Jester Interactive
IndustryVideo games
Founded1997; 27 years ago (1997)
Headquarters
Flintshire
,
Wales
Websitewww.jesterinteractive.com

Jester Interactive is a video game developer based in Flintshire, Wales in the United Kingdom.[1] It was founded in 1997 as a trading arm of Morgan Computing Limited. It would later trade under the name Jester Interactive Limited, and after going into administration in 2003,[2] it would re-emerge as Jester Interactive Publishing Limited.

History

Jester Interactive Limited was formed as part of a Database Software company based in North Wales, through funding from Morgan Computing Limited. The key staff who initiated this venture were Lee Wright, Tim Wright and Gavin Morgan, managing director of Morgan Computing Limited.

Jester Interactive initially consisted of a small team of five people working in offices based at Liverpool's Port of Liverpool Building where they developed the company's first title NoiseToys.[3] NoiseToys was later renamed as Music Station, then shortened to Music with the strapline Music Creation for the PlayStation Generation. This line of software also featured a DJ Character known as 'Scratchy'[4] which usually appeared on all Jester's Music products.

After about 9 months, Jester launched its first title MUSIC™ through Codemasters to critical acclaim.[5] As the winners of the Official PlayStation Magazine award for the Most Innovative Game 1999 and Sony Computer Entertainment America's award for Most Innovative Game 2000, Jester also twice reached final nomination for the highly acclaimed BAFTA awards in the category of the user interface.[6] Jester went on to develop several racing games involving Super Trucks and the Isle of Man TT races.

In 2000 Jester won the Achievement Wales 2000 Business of the Year Award from the Daily Post / Wales 2000 initiative.[7]

In 2001 it was ranked No. 4 in the Fast Growth 50 company list.[8]

Jester's most recent titles include TT Superbikes Real Road Racing[9] and TT Superbikes Legends.[10] They are currently working on titles which have yet to be revealed.[11]

Games developed

Year Game Platform(s)
1998 Music PlayStation
1999 Music 2000 / MTV Music Generator [12] PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
2001 MTV Music Generator 2 PlayStation 2
2002 Pocket Music Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance
Super Trucks PlayStation 2
Manic Miner Game Boy Advance
2003 Music 3000 [5] PlayStation 2
2005 TT Superbikes Real Road Racing[13]
Dance:UK XL Lite
2008 TT Superbikes Real Road Racing Championship
TT Superbikes Legends[10]

References

  1. ^ "JESTER". Jester Interactive. Archived from the original on 6 February 2002. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  2. ^ "jesterdead.jpg". Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". www.coldstorage.org.uk. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Archived copy". www.coldstorage.org.uk. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Ed (29 July 2004). "Funkmaster Flex's Digital Hitz Factory". IGN. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Video Game News - Jester Interactive Concludes Deal for Isle of Man TT Game". www.gamezone.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008.
  7. ^ "XS Games | News Releases". www.xsgames.biz. Archived from the original on 7 June 2010.
  8. ^ http://fg50.community.sequence.co.uk/fg50/fg50-2001
  9. ^ "TT Superbikes". www.jesterinteractive.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  10. ^ a b "TT Superbikes". www.jesterinteractive.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  11. ^ "Jester Interactive returns with a flurry of new releases". MCV. April 2008. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  12. ^ Phillips, Yoh (12 February 2018). "How a PlayStation Music-Making Game Inspired a Generation of Producers". DJBooth. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  13. ^ McGregor, Ross (3 April 2022). "How TT Superbikes: Real Road Racing still sets the motorcycle sim benchmark". Traxion.GG. Retrieved 26 June 2023.

External links

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