Arc Developments

From Game Developer Research Institute
Jump to: navigation, search

Not to be confused with the Japanese game developer Arc System Works

Arc Developments was a developer in Walsall, England, formed by ex-Elite staff, specifically Richard Underhill with Byron Nilsson, Paul Walker, and Chris Coupe. Early on, the company mostly converted arcade and console games to home computers, but it later developed some original titles. Arc invested heavily in next generation development in 1996, purchasing Silicon Graphics workstations and setting up a motion capture studio in Telford. In late January 1998, Arc went into liquidation. (Retro Gamer 228, pp. 54-55 [1])

Programmers Stuart Middleton and Tim Round founded Eden Entertainment Software in 1991. Byron Nilsson left Arc and started Slippery Snake Studio, which completed development of Rosco McQueen for the PlayStation, which began development at Arc. (Retro Gamer 228)

Research Methods: Actual mentions, interviews, online resources, shared staff

3DO

  • Cannon Fodder (graphics) (US/UK Publisher: Virgin)
Developer: Krisalis
  • Johnny Bazookatone (US Publisher: U.S. Gold)
  • World Cup Golf: Hyatt Dorado Beach (US/EU Publisher: U.S. Gold)

Acorn Archimedes

  • Scrabble (UK Publisher: U.S. Gold)

Amiga

  • Armalyte: The Final Run (UK Publisher: Thalamus)
  • Beavers (EU Publisher: Grandslam)
  • Crack Down (EU Publisher: U.S. Gold)
  • Dragon Breed (UK Publisher: Activision)
  • Forgotten Worlds (EU Publisher: U.S. Gold; US Publisher: Capcom)
  • Liverpool: The Computer Game (UK Publisher: Grandslam)
  • McDonaldland (EU Publisher: Virgin Games)
  • Nick Faldos Championship Golf (EU Publisher: Grandslam)
  • Predator 2 (UK Publisher: Image Works; US Publisher: Konami)
  • R-Type II (EU Publisher: Activision)
  • Robozone (UK Publisher: Image Works)
  • Scrabble (UK Publisher: U.S. Gold)
  • Shadow Sorcerer (graphics) (US Publisher: SSI; EU Publisher: U.S. Gold)
Graphics: Dimentia Design
  • The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants (EU Publisher: Ocean)
  • The Simpsons: Bart vs. the World (EU Publisher: Virgin)
  • WWF European Rampage Tour (EU Publisher: Ocean)

Amstrad CPC

  • Crack Down (EU Publisher: U.S. Gold)
  • Forgotten Worlds (EU Publisher: U.S. Gold)
  • Pang (EU Publisher: Ocean)
  • Predator 2 (UK Publisher: Image Works)
  • Robozone (UK Publisher: Image Works)
  • The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants (EU Publisher: Ocean)
  • X-Out (EU Publisher: Rainbow Arts)

Atari ST

  • Armalyte: The Final Run (UK Publisher: Thalamus)
  • Crack Down (EU Publisher: U.S. Gold; US Publisher: Sega)
  • Dragon Breed (UK Publisher: Activision)
  • Forgotten Worlds (EU Publisher: U.S. Gold)
  • Liverpool: The Computer Game (UK Publisher: Grandslam)
  • McDonaldland (EU Publisher: Virgin Games)
  • R-Type II (EU Publisher: Activision)
  • Robozone (UK Publisher: Image Works)
  • Scrabble (UK Publisher: U.S. Gold)
  • Shadow Sorcerer (graphics) (US Publisher: SSI; EU Publisher: U.S. Gold)
Graphics: Dimentia Design
  • The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants (EU Publisher: Ocean)
  • The Simpsons: Bart vs. the World (EU Publisher: Virgin)
  • WWF European Rampage Tour (EU Publisher: Ocean Software)

CD-i

  • World Cup Golf (EU Publisher: Philips)

CD32

  • Beavers (UK Publisher: Grandslam)

Commodore 64

  • Crack Down (EU Publisher: U.S. Gold; US Publisher: Sega)
  • Forgotten Worlds (EU Publisher: U.S. Gold; US Publisher: Capcom)
  • Liverpool: The Computer Game (UK Publisher: Grandslam)
  • Pang (UK Publisher: Ocean)
  • Predator 2 (UK Publisher: Image Works)
  • Robozone (UK Publisher: Image Works)
  • The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants (EU Publisher: Ocean)
  • WWF European Rampage Tour (EU Publisher: Ocean)

