Difference between revisions of "Ocean Software"

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'''Ocean Software''', founded in 1982 by David Ward and Jon Woods, was one of the biggest developers for the CPC.  
+
'''Ocean Software''', founded in 1982 by David Ward and Jon Woods, was one of the biggest European games developers across all home computing platforms.  
  
−
Ocean developed not only for the CPC of course but also for Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum.
+
As well as an impressive back catalogue of CPC games, Ocean's has left a legacy touching every major gaming platform of the 1980s including the [[ZX Spectrum]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Atari ST]], [[Amiga]], [[PC]], [[NES]], [[SNES]], [[Master System]] and [[Mega Drive]]
  
−
They also were one of the few major companies that supported the [[Plus|Plus]] range (especially so since their cartridge game, Burnin' Rubber, was distributed with each CPC+ computer).
+
Although they developed and supported a number of original games and ideas, they will be forever associated in the mind of the casual game with their [[Licenced games|TV & Movie licence games]] and ports of the latest arcade hits from [[Konami]] and [[Taito]], the latest of which Ocean always seemed to be advertising up to six months in advance of release in the magazines of the day!
  
−
During the 80s Ocean was one of the biggest software companies, constantly crunching out new titles.  
+
By the time the CPC had arrived on the scene, Ocean had already beaten their North-East rivals '''Imagine''' who had overreached themselves in the battle for supremacy.  Ocean took on the brand name for themselves and made a number of key releases on the label in the following years.  Simply put, however, every release on the Imagine label for the CPC was in fact made by Ocean.
  
−
At one point they even absorbed Imagine, an ambitious software house that went bust.  
+
As well as Imagine, Ocean developed the '''Hit Squad''' label as a budget house to re-release their old titles (along with a number of other titles by third parties).
  
−
A short-lived serious software arm, [[Ocean IQ|Ocean IQ]], published the [[Laser Basic|Laser Basic]], [[Laser Genius|Laser Genius]] and [[Laser BASIC Compiler|Laser Compiler]] titles.  
+
Their position as one of the key CPC developers is secured thanks to their involvement with the Plus range.  Chosen by Amstrad as an ideal partner to provide launch software, it was Ocean who developed and produced [[Burnin' Rubber]], the game included with the GX4000 and the Plus range of machines.
  
−
Although Ocean put out some really good games, they also built a reputation of publishing trash games based on movie licence after movie licence.  
+
A short-lived serious software arm, '''Ocean IQ''', published the [[Laser Basic|Laser Basic]], [[Laser Genius|Laser Genius]] and [[Laser BASIC Compiler|Laser Compiler]] titles.  
  
−
In 1998 [[Infogrames|Infogrames]] bought Ocean Software.  
+
As with all games developers, and particularly true of a group with the huge output of Ocean, the quality can vary wildly from game to game but thanks to their savvy maketing and more than a few classic games, Ocean will always tend to be remembered favourably.
 +
 
 +
In 1998 the Ocean name finally disappeared when the group, who had been unable to move with the times into the 32-bit era was bought out by [[Infogrames]].
  
 
== Releases for CPC  ==
 
== Releases for CPC  ==
  
−
*[[The Addams Family|The Addams Family]] (1991)
 
−
*[[Adidas Championship Football|Adidas Championship Football]]
 
−
*[[Adidas Championship Tie Break|Adidas Championship Tie Break]]
 
 
*[[Arkanoid 2 - Revenge of Doh|Arkanoid 2 - Revenge of Doh]]  
 
*[[Arkanoid 2 - Revenge of Doh|Arkanoid 2 - Revenge of Doh]]  
 +
 
*[[Batman|Batman]]  
 
*[[Batman|Batman]]  
 
*[[Batman The Movie|Batman The Movie]] (1989)  
 
*[[Batman The Movie|Batman The Movie]] (1989)  
 
*[[Batman The Movie ( Cartridge )|Batman The Movie ( Cartridge )]] (1989)  
 
*[[Batman The Movie ( Cartridge )|Batman The Movie ( Cartridge )]] (1989)  
 
*[[Batman the Caped Crusader|Batman the Caped Crusader]]  
 
*[[Batman the Caped Crusader|Batman the Caped Crusader]]  
 +
 
*[[Battle Command|Battle Command]]  
 
