Difference between revisions of "GearHead Entertainment"
From Game Developer Research Institute
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| − | '''Paragon Software Corporation''' was founded by Mark | + | '''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. 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] Davies — lead developer of the business software — eventually left, and the company focused on games. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160909225324/http://www.duqsm.com/economics-prof-reveals-video-game-creating-past/] |
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| + | 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, which led to the formation of '''Take-Two Interactive''' [https://www.stayforever.de/bloodnet-a-conversation-with-laura-kampo-and-john-antinori/], with what was once Paragon becoming Take-Two's core development studio. [https://web.archive.org/web/20030603184431/http://www.origin.ea.com/about.html] | ||
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| + | 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] | ||
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| + | 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 | '''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, online resources, shared staff | ||
| − | ==As Paragon== | + | ==As Paragon Software== |
===DOS=== | ===DOS=== | ||
*''Dr. Doom's Revenge'' (US Publisher: Paragon) | *''Dr. Doom's Revenge'' (US Publisher: Paragon) | ||
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*''MegaTraveller 2: Quest for the Ancients'' (US Publisher: Paragon; EU Publisher: Empire) | *''MegaTraveller 2: Quest for the Ancients'' (US Publisher: Paragon; EU Publisher: Empire) | ||
*''Millennium: Return to Earth'' (US Publisher: Paragon; EU Publisher: Empire) | *''Millennium: Return to Earth'' (US Publisher: Paragon; EU Publisher: Empire) | ||
| − | :<small> | + | :<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) | *''The Punisher'' (US Publisher: Paragon) | ||
*''Space: 1889'' (US Publisher: Paragon; EU Publisher: Empire) | *''Space: 1889'' (US Publisher: Paragon; EU Publisher: Empire) | ||
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:<small>Programming by Out of the Blue, Inc./James Blue</small> | :<small>Programming by Out of the Blue, Inc./James Blue</small> | ||
*''XF5700 Mantis Experimental Fighter'' (US/EU Publisher: MicroPlay) | *''XF5700 Mantis Experimental Fighter'' (US/EU Publisher: MicroPlay) | ||
| − | :<small>Paragon only mentioned by name in the manual</small> | + | :<small>Paragon is only mentioned by name in the manual.</small> |
*''X-Men'' (US Publisher: Paragon) | *''X-Men'' (US Publisher: Paragon) | ||
*''X-Men II'' (US Publisher: Paragon) | *''X-Men II'' (US Publisher: Paragon) | ||
Revision as of 05:03, 1 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. 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. [2] Seremet and Davies were joined by F.J. Lennon in May 1986. [3] Davies — lead developer of the business software — eventually left, and the company focused on games. [4]
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 [5], becoming MicroProse Greensburg. [6] Due to MicroProse's financial troubles in 1993 (which eventually led to the Spectrum HoloByte merger), Seremet, Lennon, et al. bought back the assets, which led to the formation of Take-Two Interactive [7], with what was once Paragon becoming Take-Two's core development studio. [8]
In 1998, the studio was spun off into a development subsidiary of Take-Two called Gearhead Entertainment. It was shut down in 2000. [9]
A group of Paragon developers (Thomas Holmes, Christopher Straka, James Namestka) left to found Event Horizon Software (later Dreamforge Intertainment) in 1990. [10]
Research Methods: Actual mentions, online resources, shared staff
As Paragon Software
DOS
- Dr. Doom's Revenge (US Publisher: Paragon)
- Guardians of Infinity: To Save Kennedy (US Publisher: Paragon)
- Master Ninja: Shadow Warrior of Death (US Publisher: Paragon)
- MegaTraveller 1: The Zhodani Conspiracy (US Publisher: Paragon; EU Publisher: Empire)
- MegaTraveller 2: Quest for the Ancients (US Publisher: Paragon; EU Publisher: Empire)
- Millennium: Return to Earth (US Publisher: Paragon; 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)
- Space: 1889 (US Publisher: Paragon; EU Publisher: Empire)
- Twilight: 2000 (US Publisher: Paragon; EU Publisher: Empire)
- Twilight's Ransom (US Publisher: Paragon)
- Wizard Wars (US Publisher: Paragon)
- Programming by Out of the Blue, Inc./James Blue
- XF5700 Mantis Experimental Fighter (US/EU Publisher: MicroPlay)
- Paragon is only mentioned by name in the manual.
- X-Men (US Publisher: Paragon)
- X-Men II (US Publisher: Paragon)
As MicroProse Greensburg
DOS
- BloodNet (US/EU Publisher: MicroProse)
- Challenge of the Five Realms (US Publisher: MicroPlay)
- MegaTraveller 3: The Unknown Worlds (unreleased) [11] [12]
- advertised in the CotFr manual
As Take-Two
3DO
- Hell: A Cyberpunk Thriller (US Publisher: Take-Two)
DOS
- Bureau 13 (US Publisher: Take-Two; EU Publisher: Gametek)
- Hell: A Cyberpunk Thriller (US Publisher: Take-Two; EU Publisher: Gametek)
- Iron & Blood (Publisher: Acclaim)
- Jetfighter: Full Burn (US Publisher: Interplay; EU Publisher: Take-Two)
- co-developed by Mission Studios
- Ripper (US Publisher: Take-Two; EU Publisher: Gametek)
- Star Crusader (US Publisher: Take-Two; EU Publisher: Gametek)
Macintosh
- Master of Orion (US Publisher: Take-Two)
- Ripper (US Publisher: Take-Two)
PlayStation
- Iron & Blood (Publisher: Acclaim)
Windows
- Black Dahlia (US Publisher: Interplay; EU Publisher: Take-Two)
As Gearhead
Nintendo 64
- Bass Hunter 64 (US/EU Publisher: Take-Two)
