Real world history/Pre-2000s: Difference between revisions

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    Latest revision as of 12:16, 23 December 2024

    This page details the real world history of the MediEvil series and the studios behind it; from the inception of Millennium Interactive in 1989 up to the end of the year 1999 when the promotional push for MediEvil 2 began. For years after 1999, see 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.

    Legend

    Timeline

    1988

    Date unknown:
    Millennium Interactive Millennium Interactive is co-founded by Michael Hayward and Ian Saunter. It is formed from the remnants of Logotron and initially focuses on distributing and publishing games picked up on an ad-hoc basis, usually from "bedroom independents."[1]

    1989

    July 27:
    Millennium Interactive Millennium Interactive is legally incorporated.[2]

    1990

    Date unknown:
    Millennium Interactive Jason Wilson begins working for Millennium as a freelancer.[3]

    1993

    Date unknown:
    Millennium Interactive Jason Riley and Katie Sorrell (née Lea) join Millennium.[4][5]
    Millennium Interactive Millennium shifts its focus entirely towards game development and abandons its publishing arm.[1]
    November:
    Sony Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) is established as a joint venture between Sony Corporation and Sony Music Entertainment Inc.[6]
    November 9:
    Millennium Interactive The registered office of Millennium Interactive is changed to Quern House, Mill Court in Great Shelford.[7]

    1994

    July:
    Millennium Interactive Chris Sorrell leaves Vectordean and joins Millennium.[8]
    May 18:
    Sony Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) is established, a division of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.[6][9]
    December 3:
    Sony The first PlayStation launches in Japan.[6][10]

    1995

    Date unknown:
    Millennium Interactive Andrew Barnabas joins Millennium straight out of university.[11]
    January 5:
    Sony Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) is established, as a division of Sony Electronic Publishing Ltd.[6][12]
    September:
    Millennium Interactive Paul Donovan joins Millennium.[13]
    September 9:
    Sony The PlayStation launches in North America.[6][9]
    September 29:
    Sony The PlayStation launches in Europe.[6][12]
    December:
    MediEvil MediEvil is conceptualised by Chris Sorrell after he is finished working on The Snowman and Father Christmas edutainment games.[14][15]
    December 8:
    Millennium Interactive The Snowman and Father Christmas are released in Japan, for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn respectively.[16][17]
    December 21:
    MediEvil Version 2.2 of the MediEvil Design Document is completed.[18]

    1996

    Date unknown:
    Millennium Interactive Nina Kristensen and Mike Philbin join Millennium.[19][20]
    January:
    MediEvil MediEvil enters development, with art design being the main focus. Jason Wilson creates elaborate level design maps.[21]
    February:
    MediEvil Matt Johnson, already a part of Millennium, joins the MediEvil development team.[22]
    March:
    MediEvil James Busby joins the MediEvil development team.[23]
    April 14 - 16:
    Millennium Interactive MediEvil MediEvil is announced at the Spring European Computer Trade Show (ECTS). It is said that the game will release in Q1 1997.[24][25]
    August:
    Millennium Interactive MediEvil MediEvil is discussed in an Edge magazine interview with Millennium's business development manager, Anil Malhotra. The game is said to be targeting both Windows 95 and the Sega Saturn.[1]
    September:
    Millennium Interactive Sony MediEvil Millennium secures Sony as MediEvil's publisher.[14]
    MediEvil The PlayStation version of MediEvil enters development.[21]
    MediEvil Development of the Windows 95 and Sega Saturn versions of MediEvil ceases.[14]
    October 25:
    Millennium Interactive Millennium Interactive is legally renamed to CyberLife Technology.[2]
    November 11:
    Millennium Interactive CyberLife Technology release Creatures.[26] Images of Zarok and the vulture can be found under the Windmill in Albia. This is due to Jason Riley being responsible for touching up the game's background model after it had been scanned in and digitised.[27]

