Virgin Interactive: Former British video game publisher

It was formed as Virgin Games Ltd. in 1981. The company became much larger after purchasing the budget label, Mastertronic in 1987. It was part of the Virgin Group. In 1994 it was renamed Virgin Interactive.

General summary

It published games for PC and systems, including the Amiga, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, C64, Sega Master System, Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Saturn, Sony PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast.

It helped the career of many developers, including Westwood Studios (who developed Command & Conquer Series and the PC port of Resident Evil) and Synergistic. Also, many workers for Shiny Entertainment, including David Perry, worked for Virgin before splitting off to create Earthworm Jim. Also among Virgin Interactive alumni are famed video game composer Tommy Tallarico, artist Doug TenNapel, designer David Bishop, animator Bill Kroyer, animator/artists Andy Luckey and Mike Dietz and programmer Andy Astor.

In 1993 Virgin Interactive created the "Digicel" process, originally for an unpublished game called "Dynoblaze". Key to developing the process were Dr. Stephen Clarke-Willson, David Perry, designer David Bishop, animator Bill Kroyer, animator artists Andy Luckey, animator Mike Dietz and programmer Andy Astor. The technology was first released to the public in Disney's Aladdin for the Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis, and subsequently on such projects as The Lion King video game.

The worldwide operations were acquired in a management buyout backed by Mark Dyne who became its Chief Executive Officer in 1998. Tim Chaney, the former Managing Director, was named as President. The U.S. operations were spun out to Electronic Arts as part of its acquisition of Westwood Studios that same year.

The Company's assets were acquired by the French publisher Titus Software — its name was changed to Avalon Interactive on July 1, 2003.

In May 2002, the Spanish division of Virgin Interactive, known as Virgin Interactive España, was purchased by Tim Chaney along with former Spanish president and founder Paco Encinas. The branch was then separated from the main Virgin Interactive company, already part of Titus Software, and kept its own identity as a Virgin brand. Renamed Virgin Play in October 2002, this Spanish publisher remains as the sole representation of the Virgin Group in the video game industry.

Popular games

• Falcon Patrol (1983)
• Doriath (1985)
• Hunter Patrol (1985)
• Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future (1986)
• Action Force (1987)
• Falcon Patrol II (1987)
• Action Force II (1988)
• Wonderland (1990)
• Realms (1991)
• Corporation (1991)
• M.C. Kids (1991)
• Dune II (1992)
• Global Gladiators (1992)
• The 7th Guest (1992)
• Jeep Jamboree: Off Road Adventure (1992)
• The Terminator (1992)
• Cannon Fodder (1993)
• Cool Spot (1993)
• Disney's Aladdin (1993)
• Lands of Lore series (1993)
• Reach for the Skies (1993)
• RoboCop Versus The Terminator (1993)
• Super Slap Shot (1993)
• Goal! (1994)
• Doom II: Hell on Earth (1994) (European PC version only)
• The Lion King (1994)
• Walt Disney's The Jungle Book (1994) *Earthworm Jim (Europe only) (1994) *Command & Conquer (1995)
• Cyberia 2 (1995)
• Hyper 3D Pinball (1995)
• Super Karts (1995)
• Zone Raiders (1995)
• World Masters Golf (1995)
• Command & Conquer: Red Alert (DOS Version Only) (1996)
• Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars (1996)
• Toonstruck (1996)
• Resident Evil (Europe and PC versions only, PC versions made by Westwood Studios) (1996)
• Agile Warrior F-111X (1997)
• Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror (1997)
• Subspace (1997)
• Mega Man X3 (Europe only) (1997)
• Nanotek Warrior (1997)
• Ignition (1997)
• Resident Evil 2 (Europe only) (1998)
• Magic & Mayhem (Europe only) (1998)
• Super Dany (Europe only) (1998)
• Dino Crisis (Europe only) (1999)
• Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (Europe only) (2000)
• Dino Crisis 2 (Europe only) (2000)
• Project Justice (Europe only) (2001)
• Screamer 4x4 (2001)
• Resident Evil: Gaiden (Europe only) (2001)
• Devil May Cry (Europe only) (2001)
• Now Games compilation series (1985-1988)

• Virgin Interactive profile on MobyGames