an early version with the words being more separated in the logo.
On Tactical Ops: Assault on Terror, the logo is in a gold color.

Technique: A still, sprite-based graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Unknown. ^[Examples?]

2nd Logo (1994)

Visuals: There is a rotating wireframe globe with the letters of "MICRPROSE" flying around it, led by a plane. The whole logo is gray.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Morse code.

Availability: This was merely a custom variant made for 1942: The Pacific Air War.

3rd Logo (May 31, 1999-April 18, 2001)

Visuals: The sequence starts in the darkness with red sparks and shadows of the glass 3D word "MICROPROSE". We cannot see anything interesting but the occasional sparks, until the logo pans and zooms out, revealing the glass logo turning into a normal red one. Then it fades out.

Variant: A shorter version exists.

Technique: CGI 3D animation.

Audio: Computer-synth music.

Availability:

Appeared on many of Hasbro Interactive's strategy and action games. The regular version appears on games like Risk 2, Worms: Armageddon (except the Nintendo 64 and GBC versions, which were published by Infogrames), Gunship! and Civilization II: Test of Time.
The shorter variant appears on X-COM: Enforcer.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{VideosMissing}}
-{{PageCredits|description=EnormousRat}}
+{{PageCredits|description=EnormousRat|video=Jake Rutigliano and Broken Saw}}
 ===Background===
-'''MicroProse Software''' was founded in 1982 by Sid Meier and Bill Stealey. In the early years, they mostly released wargames. The company started to experience financial problems in the mid 90's, which led to their acquisition by [[Spectrum HoloByte]], followed by staff layoffs in 1996. Both co-founders left to their new studios. [[GT Interactive Software]] attempted to purchase the company in 1997, but the deal was cancelled. In June 1998, MicroProse was acquired by [[Hasbro Interactive]] for $70 million. The layoffs continued and MicroProse finally ended as just a brand name. It was dissolved in 2001 by [[Infogrames (France)|Infogrames]] and ceased to exist. The last development studio based in Maryland was closed in 2003. The company was revived in 2019.
+'''MicroProse Software''' was founded in 1982 by Sid Meier and Bill Stealey. In the early years, they mostly released wargames. The company started to experience financial problems in the mid 90's, which led to their acquisition by [[Spectrum HoloByte]], followed by staff layoffs in 1996. Both co-founders left to their new studios. [[GT Interactive Software]] attempted to purchase the company in 1997, but the deal was cancelled. In June 1998, MicroProse was acquired by [[Hasbro Interactive]] for $70 million. The layoffs continued and MicroProse finally ended as just a brand name. It was dissolved in 2001 by [[Infogrames]] and ceased to exist. The last development studio based in Maryland was closed in 2003. The company was revived in 2019.
+{{ImageTOC
+|MicroProse (1999) (From - Tactical-Ops - Assault on Terror).png|1st Logo (1982-September 10, 2002)
+|MicroProse (1994) (From - 1942 The Pacific Air War).png|2nd Logo (1994)
+|MicroProse (1999) (From - Civilization 2 Test of Time for PC).png|3rd Logo (May 31, 1999-April 18, 2001)
+}}
-===1st Logo (1982-2002)===
+===1st Logo (1982-September 10, 2002)===
 <gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
 MicroProse (1999) (From - Tactical-Ops - Assault on Terror).png
 </gallery>
-'''Logo:''' We see the words "{{color|red|MICRO PROSE}}" barely divided, the first one streaked with four black lines.
+'''Visuals:''' There are the words "{{color|red|MICRO PROSE}}" barely divided, the first one streaked with four black lines.
 '''Variants:'''
 *The logo sometimes appears in 3D.
 *There is an early version with the words being more separated in the logo.
-*On ''Tactical Ops: Assault on Terror'', the logo is in a {{color|gold}} color.
+*On ''Tactical Ops: Assault on Terror'', the logo is in a gold color.
+'''Technique:''' A still, sprite-based graphic.
-'''FX/SFX:''' None.
-'''Music/Sounds:''' None.
-'''Availability:''' Common.
+'''Audio:''' None.
+'''Availability:''' Unknown. {{AvailabilityExamples}}
 ===2nd Logo (1994)===
@@ Line 28: / Line 32: @@
 MicroProse (1994) (From - 1942 The Pacific Air War).png
 </gallery>
+{{YouTube|id=fq1BomKni00}}
+'''Visuals:''' There is a rotating wireframe globe with the letters of "MICRPROSE" flying around it, led by a plane. The whole logo is gray.
-'''Nickname:''' "Airplane Passing Globe"
+'''Technique:''' CGI.
-'''Logo:''' We see a rotating wireframe globe with the letters of "MICRPROSE" flying around it, led by a plane. The whole logo is {{color|gray}}.
-'''FX/SFX:''' Simple movement effects.
+'''Audio:''' Morse code.
-'''Music/Sounds:''' Morse code.
 '''Availability:''' This was merely a custom variant made for ''1942: The Pacific Air War''.
+===3rd Logo (May 31, 1999-April 18, 2001)===
-===3rd Logo (Late 90's-2001)===
 <gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
 MicroProse (1999) (From - Civilization 2 Test of Time for PC).png
 </gallery>
+{{YouTube|id=nMFedFzMvgU}}
-'''Logo:''' We start in the darkness with {{color|red}} sparks and shadows of the glass 3D word "MICROPROSE". We cannot see anything interesting but the occasional sparks, until the logo pans and zooms out, revealing the glass logo turning into a normal {{color|red}} one. Then it fades out.
+'''Visuals:''' The sequence starts in the darkness with red sparks and shadows of the glass 3D word "MICROPROSE". We cannot see anything interesting but the occasional sparks, until the logo pans and zooms out, revealing the glass logo turning into a normal red one. Then it fades out.
 '''Variant:''' A shorter version exists.
+'''Technique:''' CGI 3D animation.
-'''FX/SFX:''' Computer effects. Just the flickering, and the banner appearing for only a short time.
-'''Music/Sounds:''' Computer-synth music.
-'''Availability:''' Appeared on many of Hasbro Interactive's strategy and action games. The regular version appears on games like ''Risk 2'', ''Worms: Armageddon'' (except the Nintendo 64 and GBC versions, which were published by Infogrames), ''Gunship!'' and ''Civilization II: Test of Time''.
+'''Audio:''' Computer-synth music.
-'''Editor's Note:''' The animation efforts are not bad, but the logo still fails as it doesn't show anything for a majority of its runtime.
+'''Availability:'''
+* Appeared on many of Hasbro Interactive's strategy and action games. The regular version appears on games like ''Risk 2'', ''Worms: Armageddon'' (except the Nintendo 64 and GBC versions, which were published by Infogrames), ''Gunship!'' and ''Civilization II: Test of Time''.
+* The shorter variant appears on ''X-COM: Enforcer''.
 [[Category:American video game logos]]
-[[Category:American logos]]
+[[Category:United States]]
 [[Category:Video game logos]]
-[[Category:Atari (France)]]
+[[Category:Atari]]