Difference between revisions of "Ocean Software"

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'''Ocean Software''', founded in 1982 by David Ward and Jon Woods, was one of the biggest (British) developers for the CPC.  
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'''Ocean Software''', founded in 1982 by David Ward and Jon Woods, was one of the biggest European games developers across all home computing platforms.  
  
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Ocean developed not only for the CPC of course but also for Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum.
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As well as an impressive back catalogue of CPC games, Ocean's has left a legacy touching every major gaming platform of the 1980s including the [[ZX Spectrum]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Atari ST]], [[Amiga]], [[PC]], [[NES]], [[SNES]], [[Master System]] and [[Mega Drive]]
  
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They also were one of the few major companies that supported the [[Plus|Plus]] range (especially so since their cartridge game, Burnin' Rubber, was distributed with each CPC+ computer).
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Although they developed and supported a number of original games and ideas, they will be forever associated in the mind of the casual game with their [[Licenced games|TV & Movie licence games]] and ports of the latest arcade hits from [[Konami]] and [[Taito]], the latest of which Ocean always seemed to be advertising up to six months in advance of release in the magazines of the day!
  
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During the 80s Ocean was one of the biggest software companies, constantly crunching out new titles.  
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By the time the CPC had arrived on the scene, Ocean had already beaten their North-East rivals '''Imagine''' who had overreached themselves in the battle for supremacy.  Ocean took on the brand name for themselves and made a number of key releases on the label in the following years.  Simply put, however, every release on the Imagine label for the CPC was in fact made by Ocean.
  
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At one point they even absorbed Imagine, an ambitious software house that went bust.  
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As well as Imagine, Ocean developed the '''Hit Squad''' label as a budget house to re-release their old titles (along with a number of other titles by third parties).
  
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A short-lived serious software arm, [[Ocean IQ|Ocean IQ]], published the [[Laser Basic|Laser Basic]], [[Laser Genius|Laser Genius]] and [[Laser BASIC Compiler|Laser Compiler]] titles.  
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Their position as one of the key CPC developers is secured thanks to their involvement with the Plus range.  Chosen by Amstrad as an ideal partner to provide launch software, it was Ocean who developed and produced [[Burnin' Rubber]], the game included with the GX4000 and the Plus range of machines.
  
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Although Ocean put out some really good games, they also built a reputation of publishing trash games based on movie licence after movie licence. They also released a lot of Arcade ports.
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A short-lived serious software arm, '''Ocean IQ''', published the [[Laser Basic|Laser Basic]], [[Laser Genius|Laser Genius]] and [[Laser BASIC Compiler|Laser Compiler]] titles.  
  
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In 1998 [[Infogrames|Infogrames]] bought Ocean Software.  
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As with all games developers, and particularly true of a group with the huge output of Ocean, the quality can vary wildly from game to game but thanks to their savvy maketing and more than a few classic games, Ocean will always tend to be remembered favourably.  
  
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But OCEAN remains a classic suppliers of well made CPC games, most of the best CPC productions were released with their brand logo.
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In 1998 the Ocean name finally disappeared when the group, who had been unable to move with the times into the 32-bit era was bought out by [[Infogrames]].
  
 
== Releases for CPC  ==
 
== Releases for CPC  ==
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*[[Puzznic|Puzznic]]  
 
*[[Puzznic|Puzznic]]  
 
*[[Rainbow Islands|Rainbow Islands]]  
 
*[[Rainbow Islands|Rainbow Islands]]  
 +
*[[Renegade]]
 
*[[Run for Gold|Run for Gold]]  
 
*[[Run for Gold|Run for Gold]]  
 
*[[Run the Gauntlet|Run the Gauntlet]]  
 
*[[Run the Gauntlet|Run the Gauntlet]]  
 
*[[Super Wondeboy in Monsterland|Super Wondeboy in Monsterland]]  
 
*[[Super Wondeboy in Monsterland|Super Wondeboy in Monsterland]]  
−
*[[Tai Pan|Tai Pan]]  
+
*[[Tai-Pan]]  
 
