Wikipedia

989 Studios

(Redirected from 989 Sports)

989 Studios was a division of Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) that developed games for PlayStation consoles and Windows personal computers. Their games include EverQuest, Twisted Metal III, Twisted Metal 4, Syphon Filter, Syphon Filter 2, Jet Moto 3, Bust a Groove, and others.

989 Studios
FormerlySony Interactive Studios America (1995–1998)
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
PredecessorSony Imagesoft
FoundedAugust 17, 1995; 31 years ago (1995-08-17) (original)
2001; 25 years ago (2001) (relaunch)
Defunct2000 (2000) (original)
2005 (2005) (relaunch)
FateDissolved following a merger with Sony Computer Entertainment America
HeadquartersFoster City, California, United States
ParentSony Interactive Entertainment (1995–1997)
Sony Computer Entertainment America (1997–2000)

History

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The 989 Sports name developed from a long history of name changes and corporate shuffling within Sony centered around operations in Foster City, California.

As Sony Interactive Studios America

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On August 17, 1995, the video game business of Sony Imagesoft was merged with the product development branch of SCEA, renaming to Sony Interactive Studios America (SISA) and the PC division of Sony Imagesoft became Sony Interactive PC Software America, which was consolidated with the US PC arm of Psygnosis, led by Ray Sangler,[1][2] with Sony Interactive Sports launching as the sports label.[3][4][5][6] The unit was continued to be run by president Kelly Flock, who improves to run it, after being formerly operated under the Sony Imagesoft name.[7] The parent company itself, Sony Electronic Publishing, was then renamed to Sony Interactive Entertainment.[1][8]

In 1996, the name Sony Interactive PC Software America was dropped in favor of using the SISA and Psygnosis brand names for PC, also dropping the Sony Imagesoft logo, while the following year, Twisted Metal 2 and Jet Moto went into multiplayer for PC.[9] In early 1997, all assets of SCEA, SCEE and SISA, the production arm was transferred from complete control from Sony Interactive Entertainment to Sony Computer Entertainment.[10][11][12][13]

Development offices continued to be operated in San Diego, California. In mid 1995, SingleTrac decided to extend its contract with Sony to develop its 3D game technology.[14] In December 1995, SingleTrac, a game developer affiliated when the studio was Sony Imagesoft, extended its deal with SISA for two additional games for the studio, which included the Jet Moto games.[15] In 1996, members of the NHL FaceOff team at SISA left to form an independent game developer, Killer Game.[16] Some members left Killer Game to form SolWorks in 1998.[17]

In 1997, team members from SISA leave to form an independent game developer, RedZone Interactive.[18] Also that year, team members leave SISA to form an independent game developer, Idol Minds.[19][20][21] In late 1997, the company signed a deal with upstart Don Traeger Productions to develop games for PlayStation, and its first title will be an action sports title.[22] Only one title, Jet Moto 3, came out of the deal as the studio, who by then, was Pacific Coast Power and Light, was sold to THQ.[23] Also that year, development of the NBA ShootOut series was transferred from the London SCEE studio to the San Diego studio of SISA.[24]

Spin-off and reorganization as 989 Studios

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In 1998, SISA was spun off from SCEA, with the intent to became an autonomous and independent video game publisher and brand label for SCEA in a similar manner Psygnosis operated from SCEE and the video game division of Sony Music Entertainment Japan operating from SCEI, and given its own marketing team with Sony handling distribution functions, after having its titles being published and marketed by SCEA[25][26] and later on, it was renamed 989 Studios, and its sports label was renamed to 989 Sports.[27][28][29]

The online division of 989 was spun off as RedEye Interactive, which was later renamed to Verant Interactive in 1999 due to domain issues, before it was sold to Sony Online Entertainment in 2000.[30][31] Psygnosis' North American operations were eventually merged into 989 Studios as its European operations of the company was sold off to Eidos Interactive.[32] In late 1998, the studio established a development office in Santa Monica, and took over production and design of its development of most non-sports titles from Foster City, while its sports titles and some general titles were remained to be in its own San Diego studio.[33]

The company made its first hit as an independent game publisher with Bust a Groove, a localization of Enix's Bust a Move, which was renamed for obvious reasons due to Acclaim already using the title and it came with a major marketing campaign.[34][35] In 1999, the company made its breakout title as an independent game publisher with Syphon Filter, to critical acclaim.[36]

On April 1, 2000, 989 Studios was merged back into SCEA as a first party development group, in order to prepare for the then-upcoming PlayStation 2. Most of its employees had left its company, including president Kelly Flock. After 989 was dissolved, the Santa Monica development team became Santa Monica Studio and the San Diego sports and general development team became San Diego Studio.[29]

