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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy did BMG Interactive go to the doctor? It had a CD problem.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
BMG Interactive
TypePrivate
IndustryComputer and video games
Founded1993; 33 years ago (1993)
Defunct1998
FateBought out by Take-Two Interactive
SuccessorRockstar Games
HeadquartersNew York City, New York,
United States
ParentBertelsmann Music Group

BMG Interactive was an American video game publisher based in New York. It was founded in 1993 by BMG and closed in 1998 and it was succeeded by Rockstar Games. The company maintained offices in France, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, The Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Singapore and Australia, as well as New York City.

History

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Origins and signing of partnerships

[edit source]

In 1993, Bertelsmann Music Group entered into the interactive entertainment industry by signing a deal wirh Ion to produce music and multimedia entertainment products, including video games.[1][2] In 1994, Bertelsmann Music Group signed a deal with Crystal Dynamics to distribute titles,[3] received funding to the game publisher Rocket Science Games,[4] and later the company founded BMG Interactive Entertainment. It was led by Sam Houser.

The company's original plan was to license titles from third-party US publishers for the European market, most notably games published in North America by Rocket Science Games.[5] In late 1994, the company signed a deal with Nederlander Communications, and Israeli-based production firm Pixel Multimedia to form a joint venture company RealTime Sports.[6] The company later expanded into the Japanese market in late 1994 around the same time the company was founded.[7]

In late 1994, Strauss Zelnick, the former head of Crystal Dynamics, joined the company to serve as operations for the North American business.[8][9] The company expanded by running a San Francisco office, led by Don Traeger of Electronic Arts, and an European division, in addition to the New York office.[10] In 1995, the company signed a deal with Boss Game Studios for the development of its titles.[11]

in 1995, the company signed a development deal with DMA Design, where BMG could publish DMA Design's titles.[12][13][14] The publishing agreement with BMG Interactive covered Race'n'Chase, Space Station Silicon Valley, Tanktics, and the stealth game Covert.[15] In 1996, the company entered into the sports gaming industry by signing a partnership with game developer Z-Axis for the development of its titles.[16] Also that year, the company signed a deal with Major League Soccer to endorse a soccer game for development by Z-Axis.[17]

By the point, the company became the largest publisher of European video games, with partnerships involving Berkeley Systems, Boss Game Studios, Crystal Dynamics, DMA Design, Interactive Studios, Lobotomy Software, Montparnasse Multimedia, New Level Software, Virtual Music Productions, Z-Axis, Zombie Studios and others.[18] In 1997, the company shipped its first North American game, Spider: The Video Game, to stores.[19] The company attempted to start a US office in 1997, but it was never materialized.[20]

Closure of operations and sale

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In 1997, BMG Interactive announced that it had shuttered its U.S. operations after the commercial failure of games like Spider: The Video Game, leaving the future of the games planned for U.S. release, like Space Station Silicon Valley, Spec Ops, Major League Soccer, Mass Destruction, Grand Theft Auto and Courier Crisis in limbo.[21] In late 1997 and early 1998, the company sold the publishing rights of Mass Destruction and Grand Theft Auto to ASC Games,[22][23][24][25] Spec Ops to Ripcord Games,[26] a basketball game to Fox Interactive,[27] Dragon Blade to an unspecified publisher (later revealed to be Gathering of Developers),[28] a flight simulator to Electronic Arts under Jane's Combat Simulations,[29] Spearhead to Interactive Magic,[30] and Courier Crisis to GT Interactive.[31]

On March 12, 1998, Take-Two Interactive announced its acquisition of the assets of dormant British video game publisher BMG Interactive from BMG Entertainment (a unit of Bertelsmann). In exchange, Take-Two was to issue 1.85 million shares (around 16%) of its common stock to BMG Entertainment.[32][33] Through this acquisition, Take-Two obtained several of BMG Interactive's former intellectual properties, including Three Lions, Monkey Hero, Biosys and DMA Design's Grand Theft Auto and Space Station Silicon Valley.[34][35][36][37] The deal was announced to have closed on March 25.[38] Three BMG Interactive executives—Dan Houser, Sam Houser, and Jamie King—as well as Gary Foreman of BMG Interactive and Terry Donovan of BMG Entertainment's Arista Records record label, subsequently moved to New York City to work for Take-Two Interactive.[36][39][40] In a restructuring announced that April, Sam Houser was appointed as Take-Two's "vice president of worldwide product development".[41] In December 1998, the Houser brothers, Donovan and King established Rockstar Games as the "high-end" publishing label of Take-Two and as a successor to BMG.[36][42][43][44] The formation was formally announced on January 22, 1999.[45]