    1997

    January:
    Sony SCEE launches the PlayStation Platinum software range.[28]
    March 26:
    Sony SCEA launches the PlayStation Underground (PSU) Club along with a CD magazine of the same name.[29]
    May 16:
    E3 This is the last day people could have pre-registered for the Electronic Entertainment Expo 1997 (E3 1997).[30]
    June 2:
    E3 Admission badges to E3 1997 are mailed out around this time.[30]
    June 19 - June 21:
    E3 MediEvil A prototype version of MediEvil is playable at the third E3 in Atlanta, Georgia.[31][32]
    E3 Sony Sony throw an invite-only party on Friday 20th June at 7:30 PM, located at 311 Marietta Street.[33]
    June 25:
    MediEvil Edge issue 47 goes on sale.[34] It is bundled with Edge CD1, which contains some MediEvil footage.
    July 4:
    Sony Millennium Interactive SCEE Cambridge Studio SCEE buys the Millennium game development studio from CyberLife Technology for about £6 million, due to their experience of working with the team through the preliminary months of MediEvil. The Sony Computer Entertainment Cambridge Studio is formed. At this time, the studio works on MediEvil to be published by SCEE, and Beast Wars and Frogger to be published by Hasbro.[35][36]
    July 15:
    Millennium Interactive Creatures is released in the United States of America.[37]
    July 17:
    Sony Millennium Interactive SCEE Cambridge Studio Sony's acquisition of Millennium is covered by The Times.[36]
    September 7 - September 9:
    MediEvil A pre-alpha version of MediEvil is available to play at ECTS.[38]
    MediEvil The Winter Releases '97 demo disc containing the MediEvil Rolling Demo is also given out at ECTS.
    December:
    MediEvil A preview of MediEvil is published in issue 50 of the Australian magazine Hyper.[39]

    1998

    January:
    MediEvil Joypad CD Vol.4 - Les musiques de MediEvil is released in France with issue 71 of Joypad magazine.[40]
    January 9:
    MediEvil MediEvil is classified as a PG game by the Australian Classification Board.[41]
    April 24:
    E3 This was the deadline for discounted registration for the Electronic Entertainment Expo 1998.[42]
    May 28:
    MediEvil SCEA publish a press release about MediEvil in North America, announcing the game's October release date.[43]
    May 28 - May 30:
    E3 MediEvil A demo of MediEvil is playable at the fourth E3 in Atlanta, Georgia.[44]
    E3 Sony Sony throw an invite-only party on Friday 29th May at 7:30 PM, located at 311 Marietta Street.[45]
    June:
    MediEvil PlayStation Underground Volume 2.2 is sent out to PSU subscribers. Disc 1 contains a video interview with Chris Sorrell and Jason Wilson.[46]
    August 8:
    MediEvil MediEvil is classified as a game suitable for children aged 12 or above by the German Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle.[47]
    September: 
    MediEvil PlayStation Underground Volume 2.3 is sent out to PSU subscribers. Disc 2 contains a release of the 0.32 demo of MediEvil.[48]
    MediEvil 2 A sequel to MediEvil is first considered at this time.[49]
    September 6 - September 9:
    MediEvil A demo of MediEvil is playable at ECTS.[50][51]
    MediEvil A demo disc featuring a MediEvil demo, and a MediEvil sticker kit for the PlayStation console are given away for free at ECTS.[52][53]
    September 23:
    MediEvil The first online review of MediEvil is seen by the development team. The review was published on Game-Online.[54]
    September 25:
    MediEvil Total Play issue 10 is published in France. A standalone demo version of MediEvil is bundled with it.[55]
    October:
    MediEvil The Guinness Book of Records 1999 is released.[56] MediEvil is featured within due to having the "Most Advanced 3-D Animation."[57][57.1]
    October 8:
    MediEvil Chris Sorrell and Jason Wilson answer questions in the MediEvil Team On-line Interview on the official MediEvil website.[58]
    October 9: 
    MediEvil MediEvil is released in Europe.[59] It is the first European PlayStation title to launch with LibCrypt, a type of copy protection.[60] Certain releases of the game are also bundled with the Winter Releases '98 demo disc, which contains a demo of the game.
    October 19:
    MediEvil The Funeral advert, created by TBWA Simons Palmer to promote MediEvil in the United Kingdom, is classified as suitable for viewing by people aged 15 or above by the British Board of Film Classification.[61]
    October 21: 
    MediEvil MediEvil is released in North America.[62][63][64]
    October 22: 
    MediEvil IGN's review of MediEvil is published.[63]
    October 23: 
    MediEvil GameSpot's review of MediEvil is published.[65]
    November: 
    MediEvil Absolute PlayStation's review of MediEvil is published.[66]
    November 9:
    MediEvil PlayStation Underground JamPack Winter '98 is released in stores across North America as a sampler for the PlayStation Underground CD magazine. It features a demo of MediEvil.[64]
    November 16:
    MediEvil All entries into the MediEvil Hangman contest were to be received by this date.[67]
    November 19:
    MediEvil SCEA and Pizza Hut announce a nationwide promotion. Customers who bought Pizza Hut Stuffed Crust Pizza had the opportunity to win a grand prize cash jackpot of $200,000 and a wide assortment of PlayStation prizes, including 100 PlayStation game consoles with Crash Bandicoot: WARPED, as well as 2,000 copies of PlayStation's most popular games, including MediEvil.[68]
    November 22:
    MediEvil The nationwide promotion by SCEA and Pizza Hut begins. As part of this promotion, consumers were able to sample some PlayStation-exclusive titles when they received one of the 3.5 million PlayStation demo discs available through Pizza Hut, the largest number of discs ever manufactured by SCEA at the time.[68]
    November 23 - December 26:
    MediEvil SCEA advertises the nationwide promotion with Pizza Hut using TV adverts and one million direct mail pieces.[69]
    December 3:
    MediEvil The Toronto Star runs a PlayStation Giveaway, giving people who send in a postcard the chance to win a Sony PlayStation game console with Dual Shock controller, memory card, and three games: Crash Bandicoot: Warped, MediEvil, and Gran Turismo.[70]
    December 17:
    MediEvil This was the cut-off date for the Toronto Star's PlayStation Giveaway.[70]
    December 24:
    MediEvil The winner of Toronto Star's PlayStation Giveaway is announced on this day.[70]