SCEA continued to release sports games under the 989 Sports brand[29][37] until the brand was retired in 2005 and all future sports games continued to be published under SCEA and it was renamed to SCEA Sports Studio.[38] During the days when 989 Sports was a SCEA label, the company managed the European import Formula One 2001, after being previously published by Psygnosis as an independent publisher, then Midway for Formula One 2000,[39] and the World Tour Soccer games, which were localizations of the previously European-exclusive This is Football series, in addition to titles created by the San Diego studios.[40] In 2003, the label launched 989 Sports Online, which was later shuttered after 989 Sports was folded into SCEA itself.[41]

Games published or produced

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Title Platform Genre Release date Developer References
2Xtreme PlayStation Racing November 8, 1996 Sony Interactive Studios America
3Xtreme PlayStation April 21, 1999 989 Studios
Blasto PlayStation Third-person shooter April 16, 1998 Sony Interactive Studios America
Bust a Groove PlayStation Rhythm November 25, 1998 Metro
Cardinal Syn PlayStation Fighting August 25, 1998 Kronos Digital Entertainment
CART World Series PlayStation Racing October 1997 Sony Interactive Studios America
Cool Boarders 3 PlayStation Snowboarding October 27, 1998 Idol Minds
Cool Boarders 4 PlayStation Snowboarding October 26, 1999
CyberStrike 2 Microsoft Windows Mech simulation November 17, 1998 Simutronics [42]
ESPN Extreme Games PlayStation Racing September 9, 1995 Sony Interactive Studios America
MS-DOS February 27, 1996
EverQuest Microsoft Windows Massively multiplayer online role-playing game March 16, 1999 989 Studios [42]
Formula One 2001 PlayStation 2 Racing October 2, 2001 Studio Liverpool [43]
Jet Moto PlayStation November 8, 1996 SingleTrac
Jet Moto 2 PlayStation November 11, 1997
Jet Moto 3 PlayStation August 30, 1999 Pacific Coast Power & Light
MLB Pennant Race PlayStation Sports October 14, 1996 Sony Interactive Studios America
MLB '98 PlayStation August 1997
MLB '99 PlayStation April 14, 1998
MLB 2000 PlayStation March 29, 1999 989 Sports
MLB 2001 PlayStation March 28, 2000
MLB 2002 PlayStation May 7, 2001 San Diego Studio
MLB 2003 PlayStation June 17, 2002
MLB 2004 PlayStation April 30, 2003
PlayStation 2 March 10, 2003
MLB 2005 PlayStation March 16, 2004
PlayStation 2
MLB 2006 PlayStation 2 March 8, 2005
PlayStation Portable April 12, 2005
NBA ShootOut PlayStation March 28, 1996 Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
NBA ShootOut '97 PlayStation March 11, 1997
NBA ShootOut 98 PlayStation March 11, 1998 Sony Interactive Studios America
NBA ShootOut 2000 PlayStation December 21, 1999 989 Sports
NBA ShootOut 2001 PlayStation October 24, 2000 Killer Game
PlayStation 2 February 21, 2001 San Diego Studio
NBA ShootOut 2002 PlayStation September 21, 2001 Killer Game
NBA ShootOut 2003 PlayStation September 24, 2002
PlayStation 2 San Diego Studio
NBA ShootOut 2004 PlayStation October 6, 2003 Killer Game
PlayStation 2 October 29, 2003 San Diego Studio
NBA PlayStation Portable March 24, 2005
NCAA Gamebreaker PlayStation September 19, 1996 Sony Interactive Studios America