*[[Battle Command|Battle Command]]  
 
*[[Beach Volley|Beach Volley]]  
 
*[[Beach Volley|Beach Volley]]  
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*[[Cabal|Cabal]]  
 
*[[Cabal|Cabal]]  
 
*[[Chase HQ|Chase HQ]]  
 
*[[Chase HQ|Chase HQ]]  
−
*[[Cobra Stallone|Cobra Stallone]]
 
 
*[[Combat School|Combat School]]  
 
*[[Combat School|Combat School]]  
−
*[[Daley Thompson's Decathlon|Daley Thompson's Decathlon]]
 
−
*[[Daley Thompson's Olympic Challenge|Daley Thompson's Olympic Challenge]]
 
−
*[[Daley Thompson's Supertest|Daley Thompson's Supertest]]
 
 
*[[Darkman|Darkman]]  
 
*[[Darkman|Darkman]]  
 
*[[Donkey Kong|Donkey Kong]]  
 
*[[Donkey Kong|Donkey Kong]]  
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*[[Gilligan's Gold|Gilligan's Gold]]  
 
*[[Gilligan's Gold|Gilligan's Gold]]  
 
*[[The Great Escape|The Great Escape]]  
 
*[[The Great Escape|The Great Escape]]  
−
*[[Gryzor|Gryzor]]  
+
*[[Gryzor|Gryzor]] Known as Contra too on other systems.
 
*[[Head Over Heels|Head Over Heels]]  
 
*[[Head Over Heels|Head Over Heels]]  
−
*[[Highlander|Highlander]]
 
−
*[[Hudson Hawk|Hudson Hawk]]
 
 
*[[Hunchback|Hunchback]]  
 
*[[Hunchback|Hunchback]]  
 
*[[Hunchback II - Quasimodo's Revenge|Hunchback II - Quasimodo's Revenge]]  
 
*[[Hunchback II - Quasimodo's Revenge|Hunchback II - Quasimodo's Revenge]]  
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*[[It's a Knockout|It's a Knockout]]  
 
*[[It's a Knockout|It's a Knockout]]  
 
*[[Knight Bride|Knight Bride]]  
 
*[[Knight Bride|Knight Bride]]  
−
*[[Knight Rider|Knight Rider]]
 
 
*[[Kong Strikes Back|Kong Strikes Back]]  
 
*[[Kong Strikes Back|Kong Strikes Back]]  
 
*[[Madballs|Madballs]]  
 
*[[Madballs|Madballs]]  
 
*[[Mario Bros.|Mario Bros.]]  
 
*[[Mario Bros.|Mario Bros.]]  
−
*[[Match Day|Match Day]]
 
−
*[[Matchday 2|Matchday 2]]
 
−
*[[Miami Vice|Miami Vice]]
 
 
*[[Midnight Resistance|Midnight Resistance]]  
 
*[[Midnight Resistance|Midnight Resistance]]  
 
*[[Mutants|Mutants]]  
 
*[[Mutants|Mutants]]  
 
*[[Narc|Narc]]  
 
*[[Narc|Narc]]  
−
*[[Navy Seals|Navy Seals]]
 
−
*[[Never Ending Story|Never Ending Story]]
 
 
*[[The New Zealand Story|The New Zealand Story]]  
 
*[[The New Zealand Story|The New Zealand Story]]  
−
*[[Night Breed|Night Breed]]
 
 
*[[Nomad|Nomad]]  
 
*[[Nomad|Nomad]]  
−
*[[Operation Thunderbolt|Operation Thunderbolt]]
 
−
*[[Operation Wolf|Operation Wolf]]
 
−
*[[Pang|Pang]]
 
 
*[[Phantom Club|Phantom Club]]  
 
*[[Phantom Club|Phantom Club]]  
 
*[[Platoon|Platoon]]  
 
*[[Platoon|Platoon]]  
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*[[Puzznic|Puzznic]]  
 
*[[Puzznic|Puzznic]]  
 
*[[Rainbow Islands|Rainbow Islands]]  
 