    1999

    February 26:
    MediEvil The official PlayStation website begins stocking strategy guides in its online store, including MediEvil: The Official Strategy Guide.[64]
    June 17: 
    MediEvil MediEvil is released in Japan.[71]
    July:
    SCEE Cambridge Studio Work begins on Common Tales, a joint research project of the National Film and Television School London, SCEE Cambridge Studio, and the Cambridge University Moving Image Studio as part of the Digital Studios. Common Tales is realised using the engine developed for MediEvil.[72]
    July 7: 
    MediEvil PSX Extreme's review of MediEvil is published.[73]
    September 5 - September 7:
    MediEvil 2 MediEvil 2 is unveiled at the year's ECTS.[74][75]
    October:
    MediEvil MediEvil 2 MediEvil is re-released as a Platinum title in Europe and Australia. The re-release includes a poster of MediEvil 2.[76]
    November 1: 
    MediEvil 2 SCEE publishes a press release about MediEvil 2.[77]
    November 18: 
    MediEvil 2 The MediEvil 2 website's domain name is registered.[78]
    December 15:
    MediEvil 2 An interview with James Shepherd is published on the GameSpot News website.[79]

    References

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 An audience with... Millennium in Edge, Issue 35, page(s) 22-26. Published August 1996 by Future Publishing.
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 CREATURE LABS LTD. overview on Find and update company information - GOV.UK. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
    3. ↑ "I started at the studio as a freelancer in the Millennium days in 1989/90. My first visit was at the London office above a pub in 1989/90 before opening the Millennium Cambridge office." — Jay Gunn on Facebook. Published January 12, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
    4. ↑ MediEvil Sorcerers - Jason Riley on MediEvil Official EU Website (archived version).
    5. ↑ MediEvil Sorcerers - Katie Lea on MediEvil Official EU Website (archived version).
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 History of Sony Interactive Entertainment on Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc (archived version). Retrieved December 2, 2022.
    7. ↑ "Registered office changed on 09/11/93 from: hinchcliffe & co 141 whiteladies road clifton bristol avon BS8 2QB" — CREATURE LABS LTD. filing history on Find and update company information - GOV.UK. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
    8. ↑ MediEvil Sorcerers - Chris Sorrell on MediEvil Official EU Website (archived version).
    9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Business Development/North America on SCE Global Site (archived version). Retrieved April 21, 2023.
    10. ↑ Business Development/Japan on SCE Global Site (archived version). Retrieved April 21, 2023.
    11. ↑ Content / Interviews / Barnabas, Andrew (Crusaders) (00.00.1998) musician on BitFellas. Published January 21, 2007 (interview from Q1 1998). Retrieved November 9, 2022.
    12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Business Development/Europe on SCE Global Site (archived version). Retrieved April 21, 2023.
    13. ↑ MediEvil Sorcerers - Paul Donovan on MediEvil Official EU Website (archived version).
    14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 The Making of... MediEvil in Retro Gamer, Issue 49 (PDF file), page(s) 60-63. Published March 2008 by Imagine Publishing. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
    15. ↑ The Snowman in PlayStation Plus, Volume 1 Issue 3, page(s) 12. Published December 1995 by EMAP Images.
    16. ↑ SOFTWARE SLPS-00140 on [GARAGE] (archived version).
    17. ↑ セガサターン対応ソフトウェア（ライセンシー発売 on [セガハード大百科]. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
    18. ↑ MediEvil MediEvil's Design History, 2:17.
    19. ↑ MediEvil Sorcerers - Nina Kristensen on MediEvil Official EU Website (archived version).
    20. ↑ MediEvil Sorcerers - Mike Philbin on MediEvil Official EU Website (archived version).
    21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 MediEvil The Making of MediEvil.