NCAA Gamebreaker 98 PlayStation November 21, 1997
NCAA GameBreaker 99 PlayStation October 27, 1998 Red Zone Interactive, Inc.
NCAA GameBreaker 2000 PlayStation August 11, 1999
NCAA GameBreaker 2001 PlayStation August 22, 2000
PlayStation 2 December 19, 2000
NCAA GameBreaker 2003 PlayStation 2 August 13, 2002 San Diego Studio[a]
NCAA GameBreaker 2004 PlayStation 2 August 26, 2003
NCAA Final Four 99 PlayStation January 13, 1999 Killer Game
NCAA Final Four 2000 PlayStation November 17, 1999
NCAA Final Four 2001 PlayStation November 16, 2000
PlayStation 2 December 19, 2000
NCAA Final Four 2002 PlayStation 2 November 12, 2001
NCAA Final Four 2003 PlayStation 2 November 27, 2002
NCAA Final Four 2004 PlayStation 2 November 11, 2003
NFL GameDay PlayStation December 4, 1995 Sony Interactive Studios America
NFL GameDay '97 PlayStation December 4, 1996
NFL GameDay 98 PlayStation September 1997
NFL GameDay 99 PlayStation August 25, 1998 Red Zone Interactive, Inc.
Microsoft Windows September 1998
NFL GameDay 2000 PlayStation August 11, 1999
NFL GameDay 2001 PlayStation August 15, 2000
PlayStation 2 November 16, 2000
NFL GameDay 2002 PlayStation August 7, 2001 San Diego Studio[b]
PlayStation 2 December 4, 2001
NFL GameDay 2003 PlayStation August 13, 2002
PlayStation 2
NFL GameDay 2004 PlayStation August 26, 2003
PlayStation 2
NFL GameDay 2005 PlayStation August 1, 2004
NFL Xtreme PlayStation July 13, 1998 989 Sports
NFL Xtreme 2 PlayStation July 20, 1999
NHL FaceOff PlayStation December 19, 1995 Sony Interactive Studios America
NHL FaceOff '97 PlayStation October 22, 1996 Killer Game [16]
NHL FaceOff 98 PlayStation October 31, 1997
NHL FaceOff 99 PlayStation September 30, 1998 [17]
NHL FaceOff 2000 PlayStation September 15, 1999 SolWorks
NHL FaceOff 2001 PlayStation September 5, 2000
PlayStation 2 February 6, 2001
NHL FaceOff 2003 PlayStation 2 November 5, 2002
Gretzky NHL 2005 PlayStation 2 November 9, 2004 Page 44 Studios
PlayStation Portable March 14, 2005
Rally Cross PlayStation Racing February 28, 1997 Sony Interactive Studios America
Rally Cross 2 PlayStation November 1998 Idol Minds
Running Wild PlayStation October 6, 1998 Universal Interactive Studios/Blue Shift
Spawn: The Eternal PlayStation Beat 'em up December 9, 1997 Sony Interactive Studios America
Steel Reign PlayStation Vehicular combat October 9, 1997 Chantemar Creations
Supercross Circuit PlayStation Racing November 9, 1999 Idol Minds
Syphon Filter PlayStation Third-person shooter February 17, 1999 Eidetic
Syphon Filter 2 PlayStation March 14, 2000
Tanarus Microsoft Windows Multiplayer first-person shooter December 12, 1997 Sony Interactive Studios America
Twisted Metal PlayStation Vehicular combat September 9, 1995 SingleTrac [44]
Twisted Metal 2 PlayStation November 8, 1996 SingleTrac [45]
Microsoft Windows November 13, 1997
Twisted Metal III PlayStation November 10, 1998 989 Studios
Twisted Metal 4 PlayStation November 16, 1999
Warhawk PlayStation Combat flight simulation September 9, 1995 SingleTrac [44]
World Tour Soccer 2002 PlayStation 2 Sports February 17, 2002 Team Soho
World Tour Soccer 2003 PlayStation 2 February 10, 2003 London Studio
World Tour Soccer 2005 PlayStation 2 April 13, 2004