*[[Rainbow Islands|Rainbow Islands]]  
 +
*[[Renegade]]
 +
*[[Run for Gold|Run for Gold]]
 +
*[[Run the Gauntlet|Run the Gauntlet]]
 +
*[[Super Wondeboy in Monsterland|Super Wondeboy in Monsterland]]
 +
*[[Tai-Pan]]
 +
*[[Tank|Tank]]
 +
*[[Target Renegade|Target Renegade]]
 +
*[[Top Gun|Top Gun]]
 +
*[[Track & Field|Track & Field]]
 +
*[[Typhoon (Ocean)|Typhoon]]
 +
*[[The Vindicator|The Vindicator]]
 +
*[[Where Time Stoods Still|Where Time Stoods Still]]
 +
*[[Wizball|Wizball]]
 +
 +
 +
'''Movies or TV Licenses :'''
 +
 +
*[[The Addams Family|The Addams Family]] (1991)
 +
*[[Cobra Stallone|Cobra Stallone]]
 +
*[[Highlander|Highlander]]
 +
*[[Hudson Hawk|Hudson Hawk]]
 +
*[[Knight Rider|Knight Rider]]
 +
*[[Miami Vice|Miami Vice]]
 +
*[[Navy Seals (cartridge)|Navy Seals (Cartridge)]]
 +
*[[Never Ending Story|Never Ending Story]]
 +
*[[Night Breed|Night Breed]]
 +
*[[Red Heat|Red Heat]]
 
*[[Rambo - First Blood 2|Rambo - First Blood 2]]  
 
*[[Rambo - First Blood 2|Rambo - First Blood 2]]  
 
*[[Rambo 3|Rambo 3]]  
 
*[[Rambo 3|Rambo 3]]  
−
*[[Rastan|Rastan]]
 
−
*[[Red Heat|Red Heat]]
 
 
*[[Robocop|Robocop]] (1987)  
 
*[[Robocop|Robocop]] (1987)  
−
*[[Robocop 2|Robocop 2]]  
+
*[[Robocop 2 (cartridge)|Robocop 2 (Cartridge)]]  
−
*[[Robocop 3|Robocop 3]]  
+
*[[Robocop 3|Robocop 3]] Unreleased.
−
*[[Run for Gold|Run for Gold]]  
+
*[[Terminator 2|Terminator 2]]
−
*[[Run the Gauntlet|Run the Gauntlet]]  
+
*[[The Untouchables|The Untouchables]]
−
*[[Shadow Warriors|Shadow Warriors]]  
+
*[[V - The Visitors|V - The Visitors]]  
 +
*[[Top Gun|Top Gun]]  
 +
*[[Total Recall|Total Recall]]  
 
*[[Short Circuit|Short Circuit]]  
 
*[[Short Circuit|Short Circuit]]  
 
*[[Short Circuit 2|Short Circuit 2]]  
 
*[[Short Circuit 2|Short Circuit 2]]  
 
*[[Simpsons: Bart vs. The Space Mutants|Simpsons: Bart vs. The Space Mutants]]  
 
*[[Simpsons: Bart vs. The Space Mutants|Simpsons: Bart vs. The Space Mutants]]  
−
*[[Sly Spy|Sly Spy]]  
+
*[[Street Hawk|Street Hawk]]
 +
 
 +
'''Arcade Licenses :'''
 +
 
 +
*[[Operation Thunderbolt|Operation Thunderbolt]]
 +
*[[Operation Wolf|Operation Wolf]]
 +
*[[Pang|Pang]]
 +
*[[Rastan|Rastan]]
 +
*[[Shadow Warriors|Shadow Warriors]]  
 
*[[Smash TV|Smash TV]]  
 
*[[Smash TV|Smash TV]]  
 
*[[Space Gun|Space Gun]]  
 
*[[Space Gun|Space Gun]]  
−
*[[Street Hawk|Street Hawk]]  
+
*[[Toki|Toki]] (Cartridge) unreleased VaporWare.
 +
*[[Sly Spy|Sly Spy]]
 +
 
 +
 
 +
'''Sport Licenses'''
 +
 
 +
*[[Adidas Championship Football|Adidas Championship Football]]
 +
*[[Adidas Championship Tie Break|Adidas Championship Tie Break]]
 +
*[[Daley Thompson's Decathlon|Daley Thompson's Decathlon]]
 +
*[[Daley Thompson's Olympic Challenge|Daley Thompson's Olympic Challenge]]
 +
*[[Daley Thompson's Supertest|Daley Thompson's Supertest]]
 +
*[[Match Day|Match Day]]
 +
*[[Matchday 2|Matchday 2]]  
 
