Radical Entertainment
Encyclopedia
Radical Entertainment is a video game developer
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...

 based in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...

, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. It was founded in 1991 and previously developed games for game publishers
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....

 such as THQ
THQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...

, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...

 and Fox Interactive
Fox Interactive
20th Century Fox Games is a video game publisher and developer mainly concerned with titles based on 20th Century Fox properties, such as The Simpsons, Family Guy, Futurama, the Alien and Predator film franchises, Independence Day, Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The X-Files, Avatar, 24, the...

. It is now an entirely owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard
Activision Blizzard
Activision Blizzard, Inc., formerly Activision, Inc. is the American holding company for Activision and Blizzard Entertainment. The company is majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA and was created through the merger of Activision and Vivendi Games, announced on December 2, 2007, in a...

 after being acquired by Vivendi Games
Vivendi Games
Vivendi Games, formerly known as Vivendi Universal Games, was the holdings company for Sierra Entertainment and Blizzard Entertainment. Vivendi Games was founded as Vivendi Universal Games after Vivendi bought Universal Studios in the early 2000s...

 in 2005. The company is best known for developing Scarface: The World Is Yours
Scarface: The World is Yours
Scarface: The World Is Yours is a video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Universal Games. The game is based on and is a quasi-sequel to the 1983 motion picture Scarface starring Al Pacino reprising his role as Tony Montana, with André Sogliuzzo providing Montana's...

, they gained more fame upon the releases of Crash Tag Team Racing
Crash Tag Team Racing
Crash Tag Team Racing is a racing video game published by Sierra Entertainment and developed by Vancouver-based Radical Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox and PlayStation Portable. A Nintendo DS version, which was to be developed by Sensory Sweep Studios rather than...

, Crash of the Titans
Crash of the Titans
Crash of the Titans is an platform video game published by Sierra Entertainment and developed by Vancouver-based Radical Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable , Wii and Xbox 360. The Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS versions of the game were developed by Amaze Entertainment...

, Crash: Mind over Mutant
Crash: Mind over Mutant
Crash: Mind over Mutant is a platform video game published by Sierra Entertainment and developed by Vancouver-based Radical Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable , Wii and Xbox 360. The Nintendo DS version of the game was developed by TOSE...

 and their first original title Prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...

.

History

Radical Entertainment was founded by Dave Davis, Rory Armes and Ian Wilkinson. Davis and Armes previously worked at Vancouver based Distinctive Software (now EA Canada). Wilkinson was an enthusiastic newcomer to the games industry.

369 Interactive

Before being acquired by Vivendi Universal Games, Radical had developed various games for numerous publishers including Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Studios is the video game production wing for Microsoft, responsible for the development and publishing of games for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Games for Windows and Windows Phone platforms. They were established in 2002 as Microsoft Game Studios to coincide with the release of the Xbox, before...

, THQ
THQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...

 and Fox Interactive
Fox Interactive
20th Century Fox Games is a video game publisher and developer mainly concerned with titles based on 20th Century Fox properties, such as The Simpsons, Family Guy, Futurama, the Alien and Predator film franchises, Independence Day, Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The X-Files, Avatar, 24, the...

. Although Radical was not a subsidiary of Vivendi till 2005, they did however develop a few of Vivendi Universal's titles including Hulk
Hulk (video game)
Hulk is a video game based on the 2003 movie of the same name. It was developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Games. A signature feature has Eric Bana reprises his role of Bruce Banner...

 and The Simpsons Hit & Run
The Simpsons Hit & Run
The Simpsons Hit & Run is an action-adventure video game based on the animated sitcom The Simpsons. It was released for the GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation 2, and Windows in North America on September 16, 2003, In Europe and Australia on October 31, 2003 and in Japan on December 25, 2003...

.

A division of Radical Entertainment, 369 Interactive, developed games for Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....

. Namely video games based on the numerous CSI television shows. However, after developing a final game in 2005, 369 Interactive was cut from developing the games and was succeeded by TellTale Games. The reason they were cut is primarily because of Vivendi acquiring Radical.

369 was later deleted from Radical Entertainment themselves. The reason why 369 was deleted is because they developed games exclusively for Ubisoft and due to Radical being purchased by Vivendi, there was no reason for 369 to exist. As reported by a staff member of Radical Entertainment, the 369 Interactive employees were later merged into the main of Radical Entertainment themselves.

