Acclaim Studios Austin

Credits

Descriptions by
CuriousGeorge60, EnormousRat and Topitoomay

Editions by
Curiousgeorge60 and KirbyGuy2001

Video captures courtesy of
VideoGamerJunkie

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Background

Iguana Entertainment was a video game developer founded on August 14, 1991 by Jeff Spangenberg (who later founded Retro Studios) in Sunnyvale, California to develop games published by Acclaim Entertainment and Sunsoft Games. In September 1993, it moved to Austin, Texas and became a Texas corporation three months later. At the same time, it acquired Optimus Software, which was renamed into Iguana UK.

Iguana was known for developing games such as NBA Jam, the NFL Quarterback Club series, the Turok series, Aero the Acro-Bat series, and South Park games. In January 1995, Iguana was purchased by Acclaim and became a subsidiary of it. Its first game was Super High Impact for Sega Genesis.

In 1998, Acclaim fired Jeff Spangenberg from the company and he sued them several months later. In 1999, Iguana was taken over by them and turned into Acclaim Studios Austin, while its subsidiaries were renamed A.S. Salt Lake City (Iguana West, formerly Sculptured Software) and A.S. Teesside (Iguana UK/Optimus). Other studios were also renamed A.S. London (Probe Entertainment, formerly Probe Software and later Iguana London for a short time), A.S. Cheltenham and in 2002, A.S. Manchester (Software Creations). In 2002, A.S. Teesside closed down and many employees were relocated to its Cheltenham subsidiary.

In December 2002, A.S. Salt Lake City closed down due to financial problems. In 2004, when Acclaim went bankrupt, all the other studios were closed down and liquidated.

Iguana Entertainment

1st Logo (1992-1993)

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Nicknames: "The Shining Text", "The Rainbow Text"

Logo: On a white background, we see the word "IGUANA" in a sci-fi pixel-like font with lights on its black outline with "ENTERTAINMENT" under it and the "TM" symbol is the top right of the second "A". Suddenly, the "IGUANA" text shines as a rainbow gradient slides inside the text, forming the logo.

Variant: On the SNES tech-demo Jeff's Shoot'Em Up, the logo is still and takes place on a scrolling starfield background. Also, "ENTERTAINMENT" has a white gradient shine.

FX/SFX: The text shining, the rainbow colors sliding in.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on Super High Impact for the Sega Genesis. Also appears on the SNES tech-demo Jeff's Shoot'Em Up.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (1993-1995)

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Nicknames: "The Iguana Debuts", "The Iguana", "The Rainbow Text II"

Logo: On a white background, we see the text from before, but this time, we see an iguana who is wearing sunglasses and hanging on the word "IGUANA". Plus, "ENTERTAINMENT" has a gradient color.

Trivia: The original version of the logo was painted on canvas by Matt Stubbington.

Variants: There are different variations of the logo.

