Neversoft Entertainment

Background : Neversoft Entertainment was an American video game developer founded in July 1994 by Joel Jewett, Mick West and Chris Ward. Neversoft is best recognized for their line of Tony Hawk skateboarding games; but Tony Hawk's Proving Ground was the last Tony Hawk game developed by Neversoft before Robomodo took over development starting with Tony Hawk: Ride. Its first game was Skeleton Warriors for PlayStation and Sega Saturn. It never used a logo until 1996. In October 1999, it was acquired by Activision, and in 2007, Neversoft became the developer of Guitar Hero series when Harmonix Music Systems was acquired by MTV. In 2010, after the release of Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, Neversoft was going to hand the Guitar Hero series to Vicarious Visions, but Activision decided to disband the Guitar Hero series in February 2011. The studio was fully absorbed into Infinity Ward on July 11, 2014, with its last project being the extinction mode for Call of Duty: Ghosts, released in November 2013.

1st Logo
(May 22, 1996-1999)

Nicknames: "The Egyptian Hawk", "The Neversoft Hawk", "The Hawk Symbol"

Logo: On a black background, we see a brown/purple gradient bricked triangle with a designed symbol that resembles a hawk on it. The words, "NEVERSOFT ENTERTAINMENT" are above and below the symbol respectively in a curve effect.

Variants:
 * On Skeleton Warriors, the logo is shown on the top left corner along with the Playmates Interactive Entertainment logo on the;top right, the Landmark Entertainment Group logo on the bottom left, and the Tommy Tallarico Studios logo on the bottom right and the game's title logo in the middle. Plus, the logo, along with the Tommy Tallarico Studios logo, are stretched horizontally.
 * On the PS1 port of MDK, the logo is also shown on the top left corner along with the Playmates Interactive Entertainment logo on the top right, the Tommy Tallarico Studios logo on the bottom left and the Shiny Entertainment logo on the bottom right. Plus, the logo is stretched horizontally.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on Apocalypse.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo
(THPS Variant) (1999-2000)

Nicknames: "The Eyeball", "The Fading Text", "Neversoft Eyeball"

Logo: On a black background, we see the eyeball posed as an "O" with the spear sticking across it with it's optic nerve twined around it, fading in. Then the "NEVERSOFT" text (which is in a grunge Times New Roman font jumbled up and colored orange, yellow-orange, and red with lines above and below it respectively) appears a few seconds later while the eyeball looks around. The website URL, www.neversoft.com appears below. The eyeball resumes to it's normal position, as the text along with the website URL slowly fade away. Then the eyeball fades out.

Trivia: This is the first appearance of the current Neversoft logo.

Variants:
 * On the PS1 version of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, the gum-like stuff are under the eyeball. Plus, the logo is in the center.
 * On the Pizza Hut demo version of the game, the website URL appears the same time with the "NEVERSOFT" text fades in.
 * On the demo version of the Dreamcast version (which is found on the July/August 2000 Issue of Official Dreamcast Demo Disc), there is a still version of the logo with the URL intact.
 * There is a still artwork version of the logo that can be seen on the N64 version of the game. Plus the website URL is gone.
 * On the final demo version of the game, the logo is glowing as usual. Plus, the logo is sped-up a bit.

FX/SFX: The text appearing, the eyeball looking around.

Music/Sounds: A short punk rock tune. On the N64 version, it's the opening theme of the game.

Music/Sounds Variant: On the final demo version of the game that is dated July 10, 1999, a circus-like theme plays.

Availability: Seen on the original Tony Hawk's Pro Skater for PlayStation. Also appears on the Dreamcast and N64 versions of the game. It also appears on the demo of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (found on Jampack Summer 2K demo disc for PlayStation, although the full game has the next logo).

Editor's Note: This design of the logo can scare some.

