989 Studios

989 Studios
Industry Computer and video game industry
Fate Merged into Sony Computer Entertainment America
Predecessor Sony Imagesoft
Successor SCE San Diego Studio
Founded 1995 (as Sony Interactive Studios America)
2001 (relaunch)
Founder Daniel Phillips
Defunct 2000 (original)
2005 (relaunch)
Headquarters Los Angeles, United States
Products Games for video game consoles and computer software
Parent Sony Computer Entertainment America

989 Studios was a division of Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) that developed games for the PlayStation consoles and Windows personal computers. Their games include EverQuest, Twisted Metal III and 4, Syphon Filter and Syphon Filter 2, Jet Moto 3, Bust a Groove, and others. It now exists as the 989 Sports brand owned by SCEA that produces sports games.

History

The 989 Sports game developed from a long history of name changes and corporate shuffling within Sony centered around operations in Foster City, California. In August 1995, the video game business of Sony Imagesoft was merged with the product development branch of SCEA, becoming Sony Interactive Studios America (SISA).[1] On April 1998, SISA was renamed 989 Studios, after the street address of the building they worked in at the time (989 E. Hillsdale Boulevard, Foster City, California). The part of 989 developing EverQuest (and other online and PC games) broke off to become an independent studio named Verant Interactive in early 1999. On April 1, 2000, 989 Studios was merged back into SCEA as a first party development group, in order to prepare for the then-upcoming PlayStation 2. SCEA continues to release sports games under the 989 Sports brand. Subsequent reissues and sequels to 989's games are published under the SCEA name instead of the 989 name. 989 Studios was also working on many unreleased video games, that were cancelled before to be completed, as Dark Guns, Sorcery (PlayStation), Warhawk 2 (PlayStation), Barnstormers (PlayStation), and The Diabolical Adventures of Tobu.[2]

Games

Developed by 989 Studios

Published by 989 Sports

Published by SCEA under the 989 Sports brand

Unreleased 989 Studios games

989 Sports game announcers/voices

NBA ShootOut

The NBA ShootOut series of games featured Mike Carlucci as PA announcer in every game. Carlucci has doubled as a play-by-play announcer in NBA ShootOut 97 and NBA ShootOut 98. Later versions have the voice of CBS Sports play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle as the play-by-play announcer.

NFL GameDay

In the original NFL GameDay for the PlayStation, there were only the voices of football players. Carlucci was added as both play-by-play announcer and PA announcer in NFL GameDay 97 and NFL GameDay 98. Starting with NFL GameDay 99, the game features an NBC Sports-style presentation with play-by-play announcer Dick Enberg and Super Bowl XXI MVP Phil Simms as a color commentator. The NBC Sports-style presentation was retained, starting with NFL GameDay 2001, after Enberg began working at CBS in 2000.

MLB Baseball

The first game in 989 Sports' line of Major League Baseball games was MLB Pennant Race. MLB 98 featured Carlucci as both PA announcer and play-by-play announcer. MLB 99 has Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully as play-by-play announcer, but no color commentator. Starting with MLB 2000, infielder Dave Campbell is paired with Scully as color commentator.

NHL FaceOff

Starting with NHL FaceOff 99, NHL on NBC play-by-play announcer Mike Emrick is the play-by-play announcer, and Darren Pang is paired with Emrick as color commentator.

References

  1. ↑ Sony Electronic Publishing Co. renamed; Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. is established. Businesswire, August 17, 1995.
  2. ↑ Beta and cancelled 989 Studios games from Unseen64 archive.
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