• On Aero The Acro-Bat 2 and the Genesis version of Aero The Acro-Bat, there are rainbow colored paint smudges on the bottom half of the background.
• On NBA Jam and NBA Jam Tournament Edition, a humanoid iguana (with a full human body), is wearing a basketball jersey spinning a basketball with his right hand and is sitting on the "U" of the "IGUANA" text with parts of its body hanging in front between rhe letters. Plus, he is grinning. Also, there is a drop shadow behind the logo.
  • On the SNES version of the former, the logo is on a basketball floor background with a spotlight effect. Plus, the text is in a 3D style with a brighter outline and the drop shadow is behind the logo but darker, and "ENTERTAINMENT" is in plain white. The "TM" symbol is absent. This version also appears on the beta version of latter title for SNES.
  • On the Game Gear version of the former, the logo is in the same style as the SNES version, but the background is black, meaning there is no drop shadow behind the logo, "ENTERTAINMENT" is in a light peach color, there is no "TM" symbol and the basketball lands on an iguana's finger once the logo fully fades in. Plus, the logo flashes into white after a couple of seconds.
  • On the Game Gear version of the latter, it's in the SNES style, but it's on a white background, the shadow is not there and "ENTERTAINMENT" is dark green.
  • On the SNES version of the latter, the logo takes place on a basketball court background at night with lights above the logo. Plus, the iguana (again with a full human body) is wearing a different basketball jersey (the jersey is white, while the shorts are blue with red lines) with shoes on his feet, spinning a basketball and is laying on the text with parts of its body hanging between the letters. The text "ENTERTAINMENT" is in plain white again. Plus, the basketball is balancing left and right while it spins.
• On the Genesis version of Pirates of Dark Water, the iguana is wearing a pirate hat, an eye patch instead of sunglasses, has a sword on his left hand and hook on the text. Also, he is grinning. Plus, if you enter the Level Select code, the background will turn blue.
• On Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel, the iguana is wearing a pink ninja bandana and he's holding a shuriken. Also, there are paint smudges on the bottom half of the background.
• On the SNES version of Side Pocket, the iguana is holding a pool stick, with the pool stick sharpener on the "G". Also, he is grinning and there are paint smudges on the bottom half of the background. Plus, the logo appears via a pixelized transition.
• On NFL Quarterback Club, we see the artwork version of the CGI iguana facing right, hanging on the CGI text with slimy and icky colored stuff under it, with "ENTERTAINMENT" in black. On the Genesis version, the text part of the logo is in its 2D style like in the standard version. Plus, the slimy and icky colored stuff is absent.

FX/SFX: None. The basketball spinning for the NBA Jam variants.

Music/Sounds: None.

Music/Sounds Variants:

• On the Aero the Acro-Bat games, the game's title music is heard.
• On the SNES version of Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel, the game's opening theme is heard.
• On the SNES version of Side Pocket, we hear a fast 6-note jingle followed by a pool stick hit sound as the logo fades out.

Availability: Seen on Iguana games from the era.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo (1995-1999)

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Nicknames: "The Iguana II", "CGI Iguana", "Killer the Iguana", "The Rainbow Text III", "CGI Rainbow Text"

Logo: We see the iguana with sunglasses peeking its head out and looking to the left. It zooms out to reveal that he's hanging on the rainbow gradient colored "IGUANA" text with "ENTERTAINMENT" underneath with a spotlight effect done in CGI as he looks to the right. When he looks back to the left and taps his fingers, the latter word shines as it stops into its normal position. The "TM" symbol is not there.

Trivia: The still version is the 3D variant of the previous logo and was done by Cyrus Lum.

Variants: Like the last logo, there are different variations of the logo.

