Difference between revisions of "Acclaim Entertainment"

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{{otherPage|desc=the distribution arm|page=Acclaim Distribution}}
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| founded=1986{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20210907043019/https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/acclaim-entertainment-inc}}
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| headquarters=[[wikipedia:Oyster Bay, New York|71 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, New York 11771, United States]]{{magref|egrn|8|20}}{{fileref|SummerCES1991 Directory.pdf|page=128}}
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| headquarters2=[[wikipedia:Glen Cove, New York|1 Acclaim Plaza, Glen Cove, New York 11542, United States]]{{fileref|E32001 Directory.pdf|page=72}}
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'''Acclaim Entertainment, Inc.''' (アクレイム) was founded in 1987 as a Delaware corporation. Over the next 17 years, the company became a leading worldwide developer, publisher and mass marketer. The company's headquarters were located in Glen Cove, New York, and their common stock publicly traded on the US Stock Exchange (NASDAQ symbol AKLM).
 
  
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'''Acclaim Entertainment, Inc.''' (アクレイム) was an American video game developer and publisher founded in 1987 as a Delaware corporation. Over the next 17 years, the company became a leading worldwide developer, publisher and mass marketer. The company's headquarters were located in Glen Cove, New York, and their common stock publicly traded on the US Stock Exchange (NASDAQ symbol AKLM).
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==History==
 
The name of the company was picked because it had to be alphabetically above the co-founder's former place of employment, [[Activision]], and also had to be alphabetically above [[Accolade]] (another company formed by ex-Activision employees). This was a common formula for picking names of new companies that were founded by ex-Activision employees (the founders of Activision used this formula when they left Atari).
 
The name of the company was picked because it had to be alphabetically above the co-founder's former place of employment, [[Activision]], and also had to be alphabetically above [[Accolade]] (another company formed by ex-Activision employees). This was a common formula for picking names of new companies that were founded by ex-Activision employees (the founders of Activision used this formula when they left Atari).
  
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The demise of Acclaim Entertainment began in 2003 when the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) began an investigation into several video game companies, including Acclaim. Lawsuits were filed in March 2003 against Acclaim in US District Court alleging "violations against the Securities Exchange Act of 1934". In June 2003, CEO Gregory Fischbach stepped down as chief executive and was replaced by President Rodney Cousens. The end of Acclaim came when they filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings. All divisions and studios were closed and assets liquidated by the end of 2004. Legal battles were fought in various courts all the way into mid-2007.
 
The demise of Acclaim Entertainment began in 2003 when the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) began an investigation into several video game companies, including Acclaim. Lawsuits were filed in March 2003 against Acclaim in US District Court alleging "violations against the Securities Exchange Act of 1934". In June 2003, CEO Gregory Fischbach stepped down as chief executive and was replaced by President Rodney Cousens. The end of Acclaim came when they filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings. All divisions and studios were closed and assets liquidated by the end of 2004. Legal battles were fought in various courts all the way into mid-2007.
  
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However, the name Acclaim has not died. During the liquidation period in Sept. 2004, former Activision CEO Howard Marks purchased the "Acclaim" name and the logo for a reported $100,000. Then in 2006, he and Neil Malhotra created a new company naming it Acclaim Games with an entirely new focus: Massive Multiplayer Online Games.
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However, the name Acclaim did not die immediately. During the liquidation period in Sept. 2004, former Activision CEO Howard Marks purchased the "Acclaim" name and the logo for a reported $100,000. Then in 2006, he and Neil Malhotra created a new company: Acclaim Games, with an entirely new focus on Massive Multiplayer Online Games. This new company was acquired on May 2010 by online game developer Playdom and closed by them three months later, killing the Acclaim name for good.
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For a while Acclaim's internal development divisions were named after colours.
  
 
==Softography==
 
==Softography==
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{{multicol|
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{{CompanyHistoryAll|Acclaim Entertainment}}
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===[[Master System]]===
 
−
* ''[[The Incredible Crash Dummies]]'' (1993)
 
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* ''[[RoboCop 3]]'' (1993)
 
−
* ''[[The Simpsons: Bart vs. the World]]'' (1993)
 
−
* ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]'' (1993)
 
−
* ''[[Mortal Kombat II]]'' (1994)
 
−
* ''[[Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story]]'' (1995)
 
−
 
 
−
===[[Mega Drive]]===
 
−
* ''[[WWF Royal Rumble]]'' (1993)
 
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* ''[[Bloodshot]]'' (1994)
 
−
* ''[[Mortal Kombat II]]'' (1994)
 
−
* ''[[NBA Jam Tournament Edition]]'' (1994)
 