3rd Logo
(THPS2/Spider-Man Variant) (2000-2001)

Nicknames: "The Moving Eyeball", "Falling Letters", "Neversoft Eyeball II"

Logo: We see an eyeball moving like a worm on the bottom line. A "T" comes crashing into the line and the eyeball notices it. Then a "F" comes crashing in as well, shocking the eyeball. It runs to the left and the "N" comes crashing in, blocking the eyeball's way again. The eyeball runs to the right as the rest of the letters, from "E" to "S" come crashing down forming "NEVERSOFT" and the eyeball goes where the "O" should be. The top line falls on top of the text and the eyeball. The camera zoom out to reveal the whole logo done with the website URL in the same font from the previous logo, but a bit bigger this time. The eyeball looks around and does a "phew" gesture, only for the spear to shoot down into it, causing its optic nerves to twine around it and the text to jump to form its normal position with the URL shaking the same time. At the end, one of two actions (see below), will happen depending on the game.
 * Spider-Man: The cut-out of Spider-Man's symbol, zooms onto the eyeball with the dark-red background, accompanied by the synth charging-up sound. Then everything inside turns blue-tinted and fades out. Also, the website URL appears shaking when the spear shoots down across the eyeball. Also, the logo is a bit darker.
 * Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2: A red skateboard crashes through the logo, breaking it and knocking the eyeball in the way to the left leaving only the website URL. On the PlayStation version, the website URL fades out a few seconds later.

FX/SFX: CGI.

Music/Sounds: Silent at the beginning, then several loud electric guitar notes as the letters fall, ending in a short hardcore punk tune. Then two last notes play shortly after the spear hits the eyeball. On the Spider-Man variant, if you listen closely at the beginning, you can hear the sounds of the eyeball slithering.

Music/Sound Variant: On Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, we can hear the eyeball slithering and the spear hitting the eyeball.

Availability: Seen on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 & Spider-Man (the 2000 game) for PlayStation, Dreamcast and PC. The THPS2 variant also appears on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2x for Xbox.

Editor's Note: None.

4th Logo
(THPS3 Variant) (2001-2002)

Nicknames: "The Eyeball Skater", "Neversoft Eyeball III"

Logo: We see the Neversoft logo with the eyeball as an "O" and the body of a skateboarder on a dark ground with the skateboard. Then the eyeball looks down and jumps into the skateboarder's body, acting as its head. The skateboarder stands up and flips the skateboard with its feet for couple of seconds, then it tries to skate but falls down, causing the eyeball to get off it, after which it runs to the right and jumps back onto the logo. A spear shoots down into the eyeball and its optic nerve twines around it.

Trivia:
 * You can actually play as the Neversoft Eyeball in this game. However, you only unlock it when you beat all the goals in the game and when you get all the gold medals in all three competitions with a different skater each time. You can also unlock him by simply going to the options menu, going to the Cheats section and entering "FREAKSHOW", which also unlocks other hidden characters. This is only in the GameCube, PS2, Xbox and PC versions.
 * You can also play as the Neversoft Eyeball in the total conversion mod THUG Pro.

Variant: On some versions, the logo fades out shortly after the spear sticks into the eyeball.

FX/SFX: CGI.

Music/Sounds: A punk theme is heard throughout, taken from music that was heard on Officer Dick's video on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2.

Availability: Seen on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 for GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and other systems.

Editor's Note: None.

5th Logo
(THPS4 Variant) (2002)

Nicknames: "The Gorilla Skater", "Neversoft Eyeball IV"

Logo: We see the Neversoft logo without the eyeball in it. A gorilla appears skating on the skateboard on the ground from the previous logo but it's a little brighter then before. It does tricks, then it gets off and sits down. It picks its nose, only to pull out the eyeball, which it promptly throws onto the Neversoft logo. A spear shoots into the eyeball and its optic nerve twines around it as the gorilla looks at the logo.

FX/SFX: CGI.

Music/Sounds: Some jungle music which segues into a short version of music from the previous logo when the eyeball appears.

Availability: Seen on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 for GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox and other systems.

Editor's Note: None.

