Universal Interactive

Logo descriptions by EnormousRat, 20thCenturyFoxLover and CuriousGeorge60 Logo captures by 20thCenturyFoxLover and EnormousRat Editions by CuriousGeorge60 Video captures courtesy of HatPerson, Transmorph667, and others

Background: Universal Interactive (originally 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 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 blue 3D globe with red 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 blue rectangle.

Variants: There's a still version of this logo which looks a little flatter; also, the company name is all in 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) Crash Bandicoot 2 variantRunning Wild variantCrash Bandicoot Warped variant Universal Interactive (2001)Universal Interactive Studios (2000) Universal Interactive (2002)Hulk (2003) variantCrash Nitro Kart variant.

Nicknames: "The Universal Globe II", "The Print Globe"

Logo: We see the still print version of the 1997 Universal Pictures 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 along with the 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 is against the space background during the opening intro. Plus, the logo appears via zooming. On Running Wild, the standard logo is on the starfield background and the copyright notice is intact. On the trailer for The Grinch, there were 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 against the mists-like background. On Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure, the logo is on "starry" background. Plus 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, pink license plate and the text under the logo are outlined. This plate is attached to Crash's kart, and breaks off and spins down face-up where he starts to drive. The version for GBA 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 it's sequels, Ripto's Rage (known as Gateway to Glimmer outside 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 blue 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. Universal Interactive (2003) FX/SFX: Moving traces, flying letters.

Music/Sounds: First, 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) Universal Interactive (2003)Universal Interactive (Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly)Check Six Games and Universal Interactive (Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly) Nicknames: "The Universal Globe IV", "The Print Globe III"

Logo: Against a black or white background, we see a similar print version of the 1997 Universal Pictures logo with "INTERACTIVE" below it inside a stylized blue 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 Games 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 2: N-Traced, Spyro 2: Season of Flame, Spyro: Attack of the Rhynocs, and The Incredible Hulk. It also can be seen on the console titles Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly for GameCube and PlayStation 2 and the GameCube port 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.