BBC Multimedia

BBC Multimedia was a division of the BBC which dealt with the publishing of computer-game versions of well-known BBC television programmes.

BBC Multimedia
Founded1995 (1995)
Defunct2006 (2006)
Headquarters
Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London
,
United Kingdom
ProductsDoctor Who
Robot Wars
Teletubbies
Tweenies
Bob the Builder
Noddy
Pingu
Wallace and Gromit
OwnerBBC
ParentBBC Worldwide
SubsidiariesGamezlab

History

The Multimedia division was founded in 1995[1] and mostly focused on CD-ROM software for Microsoft Windows and Macintosh.

The company attended E3 2002 by announcing its first game for the Xbox, Robot Wars: Extreme Destruction, set for a November 2002 release,[2] as well as a game adaptation of the CBBC series Ace Lightning for the PlayStation 2, with both games also on Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Advance.[3] Other CD-ROM games announced this time were Bob the Builder: Bob Builds a Park, set for a July 2002 release[4] and Tweenies: Messy Time, set for an October 2002 release.[5]

In July 2002, the company launched a budget range called Favourites, consisting of pre-school games.[6] On 5 November 2002, the company announced a Fimbles CD-ROM for a June 2003 release.[7]

On February 6, 2003, the company announced the Ace Lightning video game for March.[8]

At E3 2003, the company announced a video game based on FightBox for PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Advance for a pre-Christmas release window to tie-in with the show's airing.[9] The game adapation was one of the many side-projects done for the FightBox IP, which was mostly worked on by Runecraft. After the company went out of business, the BBC acquired the developer's offices and some of their staff, and re-structured it under the "Gamezlab" name.[10] The company also showcased their Fimbles CD-ROM, in addition to a game based on Tiny Planets, a Bob the Builder game - Bob's Castle Adventure for a July 2003 release,[11] and an Engie Benjy CD-ROM for a September 2003 release.[12] In October, the company announced the FightBox video game for February 2004.[13] On November 24, the company announced a Balamory CD-ROM for 2004.[14]

In January 2004, Balamory was announced for the following month.[15] A compilation release titled Playtime! was announced.[16] In February, the company announced a video game based on Spooks for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Windows, for a late 2004 release window.[17] On 2 November 2004, Global Software Publishing announced acquiring exclusive distribution rights to BBC Multimedia's library. This move was done so BBC Worldwide could refocus BBC Multimedia as a video game licensor instead of being a publisher.[18] Shortly before this, BBC Worldwide closed down Gamezlab and cancelled the upcoming Spooks video game.

BBC Multimedia was closed in 2006 after sales declined in its boxed product business.[19]

Games
Game Platform(s) Release Date
Attenborough's Antarctic Windows 95 / 98 / 3.1 1997
Balamory Windows 98 / 95 / XP 2004
Bill & Ben: Flowerpot Fun! Windows 98 / 95 2001
BBC Games Collection Featuring Toybox/Playtime Windows 98 / 95 / XP 2003 / 2005
Blue Peter Windows 95 1997
Bob the Builder: Bob Builds a Park (Published in North America by THQ) Windows 98 / Me / XP 2001
Bob the Builder: Bob's Castle Adventure (Published in North America by THQ) Windows 98 / Me / XP 2003
Bob the Builder: Can We Fix It? (Published in North America by THQ) Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2000 / 2001
Bob the Builder: Fix it Fun! (Published in North America by THQ) Game Boy Color 2000 / 2001
Changing Rooms Windows 95 / 98 N/A
Doctor Who: Destiny of the Doctors Windows 95 1997
Fast Show Comedy Fun Pack Windows 95 / 98 N/A
Fawlty Towers – Comedy Pack Windows 95 / 98 N/A
Fimbles: Fimbling Fun Windows 95 / 98 / XP 2003
Gardeners' World Magazine Garden Manager with Alan Titchmarsh Windows 95 / 98 N/A
GCSE Bitesize Revision: Maths Windows 95 / 98 2000
GCSE Bitesize Revision: Science Windows 95 / 98 2000
The Human Body – Your Body Windows 95 / 98 1999
Key Stage 2 ReviseWise Science Windows 95 / 98 1997
Key Stage 3 Bitesize Revision English Windows 95 / 98 1999
Key Stage 3 Bitesize Revision Maths Windows 95 / 98 1999
Live & Kicking: Show Maker Windows 3.1 / 95 / 98 1995
Mastermind Windows 3.1 / 95 / 98 1997
Noddy: Let's Get Ready for School! (Released in North America as Noddy: Playtime in Toyland) (Published in North America by Knowledge Adventure) Windows 95 / 98 1998 (UK) 1999 (US)
Noddy: The Magic of Toytown Windows 95 / 98 1996
Noddy's Magic Adventure PlayStation 2000
Noddy and the Birthday Party Game Boy Color 2000
Only Fools & Horses Windows 95 / 98 N/A
Pingu & Friends Windows, Macintosh 1999
Pingu: A Barrel of Fun! Windows 95 / 98 1997
Play with the Teletubbies (Published in North America by Knowledge Adventure) Windows 95 / 98 /PlayStation 1998 / 2000
Teletubbies 2: Favourite Games (Published in North America by Knowledge Adventure) Windows 95 / 98 1999
Result: The BBC Sports Quiz presented by Desmond Lynam Windows 95 N/A
Robot Wars: Advanced Destruction (Published in North America by Vivendi Universal Games) Game Boy Advance 2001
Robot Wars: Metal Mayhem Game Boy Color 2000
Rotten Ralph – Big Night In Windows 95 / 98 2000
S Club 7: On The Road Windows 95 / 98 / Me / 2000 / XP 2003
Shakespeare on CD-ROM: Macbeth Windows 3.1 / 95 / 98 1995
Shakespeare on CD-ROM: Romeo and Juliet Windows 95 / 98 1995[20]
SMart Windows 95 / 98 / NT N/A
Spark Island Adventures in Literacy 7-9 Windows, Macintosh 1997
Spark Island Adventures in Literacy 9-11 Windows, Macintosh 1997
Spark Island Adventures in Maths 7-9 Windows, Macintosh 1997
Spark Island Farmer Rumtums Letter Fun 3-5 Windows, Macintosh 1999
Spark Island Farmer Rumtums Number Fun 3-5 Windows, Macintosh 1999
Spark Island Maths Adventures 9-11 Windows, Macintosh 2001
Spark Island Number Games 5-7 Windows, Macintosh 2001
Spark Island Reading Games 5-7 Windows, Macintosh 2001
Top Of The Pops: Mix Factory Windows 95 / 98 N/A
Top Of The Pops: Mix Factory 2 Windows 95 / 98 1999[21]
Tweenies: Doodles' Bones Windows 95 / 98, Game Boy Color 2000
Tweenies: Game Time PlayStation 2001
Tweenies: Messy Time Magic Windows 95 / 98 2002
Tweenies: Play to the Music Windows 95 / 98 / Me / XP 2004
Tweenies: Ready to Play Windows 95 / 98 2000
Wallace & Gromit Cracking Animator Windows 95 / 98 1997
Wallace & Gromit Print-o-matic Windows 95 / 98 1998
The Weakest Link (published by Activision) Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, PlayStation 2 2001
Yoho Ahoy: All Aboard! Windows 98 2000