6th Logo
(THUG Variant) (2003)

Nicknames: "The Sewer Mutant Attack", "The Dark Alley", "Neversoft Eyeball V", "Eric Sparrow and the T.H.U.D. of Doom", "The Old Horror Film-Styled Logo"

Logo: We see Eric Sparrow skating down an alley at night. Stopping in front of a manhole, a sewer mutant, T.H.U.D. bursts from the manhole frightening Eric off his board. He then drags Eric into the manhole, and Eric's skeleton parts fly out moments after. The Neversoft logo flies out with the parts as the eyeball bounces out as the background fades into a white background. The eyeball goes into the "O" hole and a spear shoots into it, its optic nerve twinning around it. The logo is in black in white with film effects at the same time.

Trivia: T.H.U.D., who appears in the logo, later appears as an unlockable character in the game by beating Story Mode in "Sick" difficulty. He is a parody of 1984 horror film, C.H.U.D.

FX/SFX: CGI.

Music/Sounds: Some creepy music with sounds.

Availability: Seen on Tony Hawk's Underground for GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox.

Editor's Note: None.

7th Logo
(THUG2 Variant) (2004-2005)

Nicknames: "The UFO Attack on the Beach", "Neversoft Eyeball VI", "Custom-Stylized Graffiti Logo", "The Eyeball Suicide"

Logo: We start out with a black screen where the eyeball is spraying a custom Neversoft logo graffiti with spraying can. The camera zooms out to reveal a beach scene, where a UFO comes in and tries to shoot the eyeball, but the eyeball dodges its blasts as the UFO destroys the custom Neversoft logo, revealing the real Neversoft logo. Then the UFO shoots the eyeball sending it flying up through the air and lands into the logo posed as an "O" as a spear shoots into it and its optic nerve twines around it. The background fades to black.

FX/SFX: CGI.

Music/Sounds: A beach sound with sounds of spraying can and the UFO.

Availability: Seen on Tony Hawk's Underground 2 for GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC. Also appears on its PSP port, Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix.

Editor's Note: None.

8th Logo (THAW Variant) (2005)
Nicknames: "The Hand-Drawn Neversoft", "Neversoft Eyeball VII", "Custom-Styled Neversoft Eyeball"

Logo: Several paper fragments fall onto a white surface, each with a letter in various styles. Two cartoon hands appear and arrange the fragments to make the word "NeVERSOfT". Then the hand draws the eyeball for the letter "O". The background changes to black, and "PRESENTS" is drawn below. After this, the picture moves off to show the game intro.

Trivia: This variant is the only variant not to use the standard logo, although it is is on the game's cover art.

FX/SFX: The cartoon-style animation of drawing.

Music/Sounds: Some kind of rock music, which is a part of game intro. There are also scribbling sounds.

Availability: Seen on Tony Hawk's American Wasteland for GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 and other systems.

Editor's Note: None.

9th Logo
(GUN Variant) (2005-2006) Nicknames: "Neversoft Eyeball VIII", "Sepia-Toned Logo"

Logo: The Neversoft logo, toned in sepia, is overlayed over the game's intro cutscene; "NEVERSOFT" is revealed gradually, then "PRESENTS" appears below in the same way.

FX/SFX: The logo revealing.

Music/Sounds: Grinding sounds with a wind.

Availability: Seen on Gun. It also appears on it's PSP port, Gun: Showdown.

Editor's Note: None.

10th Logo
(THP8 Variant) (2006)

Nicknames: "The Skating Alien", "Neversoft Eyeball IX", "Alien Skateboarder"

Logo: We see the starry sky with the moon and some trees. The camera pans down into the forest, where the projector lights the place. Some drops fall from above, then a big skull-like-headed alien falls. He recovers slowly, stands on, catches a skateboard and starts to play tricks. The projector flashes with various colors, like in a disco hall. The actions zoom out to reveal that it is a reflection on the eyeball of the Neversoft logo. Then we zoom-out completely to reveal the whole logo which hangs still for a little. The eyeball's design looks different (the eyeball's optic part is shown more, the eye part is a bit smaller and the spear looks more realistic). The logo then disappears like the TV turning off.

FX/SFX: CGI.

Music/Sounds: Forest sounds. "Chase The Devil" by Eagles Of Death Metal, which plays after the big-headed alien drops down.