*[[Super Test Decathlon|Super Test Decathlon]]  
 
*[[Super Test Decathlon|Super Test Decathlon]]  
−
*[[Super Wondeboy in Monsterland|Super Wondeboy in Monsterland]]
 
 
*[[Superbowl|Superbowl]]  
 
*[[Superbowl|Superbowl]]  
−
*[[Tai Pan|Tai Pan]]
 
−
*[[Tank|Tank]]
 
−
*[[Target Renegade|Target Renegade]]
 
−
*[[Terminator 2|Terminator 2]]
 
−
*[[Toki|Toki]]
 
−
*[[Top Gun|Top Gun]]
 
−
*[[Total Recall|Total Recall]]
 
−
*[[Track & Field|Track & Field]]
 
−
*[[Typhoon (Ocean)|Typhoon]]
 
−
*[[The Untouchables|The Untouchables]]
 
−
*[[V - The Visitors|V - The Visitors]]
 
−
*[[The Vindicator|The Vindicator]]
 
−
*[[Where Time Stoods Still|Where Time Stoods Still]]
 
−
*[[Wizball|Wizball]]
 
 
*[[World Cup Carnival 86|World Cup Carnival 86]]  
 
*[[World Cup Carnival 86|World Cup Carnival 86]]  
 
*[[WWF Wrestlemania Challenge|WWF Wrestlemania Challenge]]
 
*[[WWF Wrestlemania Challenge|WWF Wrestlemania Challenge]]
  
−
[[Category:CPC_related_companies]] [[Category:Computer_and_video_game_companies]]
+
 
 +
== Gallery ==
 +
 
 +
<gallery> caption="screenshots">
 +
Image:SOTB Comparatif 2.png‎| Shadow of the Beast by Psygnosis/[[Ocean]]
 +
Image:Ocean.png‎| Various [[Ocean]] intro pages
 +
Image:Divers 01.png‎| Various [[Ocean]](mostly) intro pages
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
[[Category:CPC_related_companies]] [[Category:Computer_and_video_game_companies]][[Category:UK companies]]

Latest revision as of 21:59, 4 February 2017

Ocean Software, founded in 1982 by David Ward and Jon Woods, was one of the biggest European games developers across all home computing platforms.

As well as an impressive back catalogue of CPC games, Ocean's has left a legacy touching every major gaming platform of the 1980s including the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Atari ST, Amiga, PC, NES, SNES, Master System and Mega Drive

Although they developed and supported a number of original games and ideas, they will be forever associated in the mind of the casual game with their TV & Movie licence games and ports of the latest arcade hits from Konami and Taito, the latest of which Ocean always seemed to be advertising up to six months in advance of release in the magazines of the day!

By the time the CPC had arrived on the scene, Ocean had already beaten their North-East rivals Imagine who had overreached themselves in the battle for supremacy. Ocean took on the brand name for themselves and made a number of key releases on the label in the following years. Simply put, however, every release on the Imagine label for the CPC was in fact made by Ocean.

As well as Imagine, Ocean developed the Hit Squad label as a budget house to re-release their old titles (along with a number of other titles by third parties).

Their position as one of the key CPC developers is secured thanks to their involvement with the Plus range. Chosen by Amstrad as an ideal partner to provide launch software, it was Ocean who developed and produced Burnin' Rubber, the game included with the GX4000 and the Plus range of machines.

A short-lived serious software arm, Ocean IQ, published the Laser Basic, Laser Genius and Laser Compiler titles.

As with all games developers, and particularly true of a group with the huge output of Ocean, the quality can vary wildly from game to game but thanks to their savvy maketing and more than a few classic games, Ocean will always tend to be remembered favourably.

In 1998 the Ocean name finally disappeared when the group, who had been unable to move with the times into the 32-bit era was bought out by Infogrames.

Releases for CPC


Movies or TV Licenses :

Arcade Licenses :


Sport Licenses


Gallery

  • Shadow of the Beast by Psygnosis/Ocean

  • Various Ocean intro pages

  • Various Ocean(mostly) intro pages

Retrieved from "https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php?title=Ocean_Software&oldid=97147"