Activision

Radical Entertainment had developed a few titles for Vivendi Universal Entertainment, titles that gained massive success and warranted the company's interest in the developers. In 2005, Vivendi acquired Radical Entertainment, however, as described by a former developer at Radical, the mood did not change much and Radical still operated as an independent game developing company. After being acquired by Vivendi, Radical began to make many games such as Scarface: The World Is Yours
Scarface: The World is Yours
Scarface: The World Is Yours is a video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Universal Games. The game is based on and is a quasi-sequel to the 1983 motion picture Scarface starring Al Pacino reprising his role as Tony Montana, with André Sogliuzzo providing Montana's...

 and The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction is a video game developed by Radical Entertainment and based on Marvel Comics' Hulk. The game was released on August 24, 2005 in the United States and in September 2005 in Europe.-Gameplay:...

 while being published under Vivendi's Sierra Entertainment
Sierra Entertainment
Sierra Entertainment Inc. was an American video-game developer and publisher founded in 1979 as On-Line Systems by Ken and Roberta Williams...

 label. Radical was also given the license to continue development of the Crash Bandicoot franchise which was also published under Sierra Entertainment. Radical took over the development of Crash Tag Team Racing
Crash Tag Team Racing
Crash Tag Team Racing is a racing video game published by Sierra Entertainment and developed by Vancouver-based Radical Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox and PlayStation Portable. A Nintendo DS version, which was to be developed by Sensory Sweep Studios rather than...

 from Traveller's Tales
Traveller's Tales
Traveller's Tales is an English software house founded in 1989 and fully established in 1990 and based in Knutsford, Cheshire.It is part of the TT Games group—after the merger of publisher Giant Interactive and the developer Traveller's Tales—along with TT Games Publishing...

. Due to the success of Crash Tag Team Racing, Radical then started the development of Crash of the Titans
Crash of the Titans
Crash of the Titans is an platform video game published by Sierra Entertainment and developed by Vancouver-based Radical Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable , Wii and Xbox 360. The Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS versions of the game were developed by Amaze Entertainment...

 and proclaimed that "Crash was home at Radical" stating that Radical would develop all further Crash games. The critical and commercial success of Crash of the Titans spawned one more sequel, Crash: Mind over Mutant
Crash: Mind over Mutant
Crash: Mind over Mutant is a platform video game published by Sierra Entertainment and developed by Vancouver-based Radical Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable , Wii and Xbox 360. The Nintendo DS version of the game was developed by TOSE...

, which managed to both critically beat its predecessor as well as commercially. During the development of Crash: Mind Over Mutant, Radical began working on its first original IP, Prototype
Prototype (video game)
Prototype is an open world action video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Activision. The game was released in North America on June 9, 2009, and in southwestern parts of North America as well as Oceania on June 10, and was released in Europe on June 12.The game is set in New...

.

In 2008 it was announced that Vivendi Games and Activision
Activision
Activision is an American publisher, majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA. Its current CEO is Robert Kotick. It was founded on October 1, 1979 and was the world's first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles...

 would merge to form Activision Blizzard
Activision Blizzard
Activision Blizzard, Inc., formerly Activision, Inc. is the American holding company for Activision and Blizzard Entertainment. The company is majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA and was created through the merger of Activision and Vivendi Games, announced on December 2, 2007, in a...

, a described by a former developer, the merger changed the mood of Radical and made it like a first-party developer, instead of indie. At the time of the merge Radical was working on 3 different projects, 1 was an 'unnamed project' and the other 2 were Crash: Mind Over Mutant and Prototype. After the merger took place, about half of Radical's staff was cut under Activision Blizzards restructuring. This resulted in the cancellation of the unnamed project while development of Crash and Prototype were unaffected. As revealed later by a former developer at Radical, the unnamed project was Scarface 2, which had been at development at Radical for over two years and had nearly gone gold, the developer stated that Activision canceled the project. Crash: Mind Over Mutant was the last games to be published under Vivendi's Sierra Entertainment label, however some rare editions are given the Activision label instead. Nevertheless, Activision is given credit within the video game. Prototype was published only underneath the Activision label.

After the release of Prototype in 2009 Radical did not officially announce any new projects, though it was revealed again by another former developer that Radical was working on another unnamed project, which had been in development for over a year. However, when Radical Entertainment experienced layoffs which resulted in over 60 people losing jobs, the project(Crash Bandicoot title) was development halted by Activision. At the 2010 Spike Video Game Awards, Radical announced Prototype 2
Prototype 2
Prototype 2 is an upcoming video game set for release on April 24, 2012 in North America. It is currently under development by Canadian developer Radical Entertainment and is the sequel to 2009's Prototype. Like its original, the game is set to be published by Radical Entertainment's owner,...

