Virgin Interactive

Background

Virgin Games was a British game developer and publisher formed in 1981 as Virgin Games, as part of Richard Branson's brand empire Virgin. The company focused on video games for computers and also held their own development teams.

In 1987, the company purchased Mastertronic and renamed themselves as Virgin Mastertronic. After this division was sold off to Sega in 1991 after the intense success of the Sega Master System in the country (which they distributed), the publishing side was renamed back to Virgin Games, which in 1993 was renamed as Virgin Interactive Entertainment to expand on just video games in general. The company's US division purchased developer Westwood Studios in 1992, and formed another development team Burst Studios in 1995. By this point, ownership had transitioned from the Virgin Group over to Spelling Entertainment Inc. That same year, its London-based division formed a development team that would be later named Crimson Studios.

In 1997, Spelling announced they would divest their ownership in Virgin Interactive. With this, the assets were split up and sold off. The North American division was sold to Electronic Arts as part of their purchase of Westwood, while the European division was purchased by its management. Interplay Entertainment and Titus Interactive soon purchased stakes in the business in 1999, with Titus acquiring 100% ownership in 2001.

At the end of 2002, Virgin downgraded to becoming a distributor only and was soon renamed as Avalon Interactive in August 2003. In January 2005, Titus filed for bankruptcy which led to Avalon Interactive eventually ceasing operations at the end of the year. The Spanish branch of Virgin Interactive was spun-off in October 2002 under the name Virgin PLAY.

1st Logo (1983-1990)

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Visuals: There is a red triangle with the Virgin logo inside, while below, a yellow parallelogram with a Pac-Man like shape that forms the big "G". Next to it, there is the text "ames" and below, there is a line with a black circle inside.

Variants:

• Sometimes, the logo is shown in-credit.
• Sometimes, only the Virgin triangle and the circle is used.

Technique: A still, sprite-based graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on Angler and Ghost Town for ZX Spectrum, World Trophy Soccer for Amstrad CPC, MSX, and ZX Spectrum and How to Be a Complete Bastard for Amstrad CPC.

2nd Logo (1983-1996)

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Visuals: This is just the corporate Virgin logo on a black background.

Variants:

• An earlier version exists where the logo is shown on the game's title screen.
• Sometimes, "GAMES" is shown on the bottom right of the logo.
• On Super Slap Shot for the Super NES, the logo is inside a gray circle with a white background. The word "PRESENTS" appears below in rainbow colors.
• On the Nintendo 64 prototype of Freak Boy, the logo is wobbling over a rainbow background.
• On the Amiga version of Cool Spot, Spot can be seen walking below the logo.
• On the intro of M.C. Kids for NES, the logo is shown over a plane.

Technique: None unless one counts the variants.

Audio: None.

Availability: First seen on Bitmania for Commodore 64, and later seen on Microbe for BBC Micro, Them: A Paranoid Fantasy for Oric, Gates of Dawn for Commodore 64, Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future for Amstrad CPC, Erebu for Commodore 64, Action Force for Amstrad CPC, Rebel for Commodore 64, Trans-Atlantic Balloon Challenge for ZX Spectrum, Jimmy White's 'Whirlwind' Snooker, Super Slap Shot, the Nintendo 64 prototype of Freak Boy, Krusty's Fun House for PC, Alien 3, Cool Spot for Amiga, and Lost Vikings for Sega Genesis/Mega Drive.

3rd Logo (1990-1999)

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  Later variant of the logo as used on various games. This is taken from various Capcom releases in Europe.

Visuals: The Virgin logo is white, surrounded by a white circle and placed inside a red square. The words take the lower side, reading "GAMES" in a Helvetica-like font, shown below the logo.

Later Variant: With the company name change in 1993, the logo is now over a white rectangle, and the bottom text instead says "INTERACTIVE entertainment" with "INTERACTIVE" in Trajan Pro in two lines, separated with another line.