Games unreleased

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Title Platform Genre Release date Notes
Big Guns (Exodus) PlayStation Action Unreleased Developed by Neversoft Entertainment, cancelled in November 1997[46][47]
Jet Moto 2124 PlayStation Racing Unreleased Developed by Pacific Coast Power & Light[48]
NBA ShootOut 99 PlayStation Sports Unreleased Cancelled in early 1999[49]
Xena: Warrior Princess PlayStation Action Unreleased Publishing rights sold to Electronic Arts[50]
Virus PlayStation Action Unreleased Cancelled in late 1995[51]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ Developed under the Red Zone Interactive name
  2. ↑ Developed under the Red Zone Interactive name

References

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  1. 1 2 Sony Electronic Publishing Co. renamed; Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. is established. Business Wire, August 17, 1995.
  2. ↑ "Consumer Electronics Personals" (PDF). Television Digest. August 21, 1995. p. 15. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  3. ↑ Harmon, Amy (August 18, 1995). "Company Town". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  4. ↑ "News Notes". Play Meter. September 1995. p. 3.
  5. ↑ Meston, Zach (August 1995). "PlayStation Hits the Nation". Videogame Advisor. p. 3.
  6. ↑ "Ghosts of Consoles Past". Game Players. July 1995. p. 31. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  7. ↑ "How the heck did he turn Imagesoft around?". Next Generation. September 1998. pp. 108–112. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  8. ↑ Harmon, Amy (August 18, 1995). "Company Town". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  9. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (April 26, 1997). "Twisted Metal Goes Multiplayer". IGN. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Sony Merges Control of PS". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 92. Ziff Davis. March 1997. p. 18.
  11. ↑ "Business Development/North America". Sony Computer Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 22, 2004. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Sony of Japan: You da man". PS Extreme. March 1997. p. 15. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  13. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (January 7, 1997). "SCEI Consolidates Ownership Of PlayStation-related Companies". IGN. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  14. ↑ "SINGLETRAC TO DEVELOP 2 SONY GAMES". Deseret News. August 28, 1995. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  15. ↑ "At the Deadline". GamePro. No. 87. IDG. December 1995. p. 206.
  16. 1 2 "NHL FaceOff '97". GamePro. December 1996. p. 179. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  17. 1 2 "NHL FaceOff 2000". PS Extreme. November 1999. p. 90. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  18. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (January 23, 2001). "Sony Acquires Red Zone". IGN. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  19. ↑ "info". Idol Minds. Archived from the original on May 29, 1998.
  20. ↑ Thomas, David (March 10, 2003). "Preteens may follow 'My Street' online Louisville's Idol Minds aims to expand appeal of Internet gaming". The Denver Post. Digital First Media. Archived from the original on October 10, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  21. ↑ Mook, Bob (November 20, 2005). "Louisville company tries to leave mark in video game world". Denver Business Journal. American City Business Journals. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  22. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (December 3, 1997). "Industry Veteran Founds Development House". IGN. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  23. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (June 5, 1999). "Jet Moto 3". IGN. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  24. ↑ "NBA ShootOut '98". Ultra Game Players. December 1997. p. 145. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  25. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (March 26, 1998). "Sony Splits". IGN. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  26. ↑ "SISA Goes Independent". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. June 1998. p. 20.
  27. ↑ "SISA Becomes 989". GameSpot. June 2, 1998. Archived from the original on October 12, 2000. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  28. ↑ "SISA Changes to 989, Psygnosis Brings Microsoft, Activision Revives Classics". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. August 1998. p. 24.
  29. 1 2 3 IGN Staff (February 4, 2000). "Sony Swallows 989 Studios". IGN. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  30. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (February 5, 1999). "EverQuest Developer Changes Name". IGN. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  31. ↑ Keefer, John (March 31, 2006). "GameSpy Retro: Developer Origins, Page 19 of 19". GameSpy. Archived from the original on June 9, 2007.
  32. ↑ "Psygnosis Split Down the Middle?". GameSpot. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  33. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (November 6, 1998). "989's New So Cal Digs". IGN. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  34. ↑ Perry, Doug (November 26, 1998). "Bust-a-Groove". IGN. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  35. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (December 22, 1998). "989 Grooves Into Clubs with Promos". IGN. Retrieved July 1, 2026.
  36. ↑ Perry, Doug (February 18, 1999). "Syphon Filter". IGN. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  37. ↑ McGehee, Michael (March 9, 2000). "Sony set to fold 989 studio". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  38. ↑ "989 No More". GameSpot. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  39. ↑ Edwards, Ralph (October 8, 2001). "Formula One 2001". IGN. Retrieved July 1, 2026.
  40. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (February 27, 2002). "World Tour Soccer 2002". IGN. Retrieved July 1, 2026.
  41. ↑ "989 Sports Online date confirmed". GameSpot. Retrieved July 1, 2026.
  42. 1 2 "989 Studios PC Games". www.989studios.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 1999. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  43. ↑ Edwards, Ralph (October 8, 2001). "Formula One 2001". IGN. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  44. 1 2 "From Space Stations to PlayStations". GamePro. September 1995. p. 34. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  45. ↑ "At the Deadline". GamePro. No. 87. IDG. December 1995. p. 206.
  46. ↑ Helgeson, Matt. "Big Guns, Big Air, Big Riffs: A Look Back at Neversoft (1994-2014)". Game Informer. Archived from the original on July 13, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  47. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (June 19, 1997). "E3: Sony Slams Into Shooters with Exodus". IGN. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  48. ↑ Moriarty, Colin (June 20, 2012). "PlayStation Should Revive These 10 Franchises". IGN. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  49. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (January 29, 1999). "989 Scraps Shootout 99". IGN. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  50. ↑ "videogames.com Rewind". GameSpot. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  51. ↑ "Big Guns (Exodus) [Playstation – Cancelled]". unseen64.net. April 27, 2010. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
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