Games

[edit source]
Title Platform Release date Developer(s) Ref.
PaTaank 3DO Interactive Multiplayer November 3, 1994 PF.Magic [3]
Gex November 16, 1994 Crystal Dynamics
PlayStation March 8, 1996
Sega Saturn March 29, 1996
Off-World Interceptor 3DO Interactive Multiplayer December 16, 1994
Samurai Shodown December 1994
Star Control II December 1994 Toys for Bob
Backpacker Microsoft Windows January 1995 TATI Miximedia [46]
VR Stalker 3DO Interactive Multiplayer April 1995 Morpheus Interactive [47]
Slam 'n Jam '95 July 30, 1995 Crystal Dynamics [3]
Ballz: The Director's Cut September 14, 1995 PF.Magic [48]
Total Eclipse Turbo PlayStation October 13, 1995 Crystal Dynamics [3]
Off-World Interceptor Extreme November 22, 1995
Sega Saturn
Cadillacs and Dinosaurs: The Second Cataclysm MS-DOS 1995 Rocket Science Games [4]
Loadstar: The Legend of Tully Bodine
Hole in One Really Interesting Software Company [49]
Lost Signals Microsoft Windows The Red Balloon [50]
L'odysee de Morgan Morgan Productions [51]
Macintosh
Battle Beast Microsoft Windows 7th Level [52]
Bermuda Syndrome Century Electronics [53][54]
The Horde Sega Saturn March 8, 1996 Toys for Bob [55]
Titan Wars April 19, 1996 Crystal Dynamics
Bishojo Variety Game: Rapyulus Panic April 26, 1996 Shoeisha
Tsuukai!! Slot Shooting June 14, 1996
Ippatsu Gyakuten Gambling King no Michi July 5, 1996 Planning Office Wada
Gekiretsu Pachinkazu August 2, 1996
Slam 'n Jam '96 featuring Magic & Kareem August 8, 1996 Left Field Productions
PlayStation [18]
Exhumed October 1996 Lobotomy Software [56]
Microsoft Windows
Sega Saturn
The Pink Panther: Passport to Peril Microsoft Windows Wanderlust Interactive [57]
Special Gift Pack Sega Saturn November 8, 1996 Shoeisha [55]
Pandemonium! PlayStation November 1996 Toys for Bob [58]
Firo & Klawd Interactive Studios [59]
Microsoft Windows
Duck City 1996 Domestic Funk Products [60]
Macintosh
Arcade America Microsoft Windows 7th Level [61][62]
Macintosh
Shine Microsoft Windows Chilli [63]
Macintosh
Backpacker 2 Microsoft Windows January 1997 TAXI Miximedia [64]
3D Baseball Sega Saturn January 31, 1997 Crystal Dynamics [65]
PlayStation February 28, 1997 [66]
Spider: The Video Game February 26, 1997 Boss Game Studios [19]
Mass Destruction Sega Saturn March 26, 1997 NMS Software [67]
PlayStation November 1997 [22]
Microsoft Windows
Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain PlayStation May 30, 1997 Silicon Knights [68]
Seikai Risshiden: Yoi Kuni - Yoi Seij Sega Saturn July 27, 1997 Digitalware [65]
Courier Crisis PlayStation November 20, 1997 New Level Software [31]
Sega Saturn December 20, 1997 [69]
Grand Theft Auto MS-DOS November 28, 1997 DMA Design [70][71][25]
Microsoft Windows
PlayStation December 12, 1997 Visual Sciences
Wing Nuts: Battle in the Sky Microsoft Windows 1997 Rocket Science Games [72]
Evidence: Wer toete Sarah Hopkins? Microids [73]
Teazle Aniware AB [74]
Macintosh
Jungle Park: Saturn Jima Sega Saturn January 15, 1998 Digitalware [75]
Three Lions PlayStation April 17, 1998 Z-Axis [34]