Variants:

• There are two custom animated logos, they are listed below separately.
• On Demolition Man for 3DO, the logo is seen as a glass outline, lighted with a splash.
• This logo appears in the intros for Grand Slam and Spot Goes to Hollywood, but both games use the 15th logo on-screen.
• Sometimes, the logo is shown over a blue gradient background.
• On The Jungle Book for NES, there is no text below the logo.
• On Screamer, the logo is superimposed in-game, with the word "PRESENTS" added below the logo.
• On Screamer 2, the logo appears on a black background with the word "AND" added below.

Technique: A still, sprite-based graphic.

Audio: None.

Audio Variant: Rendering Ranger R2 has a single chime playing as the logo fades in.

Availability:

• The earlier version was seen on Ivan "Ironman Stewart's Super Off Road, as well as Overlord for NES, Golden Axe for Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum, Rolling Ronny for Commodore 64, Double Dragon for Sega Game Gear, Viz: The Game, Lure of the Temptress for Amiga, and the floppy versions of Dune and KGB among others.
• The later version appears on such games as Hardline, Rendering Ranger R2, the first two Screamer games, Disney's Aladdin for Game Boy, Gamera, and Cannon Fodder.
• This logo also appears on earlier Capcom titles for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn in Europe such as Street Fighter Alpha, Street Fighter Alpha 2, Mega Man X3, Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo, Resident Evil (PlayStation and PC [also in North America] only, the Saturn version was published by Sega) and Star Gladiator - Episode I: Final Crusade.
• The later version of the logo made its final appearance on a prototype of the cancelled Game Boy Color version of Resident Evil.

4th Logo (1991)

Visuals: On a black background, there is a red box zooming out, then a black square flips in, and then it rotates to reveal a white circle. The corporate Virgin logo wipes in, and the text "GAMES" flashes in letter by letter.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Audio: Sounds of flashing and zaps.

Availability: Seen on Spot and Rolling Ronny for Atari ST, as well as CDTV games.

5th Logo (1991-1995)

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Visuals: On a black background, there is a gradient red box containing the corporate Virgin logo surrounded by a white circle inside. The word "GAMES" appears below the box. The logo then shines.

Later Variant: Following the company name change, the same text from the 3rd logo was shown below the box.

Variants:

• Most of the time, the logo was still.
• On some games, like Vengeance of Excalibur, the logo is on a box over a blue gradient background.
• On Cool Spot for Sega Genesis/Megadrive, the titular character pushes the logo, then cleans his shades.
• Sometimes, a copyright date is shown below the logo.
• On Young Merlin, the logo is on a black-blue gradient background, and the Westwood Studios logo is shown below the logo.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Audio: None.

Audio Variant: On Mick & Mack in the Global Gladiators for Sega Genesis, a group of men saying "Virgin!" is heard.

Availability: Appears on games released during this time period, such as Cool Spot for Sega Genesis as well as Dune II, and many SNES games. The later version can be seen on Dune II: The Battle for Arrakis, The Lion King, and Pinocchio for Genesis, the MS-DOS version of Cool Spot, and The Legend of Kyrandia: Hand of Fate.

6th Logo (1992)

Visuals: Over a static background, there is a clock, then a grunge version of the Virgin circle, and circles form the "GAMES" letters, and the text "GAMES" appear one by one. Then it cuts to a circle that changes colors and the Virgin logo draws in, and then the Virgin Games logo is formed onto a static background.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: The 1989 Image Entertainment jingle, which is stock music.

Availability: Only seen on a 1992 promo reel from the company.

7th Logo (1993)

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Visuals: On a space background, the Virgin Games shield flies over and rotates to the center. Then the logo smashes to reveal the Virgin logo over a CD and then the disc flips.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: An ascending synth theme.

Availability: Seen only on the CD-ROM versions of Conspiracy and Dune.

8th Logo (1993)

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Visuals: On a grey background, the 3D red Virgin logo flips in, and then the text "Interactive Entertainment" in a stacked formation. appears below.

Technique: Early CGI.

