Factor 5

Background
Factor 5 GmbH is an independent software and video game developer. The company was co-founded by five former Rainbow Arts employees in 1987 in Cologne, Germany, which served as the inspiration behind the studio's name. In order to have a stronger relationship with Factor 5's North American partners like LucasArts, Factor 5, Inc. was established in the United States in May 1996 with legal support from LucasArts, and in late 1996 the core of the development team in Germany was relocated to the North American company headquarters in San Rafael, California. Julian Eggebrecht, one of the five initial co-founders, served as President of Factor 5's U.S. branch.

The U.S. company closed in May 2009 following the closure of Brash Entertainment, with which the company had multiple contracts. The original German company, headed by CEO Achim Moller, remained active due to its unrelated business policy and operations with the North American company. However in January 2011, Moller liquidated Factor 5 GmbH, and all game licenses were transferred to "Eggebrecht, Engel, Schmidt GbR". On March 15, 2017, Factor 5 co-founder Julian Eggebrecht had announced that the company has returned and reacquired the rights to the Turrican franchise.

1st Logo (1988-1991)
Visuals: On the credits of the game or on the title screen is the word "FACTOR" in a futuristic font, and below it is the number "5". There are three lines between the words and a number. A spark is shown on the top right of the "5".

Technique: A still, sprite-based graphic.

Audio: None or the opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on the Amiga versions of Katakis and R-Type, and the Amiga and Atari ST versions of Turrican and Turrican II: The Final Fight.

2nd Logo (December 1992-1994)


Visuals: On a black background, the word "FACTOR" flies around letter by letter in a Stop font. Then a number "5" draws in behind "FACTOR" and flashes from white, then reverts back to. A small box with "DOLBY SURROUND" in a tall font appears on the bottom of the right of the logo.

Technique: Sprite animation.

Audio: Six THX-like sound effects as the letters fly, along with various ascending drones.

Audio Variants:
 * On Turrican 3, various whooshing sounds as the letters fly, along with an explosion, and a different drone sound.
 * On Tony & Friends in Kellog's Land for Amiga and Amiga CD32, there is only one drone sound.

Availability: Seen on B.C. Kid and Turrican 3 for Amiga and Tony & Friends in Kellog's Land for Amiga and Amiga CD32.

3rd Logo (June 7-November 1994)


Visuals: Over a black background, the Factor 5 logo from before stretches in, then flashes.

Technique: Sprite animation.

Audio: An ascending hit.

Availability: Seen on Mega Turrican for Sega Genesis.

4th Logo (August 1994)


Visuals: On a spotlight background with a reflection, there is a 3D version of the Factor 5 logo. A black shadow surrounds the spotlight.

Technique: A still 3D graphic.

Audio: An ascending drone sound.

Availability: Seen on Tony and Friends in Kellog's Land for DOS.

5th Logo (September 23, 1994-July 1995)


Visuals: On a black background, the Factor 5 logo from the previous logo rises up.

Variant: If one plays on a monochrome Game Boy, the logo is in black and white and on later Game Boy models (Color, Advance, etc.) the logo is in.

Technique: Sprite animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on Contra III: The Alien Wars and Animaniacs for Game Boy.

6th Logo (October 11, 1994-July 27, 1995)


Visuals: Continuing from the custom variant of the LucasArts logo from the game itself, the "DOLBY SURROUND" box from the 3rd logo is shown, only different. The Factor 5 logo slides in, while the titular character Indiana Jones holds by itself. He lands and stands next to the Factor 5 logo, then kicks it away and runs away. The Dolby Surround box soon fades out and the background wipes away.

Technique: Sprite animation.

Audio: The opening theme of the game, along with a punching sound as Indy kicks away.

Availability: Only seen on Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures for SNES.

