Universal Interactive

Background
Universal Interactive (formerly known as Universal Interactive Studios until 2001) was a video game company originally owned by Universal Studios. It was focused on developing and publishing games based on original content (most notably the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro game series, both of which are currently owned by Activision Blizzard) and Universal Studios characters, movies, and television series. In 2000, the company was merged into Vivendi Universal and became its internal studio. In 2004, the company was folded into Vivendi Universal Games (later "Vivendi Games"); since then, the standard Universal logos of the time have been used on licensed titles.

1st Logo (May 10, 1994-1997)
Nicknames: "CGI Globe", "The Universal Globe"

Logo: On a black background, a 3D globe with  continents flies towards us. When it stops, the words "universal interactive studios", written in one line and in a custom font, appear over the globe with "interactive" in a rectangle.

Variants:
 * There is a still version of this logo which looks a little flatter, and the company name is all white.
 * On Way of the Warrior, after the logo finishes its animation, it segues into the Naughty Dog logo.
 * On Crash Bandicoot, the copyright notice is under the still logo.

FX/SFX: The globe flying.

Music/Sounds: None or the opening theme of the game.

Availability: Rare. The animated version appears on Jurassic Park Interactive and Way of the Warrior on 3DO. The still version appears on Crash Bandicoot and Disruptor for PlayStation.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (October 31, 1997-2004)
Nicknames: "The Universal Globe II", "The Print Globe"

Logo: We see the still print version of the 1997 Universal Studios logo. Under it are the stacked words "UNIVERSAL INTERACTIVE STUDIOS" with "UNIVERSAL" above "INTERACTIVE STUDIOS".

Variants:
 * There is another variant where the logo is in print form and the background is either white or black.
 * Sometimes, the copyright notice is under the logo.
 * Since 1998, the website URL "www.universalstudios.com" is under the logo.
 * On Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped and Spyro the Dragon, the copyright notice and website URL are all yellow.
 * Since 2000, the website URL reads "www.universalinteractive.com".
 * Starting in 2001, "UNIVERSAL INTERACTIVE STUDIOS" was changed to "UNIVERSAL INTERACTIVE".
 * On Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, the logo appears via zooming on a space background during the opening intro.
 * On Running Wild, the standard logo is on a starfield background and the copyright notice is intact.
 * On the trailer for The Grinch, there are no continents and no "UNIVERSAL" below the globe. On the game itself, the print artwork version appears, but without "INTERACTIVE STUDIOS" below the logo.
 * On The Mummy, the print artwork version appears without "INTERACTIVE STUDIOS" or the copyright, and then turns into a sun.
 * On The Mummy Returns, the logo is on a misty-like background.
 * On Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure, the logo is on a "starry" background. Also, it zooms in from the start and zooms through at the end to make room for the Vicarious Visions logo.
 * On Bruce Lee: Return of the Legend for GBA, there is no URL.
 * On Crash Nitro Kart, the logo is on a shiny license plate and the text under the logo is outlined. This plate is attached to Crash's kart, and breaks off and spins down face-up where he starts to drive. The GBA version has this plate in still form.

FX/SFX: None. The zooming on the Crash Bandicoot 2 and 3 variants.

Music/Sounds: None or the opening theme of the game.

Availability: Appears on Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back and Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped for PlayStation. Also appears on other games through the era such as Spyro the Dragon (and its sequels, Ripto's Rage (known as Gateway to Glimmer outside the US) and Year of the Dragon), The Mummy, Running Wild, Woody Woodpecker Racing for PlayStation, Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure and Monster Force for Game Boy Advance, and Bruce Lee: Quest Of The Dragon for Xbox.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo (September 11, 2002-March 10, 2003)


Nicknames: "The Universal Globe III", "The Print Globe II", "Flying Letters"

Logo: The camera zooms in around some moving circular traces. During that, the words "UNIVERSAL INTERACTIVE", along with the website URL "www.universalinteractive.com" below it, fade in under the particles. The tracing particles clear out, and the familiar globe fades in the center. The letters of "UNIVERSAL" fly, rotating from beyond the screen and take their places, forming the logo.

FX/SFX: The moving traces and flying letters.

Music/Sounds: Some wheezing sounds of the circular particles, then typewriter-like effects when "UNIVERSAL" flies.

Availability: Rare. This only appeared on Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis and The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian.

Editor's Note: None.

4th Logo (2002-2003)
Nicknames: "The Universal Globe IV", "The Print Globe III"

Logo: On a black or white background, we see a similar print version of the 1997 Universal Studios logo with "INTERACTIVE" below it inside a stylized square.

Variant: On the end credits to Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly, the logo fades in with parts of the copyright text surrounding the logo (that are not seen at normal field of view at 4:3) and the Check Six Studios logo behind the copyright and this logo. When the fade window fades to black and fades in again, the Universal Interactive logo moves down below the text.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None or the opening theme of the game.

Availability: Can be seen on many Game Boy Advance titles released during this time period, like Crash Bandicoot: N-Traced, Spyro 2: Season of Flame, Spyro: Attack of the Rhynocs, and The Incredible Hulk. It can also be seen on the console titles Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly for GameCube and PlayStation 2 and the GameCube version of 4x4 EVO 2. However, on some games, the logo was used on the cover art, but uses the 2nd or 3rd logo on the games themselves.

Editor's Note: None.