, which is set to be their largest game.

Prototype 2

Radical Entertainment released the first details for Prototype 2 in an interview with 'EGMI'. In the same interview they revealed that they halted the development on an unknown game, possibly the rumoured Crash Bandicoot title, after the massive success of Prototype. However, other canidates for the halted game were rumored to be an unknown Spider-Man game and a Jason Bourne game. This title was later revealed to be cancelled. In January 2011, an artist posted video footage showing the cancelled Jason Bourne
Jason Bourne
Jason Charles Bourne is a fictional character and the main protagonist in the novels of Robert Ludlum and subsequent film adaptations. He first appeared in the novel The Bourne Identity...

 game called Treadstone. The game was cancelled when the Bourne license was reacquired by Ludlum Entertainment and then licensed to EA.
Crash: Mind Over Mutant was re-released on Xbox Live Arcade in 2011. Radical celebrated its 20th birthday in late August, 2011. They revealed to have had sold over 30 Million copies from each of their games and is the third oldest studio owned by Activision.

Titanium Engine

After its acquisition by Vivendi, Radical began to use only one game engine, having used various game engines before. The game engine was based on an engine used previously by Radical Entertainment for Hulk: Ultimate Destruction and was named the Titanium Engine. The engine has been used for Radical's Crash Bandicoot and Prototype video games. The only game released using the engine not using those two IP's was the game based on the Scarface IP.

CSI games

369 Interactive made use of Radical Entertainment's CSI licensed property.

369 Interactive has developed such games as:
  • CSI: Miami
    CSI: Miami (computer game)
    CSI: Miami is a video game based on the CSI: Miami television series. The game was developed by 369 Interactive, published by Ubisoft, and was released for the Microsoft Windows on April 24, 2004...

    (2005)
  • CSI: Dark Motives
    CSI: Dark Motives
    CSI: Dark Motives is a computer game based on the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation television series. The game was developed by 369 Interactive, published by Ubisoft, and was released for the PC in 2004...

    (2004)
  • CSI
    CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (computer game)
    CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is a computer game based on the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation television series. The game was developed by 369 Interactive, published by Ubisoft, and was released for the PC in 2003...

    (2003)

Activision

  • Prototype 2
    Prototype 2
    Prototype 2 is an upcoming video game set for release on April 24, 2012 in North America. It is currently under development by Canadian developer Radical Entertainment and is the sequel to 2009's Prototype. Like its original, the game is set to be published by Radical Entertainment's owner,...

    (2012)
  • Treadstone (2011-Cancelled)
  • Crash Bandicoot title (2010-Development Halted)
  • Prototype
    Prototype (video game)
    Prototype is an open world action video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Activision. The game was released in North America on June 9, 2009, and in southwestern parts of North America as well as Oceania on June 10, and was released in Europe on June 12.The game is set in New...

    (2009)
  • Scarface 2 (2008-Cancelled by Activision)

Sierra Entertainment

  • Crash: Mind over Mutant
    Crash: Mind over Mutant
    Crash: Mind over Mutant is a platform video game published by Sierra Entertainment and developed by Vancouver-based Radical Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable , Wii and Xbox 360. The Nintendo DS version of the game was developed by TOSE...

    (2008) (Note: Some copies use the Activison label)
  • Crash of the Titans
    Crash of the Titans
    Crash of the Titans is an platform video game published by Sierra Entertainment and developed by Vancouver-based Radical Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable , Wii and Xbox 360. The Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS versions of the game were developed by Amaze Entertainment...

    (2007)
  • Scarface: The World Is Yours
    Scarface: The World is Yours
    Scarface: The World Is Yours is a video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Universal Games. The game is based on and is a quasi-sequel to the 1983 motion picture Scarface starring Al Pacino reprising his role as Tony Montana, with André Sogliuzzo providing Montana's...

    (2006)
  • Crash Tag Team Racing
    Crash Tag Team Racing
    Crash Tag Team Racing is a racing video game published by Sierra Entertainment and developed by Vancouver-based Radical Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox and PlayStation Portable. A Nintendo DS version, which was to be developed by Sensory Sweep Studios rather than...

    (2005)
  • The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
    The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
    The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction is a video game developed by Radical Entertainment and based on Marvel Comics' Hulk. The game was released on August 24, 2005 in the United States and in September 2005 in Europe.-Gameplay:...

