Microsoft Game Studios
Background
In 2001, Microsoft Games was renamed Microsoft Game Studios. It was renamed again in 2011, this time to Microsoft Studios.
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| 1st Logo (placeholder logo) (August 7-November 1, 2002) | 2nd Logo (October 9, 2002-December 5, 2008) | 3rd Logo (November 16, 2005-June 22, 2011) |
1st Logo (placeholder logo) (August 7-November 1, 2002)
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Visuals: On a white background, some black streaks are seen moving around. They form the Microsoft Game Studios logo (the then-current Microsoft logo with "game studios" below and a strange X-shaped figure separating the latter two words), and then the streaks dissipate.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: Two whooshing sound effects.
Availability: This was a placeholder logo seen on NFL Fever 2003 and Sneakers (except for the Japanese version).
2nd Logo (October 9, 2002-December 5, 2008)
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Visuals: On a smoky white background, a silver liquid orb rushes in, and black liquid crust starts to cover it. Suddenly, they transform into a pack of water bubbles and black drops mixed together. They move across the screen, leaving a long trace. Then the black drops form the words "game studios", and silver bubbles blast "Microsoft" in its then corporate font above, also forming the X-shaped figure from before. The logo zooms in a bit, then transforms into bubbles again and leaves, and then cover the screen.
Variants:
- The framerate depends on the game. Usually it is animated at 30fps, but it might be lower on some other games.
- A widescreen version can be seen on RalliSport Challenge 2, when the Xbox is set to widescreen mode.
- On portable games, such as MechAssault for DS, the logo has print view.
- On Xbox Live Arcade, the camera moves to the left and to the right while the water moves.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: A mix of various whooshing sounds with aerated water sound.
Availability: It first appeared on Blinx: The Time Sweeper, and can be seen on Rise of Nations, Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection, Zoo Tycoon 2, Dungeon Siege 2, and other games for PC. It can also be seen on games for Xbox like Halo 2 and Project Gotham Racing 2.
3rd Logo (November 16, 2005-June 22, 2011)
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Visuals: Over a bright leaf-green, glowing background is many vague white particles. The camera zooms in to the 1987-2012 "Microsoft" logo being formed from these particles. A light streak appears and bumps into the half-completed word, making a big soft explosion. Then the words "game studios" appear below. Another two streaks appear, creating the X-shaped figure, now in green. The logo fades to white.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: A few blob-like sounds ending with a whoosh.
Audio Variant: On Halo 3, after the logo completes, the first few notes of the Halo choir begin. This continues into the Bungie logo.
Availability:
- Appears on Project Gotham Racing 3 and 4, the Viva Piñata series, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Halo 3, and Kinect Adventures (the latter uses a variant), all for Xbox 360.
- Can be also seen on several PC games like Gears of War or Age of Empires III: Asian Dynasties.
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Microsoft Game Studios |
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