Difference between revisions of "GearHead Entertainment"
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__NOTOC__ | __NOTOC__ | ||
| − | + | '''Paragon Software Corporation''' was founded in 1985 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160909225324/http://www.duqsm.com/economics-prof-reveals-video-game-creating-past/] by college friends Mark Seremet and Antony Davies and originally operated out of a dorm room at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. [https://crpgaddict.blogspot.com/2020/01/paragon-of-suffering-interview-with-fj.html] [https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/5ff92j/comment/dajrzd8/] [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fjlennon] It was incorporated on December 12 of that year as Customized Software Systems and primarily developed business software, later doing game development on the side. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160909225324/http://www.duqsm.com/economics-prof-reveals-video-game-creating-past/] Seremet and Davies were joined by F.J. Lennon in May 1986. [https://archive.org/details/ACEIssue50Nov91/ACE_Issue_50_Nov_91/page/n33/mode/2up] [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fjlennon] The company focused on games after Davies — lead developer of the business software — left to pursue his PhD. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160909225324/http://www.duqsm.com/economics-prof-reveals-video-game-creating-past/] | |
| − | + | ||
| − | '' | + | By 1990, Paragon — now based in Greensburg, Pennsylvania — was bolstered by licensing deals with Marvel Comics and Game Designers' Workshop and a distribution deal with MicroProse. Paragon's relationship with MicroProse led to its acquisition in 1992 [https://www.members.tripod.com/~RNandtheCGB/news.html], becoming '''MicroProse Greensburg'''. [https://archive.org/details/video-games-computer-entertainment-october-1992/page/n93/mode/2up] Due to MicroProse's financial troubles in 1993 (which eventually led to the Spectrum HoloByte merger), Seremet, Lennon, et al. bought back the assets, then the studio was bought out by '''Take-Two Interactive Software''' [https://www.stayforever.de/bloodnet-a-conversation-with-laura-kampo-and-john-antinori/], becoming Take-Two's core development studio. [https://web.archive.org/web/20030603184431/http://www.origin.ea.com/about.html] |
| + | In 1998, the studio was spun off into a development subsidiary of Take-Two called '''GearHead Entertainment'''. It was shut down in 2000. [https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_190/page/n43/mode/2up] | ||
| + | |||
| + | A group of Paragon developers (Thomas Holmes, Christopher Straka, James Namestka) left to found Event Horizon Software (later Dreamforge Intertainment) in 1990. [http://www.thecomputershow.com/computershow/archives/darkspyre.htm] | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, online resources, shared staff | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==As Paragon Software== | ||
| + | ===DOS=== | ||
| + | *''Dr. Doom's Revenge'' (US Publisher: Paragon Software) | ||
| + | *''Guardians of Infinity: To Save Kennedy'' (US Publisher: Paragon Software) | ||
| + | *''Master Ninja: Shadow Warrior of Death'' (US Publisher: Paragon Software) | ||
| + | *''MegaTraveller 1: The Zhodani Conspiracy'' (US Publisher: Paragon Software; EU Publisher: Empire) | ||
| + | *''MegaTraveller 2: Quest for the Ancients'' (US Publisher: Paragon Software; EU Publisher: Empire) | ||
| + | *''Millennium: Return to Earth'' (US Publisher: Paragon Software; EU Publisher: Empire) | ||
| + | :<small>There may be a different, earlier DOS version under the original UK title ''Millennium 2.2'' not by Paragon.</small> | ||
| + | *''The Punisher'' (US Publisher: Paragon Software) | ||
| + | *''Space: 1889'' (US Publisher: Paragon Software; EU Publisher: Empire) | ||
| + | *''Twilight: 2000'' (US Publisher: Paragon Software; EU Publisher: Empire) | ||
| + | *''Twilight's Ransom'' (US Publisher: Paragon Software) | ||
| + | *''Wizard Wars'' (US Publisher: Paragon Software) | ||
| + | :<small>Programming: Out of the Blue Software</small> | ||
| + | *''XF5700 Mantis Experimental Fighter'' (US/EU Publisher: MicroPlay Software) | ||
| + | :<small>Paragon is only mentioned by name in the manual.</small> | ||
| + | *''X-Men'' (US Publisher: Paragon Software) | ||
| + | *''X-Men II'' (US Publisher: Paragon Software) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==As MicroProse Greensburg== | ||
===DOS=== | ===DOS=== | ||
| − | |||
*''BloodNet'' (US/EU Publisher: MicroProse) | *''BloodNet'' (US/EU Publisher: MicroProse) | ||
| − | *''Challenge of the Five Realms'' (US Publisher: MicroPlay) | + | *''Challenge of the Five Realms: Spellbound in the World of Nhagardia'' (US Publisher: MicroPlay Software) |
| − | *'' | + | :<small>Original title was ''Spellbound''; changed due to "potential legal problems." [https://archive.org/details/video-games-computer-entertainment-october-1992/page/n93/mode/2up]</small> |
| − | *'' | + | *''MegaTraveller 3: The Unknown Worlds'' (unreleased) [https://archive.org/details/vgce_92-10/page/n97/mode/2up] [https://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue148/122_Designing_your_fanta.php] |
| − | *'' | + | :<small>Advertised in the ''CotFR'' manual</small> |
| − | *'' | + | |
| − | * | + | ==As Take 2 Interactive Software== |
| − | *'' | + | ===3DO=== |
| − | *'' | + | *''Hell: A Cyberpunk Thriller'' (US Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software) |
| − | *'' | + | |
| − | *'' | + | ===DOS=== |
| − | *'' | + | *''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Iron & Blood: Warriors of Ravenloft'' (US Publisher: Acclaim) |
| − | + | *''Battlecruiser 3000AD'' (co-developed with 3000AD) (US Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software; EU Publisher: GameTek) [https://archive.org/details/btlcrzr293467/mode/2up] [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameshdargie] [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-dillinger-897207b] [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bomosley] | |
