Gray Matter

Not to be confused with Gray Matter Studios, LTI Gray Matter or Grey Matter Productions.

Background

Gray Matter was a Canadian video game developer based in Oakville, Ontario. It was founded in 1985 by ex-Mindscape employee Chris Gray as "Chris Gray Enterprises" after his success with Boulder Dash. The first game the company developed was Whirlinurd, but its first international success was Infiltrator in 1986.

In 1988, Gray set up "Gray Matter" as a subsidiary of his company. Following on from the Amiga and Atari ST, Gray Matter went on to produce games for the NES, SNES, 3DO, Sega Saturn, Game Gear and PlayStation, becoming one of the biggest developers in Canada with 75 employees at its peak in 1995. However, problems with the Canadian government over labour law issues brought the studio to bankruptcy in 1997.

1st Logo (1988)

Road Raider (Amiga)
Technocop (C64)

Visuals: On a gray background, there is a pink gradient curvy ribbon. On the right side is the text "GRAY MATTER" in an ITC Avant Garde font surrounded by a beveled rectangle with the word "PRESENTS" below.

Variant: On the loading screen on the European C64 tape version of Technocop, the text is above the ribbon, the background is white, the text is centered and there is no "PRESENTS" below.

Technique: A still graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on the Amiga version of Road Raider and the loading screen of the European C64 tape version of Technocop.

2nd Logo (1989-1990)

Fiendish Freddy's Big Top O'Fun (Amiga)
The Ultimate Ride

Visuals: On a gray marble background, there is the same ribbon logo from the previous logo, only it is in purple, and the gradient shadings are replaced by circles (matching the print logo), and the text is in white. Also, "PRESENTS" is absent.

Variant: On the Amiga version of Fiendish Freddy's Big Top O'Fun, the logo is surrounded by spotlights. The logo then disappears, and then reappears, only it has two purple lines above it on a black background.

Technique: A still graphic.

Audio: None or the opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on The Ultimate Ride and Fiendish Freddy's Big Top O'Fun. Despite the print logo appearing on the NES cover of Dirty Harry, it does not appear on the game itself, it just went to the title screen.

3rd Logo (February 18, 1993-June 1995)

The Incredible Crash Dummies (SNES)
The Ren & Stimpy Show: Veediots! (SNES)
B.O.B. (SNES)
Wayne's World (SNES)
Wayne's World (Sega Genesis)
Super R.B.I. Baseball

Visuals: On a black background, there is a red masked helmet with streaks behind it on the right, which represents the hair. On the bottom right is the text "GRAY MATTER" in a plain font.

Variants:

On the SNES version of The Ren & Stimpy Show: Veediots! is Ren and Stimpy banging their butts together, like the THQ logo that precedes the game. Also, the logo is shifted to the bottom.
On the SNES version of B.O.B., the logo is beveled, and takes place on a space background with moving planets.
On the SNES and Genesis versions of Wayne's World, the logo is on a marble background, and the credits are shown behind the logo. The logo is tinted blue on the SNES version, and the logo is tinted green on the Genesis version.
On Super R.B.I. Baseball, the logo is 3D on a white background. Credits appear on the bottom right.

Technique: A still graphic.

Audio: The opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on the SNES and Genesis versions of The Incredible Crash Dummies, as well as on the aforementioned games mentioned above.

4th Logo (1995)

NHL All-Star Hockey (Game Gear)
NHL All-Star Hockey (Sega Saturn)
Phoenix 3 (opening)

Visuals: On a blue marble background, the screen pans up to reveal a black square, which moves to the center. Behind the square is the word "GRAY" in a condensed font. A gold light flashes from behind the word, and then the logo zooms out and moves around and the other word "MATTER" in a condensed font wipes in and stands next to the rectangle. The logo then flashes.

Variants:

On the intro of Phoenix 3 for 3DO, the logo is in widescreen.
On NHL All-Star Hockey for Game Gear, the logo is in its print form on a black background, with a white logo, and the word "DEVELOPED BY" is shown above the logo.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: An ascending synth drone, with some whooshes, and ends in a synth note.

Availability: Seen on NHL All-Star Hockey for Game Gear and Sega Saturn, and the opening cutscene of Phoenix 3 for 3DO.

5th Logo (1995)

Foes of Ali
Phoenix 3 (screensaver)

Visuals: Over a black background, the logo starts with light blue crystalized pieces while circular pieces move around, and some pieces reveal the crystalized blue letter "G" with some moving circles zooming out over a space background and a blue lightning picture standing on the right of the letter. A light then flashes, and then the logo turns metallic with an exclamation point shown on the left of the letter. The word "GRAY MATTER" wipes below the logo.

Variant: A still version, where the logo is shown on a space background, and the words are shown in spaced out letters, is used on 3DO screensaver files.

Technique: The crystal pieces of the logo moving, the logo flashing.

Audio: Hollow synth notes similar to the previous logo, with bells, and some whooshes at the end.

Availability: Seen on Foes of Ali for 3DO. The variant is shown on screensaver files of Foes of Ali and Phoenix 3 for 3DO (the game itself used the last logo).

6th Logo (June 5, 1996)

Visuals: On a black background, there is the text "Gr@y" in a grungy typewriter font, with the outlined word "Matter" shown on the right, and the tiny word "Inc" shown on the right side. Below it is the text "entertainment software" in a typewriter font.

Technique: A still graphic.

Audio: A horn sound that continues into the NBA logo.

Availability: Seen on NBA Action for Sega Saturn.

7th Logo (November 21, 1996-August 1997)

The Crow: City of Angels (PlayStation)
The Crow: City of Angels (Sega Saturn)
The Crow: City of Angels (PC)
Perfect Weapon (PlayStation)

Visuals: On an orange background, there is a black figure walking and skip hopping towards the viewer, with shadows around him. Then the figure bounces and a black rectangle appears over his head, making it an exclamation point. The figure continues to look around, then does a double backflip, and as he lands, the animation freezes. The logo zooms out, and the black arched words "GRAY MATTER" fade in on the left and right sides of the figure.

Variants:

On the PlayStation version of Perfect Weapon, a print version of the logo is seen, where the logo is in white on a black background.
On the PC version of The Crow: City of Angels, the print version of the logo features orange sides on the figure.
On the Saturn version of The Crow: City of Angels, the logo is still, with the figure gaining a white outline, and the shadow is absent.

Technique: 2D digital animation.

Audio: Various cartoon sound effects, followed by a guitar note when the logo zooms out.

Availability: The standard version is seen on the PlayStation version of The Crow: City of Angels and the PC version of Perfect Weapon. The still versions are seen on the PlayStation version of Perfect Weapon and the PC and Sega Saturn versions of The Crow: City of Angels.