Electronic Arts Canada

Credits

Descriptions by
gshowguy and RSX-798

Captures by
EnormousRat, mr3rious and RSX-798

Editions by
RSX-798 and LMgamer36

Background

Electronic Arts Canada (formerly Distinctive Software Inc.) was a video game development company that was originally formed in 1982 as Distinctive Software Inc. by Don Mattrick and Jeff Sember in 1982. It didn't use a logo until 1988 when Grand Prix Circuit was released. It was acquired by Electronic Arts in 1991, and currently serves as EA's Canadian division.

Distinctive Software

(November 1988-1993)

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Logo: On the bottom right, we see a white outlined box with a dark blue gradient background inside, and we see a blue gradient arrow that points to the direction in a circular formation. On the bottom right of the arrows is the word "DSI". Next to the box reads "DISTINCTIVE SOFTWARE INC." Game credits were shown on top of the logo.

Variants:

• The quality of the logo varies depending on platform.
• On games for Macintosh and Game Boy, the logo is in black and white.
• On most games, the rectangle pieces slide in that connect together and form the logo.
• Another animated version shows that the arrows draw and then spin around as it moves to the box, and then the text appears.
• On some games, like the C64, Amiga and DOS versions of Wings of Fury and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the letters read "USI" and the box next to it reads "UNLIMITED SOFTWARE INC." instead.
• On After Burner for DOS, the text was in red on the above variant.
• On 4D Sports Tennis if playing on VGA mode, and the SNES version of The Duel: Test Drive II, the ball spins around over the DSI logo.
• On the Genesis version of Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?, the arrow shines on the logo, and the text next to it was in one line and below it was a byline "A wholly owned subsidiary of Electronic Arts."
• On the Apple II version of Dive Bomber, the text "VANCOUVER B.C." is shown below the logo.
• On some games, like the DOS version of Super C, CastleVania and Bart's House of Weirdness, the logo is on a different background, depending on the game.

FX/SFX: Depending on the variant.

Music/Sounds: The opening theme of the game, or none.

Availability: Seen on many Distinctive Software games, like Grand Prix Circuit, The Duel: Test Drive II, The Cycles: International Grand Prix Racing, the NES version of Pipe Dream, Bill Elliott's NASCAR Challenge and the NES and Genesis versions of Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?, among others.

Electronic Arts Canada

1st Logo (1992)

Logo: On a black background, a red cube appears popping up, followed by a blue sphere, and then a green cone appears, forming a 3D version of the EA logo of the time on the bottom right. Credits appear behind the logo.

FX/SFX: The cones popping.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Only seen on Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? for Sega Genesis.

2nd Logo (1992-1993)

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Logo: On a black background, we see a 3D blue version of the EA shapes, first appearing upside down and flip to normal. A red maple leaf appears, and then it wipes into the stripes. The logo flashes, and the blue words "Electronic Arts fades in, and then a maple leaf fades in on the sphere. Credits appear above the logo and copyright info is shown below the logo.

Variant: An early version of the logo exists where the logo is smaller, the maple leaf is in black, and the text is in all-caps. Plus the logo is still.

FX/SFX: The flipping, the maple leaf appearing, and the logo flashing.

Music/Sounds: A whoosh sound when the maple leaf appears. Sometimes silent.

Availability: The standard version is seen on Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? for SNES. The early version appears on Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego? for SNES.

3rd Logo (1994-1997?)

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Nicknames: "The Square/Circle/Triangle Shape Combination II", "The EA Square/Circle/Triangle Combo II","Geometric Shapes 3D"

Logo: On a purple-gray gradient background, pieces of the 1984-1997 Electronic Arts logo drop down one by one, each in blue-tinted glass. As they stack up, the camera gets closer and the background gets brighter before the camera forcibly rotates around and tilts into position. When the second to last layer drops down, a thick block quickly flies under the shapes and tilts up to reveal "ELECTRONIC ARTS CANADA" when the last layer drops down. A bright light then travels along in the background.

Variants:

• On 3DO games, including the original version of The Need for Speed, had the logo shine normally at the end. Also, the background was brighter, lacking a light and there was no wind.
• Another variation of the logo simply reads "ELECTRONIC ARTS" in wider text. This variant appears on OverDrivin (the Japanese version of The Need for Speed) for 3DO.
• A high quality still version was also used.

FX/SFX: The pieces of the shapes dropping down, the camera flying over, the text appearing underneath.

Music/Sounds: A rising choir sound plays in the background as high-sounding synth piano notes play for every layer dropped. After a bit, more notes play during the dropping as deep drones play in the background. When the text flies into place, a "THUD" is heard with a much louder chorus. Wind is then heard for the rest of the logo.

Availability: Very rare. Can be found on EA Canada developed games, such as Road & Track Presents: The Need for Speed and NHL '96 for DOS.