Perfect Entertainment

Perfect Entertainment was an independent British computer-game developer associated primarily with the Discworld adventure-game series and with conversion work for Sega Saturn and other platforms. Its corporate history grew out of two related British development operations. In 1990 Gregg Barnett established a British division of Australian developer Beam Software, known as Beam Europe or Beam Software UK. That operation was later sold to Barnett and renamed Perfect 10 Productions. Angela Sutherland, who had worked at Perfect 10, left in 1991 to establish Teeny Weeny Games. The new studio concentrated on original concepts, licensed games, and conversions for consoles and handheld systems; its name was taken from a lullaby. Teeny Weeny Games became the initial source of funding for a speculative demonstration of a Discworld game. The project helped create the relationship that led to a game based on Terry Pratchett's novels. In 1995 Teeny Weeny Games merged with Perfect 10 Productions, creating Perfect Entertainment. The merged company developed and published work across personal computers and consoles, while also becoming a significant external developer for Psygnosis, the British publisher later owned by Sony. Because Sony was unwilling to finance versions of Psygnosis titles for a rival console, Perfect Entertainment produced much of the company's Sega Saturn porting work. Its Saturn-related projects included conversions of Destruction Derby, Wipeout 2097, FIFA 97, Krazy Ivan, Assault Rigs, and 3D Lemmings, as well as versions of the first Discworld game. The company's most distinctive creative contribution was its Discworld adventure trilogy. Discworld, released in versions for MS-DOS, Macintosh, PlayStation, and Sega Saturn, adapted Pratchett's setting into a comic point-and-click adventure. Discworld II: Missing Presumed...!? followed in computer and console versions. Discworld Noir, a darker detective-oriented adventure, completed the principal trilogy and was released for Windows in 1999. These games gave Perfect Entertainment its strongest identity and remain the principal reason the company is remembered in video-game history. Perfect Entertainment also experienced serious operational disruption. Its Manchester offices were destroyed in the 1996 IRA bombing, when the company was working on Discworld II and a Sega Saturn version of FIFA 97. The company later acquired Tantalus Entertainment, which was subsequently returned to its original directors. By the completion of Discworld Noir in 1999, most of Perfect Entertainment's assets, employees, and liabilities had been absorbed into a second incarnation of Teeny Weeny Games. A prolonged legal dispute with Psygnosis concerning royalties and fees was eventually settled out of court, while disagreements among board members contributed to a decision to reduce the business and enable dissatisfied stakeholders to leave. In early 2000 the reorganized Teeny Weeny Games obtained a contract from 20th Century Fox to complete World's Scariest Police Chases: Deadly Pursuit, a project already in development. The producer and several employees involved in the project acquired a majority shareholding and assumed control of the company. The studio closed approximately a year later. Perfect Entertainment therefore represents a defunct British development brand whose legacy rests on licensed adventure-game design, Discworld adaptations, and technically ambitious console conversions rather than on a long-running commercial corporation.

Perfect Entertainment's roots lay in the British operations of Beam Software and in the independent studio founded by Angela Sutherland. In 1990 Gregg Barnett created Beam Europe, also described as Beam Software UK, as a British division of the Australian company Beam Software. The division was later sold to Barnett and became Perfect 10 Productions. Sutherland, who had worked at Perfect 10, left in 1991 and founded Teeny Weeny Games. The studio worked on original concepts, licensed projects, and conversions for systems including the Game Boy, Sega Master System, Game Gear, Mega Drive, NES, Amiga, MS-DOS, and Macintosh. Teeny Weeny Games provided the initial funding for a speculative Discworld demonstration. The project developed into the first Discworld adventure game, establishing the creative association for which the later company became best known. In 1995 Teeny Weeny Games and Perfect 10 Productions merged, forming Perfect Entertainment. The new company continued Discworld development while taking on a substantial amount of external porting work. It produced many Psygnosis games for the Sega Saturn because Sony, which owned Psygnosis, did not wish to finance versions for a competing console. Perfect Entertainment's Saturn portfolio included 3D Lemmings, Destruction Derby, FIFA 97, Krazy Ivan, Wipeout 2097, Assault Rigs, and versions of Discworld. Some planned conversions, including Saturn versions of Adidas Power Soccer and Destruction Derby 2, were unpublished. The Discworld series developed through three principal releases. The first Discworld appeared for MS-DOS, Macintosh, PlayStation, and Saturn. Discworld II: Missing Presumed...!? followed for MS-DOS, Windows, PlayStation, and Saturn. Discworld Noir, completed in 1999, shifted the series toward a detective-noir presentation and was released for Windows. A PlayStation version followed in 2000 under the subsequent Teeny Weeny Games identity. The company suffered a major physical setback in 1996 when its Manchester offices were destroyed in the IRA bombing. Development at the time included Discworld II and a Saturn conversion of FIFA 97. Perfect Entertainment also acquired Tantalus Entertainment during the 1990s; Tantalus was later sold back to its original directors and ultimately became associated with the Tantalus Media name. By the completion of Discworld Noir, the company's assets, personnel, and risks had largely been transferred into a second Teeny Weeny Games structure. The transition was influenced by a protracted dispute with Psygnosis over royalties and fees, which was settled out of court, and by disagreements at board level. The business was reduced so that stakeholders who no longer wished to participate could leave. In early 2000 the reorganized studio accepted a contract from 20th Century Fox to supply World's Scariest Police Chases: Deadly Pursuit, a game already in development. The producer and other staff connected with the project bought a majority shareholding and took over the company. The Teeny Weeny Games successor closed about a year later, ending the corporate continuation of the development group.