Audio: A synth drone, followed by a whoosh.

Availability: Seen only on Dune for Sega CD.

9th Logo (1993)

Visuals: On a black background, there are four red corners flies in, and then the Virgin logo flies in. Finally, the text "GAMES" flies over the logo, and the camera rotates.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A whoosh sound.

Availability: Seen on The 7th Guest for PC.

10th Logo (1993-1996)

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Visuals: On a black background, there are the Virgin Games logos from the last logo spinning in as a rotating cube, similar to the 2nd RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video logo.

Variants:

• On the 1994 WCES prototype of The Jungle Book, the logo appears underwater.
• A still version exists.
• On such later games as The Lion King for Sega Genesis and Super NES, as well as Pinocchio, the text was altered, so the same text from the previous logo was shown.
• On Cool Spot for Super NES, the player can mess around with the logo over a blue gradient background, while Spot reacts to it.
• An enhanced version of the logo appears on The Terminator for Sega CD.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: None. The enhanced version has a triumphant fanfare.

Availability: The normal version was seen on the SNES prototype of Mick & Mack and the Global Gladiators. The still version appears on many Super NES and Game Gear games.

11th Logo (1994-1995)

Visuals: On a blue gradient background, a marble version of the red Virgin logo zooms out. Then the text below slides from under the logo.

Variant: A still version exists.

Technique: 2D sprite animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on several SNES games from the period, like Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story and Super Danny.

12th Logo (1994-1995)

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Visuals: On a black background, there is a 3D version of the Virgin logo over a red circle with a white outline. Below it, there is a 3D version of the same text from the previous logos.

Variant: An 8-bit version exists on The Lion King.

Technique: A still, sprite-based graphic.

Audio: None or the opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on Iron Assault, Cool Spot, Operation Overlord and Disney's Aladdin for DOS, as well as The Lion King for Sega Game Gear.

13th Logo (1994)

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Visuals: On a black background, there is the Virgin logo from the time. Then the logo zooms in, revealing the same Virgin Interactive logo, as seen in the later version of the 3rd logo.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A quiet boom as the logo flashes, then a dreamy synth tune. An announcer (Brian Cummings) also says "From Virgin Interactive Entertainment, coming this November. New for CD-ROM!".

Availability: Seen only on a VHS promo reel for the company.

14th Logo (January 1, 1995-1996)

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Visuals: On a red background, several burning dots appear and create the Virgin logo. Another dot runs over the circle. The logo zooms in and returns with the full Virgin Interactive name.

Variant: There's an alternate variant where the logo doesn't zoom in, instead fading out as the finished Virgin Interactive logo fades in.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: Sounds of burning and a synth drone.

Availability: Appears on Zone Raiders and Cyberia 2. Also seen on Virgin sampler discs of the time, as well as video promo reels as late as 1996.

15th Logo (November 2, 1995-February 9, 2000)

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Visuals: The screen cuts to a closed eye. The eyelid opens and the screen zooms in on the eye, with "PICTURE START" flashing dead center, and a whole bunch of technological stuff (including what looks like the logo of Channel Five flashing in the bottom left) flashing quickly as the eye moves all around and dilates. At the end, the red Virgin logo zooms in on a red ball, with a chyroned "INTERACTIVE" in the bottom right corner as a fireball moves up the eye.

Later Variant: In mid-late 1997, the logo was altered for the second half: the animation reverses as it zooms out of the eye, which closes and has the Virgin logo in a red oval, which is on the left side of a red oblong shape with "INTERactive" on it. The eye also throbs.

Variants:

• On Neo Hunter, only the end of the logo is shown, which is slowed down to keep in sync with the music.
• On Toonstruck, the name which appears below reads "INTERACTIVE entertainment^TM", with a line separating the words.
• On a Virgin Interactive 1996 Christmas trailer, the logo's frame rate is smoother, and there is no TM symbol on the top of "INTERACTIVE entertainment".

Technique: CGI designed by R/Greenberg Associates and Imaginary Forces.