| − | *'' | + | *''Bureau 13'' (US Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software; EU Publisher: GameTek) |
| − | *'' | + | *''Hell: A Cyberpunk Thriller'' (US Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software; EU Publisher: GameTek) |
| − | *'' | + | *''JetFighter: Full Burn'' (co-developed with Mission Studios) (US Publisher: Interplay; EU Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software) |
| + | *''Ripper'' (US Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software; EU Publisher: GameTek) | ||
| + | *''Star Crusader'' (US Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software; EU Publisher: GameTek) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Macintosh=== | ||
| + | *''Master of Orion'' (US Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software) | ||
| + | *''Ripper'' (US Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===PlayStation=== | ||
| + | *''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Iron & Blood: Warriors of Ravenloft'' (Publisher: Acclaim) | ||
| + | *''Iron & Blood 2'' (unreleased) (Acclaim) [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pawart] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Windows=== | ||
| + | *''Black Dahlia'' (US Publisher: Interplay; EU Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==As GearHead Entertainment== | ||
| + | ===Nintendo 64=== | ||
| + | *''Bass Hunter 64'' (US/EU Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software) | ||
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Companies]] |
Latest revision as of 03:21, 3 June 2023
Paragon Software Corporation was founded in 1985 [1] by college friends Mark Seremet and Antony Davies and originally operated out of a dorm room at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. [2] [3] [4] It was incorporated on December 12 of that year as Customized Software Systems and primarily developed business software, later doing game development on the side. [5] Seremet and Davies were joined by F.J. Lennon in May 1986. [6] [7] The company focused on games after Davies — lead developer of the business software — left to pursue his PhD. [8]
By 1990, Paragon — now based in Greensburg, Pennsylvania — was bolstered by licensing deals with Marvel Comics and Game Designers' Workshop and a distribution deal with MicroProse. Paragon's relationship with MicroProse led to its acquisition in 1992 [9], becoming MicroProse Greensburg. [10] Due to MicroProse's financial troubles in 1993 (which eventually led to the Spectrum HoloByte merger), Seremet, Lennon, et al. bought back the assets, then the studio was bought out by Take-Two Interactive Software [11], becoming Take-Two's core development studio. [12]
In 1998, the studio was spun off into a development subsidiary of Take-Two called GearHead Entertainment. It was shut down in 2000. [13]
A group of Paragon developers (Thomas Holmes, Christopher Straka, James Namestka) left to found Event Horizon Software (later Dreamforge Intertainment) in 1990. [14]
Research Methods: Actual mentions, online resources, shared staff
As Paragon Software
DOS
- Dr. Doom's Revenge (US Publisher: Paragon Software)
- Guardians of Infinity: To Save Kennedy (US Publisher: Paragon Software)
- Master Ninja: Shadow Warrior of Death (US Publisher: Paragon Software)
- MegaTraveller 1: The Zhodani Conspiracy (US Publisher: Paragon Software; EU Publisher: Empire)
- MegaTraveller 2: Quest for the Ancients (US Publisher: Paragon Software; EU Publisher: Empire)
- Millennium: Return to Earth (US Publisher: Paragon Software; EU Publisher: Empire)
- There may be a different, earlier DOS version under the original UK title Millennium 2.2 not by Paragon.
- The Punisher (US Publisher: Paragon Software)
- Space: 1889 (US Publisher: Paragon Software; EU Publisher: Empire)
- Twilight: 2000 (US Publisher: Paragon Software; EU Publisher: Empire)
- Twilight's Ransom (US Publisher: Paragon Software)
- Wizard Wars (US Publisher: Paragon Software)
- Programming: Out of the Blue Software
- XF5700 Mantis Experimental Fighter (US/EU Publisher: MicroPlay Software)
- Paragon is only mentioned by name in the manual.
- X-Men (US Publisher: Paragon Software)
- X-Men II (US Publisher: Paragon Software)
As MicroProse Greensburg
DOS
- BloodNet (US/EU Publisher: MicroProse)
- Challenge of the Five Realms: Spellbound in the World of Nhagardia (US Publisher: MicroPlay Software)
- Original title was Spellbound; changed due to "potential legal problems." [15]
- Advertised in the CotFR manual
As Take 2 Interactive Software
3DO
- Hell: A Cyberpunk Thriller (US Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software)
DOS
- Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Iron & Blood: Warriors of Ravenloft (US Publisher: Acclaim)
- Battlecruiser 3000AD (co-developed with 3000AD) (US Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software; EU Publisher: GameTek) [18] [19] [20] [21]
- Bureau 13 (US Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software; EU Publisher: GameTek)
- Hell: A Cyberpunk Thriller (US Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software; EU Publisher: GameTek)
- JetFighter: Full Burn (co-developed with Mission Studios) (US Publisher: Interplay; EU Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software)
- Ripper (US Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software; EU Publisher: GameTek)
- Star Crusader (US Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software; EU Publisher: GameTek)
Macintosh
- Master of Orion (US Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software)
- Ripper (US Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software)
PlayStation
- Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Iron & Blood: Warriors of Ravenloft (Publisher: Acclaim)
- Iron & Blood 2 (unreleased) (Acclaim) [22]
Windows
- Black Dahlia (US Publisher: Interplay; EU Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software)
As GearHead Entertainment
Nintendo 64
- Bass Hunter 64 (US/EU Publisher: Take 2 Interactive Software)
