# Sony Imagesoft

Sony Imagesoft Inc. was an American video game publisher that operated from 1989 to 1995 and was located in California. It was established in January 1989 in Los Angeles, California, as a subsidiary of the Japan-based CBS/Sony Group (CSG) and initially named CSG Imagesoft Inc. Their focus at the beginning was on marketing games exclusively for Nintendo consoles.
The first release was Super Dodge Ball in summer 1989. UK developed games such as, Solstice and Dragon's Lair, followed in 1990. Both were also published in Japan through Epic/Sony Records.
After Sony had set up its North American division, Sony Electronic Publishing in April 1991, Imagesoft operated as Sony Imagesoft Inc.
Other releases are localizations of SNES games previously developed for Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) and published under the Epic/Sony Records brand: Extra Innings and Smart Ball, both published in 1992. Following a shakeup at Sony in 1995, Sony Imagesoft was merged into Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) and has since only supported the PlayStation brand.

## Sega partnership

On May 20, 1992, Sega of America and Sony Electronic Publishing announced a partnership to create content for Sega's consoles under the direction of Imagesoft. Besides Sega's cartridge-based Genesis and Game Gear consoles the partnership targeted the upcoming Sega CD peripheral. Among the first titles released for Sega's consoles after the announcement are Sewer Shark and Hook. Sewer Shark, initially released exclusively to Sega CD, is a rail-shooter that years earlier had been shelved as part of the ill-fated Control-Vision platform. The Hook video games are tie-ins to the Spielberg feature film Hook that premiered in December 1991 and was produced by Sony-owned TriStar Pictures. Ports of the video game for Sega platforms are based on the SNES game published earlier by Imagesoft. The Sega CD version was enhanced with better cut scenes with voice actors and digital stills and featured music from the film soundtrack.

## 1995 changes

In March 1995 Sony Imagesoft announced that it had appointed Kelly Flock as president. Flock came from Trimark Interactive where he was executive vice president since March 1993.
Starting in July 1995, just two months prior to the release of the PlayStation console in Western markets, Sony Electronic Publishing restructured and renamed its divisions. All video game marketing from Sony Imagesoft was folded into Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA), with about 100 employees transferred from Santa Monica to Foster City. The video game business of Sony Imagesoft was merged with the product development branch of SCEA and became Sony Interactive Studios America which would later be renamed to 989 Studios.
The computer software business of Imagesoft became Sony Interactive PC Software America and was headed by general manager Ray Sangster.