Audio: A loud rock riff with a heart monitor that gets higher and faster, and various PA system announcements over it. A faint heartbeat at the end.

Audio Variant: Broken Sword 2 has the music out of sync with the animation.

Availability:

• The 1995 version can be seen on PlayStation, Sega Saturn and PC games published by the company such as Black Dawn, Grid Runner, the PS1/Saturn versions of Spot Goes to Hollywood, Toonstruck, Neo Hunter, Nanotek Warrior and Scorched Planet. Agent Armstrong and NHL PowerPlay 98 also use this logo, but use the 20th logo on the packaging.
• The 1997 version appears on games such as Disney's Hercules Action Game (the PAL version, published by SCE Europe, has an SCEE disclaimer instead), Golden Nugget, Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror, Sabre Ace: Conflict Over Korea, and the infamously cancelled-then-leaked Thrill Kill.
• In North America, this logo is somewhat harder to find, as it only lasted a few years before Virgin Interactive's North American operations were sold to Electronic Arts. It is much easier to find on European titles that Virgin acquired the rights to.
  • The logo appears on European releases of various Capcom titles from the era, such as Darkstalkers 3, Resident Evil: Director's Cut, the PlayStation version of Resident Evil 2 (the Dreamcast version has the 20th logo), Street Fighter Collection and Street Fighter Collection 2, Marvel Super Heroes, Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, X-Men vs. Street Fighter, Rival Schools: United by Fate, Mega Man Legends, Mega Man X4, Capcom Generations and the PlayStation version of Dino Crisis.
  • It also appeared on the PAL version of R-Types and a third-party PlayStation demo disc for Command & Conquer: Red Alert and Bloody Roar: Hyper Beast Duel.

16th Logo (December 1995)

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Visuals: There is a 3D version of Big Ben. Then, the camera rotates, and Virgin logo of the time appears, with a stamp that reads "INTERACTIVE entertainment". Finally, the stamp disappears, and the URL is shown below the logo.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on The 11th Hour for PC.

17th Logo (May 31, 1996)

Visuals: On a black background, a 3D version of the Virgin logo rotates. The text "Interactive Entertainment" fades in below the logo.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen only on the 1996 Sega Saturn prototype of Heart of Darkness.

18th Logo (August 7, 1996)

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Visuals: On a black background, there is a gold-orangeish laser drawing the Virgin logo text in gold. The screen pans to the left to see it in the right direction. When it's done, it flashes to reveal the normal Virgin Interactive shield. The logo zooms in filling the screen with red, then fades out.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Harsh fireworks and engine sounds.

Availability: It was seen on Hyper 3-D Pinball, also known as Tilt!.

19th Logo (September 24, 1996)

Visuals: On a black background, there is a white box that flies over. Then, the Virgin Interactive shield from the previous logos flies in, and then the camera settles, as the same text from the later version of the 3rd logo fades in below.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A background tune followed by metallic creaking.

Availability: Seen only on Harvester for PC.

20th Logo (June 6, 1997-April 19, 2002)

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  Lotus Challenge
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  Jimmy White's Cueball World
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  Variant with copyright info, as seen in the PAL release of Bloody Roar: Hyper Beast Duel.
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  PAL releases of Bloody Roar 3 and DNA - Dark Native Apostle.
• Video of the 2001 variant.

Visuals: On a rainbow-colored background, numerous versions of a horizontal shield rotate around a central point. They merge into one shield, which turns into a 3D version of the Virgin Interactive logo from the later version of the 15th logo on a white background. The logo glows.

