Overview
Licenses and controversy. Acclaim Entertainment mastered the art of acquiring valuable licenses—sports leagues, movies, wrestling—and releasing games of varying quality. Their marketing pushed boundaries (sometimes tastelessly), while their LJN subsidiary became notorious for poor-quality licensed games. Success eventually gave way to bankruptcy in 2004.
Fast facts
- Founded: 1987.
- Strategy: Licensed properties.
- Subsidiary: LJN (acquired 1990).
- Bankruptcy: 2004.
Notable franchises
| Series |
Type |
| NBA Jam |
Basketball |
| NFL Quarterback Club |
Football |
| WWF/WWE |
Wrestling |
| Mortal Kombat |
Fighting (published) |
| Turok |
Dinosaur hunter |
NBA Jam
| Achievement |
Impact |
| Arcade success |
Coin-op phenomenon |
| Home versions |
Strong sales |
| Style |
Over-the-top basketball |
| Secret characters |
Hidden celebrities |
LJN subsidiary
| Reputation |
Detail |
| License focus |
Movie/TV properties |
| Quality |
Often poor |
| Notable failures |
Back to the Future, Friday 13th |
| Fan perception |
Rainbow logo = warning sign |
Controversial marketing
| Campaign |
Controversy |
| BMX XXX |
Nudity in sports game |
| Turok Evolution |
Paid for real name changes |
| Shadow Man 2 |
Ads on gravestones (proposed) |
Quality variance
| Good |
Poor |
| NBA Jam |
Most LJN titles |
| Turok |
Numerous licensed games |
| Burnout |
Various movie tie-ins |
Business model
| Element |
Approach |
| Licenses |
Acquire recognisable names |
| Volume |
Many releases |
| Marketing |
Aggressive promotion |
| Development |
Often outsourced |
Decline and fall
| Factor |
Impact |
| Quality issues |
Reputation damage |
| Expensive licenses |
Thin margins |
| Market changes |
Console transitions |
| Bankruptcy |
September 2004 |
See also