Gamezlab
Game Platform(s) Release Date
Robot Wars: Arenas of Destruction (Published in North America by Vivendi Universal Games) Windows 98 / Me, PlayStation 2 2001
Robot Wars: Extreme Destruction Windows 95 / 98 / 2000 / Me / XP, Xbox, Game Boy Advance 2002
Ace Lightning Windows, PlayStation 2 2002
FightBox Windows, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance 2004
Spooks PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows Cancelled

See also

References
  1. French, Michael (6 August 2007). "BBC to return to games development?". MCV. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  2. "BBC - Worldwide Press Office - Robot Wars activated on Xbox". www.bbc.co.uk.
  3. "BBC - Worldwide Press Office - BBC Multimedia at E3". www.bbc.co.uk.
  4. "BBC - Worldwide Press Office - Bob the Builder: Bob Builds a Park PC CD-ROM". www.bbc.co.uk.
  5. "BBC - Worldwide Press Office - Tweenies Get Messy". www.bbc.co.uk.
  6. "BBC - Worldwide Press Office - Multimedia - Children's Titles". www.bbc.co.uk.
  7. "BBC - Worldwide Press Office - PC Fimbling Fun from BBC Multimedia". www.bbc.co.uk.
  8. "BBC - Worldwide Press Office - Fight the fear on PS2 with Ace Lightning". www.bbc.co.uk.
  9. "BBC - Worldwide Press Office - BBC Multimedia brings FightBox to E3". www.bbc.co.uk.
  10. Yarwood, Jack (22 March 2023). "Remembering FightBox, BBC's Big-Budget Video Game Failure". Time Extension. Hookshot Media. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  11. "BBC - Worldwide Press Office - Award Winning Bob Returns on PC CD-ROM". www.bbc.co.uk.
  12. "BBC - Worldwide Press Office - BBC Multimedia publishes Engie Benjy PC CD-ROM". www.bbc.co.uk.
  13. "BBC - Worldwide Press Office - FightBox on PC, PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Advance". www.bbc.co.uk.
  14. "BBC - Worldwide Press Office - Top story for Balamory". www.bbc.co.uk.
  15. "BBC - Worldwide Press Office - Balamory goes interactive". www.bbc.co.uk.
  16. "BBC - Worldwide Press Office -". www.bbc.co.uk.
  17. "BBC - Worldwide Press Office - Spooks revealed as multi-format computer game". www.bbc.co.uk.
  18. "GSP licenses BBC Worldwide's catalogue of award winning software". GamesIndustry.biz. 2 November 2004.
  19. French, Michael (21 January 2010). "BBC gets back into games". MCV. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  20. BBC Shakespeare on CD-ROM – Romeo and Juliet. ASIN 0003252787. 25 April 1995
  21. "Top Of The Pops: Mix Factory 2". GameTrailers. Retrieved 18 February 2014.


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