D3 Publisher
Background
D3 Publisher Inc. is a Japanese video game developer and publisher founded on February 5, 1992. The company is best known for the Simple series of budget-priced video games, and for being the publisher of several Cartoon Network and DreamWorks games in the early 2010's. In 2009, Namco Bandai Holdings gained a controlling share in D3 and bought out the rest the following year, folding Entertainment Software Publishing and the original D3 Publisher into D3 Inc. in the process and reincorporating itself as D3 Publisher.
1st Logo (September 30, 1999-December 23, 2009)
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Visuals: Fading into a blurry yellow/green/red mass, the camera eventually zooms out and rotates straight up, as the camera focuses to reveal that the mass is actually three rotating "D" shapes trying to overlap each other on a white space with dim corners. Dust particles can also be seen moving around. As the pieces merge up, the camera fully focuses onto the now-single yellow "D" piece, as it starts to turn blue and gains two large hemisphere-shaped dents in its side, and they eventually clip into place. As this is happening, the text "D3PUBLISHER" can be seen below fading in.
Variants:
- On earlier games, the "D" shape turns red after it joins up, and the text reads "D3PUBLISHER INC." in a smaller font.
- A still version of the earlier logo exists with the logo and name horizontally spread out.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: A loud whoosh is heard throughout as sparkles can be heard when the pieces rotate around. A smaller, rising whoosh plays when the pieces merge, a clank when the dents finish forming, and a slower rising whoosh when the logo finishes.
Availability: In Japan, it can be seen on all of the Simple series of games from the time, as well as other licensed titles on the PlayStation and PlayStation 2. Internationally, it can be seen on a few licensed games until 2006.
2nd Logo (December 14, 2006-February 19, 2015)
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Visuals: On a black background, three copies of the "D3" shape slide in from the left side of the screen, overlapping each other and flashing when they join up. When the third piece joins in, a bright flash with a larger, black version of the logo panning across the screen appears, and "D3PUBLISHER" in the same font as before appears below in black, only seen through its beveled edges. Once the large flash dies down to normal shining, the "D3PUBLISHER" text glows and fills in with white.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: A small whoosh at first, followed by 2 smacks and a loud shining sound, followed by a voice whispering "D3". A guitar chord ends off the logo (achievement sound from Team Fortress 2).
Availability: Seen on international Simple-based budget-priced games, Onechanbara series, Dream C series, as well as a handful of licensed titles, such as Flushed Away, Ben 10: Alien Force, and Despicable Me: The Game. It also appeared on Dead Head Fred, Earth Defense Force 2017, and Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard (developed by Vicious Cycle, a subsidiary of D3 at the time). Used in tandem with the 1st logo until 2009.
3rd Logo (July 1, 2011-March 16, 2012)
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Visuals: On a black background, a blue glow illuminates a black bar, which reveals itself as a spark with a blue trail. More orange-tinted sparks circle around the rotating bar, which is in fact a darkened "D3" logo, as a beige/blue cloud emerges in the background. A blue light then rids the sparks and shoots off to the sides, leaving particle trails that clear up, as the logo turns blue and the company name appears below. The logo slowly rotates.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: The sounds of sparks flying by, followed by a descending "blop" when the light flashes.
Availability: It appeared on later PS3 and Xbox 360 licensed titles. Used in tandem with the 2nd logo.
4th Logo (June 5, 2012-December 13, 2013)
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Visuals: On a black background, a blue droplet quickly drops down as a light illuminates a blue pool of liquid in a letterbox fashion. As it drops in, ripples are made and it shoots out a bunch of blue and teal drops and cylinders, expanding even beyond the aspect ratio. As they slowly spread out, they suddenly get sucked in and form the logo and name as the background darkens to an almost black shade. The light moves off-screen as the logo starts to end.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: A descending series of short "droppy" notes, which lead into a synth bang with glass shattering. A "vacuum" sound plays, and ends with a chime with bubble sounds.
Availability: It has appeared on later Cartoon Network and DreamWorks titles before D3's partnerships ended with them, as well as the last Vicious Cycle games before the studio's closure. Like the previous logo, it was used in tandem with the 2nd logo.
5th Logo (April 2, 2015-December 20, 2018)
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Visuals: Over a black background, the logo starts with red and yellow streaks wipe in, and then a blue streak forms the D3 Publisher logo from the last logo via a light effect.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: The sounds of streaks, and then a quick whoosh.
Availability: Seen on Onechanbara series and Earth Defense Force series.
6th Logo (December 20, 2018-)
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Visuals: Just a still logo on a white background.
Variants:
- On Knock 'Em Down! Bowling, the logo and name horizontally spread out on a black blackground.
- Starting in 2022, the Bandai Namco logo was added below the company's name.
Technique: Fade animation.
Audio: None.
Availability: Seen on recent entries in the Simple series.