7th Logo (May 1995-December 5, 1996)


Visuals: An image ripples and stretches out to reveal the Factor 5 logo from before on a dark blue sunburst background, only this time the word "FACTOR" is in 3D, and there is a hint of a rectangle on the "R" part. A light shines underneath the logo.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on Super Turrican 2 for SNES and International Superstar Soccer Deluxe for Sega Genesis. It also appears on Super Turrican: Director's Cut.

8th Logo (November 26, 1996-October 1997)


Visuals: On a black background, the word "FACTOR", in a different font from the previous logos, bulges and eases out from black. Then a "5" draws in with a laser, and "FACTOR" turns white. The "5" then glows.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A choir theme and a laser sound effect when the "5" draws.

Availability: Seen on Star Wars: Rebel Assault II - The Hidden Empire and Ballblazer Champions for PS1.

9th Logo (December 3, 1998)


Visuals: On a black background, the X-Wing from the game flies by. The metallic steel word "FACTOR" from the previous logo pans out, textured like the Death Star complete with turrets. The X-wing fires a torpedo into the exhaust vent (not visible) on the "O" of "FACTOR", while the logo pans from the camera, and the camera pans out with the "FACTOR" text in full view, as it sparks with electricity. Then a flash appears, and a "5" appears and explodes, revealing the normal Factor 5 logo.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A majestic synth theme and a explosion.

Availability: Seen on Star Wars: Rogue Squadron for N64 and PC.

10th Logo (December 15, 2000)


Visuals: Continuing from the custom variant of the LucasArts logo used from the game, there are two bronze gears. On it is a rusty version of the "FACTOR" text from a previous logo, except a bronze spinning gear replaces the "O". The gear spins faster, then it moves to the "T" and the brown gear drops. It flashes, revealing the Factor 5 logo from the previous logos.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Sounds of gear and a choir.

Availability: Seen on Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine for N64.

11th Logo (December 15, 2000-March 30, 2001)


Visuals: After the LucasArts logo disappears, Naboo spaceships fly by with lasers. The "C" shaped Naboo spaceship zooms out and eases out to reveal the "FACTOR" text from before in steel, only the spaceship replaces the normal "C". Then it explodes, and the "5" appears, forming the Factor 5 logo from before.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A majestic Star Wars-type music and laser sound effects.

Availability: Seen on Star Wars Episode I: Battle for Naboo for N64 and PC.

12th Logo (November 18, 2001-May 3, 2002)


Visuals: After the LucasArts logo disappears, an explosion appears, revealing that the spaceship from the game pans by. The explosion then disappears, and the spaceship flies by. lasers move and another explosion occurs, revealing the Factor 5 logo from the previous logos on a black background. A spaceship moves by before it disappears.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A majestic theme with various Star Wars sound effects.

Availability: Seen on Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader for the GameCube.

13th Logo (October 21, 2003)


Visuals: Continuing from the custom variant of the LucasArts logo, there is a disco party with Star Wars characters in 3D doing dance moves and pixelated lights moving. Then a disco ball appears, and the camera continues panning until the disco ball turns into a Death Star. lasers move in, and the pixelated light forms the word "FACTOR" and the "O" settles on the disco ball. The colored lights and the characters disappear, and the ball explodes, revealing the normal Factor 5 logo, except "FACTOR" is bolder than in the previous logo.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A disco version of the Star Wars theme with lasers and explosions.

Availability: Seen on Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike for the GameCube.

14th Logo (August 31, 2007)


Visuals: After the THX "Moo Can" trailer ends, the white text "A Studio 5 Production" appears. A dragon from the game then knocks the text away and draws fire. The rest of the fire pans by, forming the "5" settled on fire while the dragon flies by. Then a white explosion occurs, the "5" turns, and the word "FACTOR" fades in, creating the Factor 5 logo, only there is less glowing on the number "5".

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The continuing sounds of the THX "Moo Can" trailer and fire sounds, ending in a majestic hit. This theme was composed by John Debney.

Availability: Seen on Lair for PS3.