References

[edit source]
  1. ↑ Harmon, Amy (1993-09-10). "David and Goliath Are Interacting : Bertelsmann and Upstart Plan Music Label for CD-ROMs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  2. ↑ Archives, L. A. Times (1993-09-14). "COMPANY TOWN ANNEX". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Archives, L. A. Times (1994-03-30). "COMPANY TOWN ANNEX". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  4. 1 2 Archives, L. A. Times (1994-05-19). "COMPANY TOWN ANNEX". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  5. ↑ "BMG Goes Interactive". Mega Power. No. 16. November 1994. p. 7.
  6. ↑ "RealTime Moving Quickly Into Sports Arena" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 38. September 17, 1994. p. 60. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  7. ↑ Levin, Mike (November 19, 1994). "BMG Looks for New Marketing Ideas in Asia" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 47. p. 40. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  8. ↑ "ENTERTAINMENT : BMG Picks Zelnick to Run North American Operations : Media: The move is expected to accelerate the German firm's expansion into the movie business". Los Angeles Times. 1994-09-14. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  9. ↑ Hofmeister, Sallie (1994-09-14). "Ex-Film Executive Chosen To Head Bertelsmann Unit". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  10. ↑ "The fall of BMG". Next Generation. May 1998. pp. 38–47. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  11. ↑ Staff, Variety (1995-05-15). "E3 BYTES INTO H'WOOD". Variety. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  12. ↑ Levene, Rebecca; Anderson, Magnus (2012). "Wandering Creatures". Grand Thieves & Tomb Raiders: How British Video Games Conquered the World. Aurum. pp. 156–170. ISBN 978-1-84513-704-5 – via Internet Archive.
  13. ↑ "Ex-Timex Tycoon Expands Factory". The Herald. 28 March 1995. OCLC 29991088. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  14. ↑ "Games Firm in £1.5m Legal Action". The Herald. 30 July 1997. OCLC 29991088. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  15. ↑ Zak, Robert (28 October 2021). "DMA Design: The Chaotic N64 Years That Led to Rockstar North". Retro Gamer. No. 226. Future Publishing. pp. 78–83.
  16. ↑ "Movers & Shakers". Next Generation. June 1996. p. 15. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  17. ↑ "News Bits". GamePro. June 1996. p. 17. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  18. 1 2 "BMG Entertainment International: Ten Years Young" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 48. January 25, 1997. p. 114. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  19. 1 2 Staff, I. G. N. (1997-02-26). "Spider Ships". IGN. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  20. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (1997-05-15). "BMG: Back on Track". IGN. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  21. ↑ "Cleaning Time: Corporations Slim Down". Next Generation. No. 31. Imagine Media. July 1997. p. 23.
  22. 1 2 "In the Studio". Next Generation. No. 32. Imagine Media. August 1997. p. 19.
  23. ↑ Johnston, Chris (June 16, 1997). "Mass Destruction Moves To Consoles". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 20, 1999. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  24. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (1997-12-12). "Calling All Car Jackers". IGN. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
  25. 1 2 Perry, Douglass C. (2002-09-10). "A Retrospective on Grand Theft Auto". IGN. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  26. ↑ "The Fall of BMG: Spec Ops: Rangers Lead the Way". Next Generation. No. 41. Imagine Media. May 1998. p. 47.
  27. ↑ "The Fall of BMG: Fox Sports College Hoops '99". Next Generation. No. 41. Imagine Media. May 1998. p. 44.
  28. ↑ "The Fall of BMG: Dragon Blade". Next Generation. No. 41. Imagine Media. May 1998. p. 42.
  29. ↑ "The Fall of BMG: Undisclosed Military Flight Sim". Next Generation. No. 41. Imagine Media. May 1998. p. 42.
  30. ↑ "The Fall of BMG: Spearhead". Next Generation. No. 41. Imagine Media. May 1998. p. 45.
  31. 1 2 "GT Interactive Buys Singletrac, Makes Agreements with BMG and Warner Bros. Interactive". GamePro. No. 108. IDG. September 1997. p. 20. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  32. ↑ Johnston, Chris (March 12, 1998). "Take 2 Takes BMG". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 1, 1998.
  33. ↑ "BMG Interactive Acquired by Take-Two Interactive". Telecompaper. March 16, 1998. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  34. 1 2 "The Fall of BMG: Three Lions". Next Generation. No. 41. Imagine Media. May 1998. p. 46.
  35. ↑ "The Fall of BMG: Monkey Hero". Next Generation. No. 41. Imagine Media. May 1998. p. 43.
  36. 1 2 3 "Rockstar Games: Multimedia Designers". Design Museum. Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  37. ↑ Rickards, Kelly (March 16, 1998). "Take 2's Take". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 3, 1998.
  38. ↑ Jebens, Harley (March 25, 1998). "Take 2 Deal Complete". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 3, 1999.