• On the Sega Saturn version of College Slam, the standard logo is much smaller.
• There is a still artwork version of the logo where it has the light shine on the top of the second "A" while "ENTERTAINMENT" has a red-blue texture on it. On the Genesis version, the background is white. On the SNES version, the background is black and "ENTERTAINMENT" has a spotlight effect on it. Also, the "TM" symbol is present on the top right of the second "A".
• On the 32X versions of NFL Quarterback Club and NBA Jam Tournament Edition, the still logo is on an iguana skin background. Also, the "TM" symbol is present on the top right of the second "A". On the latter, the logo appears via a wipe transition from the Acclaim logo.
• On PlayStation, Saturn, and PC versions of Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball, the logo is stretched into letterbox view. Also, when the word "ENTERTAINMENT" shines, it fades into the opening shot of the game.
• On PlayStation and Saturn versions of NBA Jam Tournament Edition, as well as the PC versions of College Slam, and Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball (if the game runs without videos), the still logo is on a light blue-green sky background with a close-up of the iguana's eye under the logo with the "TM" symbol present. It also zooms in after a couple of seconds on the PS version of the former title. On the latter titles, there is sunlight above on the sky background.
• On NFL Quarterback Club '97, the logo takes place on a football stadium with a football on the "IGUANA" text. Then, the iguana climbs into the stadium with his hands slamming the ground, causing the letters to briefly flip as we pan through. The iguana then throws the football away as he climbs on the text and looks up as he taps his fingers, as the word "ENTERTAINMENT" drops down causing the letters except for "G" and "N" to jump, then the iguana looks to the left. The "TM" symbol is not present.
  • If you look closely on the right TV screen of the scoreboard, you can see the standard version of the logo, but the iguana wears a football helmet and holds a football.
• On Batman Forever: The Arcade Game, it's on the same background from the Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment logo. Plus, an "®" replaces the "TM" symbol and it's in light blue.
• On WWF War Zone, the logo glows yellow as it fades into the logo and it's on a steel plate-like object during the game's opening intro. Plus, "ENTERTAINMENT" is in plain gray without a texture. Also, the "®" symbol is seen on the top right of the second "A". On the Nintendo 64 version, the logo doesn't glow.
• On Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, the logo takes place in a jungle rainforest. Turok shoots arrows into a tree as the iguana dodges them. Then he gulps and looks around tapping his fingers, being nervous. Then he runs away, as more arrows appear including an axe. The "TM" symbol is not present.
• On Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, the logo takes place in a rainforest. The iguana taps his fingers while he sees something going on. He sees the birds flying away, but then he notices Turok attempting to shoot arrows at him, but he ducks. After a couple of seconds, he gets up and stands on the logo holding guns, then he starts shooting Turok couple of times as he cackles. Like the previous variant, the "TM" symbol is not present.
• On the PC and Nintendo 64 versions of South Park, the logo takes place on a snowy area. Then Kenny comes in and looks at the logo. Then he tells Cartman, Kyle, and Stan to come over and look at it. Then the iguana climbs in and eats Kenny's head off while the others panic and ran away. Kyle says "Dude, this is totally (BLEEP)ed up there." Then Stan says "Oh my god, they killed Kenny!" with Kyle saying "You bastard!" Then the rats come in and drink Kenny's blood as the iguana grins. The "TM" symbol is not present. If you look on the bottom left, you can see the South Park sign.
• On NFL Quarterback Club '99, continuing where the Acclaim Sports logo left off, there is no real iguana and the logo zooms in. Plus, the football player in the Packers uniform (Brett Farve) comes in running though and tackles into a camera. The "TM" symbol is not present.
• On the Nintendo 64 version of Forsaken known as Forsaken 64, the word "IGUANA" comes letter-by-letter flying, spinning and bouncing into view. Then the iguana, without glasses, appears climbing onto the text and looks around. Then the words "ENTERTAINMENT UK" with a spotlight effect appear under the "IGUANA" text. The "TM" symbol is not present.
• On Iggy's Reckin Balls, the text "IGUANA" appears letter-by-letter flying and spinning onto the screen causing the stars to appear, then Iggy (the game's main character) appears swinging through in front as he then flies up. Then the word "ENTERTAINMENT" slides in. Then Iggy falls into the text sitting on it. Then he looks around and then he roars like Leo the Lion from the MGM logo. As he roars, Narlie the Jack-O-Lantern comes swinging in laughing from behind, crashing through the logo and knocking Iggy out. Iggy is modeled after the original iguana and is implied to be the name of the iguana himself.
• On All-Star Baseball 2000, the logo is superimposed on the opening intro of the game without the iguana. Also, the "TM" symbol is not present.
• On a PlayStation prototype version of WWF Attitude, the logo is on a steel background with the 1999 Acclaim Sports logo underneath it in gold. This was replaced with a normal Acclaim Sports logo on the final product when Iguana SLC became Acclaim Studios Salt Lake City.
• There exists a variant intended for Shadow Man, but was scrapped due to the game being developed the same time that Iguana UK became Acclaim Studios Teesside. The iguana, without his glasses, looks around a wasteland, with a ruined citadel behind him, when he sees a monster running and he chases after it, eating it whole. The camera flies past the text afterwards.

FX/SFX: Depends on the game.

Music/Sounds: A synth tune with the sounds of an iguana growling and the shining, ending with a three note synth choir.