−
* ''[[Newman/Haas IndyCar featuring Nigel Mansell]]'' (1994)
 
−
* ''[[NFL Quarterback Club]]'' (1994)
 
−
* ''[[Spider-Man & Venom: Maximum Carnage]]'' (1994)
 
−
* ''[[True Lies]]'' (1994)
 
−
* ''[[Wolverine: Adamantium Rage]]'' (1994)
 
−
* ''[[Batman Forever (Mega Drive)|Batman Forever]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[Demolition Man]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[Foreman for Real]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[Judge Dredd]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[Justice League Task Force]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[NFL Quarterback Club 96]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[Revolution X]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[Scooby-Doo Mystery]]'' (1995)
 
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* ''[[Spider-Man & Venom: Separation Anxiety]]'' (1995)
 
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* ''[[Stargate]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[Total Football]]'' (1995)
 
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* ''[[WWF Raw]]'' (1995)
 
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* ''[[WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game]]'' (1995)
 
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* ''[[Blockbuster World Video Game Championship II]]'' (1995)
 
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* ''[[College Slam]]'' (1996)
 
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* ''[[Cutthroat Island]]'' (1996)
 
−
 
 
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===[[Mega CD]]===
 
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* ''[[Battle Frenzy]]'' (1994)
 
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* ''[[NBA Jam]]'' (1994)
 
−
* ''[[Demolition Man]]'' (1995)
 
  
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===[[Sega 32X]]===
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==The Black Team softography==
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* ''[[WWF Raw]]'' (1994)
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{{CompanyHistoryAll|The Black Team|Black Team}}
−
* ''[[Mortal Kombat II]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[NBA Jam Tournament Edition]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[NFL Quarterback Club]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game]]'' (1995)
 
  
−
===[[Game Gear]]===
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==The Grey Team softography==
−
* ''[[The Simpsons: Bart vs. the World]]'' (1993)
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{{CompanyHistoryAll|Grey Team|The Gray Team|The Grey Team}}
−
* ''[[The Incredible Crash Dummies]]'' (1994)
 
−
* ''[[Monster Truck Wars]]'' (1994)
 
−
* ''[[Mortal Kombat II]]'' (1994)
 
−
* ''[[NBA Jam Tournament Edition]]'' (1994)
 
−
* ''[[Rise of the Robots]]'' (1994)
 
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* ''[[WWF Raw]]'' (1994)
 
−
* ''[[Batman Forever (Game Gear)|Batman Forever]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[Foreman for Real]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[The Itchy & Scratchy Game]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[Judge Dredd]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[NFL Quarterback Club '95]]'' (1995)
 
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* ''[[NFL Quarterback Club 96]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[True Lies]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[Cutthroat Island]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[Iron Man / X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal]]'' (1996)
 
  
−
===[[Saturn]]===
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==The White Team softography==
−
* ''[[Galactic Attack]]'' (1995)
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{{CompanyHistoryAll|The White Team|White Team}}
−
* ''[[NFL Quarterback Club 96]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[Revolution X]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[Robotica]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[Street Fighter: The Movie]]'' (1995)
 
−
* ''[[Alien Trilogy]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[Batman Forever: The Arcade Game]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[Battle Monsters]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[Bubble Bobble also featuring Rainbow Islands]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[Bust-A-Move 2: Arcade Edition]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[College Slam]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[D]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[Darius Gaiden]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[DragonHeart: Fire & Steel]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[Iron Man / X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[Mortal Kombat II]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[NBA Jam Extreme]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[NFL Quarterback Club 97]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[Resurrection: Rise 2]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[Space Jam]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[Starfighter 3000]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[Striker '96]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[Virtual Open Tennis]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[WWF in Your House]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[X-Men: Children of the Atom]]'' (1996)
 
−
* ''[[All-Star 1997 Featuring Frank Thomas]]'' (1997)
 
−
* ''[[Battlesport]]'' (1997)
 
−
* ''[[The Crow: City of Angels]]'' (1997)
 
−
* ''[[Killing Time]]'' (1997)
 
−
* ''[[Tunnel B1]]'' (1997)
 
  
−
===[[Dreamcast]]===
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==The Red Team softography==
−
* ''[[NFL Quarterback Club 2000]]'' (1999)
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{{CompanyHistoryAll|The Red Team|Red Team}}
−
* ''[[Psychic Force 2012]]'' (1999)
 
−
* ''[[Re-Volt]]'' (1999)
 
−
* ''[[Shadow Man]]'' (1999)
 
−
* ''[[South Park: Chef's Luv Shack]]'' (1999)
 
−
* ''[[Trickstyle]]'' (1999)
 
−
* ''[[WWF Attitude]]'' (1999)
 