Availability: Seen on Tony Hawk's Project 8 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. However, it's also on PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PSP versions as well.

Editor's Note: None.

11th Logo
(THPG Variant) (2007)

Nicknames: "The Eyeball Skater II", "Neversoft Eyeball X", "Skating Through the Street"

Logo: The eyeball skates down the street, standing on a skateboard by his "tail". He make tricks and jumps over obstacles, but misses one and takes a flight. Then the eyeball gets threaded onto a spear that fell from the top of the screen. The word, "NEVERSOFT" along with it's top and bottom lines appears dropping in from above, and the threaded eyeball is already in its place as its optic nerve twists around the spear. The background fades to black, then the logo disappears via a TV turn-off effect.

Trivia: If you look closely at the paper vending machine, you see the Guitar Hero II logo inside of it. Guitar Hero II is the last game that Harmonix Music Systems made before it was acquired by MTV in 2007.

FX/SFX: CGI.

Music/Sounds: A rock tune.

Availability: Appears on Tony Hawk's Proving Ground for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, which was the last Tony Hawk game Neversoft developed before the franchise was moved to Robomodo. However, it also appears on PlayStation 2 and Wii versions of the game.

Editor's Note: None.

12th Logo
(Guitar Hero III Variant) (October 28, 2007)

Nicknames: "The Rockstar Eyeball", "Neversoft Eyeball XI"

Logo: First we can see somebody's hand adjusting an equalizer. Then the camera shows a rocker uttering on the scene. He stands on a floor with the Neversoft logo drawn on the scene. When the rocker raises his head, we can see he has an eyeball instead of it. Everything else disappears and the eye takes its place between another letters making it into it's still artwork logo. The spear falls, sticking the eye making it's optic nerve appear around it, then the logo disappears just like the 11th logo.

FX/SFX: CGI.

Music/Sounds: A hard rock tune.

Availability: Seen on Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.

Editor's Note: None.

13th Logo
(GH: Aerosmith Variant) (February 26, 2008)

Nickname: "Neversoft Eyeball XII"

Logo: We see CGI versions of Aerosmith rocking out at a concert. Then, Steven Tyler does a spin and purposely knocks his microphone into the screen. The screen fills with static for a split-second before the Neversoft logo (in the similar style as the THP8 variant) appears. Some more static appears and the logo shuts off like a TV.

FX/SFX: CGI.

Music/Sounds: Guitar playing.

Availability: Appears on Guitar Hero: Aerosmith.

Editor's Note: None.

14th Logo
(2008-2010)

Nicknames: "Neversoft Eyeball XIII", "The Scene Artists"

Logo: We see short close-ups of scene artists, which is different depending on each game. One of the fragments zooms into an eyeball. The letters from "NEVERSOFT", along with top and bottom lines, fly to their places, while the eyeball watches at various directions. The spear falls through the eyeball. Its optic nerve emerges and twines around the spear. Then we zoom back into the eyeball.

Variants:
 * A short version exists on Guitar Hero Smash Hits and Van Halen, when the scene artists part is removed.
 * On Guitar Hero 5, the still logo is seen against the wall on the game's opening intro. Plus, the colors are inverted.
 * On Band Hero, the still logo flashes in and glows in blue.

FX/SFX: CGI.

Music/Sounds: Hard rock tune, which ceases quickly as the fragment zooms into an eyeball.

Music/Sounds Variant: On Guitar Hero 5 and Band Hero, the game's opening theme is heard.

Availability: Seen on Guitar Hero: World Tour. Also appears on Guitar Hero: Metallica, Smash Hits, and Van Halen as well. The variants appear on Guitar Hero 5 and Band Hero.

Editor's Note: None.

15th Logo
(2010)

Nicknames: "Neversoft Eyeball XIV", "The Lava"

Logo: Like other logos in the set, the Neversoft logo is hanging over the rock while lava flows and pours around, making everything colored orange.

FX/SFX: The lava flowing.

Music/Sounds: A kind of rock tune through all logos.

Availability: Seen on Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii, which was the last Guitar Hero game made before the franchise's dissolving in 2011.

Editor's Note: None.