    22. ↑ MediEvil Sorcerers - Matt Johnson on MediEvil Official EU Website (archived version).
    23. ↑ MediEvil Sorcerers - James Busby on MediEvil Official EU Website (archived version).
    24. ↑ Speciale Ects Spring '96 (ECTS Spring '96 Special) in K, Issue 84, page(s) 48. Published May 1996 by R.C.S. Libri e Grandi Opere S.p.A..
    25. ↑ Новости с ECTS (News from ECTS) in PRO Игры Magazine, Issue 10, page(s) 23. Published May 1996.
    26. ↑ CyberLife History on CyberLife and the Official Creatures Web Site (archived version). Retrieved November 6, 2022.
    27. ↑ Successful multi million selling AAA-games I have worked on. on Artificial Lens. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
    28. ↑ PLAYSTATION HISTORY on Absolute PlayStation (archived version). Retrieved May 2, 2023.
    29. ↑ PLAYSTATION™ GOES Underground™ on PlayStation - News (archived version). Published March 26, 1997.
    30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 E3 1997 in Atlanta - The E3 FAQ on www.e3.net (archived version). Retrieved November 6, 2022.
    31. ↑ GameFan Presents 1997 E3 in GameFan, Volume 5 Issue 8, page(s) 74-75. Published August 1997 by Metropolis Publications.
    32. ↑ E3 Preview MediEvil on PSX Nation (archived version). Published June 21, 1997.
    33. ↑ E3 PARTY LIST 1997 on www.e3.net (archived version). Retrieved November 6, 2022.
    34. ↑ EDGE interactive in Edge, Issue 46, page(s) 130. Published June 1997 by Future Publishing.
    35. ↑ MediEvil 2 Development on MediEvil 2 Official EU Website (archived version at Internet Archive Wayback Machine).
    36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Jason Nisse, Sony spends £6m on research base on The Times. Published July 14, 1997.
    37. ↑ US release information on CyberLife and the Official Creatures Web Site (archived version). Retrieved November 6, 2022.
    38. ↑ Goring, Graham, ECTS - Lotta BBW's on uk.games.video.playstation. Published September 8, 1997.
    39. ↑ Preview: Medievil PlayStation in Hyper, Issue 50, page(s) 38. Published December 1997 by Next Publishing.
    40. ↑ Les musiques de Porsche Challenge et MediEvil in Joypad, Issue 71, page(s) 4. Published January 1998 by Hachette Disney Presse SNC.
    41. ↑ MEDIEVIL on Australian Classification Board. Published January 9, 1998.
    42. ↑ QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SHOW on E3.net (archived version).
    43. ↑ CHALLENGE THE POWERS OF DARKNESS IN THE GOTHIC WORLD OF MEDIEVIL™ on PlayStation - News (archived version). Published May 28, 1998.
    44. ↑ E3: MediEvil Movie on Next-Generation Online (archived version). Published May 28, 1998.
    45. ↑ GamePen E3 Party List 1998 on E3.net (archived version). Retrieved November 9, 2022.
    46. ↑ PlayStation Underground Volume 2 Issue 2 on PlayStation Demo Zone (archived version).
    47. ↑ MediEvil on Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle. Published August 5, 1998.
    48. ↑ PlayStation Underground Volume 2 Issue 3 on PlayStation Demo Zone (archived version).
    49. ↑ MediEvil 2 Director Interviewed on GameSpot. Published December 15, 1999.
    50. ↑ "Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (Stand G700) will have its big Christmas 98 titles, including Crash Bandicoot 3, Spyro the Dragon, Tekken 3 and Medieval,[sic] the first title from its Cambridge development studio." — ECTS 98: SONY AND NINTENDO TO OUTLINE CHRISTMAS 98 AND 99 PLANS AS HUNDREDS OF NEW TITLES ARE SET FOR EUROPEAN DEBUT on ResponseSource. Published August 6, 1998. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
    51. ↑ "MediEvil was one of the Sony developed games that was on show in the main product areas." — IGN Staff, ECTS: Sony Displays The Lot on IGN. Published September 10, 1998.
    52. ↑ Graham, Goring, ECTS impressions on uk.games.video.playstation. Published September 8, 1998.
    53. ↑ J, Chris, The Slider Files - European Computer Trade Show 1998. on uk.games.video.playstation. Published September 10, 1998.
    54. ↑ Donovan, Paul, MediEvil review on uk.games.video.playstation. Published September 23, 1998. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
