Virgin Interactive

**Virgin Interactive** was a 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In 1993 Virgin Interactive created the "Digicel" process, originally for an unpublished game called "Dynoblaze".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)

## Other websites

- _Virgin Interactive_ profile on MobyGames

## Infobox (company)

- **company name**: Virgin Interactive
- **foundation**: 1981
- **location**: United Kingdom, UK
- **industry**: Video game industry, Interactive entertainment