Psygnosis

Background[]

Psygnosis was a prolific UK-based game company, most notable for its Lemmings series and other quality games. It was acquired by Sony in 1993, but stayed autonomic until 1998, when its activity was divided to Eidos and 989 Studios. The Psygnosis brand and logo were used until 2000 (for Sony internal studios as well), when Sony incorporated all European studios into its internal structure. Psygnosis became the legendary company, its "owl-ball" logo is still the most known around in the gaming world most notably the Colony Wars trilogy for the PlayStation. In 2000, Sony discontinued the Psygnosis brand, closed all US studios and assimilated UK studios.

Logos[]

1st logo (1984-1996)[]

The word "PSYGNOSIS" is in the custom purple-blue crystalized font takes the place on screen, with the wing-spreading owl below in a circle. In the down right corner we see a sphere with owl's face that has the feather texture around it and is nicknamed, the "Owl-Ball".

Variants[]

Sometimes, "PRESENTS", in the similar font as "PSYGNOSIS", is under the logo.
There's another variant where we see only the "PSYGNOSIS" text with "PRESENTS" underneath.
There's another variant where it only shows the "Owl-Ball" and under it is the "PSYGNOSIS" text.
On Destruction Derby, "Presents" Wipeout 3 is in the Franklin Gothic font. Plus, the Owl-Ball is a bit bigger.
On Benefactor and Fox Kids Racing, the word "PRESENTS" appears in different font.

2nd logo (1994-1996)[]

We are in a very dark tunnel, which then brightens up a second later. While we zoom through it, the "Owl-Ball" quickly zooms out from the viewer and backs away with it's smoke effect behind it. As the tunnel's texture changes, the spotlight appears quickly from behind and onto the viewer causing the screen to flash, revealing the Psygnosis logo from before in the green tone, but without the Owl-Ball on it. The tunnel background quickly swirls away. After the tunnel disappears, the logo's tint changes into purple and the Owl-Ball appears again.

Variants[]

There is a slow variant of the logo that appeared on Mary Shelly's Frankenstein for Sega CD.
On Wipeout for Saturn, the logo is ghostly green and lacks the small picture of the owl-ball.

3rd logo (1995-2000)[]

Against the the textured background with the black circle hole in it and the lens on it, the Owl-Ball appears spinning in along with the black circle outline. After it finishes, the Owl-Ball changes into it's normal style (But it's light blue this time) and the purple rectangular shape with "PSYGNOSIS" on the bottom black half of the shape, appears with the white outline as the background fades out. Then the spotlight-textured background appears behind the logo.

Variants[]

On some games like Wipeout XL (Known as Wipeout 2097 in UK), "PRESENTS" appears spaced under the logo.
Sometimes, the logo is still on the black background or the white background. This happened on The City of Lost Children, where the picture possessed some grains, as it was scanned.
On Formula 1, the still logo fades in at the beginning of the opening intro movie.
On the end of the Formula 1 demo (Found on Interactive CD Sampler Vol. 3 for PlayStation), the still logo is seen on the right along with the 1996 Bizarre Creations logo (see here) on the left. Above and below the logos are "A Bizarre Creations Production" and "Published by Psygnosis" in a Franklin Gothic Bold Italic font respectively. This also appears on the PC demo version of said title as well.
Since 1997, there's another variant where the words, "PSYGNOSIS PRESENTS" with the dots between the name in the circle text wrap effect appears zooming in one-by-one three times during the logo's animation. Also, two the same words are in the front side of the logo spinning in different speed and the logo is superimposed on the game's opening intro.

4th logo (1996-2000)[]

We zoom through a long dimensional tunnel with different stylish textures decorated around. Then the green glowing circle zooms out from the viewer and the Owl-Ball eventually appears spinning in it's same animation from before. As the tunnel slowly fades away, the rest of the logo's animation from the last logo plays.

Variants[]

Like before since 1997, there's another variant where the words, "PSYGNOSIS PRESENTS" with the dots between the name in the circle text wrap effect appears zooming in one-by-one three times during the logo's animation. Also, two the same words are in the front side of the logo spinning in different speed.
On Formula 1 '98, when the logo forms, the background fades out and then the background with the black-white checkered finishing flag fades in waving slowly. Then the logo fades out leaving the background intact, causing the Formula 1 Administration (FIA) logo to appear with "Under official license" under it, which was misspelled as "licence", then the ViSOS logo, and of course, the Visual Sciences logo.
Like before, there is a still version of the logo.
On Formula One '99, the still logo appears on the opening intro movie with "PRESENTS" below the logo.
On Sentinel Returns, there is a still version of the logo with it's spotlight background intact.

Music/Sounds[]

1st logo[]

None or the opening theme of the game.

2nd logo[]

TBA.

3rd logo[]

The game's opening theme is heard, or none.

4th logo[]

An ominous sequence with chimes, synths and drums, ending in a triumphant horn note. Sometimes it's the opening theme of the game. None for the still version.

Scare Factor[]

1st logo[]

None to low. The intimidating font and look of the Owl-Ball may spook some. Low for the ones with only the text and Owl-Ball as both of them together are a bit creepy. Neitherless, this is a favorite of many.