−
* ''[[Bust-A-Move 4]]'' (2000)
 
−
* ''[[Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX]]'' (2000)
 
−
* ''[[ECW Anarchy Rulz]]'' (2000)
 
−
* ''[[ECW Hardcore Revolution]]'' (2000)
 
−
* ''[[F355 Challenge: Passione Rossa]]'' (2000)
 
−
* ''[[Fur Fighters]]'' (2000)
 
−
* ''[[Jeremy McGrath Supercross 2000]]'' (2000)
 
−
* ''[[NFL QB Club 2001]]'' (2000)
 
−
* ''[[South Park Rally]]'' (2000)
 
−
* ''[[Tee Off]]'' (2000)
 
−
* ''[[Vanishing Point]]'' (2000)
 
−
* ''[[Spirit of Speed 1937]]'' (2001)
 
−
|cols=3}}
 
  
−
[[Category:Third-Party Development Companies]]
+
==References==
 +
<references/>

Latest revision as of 14:55, 27 February 2023

For the distribution arm, see Acclaim Distribution.

Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. (アクレイム) was an American video game developer and publisher founded in 1987 as a Delaware corporation. Over the next 17 years, the company became a leading worldwide developer, publisher and mass marketer. The company's headquarters were located in Glen Cove, New York, and their common stock publicly traded on the US Stock Exchange (NASDAQ symbol AKLM).

History

The name of the company was picked because it had to be alphabetically above the co-founder's former place of employment, Activision, and also had to be alphabetically above Accolade (another company formed by ex-Activision employees). This was a common formula for picking names of new companies that were founded by ex-Activision employees (the founders of Activision used this formula when they left Atari).

Many of Acclaim's products were licensed titles: games based on comics, television series (including wrestling shows and cartoons) and movies. They were also responsible for the ports of many of Midway's arcade games in the early-to-mid 1990s, including the Mortal Kombat series. They also published some games from other companies that at the time of publication didn't have an American branch, such as Technos Japan's Double Dragon and Taito's Bust-A-Move series. Several games in the Acclaim catalog are frequently cited as among the worst of all time, a fact that has continued to earn it the derision of gamers and gaming media. Flying Edge was a division of Acclaim that published Acclaim's games for Sega consoles. The Flying Edge name was used from 1991 to 1994. Due to contractual issues with Nintendo during the NES era, this new division was specifically created for publishing games under the Sega brand.

In the 1990s, Acclaim purchased a great number of third-party developers, including Arena Entertainment, Sculptured Software, Iguana Entertainment, Probe Software, and Software Creations. Through their subsidiaries in North America, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, and Australia, Acclaim distributed their software products directly to retailers and other outlets. They also utilized regional distributors in Japan and the Pacific Rim to distribute software within those geographic areas. In addition, Acclaim was the distributor for other publishers worldwide. A smaller portion of their business included publishing gaming strategy guides and issuing "special edition" comic magazines to support brands they owned.

The demise of Acclaim Entertainment began in 2003 when the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) began an investigation into several video game companies, including Acclaim. Lawsuits were filed in March 2003 against Acclaim in US District Court alleging "violations against the Securities Exchange Act of 1934". In June 2003, CEO Gregory Fischbach stepped down as chief executive and was replaced by President Rodney Cousens. The end of Acclaim came when they filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings. All divisions and studios were closed and assets liquidated by the end of 2004. Legal battles were fought in various courts all the way into mid-2007.

However, the name Acclaim did not die immediately. During the liquidation period in Sept. 2004, former Activision CEO Howard Marks purchased the "Acclaim" name and the logo for a reported $100,000. Then in 2006, he and Neil Malhotra created a new company: Acclaim Games, with an entirely new focus on Massive Multiplayer Online Games. This new company was acquired on May 2010 by online game developer Playdom and closed by them three months later, killing the Acclaim name for good.

For a while Acclaim's internal development divisions were named after colours.

Softography

Sega Titan Video

Master System

Mega Drive

Game Gear

Mega-CD

32X

Mega-CD 32X

Saturn

Dreamcast

PlayStation 2

GameCube

The Black Team softography

Master System

Mega Drive

Game Gear

Mega-CD

32X

Saturn

The Grey Team softography

Master System

Mega Drive

Game Gear

Mega-CD

32X

The White Team softography

Mega Drive

Game Gear

32X

Saturn

The Red Team softography

Mega Drive

Saturn

References

  1. ↑ https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/acclaim-entertainment-inc (Wayback Machine: 2021-09-07 04:30)
  2. ↑ Electronic Gaming Retail News, "January 1992" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 20
  3. ↑ Summer CES Directory, page 128
  4. ↑ E3 2001 Directory, page 72
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