    (2005)

Independent Company

  • The Simpsons Hit & Run
    The Simpsons Hit & Run
    The Simpsons Hit & Run is an action-adventure video game based on the animated sitcom The Simpsons. It was released for the GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation 2, and Windows in North America on September 16, 2003, In Europe and Australia on October 31, 2003 and in Japan on December 25, 2003...

    (2003)
  • Hulk
    Hulk (video game)
    Hulk is a video game based on the 2003 movie of the same name. It was developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Games. A signature feature has Eric Bana reprises his role of Bruce Banner...

    (2003)
  • James Cameron's Dark Angel
    Dark Angel (video game)
    James Cameron's Dark Angel is a video game for the Sony PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Xbox based on the television series Dark Angel...

    (2002)
  • Monsters, Inc. Scream Arena (2002)
  • The Simpsons Road Rage
    The Simpsons Road Rage
    The Simpsons Road Rage is a 2001 video game based on the animated television series The Simpsons, and is part of a series of games based on the show. It was developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 2, the Xbox, and the GameCube...

    (2001)
  • Tetris Worlds
    Tetris Worlds
    Tetris Worlds is a version of the popular video game Tetris. Originally released in 2001 for PC and the GBA, it later was released for the Xbox, GameCube, and PlayStation 2 in 2002. In 2003, an Xbox Live capable and a single-disc compilation versions Tetris Worlds is a version of the popular video...

    (2001, 2002, 2003)
  • Dark Summit
    Dark Summit
    Dark Summit is a sports video game released by Radical Entertainment. The game simulates snowboarding.-Development:The initial lineup display of the game was announced on August 7, 2001....

    (2001)
  • Jackie Chan Stuntmaster
    Jackie Chan Stuntmaster
    Jackie Chan Stuntmaster is a PlayStation game based on the actor and martial artist Jackie ChanMade by Radical Entertainment, the game sees the player in the shoes of Jackie Chan who must fight his way past numerous villains in different locations across the city of New York.-Plot:Jackie's...

    (2000)
  • NHL Championship 2000 (2000)
  • ESPN X Games Pro Boarder (1998)
  • NHL Powerplay '98 (1998)
  • Bloodlines (1998)
  • Independence Day
    Independence Day (video game)
    Independence Day is a 1997 video game based on the movie of the same name. It was released in 1997 for the PlayStation, PC, Sega Saturn, and Mobile.-Gameplay:...

    (1997)
  • NHL Powerplay '96 (1997)
  • The Divide: Enemies Within (1995)
  • Grid Runner
    Grid Runner
    Grid Runner is a video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Virgin Interactive for the Sega Saturn, PlayStation and Microsoft Windows in 1996.-Story:...

    (1995)
  • Bébé's Kids
    Bébé's Kids (video game)
    Bébé's Kids is an action-oriented Super NES video game that is loosely based on the movie of the same name. The video game enjoyed a North America-exclusive release...

    (1994)
  • Speed Racer in My Most Dangerous Adventures
    Speed Racer in My Most Dangerous Adventures
    Speed Racer in My Most Dangerous Adventures is a 1994 racing video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Accolade for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.-Summary:...

    (1994)
  • The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends
    The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends
    The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends is a video game released by THQ inspired by The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.The game consists of seven levels that take players through various locales: A Swiss Alps-style mountain, a cavern, a mine, a submarine, a haunted ship, a port town, and a...

    (1994)
  • Mario's Time Machine
    Mario's Time Machine
    Mario's Time Machine is an educational video game developed by The Software Toolworks for DOS and the Super NES and by Radical Entertainment for the NES release. All versions were published by Mindscape. It was first released in 1993 for DOS, and was later released for the Super NES in December of...

    (1993)
  • Beavis and Butt-head
    Beavis and Butt-head (video game)
    Beavis and Butt-head is a video game based on the MTV animated series Beavis and Butt-head, revolving around the title characters' attempts to find the torn-up ticket pieces all over Highland to go to a GWAR concert, in the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive version. In the SNES version, the plot involves of...

    (1993)
  • The Terminator (1992)
  • Brett Hull Hockey 95 (1992)
  • Pelé II: World Tournament Soccer
    Pelé II: World Tournament Soccer
    Pelé II: World Tournament Soccer, known as Pelé's World Tournament Soccer in Europe, is a football video game released by Accolade in 1994 for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.-Summary:...

    (1992)
  • Wayne's World
    Wayne's World
    Wayne's World was originally a recurring sketch from the NBC television series Saturday Night Live. It evolved from a segment titled "Wayne's Power Minute" on the CBC Television series It's Only Rock & Roll, as the main character first appeared in that show...

    (1992)

External links

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