    55. ↑ Page 31 in Total Play, issue 9 (archived version at Internet Archive Wayback Machine).
    56. ↑ Guinness World Records Archive on Guinness World Records. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
    57. ↑ The Guinness Book of Records 1999. Published by Guinness Publishing Ltd. in October 1998.
      1. ↑ "MediEvil, developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe - Cambridge Studios, uses N-World, a modelling and painting package from Nichimen Graphics Inc., which has also been used to produce Super Mario 64 and Final Fantasy VII." — Page 170 of The Guinness Book of Records 1999. Published by Guinness Publishing Ltd. in October 1998.
    58. ↑ MediEvil Chat on MediEvil Official EU Website (archived version).
    59. ↑ MediEvil Welcome on MediEvil Official EU Website (archived version).
    60. ↑ "You obviously weren't around when MediEvil came out - that was the first game to have this kind of protection. It was very satisfying watching all the pirates get confused over that one." — Donovan, Paul, VRally2 'openness' on uk.games.video.playstation. Published July 8, 1999. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
    61. ↑ SONY PLAYSTATION - MEDIEVIL COMPUTER GAME - FUNERAL on British Board of Film Classification (archived version). Published October 19, 1998.
    62. ↑ Challenge the Powers of Darkness in the Gothic World of MediEvil in Business Wire. Published October 21, 1998.
    63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 Nelson, Randy & Perry, Douglass, MediEvil on IGN. Published October 22, 1998.
    64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 64.2 What's New on PlayStation (archived version).
    65. ↑ Fielder, Joe, PlayStation Reviews: MediEvil Review on GameSpot. Published October 23, 1998.
    66. ↑ MEDIEVIL - Review on Absolute PlayStation (archived version). Published November 1998. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
    67. ↑ MediEvil MediEvil Contest on MediEvil Official US Website (archived version at Internet Archive Wayback Machine).
    68. ↑ 68.0 68.1 "Sony Computer Entertainment America and Pizza Hut announced today a nationwide promotion that teams up the world's largest pizza restaurant company with the world's best-selling videogame system." — SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA AND PIZZA HUT® TEAM UP FOR THE "PIZZA-POWERED PLAYSTATION® GIVEAWAY" in PlayStation - News (archived version). Published November 19, 1998.
    69. ↑ "A TV-based Pizza Hut promo runs Nov. 23-Dec. 26, offering 3.5 million PlayStation sampler CDs with purchases of its stuffed crust pizza, plus a scratch-and-win contest gives customers a chance to win a $200,000 grand prize, with PlayStation consoles and games as secondary prizes. Sony buttresses the promo with one million direct mail pieces via Rapp Collins, Dallas, to lure its customers to Pizza Hut." — Elkin, Tobi, BIG PLAY in Adweek. Published September 7, 1998.
    70. ↑ 70.0 70.1 70.2 PlayStation Giveaway in Toronto Star. Published December 3, 1998.
    71. ↑ メディーバル 〜甦ったガロメアの勇者〜 (PS)の関連情報 on Famitsu. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
    72. ↑ Nitsche, Michael, Welcome on Common Tales. Published October 30, 2002. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
    73. ↑ MattMan, Playstation Game Reviews: Medievil on PSX Extreme (archived version). Published July 7, 1999.
    74. ↑ Sam Kennedy and James Mielke, Sony Announces Medievil 2 on GameStop. Published September 7, 1999.
    75. ↑ Douglass Perry, In case you missed it: Sony announces the successor to Medievil for a spring 2000 release. on IGN. Published September 10, 1999.
    76. ↑ Official UK PlayStation Magazine No. 50, page 27. Published by Future Publishing in October 1999.
    77. ↑ MediEvil 2 Press Release on MediEvil 2 Official EU Website (archived version at Internet Archive Wayback Machine).
    78. ↑ Medievil2.com Domain Report on Domain Tools. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
    79. ↑ MediEvil 2 Director Interviewed on GameSpot News (archived version). Published December 15, 1999.

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