Acclaim Entertainment Relaunches as Indie Publisher, Taps Pro Wrestler for Advisory Board
A Blast from the Past
If you were a gamer in the 1980s or 90s, Acclaim Entertainment will be a familiar brand name. The publisher had a spree of hits thanks to big sports and entertainment partnerships with the WWF, NBA, NFL, and Marvel alongside ports of Midway arcade games like Mortal Kombat.
New Beginnings
The company declared bankruptcy in 2004 but is now back with a new team led by CEO Alex Josef, who founded the publisher Graffiti Games. Greg Fischbach, who founded Acclaim in 1987, is not involved in the project.
Advisory Board
To guide the relaunch, Acclaim has assembled an advisory board comprising Russell Binder at Striker Entertainment, Mark Caplan at Ridge Partners, and Jeff Jarrett of Global Force Entertainment. Yes, that’s Jeff Jarrett, the wrestler known for posing as a country music star and smashing guitars over opponents’ heads in the WWF back in the early 90s.
Reviving Classic Franchises
Acclaim aims to "resurrect and revitalize its beloved portfolio of classic IP enjoyed for years by millions of players" by providing funding, marketing, and PR support to indie developers. The company will focus on original new IP, but there’s a strong emphasis on revivals.
The Road Ahead
The fact that the logo now looks so retro adds to the nostalgia value of the brand relaunch, but it remains to be seen if that will be enough to make it a success. The company’s website currently lists the "Games" section as "coming soon," and several old Acclaim franchises are now with other companies. Warner Bros. now has Mortal Kombat, EA has NBA Jam, and Universal Studios owns Turok. Several old Acclaim games have already seen revivals, such as Nightdive Studios’ Shadow Man remake. Other options could include Judge Dredd, Wizards and Warriors, and – er – BMX XXX.
Conclusion
The relaunch of Acclaim Entertainment is an exciting development for retro gamers and fans of classic franchises. With a new team and advisory board, the company is poised to bring back beloved titles and introduce them to a new generation of gamers. Whether it will be enough to make a successful comeback remains to be seen, but the nostalgia factor is certainly there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the current status of Acclaim’s classic franchises?
A: Several old Acclaim franchises are now with other companies, such as Warner Bros. (Mortal Kombat), EA (NBA Jam), and Universal Studios (Turok).
Q: What is the focus of the new Acclaim Entertainment?
A: The company will focus on original new IP, but there’s a strong emphasis on revivals of classic franchises.
Q: Who is on the advisory board of Acclaim Entertainment?
A: The advisory board includes Russell Binder at Striker Entertainment, Mark Caplan at Ridge Partners, and Jeff Jarrett of Global Force Entertainment.