DOS

  • 4-4-2 Soccer (EU Publisher: Virgin)
  • Forgotten Worlds (US Publisher: U.S. Gold)
  • Johnny Bazookatone (EU Publisher: U.S. Gold)
  • McDonaldland (US Publisher: Virgin Games)
  • Nick Faldos Championship Golf (EU Publisher: Grandslam)
  • Onslaught (EU Publisher: Hewson)
Sound: Sound Images
  • Robozone (UK Publisher: Image Works)
  • Scrabble (UK Publisher: U.S. Gold)
  • Shadow Sorcerer (some graphics) (US Publisher: SSI; EU Publisher: U.S. Gold)
Some Graphics: Dimentia Design
  • The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants (EU Publisher: Ocean)
  • Track Attack (EU Publisher: MicroProse)
  • WWF European Rampage Tour (EU Publisher: Ocean)
  • World Cup Golf: Hyatt Dorado Beach (US Publisher: U.S. Gold)

Game Gear

  • The Addams Family (US/EU Publisher: Ocean Software JP Publisher: Acclaim)
  • Arch Rivals: The Arcade Game (US Publisher: Flying Edge)
  • Hurricanes (EU Publisher: U.S. Gold)
  • The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants (US/EU Publisher: Flying Edge)
Converted to Game Gear by Santos, according to former Santos programmer Sotaro Suzuki
  • The Simpsons: Bart vs. the World (US Publisher: Flying Edge; JP Publisher: Acclaim)
Converted to Game Gear by Santos, according to former Santos programmer Sotaro Suzuki
  • Terminator 2: Judgement Day (US/EU Publisher: Flying Edge; JP Publisher: Acclaim)

Mark III/Master System

  • The Addams Family (EU Publisher: Flying Edge)
  • Arch Rivals: The Arcade Game (unreleased) (Flying Edge)
  • The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants (EU Publisher: Flying Edge; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
  • The Simpsons: Bart vs. the World (EU Publisher: Flying Edge; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
  • Terminator 2: Judgement Day (EU Publisher: Flying Edge)

Mega CD/Sega CD

  • Side Pocket: Special Edition (unreleased) (Data East)

Mega Drive/Genesis

  • Arch Rivals: The Arcade Game (US Publisher: Flying Edge)
  • Hurricanes (EU Publisher: U.S. Gold)
  • The Incredible Hulk (some presentation graphics) (US Publisher: U.S. Gold; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)
Developer: Probe
  • The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants (US/EU Publisher: Flying Edge; BR Publisher: Tec Toy)

PlayStation

  • 4-4-2 Soccer (EU Publisher: Virgin)
The last game developed by Arc Developments (Retro Gamer 228, p. 55 [2])
  • Johnny Bazookatone / Johnny Bazooka (US/EU Publisher: U.S. Gold; JP Publisher: Coconuts Japan)
  • World Cup Golf: Professional Edition / World Cup Golf in Hyatt Dorado Beach (EU/US Publisher: U.S. Gold; JP Publisher: Coconuts Japan)

Saturn

  • Johnny Bazookatone / Johnny Bazooka (US/EU Publisher: U.S. Gold; JP Publisher: Coconuts Japan)
  • World Cup Golf: Professional Edition / World Cup Golf in Hyatt Dorado Beach (EU/US Publisher: U.S. Gold; JP Publisher: Coconuts Japan)

Super Famicom/Super NES

  • The Incredible Hulk (presentation programming & graphics) (US Publisher: U.S. Gold)
Developer: Probe
Programmer Eamonn Barr is not credited as being with Arc Developments, but he was working there at the time, according to his LinkedIn profile.
  • Network Q Rally (unreleased) (JVC)
  • World Masters Golf (EU Publisher: Virgin)

Windows

  • 4-4-2 Soccer (EU Publisher: Virgin)
  • The Art of Fly Fishing: Volume One: Rivers of the British Isles (US Publisher: Philips)

ZX Spectrum

  • Crack Down (EU Publisher: U.S. Gold)
  • Forgotten Worlds (EU Publisher: U.S. Gold)
  • Pang (UK Publisher: Ocean)
  • Predator 2 (UK Publisher: Image Works)
  • Robozone (UK Publisher: Image Works)
  • The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants (UK Publisher: Ocean)
  • X-Out (EU Publisher: Rainbow Arts)

?

  • Unreleased Jack the Ripper game (Virgin) (Retro Gamer 228, p. 55 [3])