Psygnosis Corporate Profile A Different Kind of Game Company Since 1984, when Psygnosis was founded in Liverpool, England by Jonathan Ellis and Ian Hetherington, it has stood apart from other PC entertainment and video game software companies by delivering interactive entertainment experiences unlike any other. Now the largest development house in Europe, Psygnosis has created more than 100 award-winning titles for a variety of game platforms. The backbone of Psygnosis is its fierce dedication to leading-edge game development. With this single goal driving the company, Psygnosis is set to become one of the fastest growing game publishers in the world. The Industry Takes Notice During 1995, Psygnosis established itself as a distinctive publisher of world-class CD-ROM and Sony PlayStation titles for the U.S. and European markets. This emergence was nowhere more evident than at the PlayStation launch, when it stunned gamers and the industry alike with the smash hit titles WipeOut and Destruction Derby. Already, combined PlayStation and PC CD-ROM units sold for WipeOut and Destruction Derby have reached a record-breaking one million. Other top selling games have included Discworld and Krazy Ivan. Psygnosis’ growth since 1993 has been nothing short of phenomenal. With the number of employees doubling to over 300 and the opening of eight new offices worldwide. Psygnosis has set the stage for global dominance in the interactive entertainment industry. In fact, the company’s aggressive hold on the PlayStation market is demonstrated by its leading FY 1996 marketshare position. The company’s sharp focus on the PC CD-ROM market has brought considerable success, with PC CD-ROM product sales accounting for 40 percent of the company’s business. Psygnosis’ success and strategic moves have not gone unnoticed by major corporate forces - multinational corporations, such as Disney, Softbank and Adidas, have already aligned themselves with its games. Leading providers of new technology for the computer platform, including Diamond Multimedia and ATI, have forged links with Psygnosis to deliver the next generation of PC titles to the market. Setting the Stage for Global Growth This year, Psygnosis has aggressive plans to dwarf even its own achievements with a dazzling array of approximately 50 next generation games for the PC CD-ROM, Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn platforms. While most of these titles will be developed in-house by Psygnosis’ legendary game wizards, others will be published on behalf of talented external software studios, such as Reflections, Bizarre Creations and Perfect 10 Productions. In 1996 and beyond, gamers will see a huge leap in the number of PC CD-ROM titles bearing the Psygnosis label. By FY 1998, the company expects that 50 percent of its sales will be generated from PC CD-ROM product launches and to launch 82 CD-ROM titles in 1997/1998. The company’s use of proprietary technology and ability to stay on top of industry trends such as 3D, multi-player game play and audio special effects, ensures that these titles will continue to push the envelope of great interactive gaming on the PC. This overall commitment is being reinforced by Psygnosis’ plans to invest more than $50 million into its PC title development. Over the next two years, Psygnosis projects a four-fold increase in its number of employees worldwide, with more than half of them being in the product development area. Within the next 12 months alone, Psygnosis will expand its global reach with new offices in Spain, Benelux, Scandinavia, the Pacific Rim and the Middle East. More than 25,000 retail outlets worldwide now carry Psygnosis product. The company is gearing up its sales and marketing force worldwide to support massive channel growth. With a special emphasis on the U.S. market, Psygnosis plans to increase the number of sales and marketing personnel from 30 to 100 by FY 1998. The Next Frontier With its 12 years of experience in the interactive entertainment market and a significant investment from Sony, Psygnosis is well-positioned to make a major impact on the multimedia market worldwide. The company is strongly committed to attracting people of the highest creative caliber to continue its success in quickly bringing the most engaging interactive entertainment to market. As advances are made in game platform technology, whether for the personal computer, game console or undefined game device of the future, Psygnosis will be there. When 3D, Internet gaming, SVD, DVD and other new formats emerge, Psygnosis will be at the forefront, leading the industry with unparalleled gameplay and design. The company’s technical vision has no boundaries. Hot New Titles to Come In the next year, Psygnosis will launch numerous A-quality titles for game consoles and on PC CD-ROM, including: PlayStation PC CD-ROM * Formula 1 * The City of the Lost Children * WipeOut XL (U.S. title) * Ecstatica 2 * Destruction Derby 2 * Destruction Derby 2 * Monster Truck Rally (working title) * Discworld II. Missing Presumed...!? * Adidas Power Soccer * Sentient