• 2000

  20th Century Fox development contract

  [1]Perfect Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The reorganized studio was contracted to deliver World's Scariest Police Chases: Deadly Pursuit.

• 1999

  Discworld Noir completed

  [1]Perfect Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Completion of Discworld Noir coincided with the absorption of most Perfect Entertainment assets and staff into a new Teeny Weeny Games structure.

• 1996

  Manchester offices destroyed

  [1]Perfect Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The company's offices were destroyed in the 1996 IRA bombing during development of Discworld II and FIFA 97 for Saturn.

• 1995

  Perfect Entertainment formed

  [1]Perfect Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Teeny Weeny Games merged with Perfect 10 Productions, creating Perfect Entertainment.

• 1991

  Teeny Weeny Games founded

  [1]Perfect Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Angela Sutherland left Perfect 10 and established Teeny Weeny Games for original projects and conversions.

• 1990

  Beam Europe established

  [1]Perfect Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Gregg Barnett founded the British Beam Software operation, later sold to him and renamed Perfect 10 Productions.

An independent British developer combining licensed intellectual properties, narrative adventure games, and technically demanding ports across home computers and game consoles.

• Point-and-click adventure game · 1995

  Discworld

  The first major Discworld adaptation associated with the company, this comic adventure game translated Terry Pratchett's fictional setting into an interactive mystery. It was developed for MS-DOS and Macintosh and later converted for PlayStation and Sega Saturn, helping establish Perfect Entertainment's reputation for literary licensed adventures and multi-platform development.

• Point-and-click adventure game · 1996

  Discworld II: Missing Presumed...!?

  The sequel expanded the company's Discworld adventure formula and was released for MS-DOS, Windows, PlayStation, and Sega Saturn. Its development was disrupted by the destruction of Perfect Entertainment's Manchester offices in 1996, but the game nevertheless became one of the studio's principal releases.

• Detective adventure game · 1999

  Discworld Noir

  The third principal Discworld game adopted a detective-noir orientation rather than simply repeating the earlier comic-adventure structure. The Windows release was completed in 1999, and a PlayStation version followed in 2000 under the successor Teeny Weeny Games identity.

• Console ports · 1996

  Sega Saturn conversion portfolio

  Perfect Entertainment produced a substantial group of Sega Saturn conversions, including 3D Lemmings, Destruction Derby, FIFA 97, Krazy Ivan, Wipeout 2097, Assault Rigs, and Discworld. The work reflected the studio's role as an external technical developer for Psygnosis and other publishers rather than only as an original-game creator.

• Licensed action-driving game · 2000

  World's Scariest Police Chases: Deadly Pursuit

  This project was already in development when the reorganized Teeny Weeny Games received a contract from 20th Century Fox in early 2000. It represented the successor operation's final major contracted project and was released for Dreamcast; the Perfect Entertainment brand itself had largely been absorbed by this stage.

• 2000

  Management takeover of the successor studioStrategy

  Background

  Teeny Weeny Games had been contracted to supply World's Scariest Police Chases: Deadly Pursuit.

  Action taken

  The project's producer and several staff members acquired a majority shareholding and took control of the company.

  Aftermath

  The successor studio closed about a year later.

  Source

• 1999

  Scale-down and transfer into a second Teeny Weeny GamesStrategy

  Background

  A protracted dispute with Psygnosis over royalties and fees, together with disagreements among board members, created pressure to restructure the business.

  Action taken

  Most assets, employees, and risks were absorbed into a second incarnation of Teeny Weeny Games, while the company was reduced to allow dissatisfied stakeholders to leave.

  Aftermath

  The successor obtained a 20th Century Fox contract in 2000 but closed approximately a year later.

  Source

• 1995

  Merger of Teeny Weeny Games and Perfect 10 ProductionsM&A

  Background

  The two British development operations had complementary origins: Teeny Weeny Games focused on original concepts and conversions, while Perfect 10 Productions descended from Beam Software's British division.

  Action taken

  They merged to form Perfect Entertainment.

  Aftermath

  The combined studio developed the Discworld sequels and undertook extensive console-porting work, particularly for Sega Saturn.

  Source

1. 1Perfect Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org