Overview and History of Virgin Games
Virgin Games was a British video game developer and publisher based in the United Kingdom. The company was established in 1986 as a subsidiary of Virgin Group, founded by entrepreneur Richard Branson’s music label, Virgin Records. Initially, the studio focused on developing games for home consoles, including the Commodore Amiga, Atari ST, and IBM PC.
During its early years, Virgin Games produced several titles that gained moderate success, such as "R-Type" (1987), a side-scrolling shooter based on the classic arcade game of the same name. The company also published virgingames.org.uk several games from external developers, including "Another World" by Eric Chahi in 1991.
Types and Variations of Virgin Games
Virgin Games developed various types of video games across multiple platforms. Some notable examples include:
- Platformers: Titles like "Bubble Bobble Part II" (1988) showcased the company’s ability to produce colorful, challenging platforming experiences.
- Adventure games: The critically acclaimed game "Outrun Europa" (1990), a driving-based adventure game featuring an open-world concept, received positive reviews for its engaging gameplay and detailed graphics.
- Sports games: Virgin Games developed several sports-themed titles, including the well-received "International Sensible Soccer World Championship Edition" in 1992.
Notable Titles Developed by Virgin Games
Some of Virgin Games’ most notable releases include:
- R-Type (1987) : A side-scrolling shooter that was an adaptation of the classic arcade game.
- Another World (1991) : An influential and critically acclaimed action-adventure game developed by Eric Chahi for Amiga, Atari ST, PC, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Macintosh and DOS.
- Outrun Europa (1990): A driving-based adventure game featuring an open-world concept that received positive reviews for its engaging gameplay and detailed graphics.
Shift in Focus to Other Media
As the video game market evolved in the mid-1990s, Virgin Games shifted its focus towards other areas of entertainment. The company started producing games for emerging platforms like 3DO Interactive Multiplayer and PlayStation, but these efforts were short-lived due to commercial failures.
In 2001, Virgin Group divested its majority stake in Virgin Games to Atari Corporation (formerly Atari SA). Following the transfer, the renamed ‘Virgin Interactive’ changed hands several times.