Music/Sounds Variants:

• The game's title theme or silence for the still variants.
• On NFL Quarterback Club 97, it's the synth music from the standard logo. While that plays, we hear the iguana's walking steps, the sound of a thrown ball and the growling.
• Silence for the Turok and NFL Quarterback Club 99 variants.
• A beat-box like tune on the Iggy's Reckin Balls variant.
• Sometimes, the game's background music is used for other variants.
• The Shadow Man variant has an ominous synth tune.

Availability: Common.

• The standard animated variant was only used for the logo's first two years and has appeared on NFL Quarterback Club 96 for Sega Saturn and PC and College Slam and Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball for PlayStation, Saturn, and PC. However, it surprisingly doesn't appear on All-Star Baseball 97 featuring Frank Thomas for PlayStation and Saturn, as the game goes directly into the game's opening intro after the Acclaim logo.
• The NFL QB Club 97 variant was only seen on NFL Quarterback Club 97 for PlayStation, Saturn, and PC.
• The still variants appear on Iguana games for SNES, Genesis and Sega 32X, and NBA Jam Tournament Edition for PlayStation, Saturn and PC.
• The WWF variant was only seen on WWF War Zone for PlayStation and Nintendo 64.
• The Batman variant appears on Batman Forever: The Arcade Game for PlayStation, Saturn, and PC.
• The other variants appear on Iguana games for Nintendo 64 through the era. However, it's also intact on PC versions of Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter (Remaster), Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, Turok 2: Seeds of Evil (Remaster) and South Park as well.

Editor's Note: None.

Acclaim Studios Austin

(1999-2003)

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Nicknames: "Acclaim Studios Iguana", "The Iguana III", "Killer the Iguana II"

Logo: This logo's base is the common logo used for Acclaim Studios - it's the Acclaim logo, but the arrow-line is red and much thicker and has an emboss effect with "STUDIOS" written in spaced-out letters on it. The iguana (in the same design as the 1995 Iguana Entertainment logo) hangs over the logo. Right to the "Acclaim" word, the hometown name is seen in a vertical font - "AUSTIN" or "TEESSIDE". Also, the ® symbol is on the top right of the "m" like in the Acclaim logo.

Variants:

• A special version was used in Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion. While zooming out, a tired iguana climbs the Acclaim Studios logo, with the word "AUSTIN" seen below the logo. Plus, the word "Acclaim" has a dark silver texture on it and the arrow-line is plain red. After the zoom-out and when the logo is at a comfortable distance, a bright thunder flash occurs, the iguana becomes a skeleton, the logo becomes multiple organs and tissue (if you look closely, his eye replaces the dot of the 'i'), and the word "STUDIOS" disappears. The skeleton parts fall down along with his sunglasses, and the logo flashes to clear out.
• On Turok: Rage Wars and South Park: Chef's Luv Shack, the website URL "WWW.ACCLAIM.NET" with a red blur effect around it or "WWW.ACCLAIM.COM" in the South Park font in the latter case, is seen below the Austin version of the logo.

FX/SFX: Generally none. The Turok 3 variant is rendered in-engine.

Music/Sounds: None or sometimes, the game's title theme for regular versions. On the Turok 3 variant, a suspenseful musical composition plays along with the thunder and falling bones from the iguana.

Music/Sounds Variant: On the N64 version of Jeremy McGrath Supercross 2000, it's the finishing of the crowd cheering sound from the Acclaim Sports logo.

Availability: Seen on A.S. Austin games from 1999-2003. Sometimes, the logo doesn't appear as the game would go into the game's intro after the Acclaim logo or the Acclaim Sports logo (in case of sports titles). The Austin variant appeared on Turok: Rage Wars, South Park: Chef's Luv Shack (both with the URL), Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion (as a variant), Vexx and Turok Evolution. The Teesside variant was only used in Shadow Man, and was retained on the Steam release by Night Dive Games.

Editor's Note: While not bad for a logo, the hometown names on the regular variant are hard to notice unless you look really closely, as they are severely tucked at the right. It's also disappointing that Turok 3 is the only Acclaim Studios game to have a unique variant, while the rest of the games using the Acclaim Studios names have the still logo.