| Sony Imagesoft Inc. | |
| Type: | Subsidiary |
| Industry: | Video games |
| Fate: | Folded into Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Successors: | Sony Computer Entertainment 989 Studios |
| Founders: | --> |
| Location: | Los Angeles, California |
| Areas Served: | --> |
| Owner: | Sony |
| Parent: | CBS/Sony Group (1989–1991) Sony Electronic Publishing (1991–1995) |
Sony Imagesoft Inc. was an American video game publisher that operated from 1989 to 1995 and was located in California. It was established in January 1989 in Los Angeles, California, as a subsidiary of the Japan-based CBS/Sony Group (CSG) and initially named CSG Imagesoft Inc.[1] Their focus at the beginning was on marketing games exclusively for Nintendo consoles.[2]
The first release was Super Dodge Ball in summer 1989. Games by UK-based developers, Solstice and Dragon's Lair, followed in 1990. Both were also published in Japan through Epic/Sony Records.
After Sony had set up its North American division, Sony Electronic Publishing in April 1991,[3] [4] Imagesoft operated as Sony Imagesoft Inc.
Other releases are localizations of SNES games previously developed for Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) and published under the Epic/Sony Records brand: Extra Innings and Smart Ball, both published in 1992. Following a shakeup at Sony in 1995, Sony Imagesoft was merged into Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) and has since only supported the PlayStation brand.
On May 20, 1992, Sega of America and Sony Electronic Publishing announced a partnership to create content for Sega's consoles under the direction of Imagesoft.[5] Besides Sega's cartridge-based Genesis and Game Gear consoles the partnership targeted the upcoming Sega CD peripheral.[6] Among the first titles released for Sega's consoles after the announcement are Sewer Shark and Hook. Sewer Shark, initially released exclusively to Sega CD, is a rail-shooter that years earlier had been shelved as part of the ill-fated Control-Vision platform. The Hook video games are tie-ins to the Spielberg feature film Hook that premiered in December 1991 and was produced by Sony-owned TriStar Pictures. Ports of the video game for Sega platforms are based on the SNES game published earlier by Imagesoft. The Sega CD version was enhanced with better cut scenes with voice actors and digital stills and featured music from the film soundtrack.[7]
In March 1995 Sony Imagesoft announced that it had appointed Kelly Flock as president. Flock came from TriMark Interactive where he was executive vice president since March 1993.[8]
Starting in July 1995, just two months prior to the release of the PlayStation console in Western markets, Sony Electronic Publishing restructured and renamed its divisions. All video game marketing from Sony Imagesoft was folded into Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA), with about 100 employees transferred from Santa Monica to Foster City.[9] [10] [11] The video game business of Sony Imagesoft was merged with the product development branch of SCEA and became Sony Interactive Studios America[12] which would later be renamed to 989 Studios.
The computer software business of Imagesoft became Sony Interactive PC Software America and was headed by general manager Ray Sangster.
| Title | Platform | Genre | Release date | Developer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Ninjas Kick Back | Sega Genesis | Action | June 1, 1994 | Malibu Interactive | |
| SNES | November 19, 1994 | ||||
| Altered Space | Game Boy | Puzzle adventure | September 1991[13] | Software Creations | |
| Bram Stoker's Dracula | Game Boy | Action | 1993 | Psygnosis | |
| SNES | September 1993 | Traveller's Tales/Psygnosis | |||
| Championship Soccer '94 | Sports | June 1994 | Sensible Software | ||
| Cliffhanger | Sega Genesis | Action | October 25, 1993 | Malibu Interactive | |
| SNES | October 1993 | ||||
| Chuck Rock | SNES | Side-scrolling platformer | November 1992 | ||
| Sega CD | unknown | Core Design | |||
| Dragon's Lair | NES | Action | December 29, 1990 | Motivetime | |
| Microsoft WindowsMacintosh | Point-and-click adventure | Early August 1995 | OutSide Directors Company | ||
| Equinox | SNES | Action-adventure | March 1994 | Software Creations | |
| ESPN Baseball Tonight | SNES | Sports | May 1994[14] | Park Place Productions | |
| ESPN National Hockey Night | Sega GenesisSega CD | August 1, 1994 | |||
| ESPN NBA HangTime '95 | Sega CD | 1994 | |||
| ESPN SpeedWorld | Sega Genesis | Racing | 1994 | Park Place Productions | |
| ESPN Sunday Night NFL | Sega CD | Sports | 1993[15] | Ringler Studios | |
| Sega Genesis | August 1, 1994[16] | ||||
| SNES | November 1994[17] | ||||
| Extra Innings | SNES | March 20, 1992 | Sting Entertainment | ||
| Flashback | SNES | Action-Adventure | 1993 | Tiertex | |
| Flink | Sega Mega Drive | Platform | May 1994 | Psygnosis | |
| Gear Works | Game GearGame Boy | Puzzle | 1993 | ||
| Sega CD | Action | November 1993[18] | Digital Pictures | ||
| Hook | NESGame Boy | April 1992 | Ocean Software | ||
| SNES | October 1992 | Ukiyotei | |||
| Sega GenesisSega CD | 1992/March 1993 (European Mega CD version)[19] [20] | Core Design | |||
| Hudson Hawk | NESGame Boy | Platform | 1991 | Ocean Software | |
| Johnny Mnemonic | Microsoft WindowsMacintosh | Interactive movie | May 26, 1995 | Propaganda Code,[21] directed by Douglas Gayeton | |
| Sega CD | unreleased[22] | ||||
| Last Action Hero | Sega Genesis | Action | March 28, 1994 | Bits Studios | |
| SNES | October 1993 | ||||
| Sega CD | Beat 'em up | cancelled[23] | Psygnosis[24] | ||
| Mary Shelley's Frankenstein | Sega Genesis | Action | March 4, 1994 | Bits Studios | |
| SNES | November 1994 | ||||
| Sega CD | 1994 | Psygnosis | |||
| Mickey Mania | Sega Genesis | Platform | October 1994 | Traveller's Tales/Psygnosis | |
| Sega CD | October 1994 | ||||
| SNES | October 1994 | ||||
| No Escape | SNES | Action | November 1994 | Bits Studios | |
| Super Battletank 2 (European version) | SNES | 1993 | Absolute | ||
| Super Bomberman (European version) | SNES | November 1993 | Hudson Soft | ||
| Skyblazer | SNES | March 16, 1994[25] | Ukiyotei | ||
| Sewer Shark | Sega CD | Shooter | October 15, 1992 | Digital Pictures | |
| Smart Ball | SNES | Action-adventure | March 1992 | Game Freak | |
| Soccer Mania | Game Boy | Sports | March 1992[26] | Kitty Group Japan | |
| Solstice | NES | Puzzle | June 1990 | Software Creations | |
| Super Dodge Ball | NES | Sports | June 1989 | Technōs Japan |
| Title | Genre | Release date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeopardy Classic | Puzzle | May 22, 1994 | |
| Wheel of Fortune | Strategy | 1994 |