*[[Tank|Tank]]  
 
*[[Tank|Tank]]  
 
*[[Target Renegade|Target Renegade]]
 
*[[Target Renegade|Target Renegade]]
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*[[Knight Rider|Knight Rider]]  
 
*[[Knight Rider|Knight Rider]]  
 
*[[Miami Vice|Miami Vice]]  
 
*[[Miami Vice|Miami Vice]]  
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*[[Navy Seals|Navy Seals]]  
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*[[Navy Seals (cartridge)|Navy Seals (Cartridge)]]  
 
*[[Never Ending Story|Never Ending Story]]  
 
*[[Never Ending Story|Never Ending Story]]  
 
*[[Night Breed|Night Breed]]  
 
*[[Night Breed|Night Breed]]  
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*[[Rambo 3|Rambo 3]]  
 
*[[Rambo 3|Rambo 3]]  
 
*[[Robocop|Robocop]] (1987)  
 
*[[Robocop|Robocop]] (1987)  
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*[[Robocop 2|Robocop 2]] Cartridge
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*[[Robocop 2 (cartridge)|Robocop 2 (Cartridge)]]  
 
*[[Robocop 3|Robocop 3]] Unreleased.
 
*[[Robocop 3|Robocop 3]] Unreleased.
 
*[[Terminator 2|Terminator 2]]  
 
*[[Terminator 2|Terminator 2]]  
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[[Category:CPC_related_companies]] [[Category:Computer_and_video_game_companies]]
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== Gallery ==
 +
 
 +
<gallery> caption="screenshots">
 +
Image:SOTB Comparatif 2.png‎| Shadow of the Beast by Psygnosis/[[Ocean]]
 +
Image:Ocean.png‎| Various [[Ocean]] intro pages
 +
Image:Divers 01.png‎| Various [[Ocean]](mostly) intro pages
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
[[Category:CPC_related_companies]] [[Category:Computer_and_video_game_companies]][[Category:UK companies]]

Latest revision as of 20:59, 4 February 2017

Ocean Software, founded in 1982 by David Ward and Jon Woods, was one of the biggest European games developers across all home computing platforms.

As well as an impressive back catalogue of CPC games, Ocean's has left a legacy touching every major gaming platform of the 1980s including the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Atari ST, Amiga, PC, NES, SNES, Master System and Mega Drive

Although they developed and supported a number of original games and ideas, they will be forever associated in the mind of the casual game with their TV & Movie licence games and ports of the latest arcade hits from Konami and Taito, the latest of which Ocean always seemed to be advertising up to six months in advance of release in the magazines of the day!

By the time the CPC had arrived on the scene, Ocean had already beaten their North-East rivals Imagine who had overreached themselves in the battle for supremacy. Ocean took on the brand name for themselves and made a number of key releases on the label in the following years. Simply put, however, every release on the Imagine label for the CPC was in fact made by Ocean.

As well as Imagine, Ocean developed the Hit Squad label as a budget house to re-release their old titles (along with a number of other titles by third parties).

Their position as one of the key CPC developers is secured thanks to their involvement with the Plus range. Chosen by Amstrad as an ideal partner to provide launch software, it was Ocean who developed and produced Burnin' Rubber, the game included with the GX4000 and the Plus range of machines.

A short-lived serious software arm, Ocean IQ, published the Laser Basic, Laser Genius and Laser Compiler titles.

As with all games developers, and particularly true of a group with the huge output of Ocean, the quality can vary wildly from game to game but thanks to their savvy maketing and more than a few classic games, Ocean will always tend to be remembered favourably.

In 1998 the Ocean name finally disappeared when the group, who had been unable to move with the times into the 32-bit era was bought out by Infogrames.

Releases for CPC


Movies or TV Licenses :

Arcade Licenses :


Sport Licenses


Gallery

  • Shadow of the Beast by Psygnosis/Ocean

  • Various Ocean intro pages

  • Various Ocean(mostly) intro pages

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