## Games published

| Title | Platform | Genre | Release date | Developer |
| 3 Ninjas Kick Back | Sega Genesis | Action | &1994-06-01June 1, 1994 | Malibu Interactive |
| 3 Ninjas Kick Back | SNES | Action | &1994-11-00November 19, 1994 | Malibu Interactive |
| Altered Space | Game Boy | Puzzle adventure | &1991-09-30September 1991 | Software Creations |
| Bram Stoker's Dracula | Game Boy | Action | &1993-00-001993 | Psygnosis |
| Bram Stoker's Dracula | SNES | Action | &1993-09-00September 1993 | Traveller's Tales/Psygnosis |
| Championship Soccer '94 | | Sports | &1994-06-00June 1994 | Sensible Software |
| Cliffhanger | Sega Genesis | Action | &1993-10-25October 25, 1993 | Malibu Interactive |
| Cliffhanger | SNES | Action | &1993-10-00October 1993 | Malibu Interactive |
| Chuck Rock | SNES | Side-scrolling platformer | &1992-11-00November 1992 | Malibu Interactive |
| Chuck Rock | Sega CD | Side-scrolling platformer | &unknown | Core Design |
| Dragon's Lair | NES | Action | &1990-12-00December 29, 1990 | Motivetime |
| Eastern Mind: The Lost Souls of Tong Nou | Microsoft Windows Macintosh | Point-and-click adventure | &1995-08-10Early August 1995 | OutSide Directors Company |
| Equinox | SNES | Action-adventure | &1994-03-00March 1994 | Software Creations |
| ESPN Baseball Tonight | SNES | Sports | &1994-05-00May 1994 | Park Place Productions |
| ESPN National Hockey Night | Sega Genesis Sega CD | Sports | &1994-08-01August 1, 1994 | Park Place Productions |
| ESPN NBA HangTime '95 | Sega CD | Sports | &19941994 | |
| ESPN SpeedWorld | Sega Genesis | Racing | &1994-00-001994 | Park Place Productions |
| ESPN Sunday Night NFL | Sega CD | Sports | &1993-00-001993 | Ringler Studios |
| ESPN Sunday Night NFL | Sega Genesis | Sports | &1994-08-01August 1, 1994 | Ringler Studios |
| ESPN Sunday Night NFL | SNES | Sports | &1994-11-00November 1994 | Ringler Studios |
| Extra Innings | SNES | Sports | &1992-03-20March 20, 1992 | Sting Entertainment |
| Flashback | SNES | Action-Adventure | 1993 | Tiertex |
| Flink | Sega Mega Drive | Platform | &1994-05-00May 1994 | Psygnosis |
| Gear Works | Game Gear Game Boy | Puzzle | 1993 | |
| Ground Zero: Texas | Sega CD | Action | &1993-11-00November 1993 | Digital Pictures |
| Hook | NES Game Boy | Action | &1992-04-00April 1992 | Ocean Software |
| Hook | SNES | Action | &1992-10-00October 1992 | Ukiyotei |
| Hook | Sega Genesis Sega CD | Action | &1993-03-001992/March 1993 (European Mega CD version) | Core Design |
| Hudson Hawk | NES Game Boy | Platform | &1991-00-001991 | Ocean Software |
| Johnny Mnemonic | Microsoft Windows Macintosh | Interactive movie | &1995-05-26May 26, 1995 | Propaganda Code, directed by Douglas Gayeton |
| Johnny Mnemonic | Sega CD | Interactive movie | &unreleased |
| Last Action Hero | Sega Genesis | Action | &1994-03-28March 28, 1994 | Bits Studios |
| Last Action Hero | SNES | Action | &1993-10-00October 1993 | Bits Studios |
| Last Action Hero | Sega CD | Beat 'em up | &cancelled | Psygnosis |
| Mary Shelley's Frankenstein | Sega Genesis | Action | &1994-03-04March 4, 1994 | Bits Studios |
| Mary Shelley's Frankenstein | SNES | Action | &1994-11-00November 1994 | Bits Studios |
| Mary Shelley's Frankenstein | Sega CD | Action | &1994-00-001994 | Psygnosis |
| Mickey Mania | Sega Genesis | Platform | &1994-10-00October 1994 | Traveller's Tales/Psygnosis |
| Mickey Mania | Sega CD | Platform | October 1994 | Traveller's Tales/Psygnosis |
| Mickey Mania | SNES | Platform | &1994-10-00October 1994 | Traveller's Tales/Psygnosis |
| No Escape | SNES | Action | &1994-11-00November 1994 | Bits Studios |
| Super Battletank 2 (European version) | SNES | Action | &1994-10-001993 | Absolute |
| Super Bomberman (European version) | SNES | Action | &1994-10-00November 1993 | Hudson Soft |
| Skyblazer | SNES | Action | &1994-03-16March 16, 1994 | Ukiyotei |
| Sewer Shark | Sega CD | Shooter | &1992-10-15October 15, 1992 | Digital Pictures |
| Smart Ball | SNES | Action-adventure | &1992-03-00March 1992 | Game Freak |
| Soccer Mania | Game Boy | Sports | &1992-03-00March 1992 | Kitty Group Japan |
| Solstice | NES | Puzzle | &1990-06-00June 1990 | Software Creations |
| Super Dodge Ball | NES | Sports | &1989-06-00June 1989 | Technōs Japan |

## Games developed

| Title | Genre | Release date |
| Jeopardy Classic | Puzzle | May 22, 1994 |
| Wheel of Fortune | Strategy | 1994 |