Playmates Interactive Entertainment

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum

Background

Playmates Interactive Entertainment (or "PIE" for short) was a video game publishing division of Playmates Toys, launched in 1994 and located alongside Playmates' American branch in La Mirada, California. In 1996, the company moved to Costa Mesa, California. The company stopped publishing games in 1998 and was defunct by 2000.

1st Logo (August 2, 1994-1996, 2001-2002)


Visuals: There are three letters, "P" in the back, "i" in the middle, and "e" stretched, in the front. On it is the word, "Playmates". Under the logo is "Interactive Entertainment".

Variants:

  • On Earthworm Jim, the logo is seen on the left alongside the Shiny Entertainment logo on the right with "PRESENTS" below them. On the SNES version, the words, "Interactive Entertainment" are stacked. Surprisingly, this variant is also on the GBA versions of Earthworm Jim and Earthworm Jim 2.
  • On Earthworm Jim 2 for SNES, the logo has the water animation below.
  • An improved quality version was seen in a trailer for Into the Void.
  • On Exosquad, the words, "Playmates Interactive Entertainment" zooming out word-by-word. During that, the three-letter symbol, "Pie" flashes in, forming the logo. After that, the logo shines.
  • A white background variant appeared on Star Trek - Crossroads of Time and Doom Troopers for Genesis and SNES, as well as on Jim Lee's WildC.A.T.S for SNES.

Technique: A still digital graphic. The zooming out of the name and the flashing of "Pie" on Exosquad.

Audio: None or the opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on Earthworm Jim 1 & 2 (Even though, the GBA versions of those games have the logo intact), Exosquad, and other games.

2nd Logo (1996-1998)


Visuals: In the down right corner of the screen, three circles open one-after-one. Then a more powerful ring opens, which is orange, and a flood of particles appear from the ring. Meanwhile the background becomes purple, and the words "PLAYMATES INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT" fly in as a circle and take their place. The word "PIE" letters zooms-in letter-by-letter, and the background clears to white.

Variants:

  • There is a still version of the logo.
  • On PowerSlave, the background is blue.
  • On Earthworm Jim 2 for PlayStation, the background was pink and covered with the tiny copies of the logo.
  • On Skeleton Warriors, the logo is shown on the top right corner along with the Neversoft Entertainment logo on the top left, The Landmark Entertainment Group logo on the bottom left, and the Tommy Tallarico Studios logo on the bottom right and the game's title logo in the middle. Plus, the logo has it's blue glow behind it.
  • On the PlayStation version of MDK, the logo is shown on the top right corner along with the Neversoft Entertainment logo on the top left, the Tommy Tallarico Studios logo on the bottom left and the Shiny Entertainment logo on the bottom right, which is before the animated logo described above, appears.

Technique: 2D digital animation. Still digital graphic for the still versions.

Audio: A synth note, followed by a rings opening sounds, the flying sounds (like an aerated water) and three jackhammer hits (as "PIE" appears). None for the still versions.

Audio Variant: On Powerslave, Don LaFontaine says the company's name.

Availability: Seen on Duckman: The Graphic Adventures of a Private Dick, MDK, Alien Earth, and other games. The still version can be found on earlier games like Powerslave and Earthworm Jim 2.

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