  39. ↑ "Graftgold Creative Software". Retro Gamer. Future plc. January 2018. p. 68. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  40. ↑ Weber, Rachel (September 9, 2013). "Rockstar's Houser: "It has to hurt more"". Gamesindustry.biz. Future plc. Archived from the original on September 12, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  41. ↑ Jebens, Harley (April 28, 1998). "Take-Two Restructuring". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 10, 1999.
  42. ↑ "Sam Houser: His-Story". Develop. August 15, 2008. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  43. ↑ Maiberg, Emanuel (May 18, 2014). "GTA, Rockstar co-founding brothers squeeze into Britain's 1,000 richest people list with £90 million". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 10, 2017.
  44. ↑ Goldberg, Harold (November 15, 2013). "Grand Theft Auto's Reclusive Genius Sam Houser Can't Get Away". Playboy. Archived from the original on September 11, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  45. ↑ "Press Release 1/22/99". Take-Two Interactive. Archived from the original on June 4, 2000.
  46. ↑ "Backpacker (Game Review)". PC Spiel. September 1996. p. 64. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  47. ↑ "Snippets". 3DO Magazine. April 1995. p. 7. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  48. ↑ "Ballz 3D". IGN. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  49. ↑ "Hole in One". IGN. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  50. ↑ "Release date of Lost Signals in different countries around the world". VGTimes. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  51. ↑ "BMG INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT - Compagnie de jeux vidéo - ABANDONWARE FRANCE". www.abandonware-france.org (in French). Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  52. ↑ "7th Level to introduce Battle Beast with 10,000 free copy giveaway on August 19; also 100,000 free interactive demos available at major retail stores in July. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  53. ↑ "Bermuda Syndrome - PC Review - Coming Soon Magazine!". www.csoon.com. Archived from the original on 2026-04-12. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  54. ↑ Aihoshi - 'Jonric', Richard (2002-11-28). "Neocron Interview". IGN. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  55. 1 2 "[セガハード大百科] セガサターン対応ソフトウェア（ライセンシー発売）". sega.jp. Archived from the original on 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  56. ↑ "Unseen Interview: Brian McNeely (Lobotomy Software) - Unseen64". Unseen64. 2015-03-09. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  57. ↑ "The Pink Panther Passport to Peril (Game)". Giant Bomb Video Game Wiki. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  58. ↑ "PANDEMONIUM! - (PAL)". psxdatacenter.com. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  59. ↑ "Firo & Klawd". IGN. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  60. ↑ "Duck City - LaunchBox Games Database". gamesdb.launchbox-app.com. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  61. ↑ Schnelle, Mick (April 1996). "Arcade America". PC Joker (in German). Joker Verlag. p. 38.
  62. ↑ "Arcade America Advertisement". PC Player (in German). DMV-Verlag. April 1996. p. 119.
  63. ↑ "Shine - LaunchBox Games Database". gamesdb.launchbox-app.com. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  64. ↑ "Game Developer Index 2009" (PDF). Dataspelsbranschen. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  65. 1 2 "[セガハード大百科] セガサターン対応ソフトウェア（ライセンシー発売）". sega.jp. Archived from the original on 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  66. ↑ "3D BASEBALL - THE MAJORS - (NTSC-J)". psxdatacenter.com. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  67. ↑ "sega-europe.online". www.sega-europe.com. Archived from the original on 1998-12-02. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  68. ↑ "SK: The Complete Guide To Legacy of Kain - Behind The Scenes". Silicon Knights. January 13, 1997. Archived from the original on 2012-12-18. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  69. ↑ "Pedal to the Mettle". headline.gamespot.com. Archived from the original on 1998-12-05. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  70. ↑ McLaughlin, Rus (2008-03-28). "IGN Presents: The History of Grand Theft Auto". IGN. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  71. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (1998-11-17). "News Briefs". IGN. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  72. ↑ "Wing Nuts: Battle in the Sky (Game)". Giant Bomb Video Game Wiki. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  73. ↑ "Evidence - Wer tötete Sarah Hopkins? - BMG kaufen". Filmundo (in German). Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  74. ↑ ""BMG Interactive Entertainment" | The Obscuritory". Retrieved 2026-07-20.
  75. ↑ "セガハード大百科". セガハード大百科 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2019-12-07. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
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