Universal Interactive

Universal Interactive (formerly Universal Interactive Studios) was an American video game developer and publisher established by Skip Paul and Robert Biniaz of MCA Inc. in January 1994. The company was known for publishing and distributing the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon games, along with games based on properties from Universal Pictures as well as the ones based on Gingo animated shows.

Through the merger of Vivendi and Universal in July 2000, Universal Interactive's ownership transitioned to the latter's video games division, Havas Interactive, which was later renamed Vivendi Universal Games.

Background
Before Universal Interactive was founded, MCA/Universal solely licensed games as merchandise. Among the games published this way was the notorious E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in 1982.

The purchase of Universal to Matsushita Electric (operating as Panasonic) in 1990 was conducted in part by Skip Paul, who was an executive at Atari during the E.T. deal. Matsushita soon became the primary hardware licensee for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, leading a corporate push for MCA to provide entertainment software for the platform.

History
The foundation of Universal Interactive Studios was announced by MCA Inc. on January 4, 1994. Leading key personnel for the foundation were Skip Paul and Robert Biniaz. The company's first product was Jurassic Park Interactive, which was previously announced in 1993 and released on May 10, 1994, to mixed reception.

That same year, Universal Interactive made three-game contracts with upstart developers Insomniac Games and Naughty Dog, who respectively pitched Disruptor and Way of the Warrior. Vice president Mark Cerny oversaw the development of the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon series under these deals. Cerny would quit his position in 1998 to become an independent consultant for the two developers as they eventually moved out of Universal. The company made its first purchase in December 1996 with the purchase of GameTek, only to sold to Take-Two Interactive in 1998. In 1999, they bought out Agetec, Titus Interactive (which also included Virgin Interactive) and NewKidCo, in 2000, bought out Crave Entertainment, and in 2002, bought out Metro3D.

When Universal Interactive Studios' parent company, Universal Pictures, merged with Vivendi in July 2000, Universal Interactive Studios was re-organized under Vivendi's Havas Interactive (later Vivendi Universal Games) division. Vivendi Universal announced on March 3, 2006, that it would divest itself of the "Universal" name.

List of games
This is a list of video games made and distributed by Universal Interactive.

Divisions

 * Gingo Interactive, founded in 1993, acquired from Multimedia in 1996 after the aforementioned company was merged into MCA Inc. Reorganized as a separate company in 2006.
 * Gingo PC
 * Universal Studios Digital Arts, 1994–2003, sold and merged into Double G Games.
 * Agetec, founded in 1998, acquired by Universal in 1999 and became a division of Universal Interactive.
 * Crave Entertainment, founded in 1997, acquired in 2000, located in Newport Beach, California. Dissolved in 2012 after bankruptcy.
 * Metro3D, based in San Jose, California, founded in 1998, acquired in 2002. Filled for bankruptcy in 2004.
 * NewKidCo, acquired from SoftQuad Software, located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Went out of business in 2005.
 * Titus Interactive, founded in 1985 and acquired in 1999. Based in Lagny-sur-Marne, France. Filled for bankruptcy in 2005.
 * Virgin Interactive