Variants:

• On Ignition, a unique animated variant is used, where a car tire skidmark creates the logo. Then the car crashes off-screen, and the shield jumps.
• A print version was also used, with a 2D logo (sometimes in 3D) and sometimes with copyright info below.
• On Screamer Rally, the print logo appears on a black background, and in a similar fashion to Screamer 2, the word "AND" is written below the logo.
• On Jimmy White's 2: Cueball, the print logo is seen on a black background and disappears.
• On the European PlayStation version of Dino Crisis 2, the logo is slowed down, but its audio plays normally.
• On later games, starting with the release of Heist on February 2, 2001 (except for a few games that use the 3D logo instead), the animated logo turns into a 2D version of the Virgin Interactive logo, which finishes on a black background, and doesn't glow.
• Game Boy Color releases use a 8-bit recreation of the print logo.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: For the main animated version, a tune with whooshing elements or a different sounding one used on earlier releases until Magic & Mayhem: The Art of Magic, with a soft heaven-like choir at the end. For the still versions, none, or sometimes the opening theme of the game.

Audio Variants:

• On European Super League for PlayStation, Dreamcast and PC, a soccer crowd is heard throughout the logo, which then segues into the opening music, as the logo starts fading out.
• On Heist, the logo is silent and the opening theme of the game plays over the animated logo.
• On Ignition, a car driving by is heard, then a tire screech immediately followed by a crash.
• On Screamer 4x4, the logo's music ends abruptly and transitions to the Clever's Development logo.

Availability:

• The logo initially debuted as a print logo on game packaging in 1997. However, a majority of titles at the time used the later variant of the 15th logo on-screen (which this print logo appeared on) until it was phased out.
  • On games, the still version can be found on Screamer Rally, the European version of Operation Winback for Nintendo 64, 4-4-2 Soccer for PlayStation and PC, Jimmy White's 2: Cueball for PlayStation, Sega Dreamcast and PC, and the European versions of Kagero - Deception II and Bomberman Fantasy Race.
  • As with the previous logo, European versions of Capcom titles used it, such examples include the Nintendo 64 version of Resident Evil 2, Street Fighter EX+ Alpha and its sequel, the PlayStation version of Street Fighter Alpha 3, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Capcom vs SNK, GigaWing, Gunbird 2, Project Justice - Rival Schools 2, the Dreamcast version of Marvel vs Capcom 2 - New Age of Heroes, Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein, the Dreamcast version of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, Street Fighter III: Double Impact and Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike. It also appears on the playable demo of Rival Schools: United by Fate (the released game uses the later variant of the 15th logo above).
  • It last appeared on European Super League for Game Boy Advance (with the logo in 3D) and Lotus Challenge for PlayStation 2 (with the logo in 2D), both released only in Europe.
  • It appears on Bloody Roar: Hyper Beast Duel, Bloody Roar 2: Bringer of the New Age and the PlayStation version of Bomberman with copyright information below the logo.
  • The 8-bit version appears on Game Boy Color games such as European Super League, Holy Magic Century, Jimmy White's Cueball, Resident Evil Gaiden, and Street Fighter Alpha.
• The animated white background version was used since March 19th 1999, and debuted on Viva Football. It went onto appear on various titles, including the European release of Super Runabout - San Francisco Edition for Dreamcast, European Super League for the PlayStation and Dreamcast, the European releases of Evolva, Gunlok, Screamer 4x4, Original War, Codename: Outbreak, and Magic & Mayhem: The Art of Magic, which was the last game to use it.
  • As before, European Capcom titles used this logo, although to a lesser degree than the print variant. It can be found on Dino Crisis 2 for PlayStation, Marvel vs Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes for PlayStation and Dreamcast, Trick'n Snowboarder, and the Dreamcast versions of Dino Crisis and Resident Evil 2.
• The later black background variant was first used on Heist for PC, and later appeared on the PC version of European Super League, the European versions of Bloody Roar 3 and DNA - Dark Native Apostle for PlayStation 2, Jimmy White's Cueball World and Nightstone, both for PC.
• The logo appears on the European packaging of Guilty Gear X for PlayStation 2, Mr. Driller (though on the back of the box), Street Fighter Alpha 3, and Tech Romancer for Dreamcast, but they don't appear upon bootup.
• This logo doesn't appear on Interplay Entertainment and Titus Interactive games they've distributed in Europe, despite having their logo on the back of the box.