Accolade

Background: Accolade was established in 1984 in San Jose, California by Alan Miller and Bob Whitehead after they left Activision (the company they founded five years ago along with David Crane and Larry Kaplan after discovering that their ex-employer Atari does not credit them in their games). The name was chosen to overtake Activision in alphabetical order of companies (the same Activision done earlier to Atari and the same Absolute later did to Accolade itself). Accolade's early titles were developed in-house. It is known for Test Drive, (more infamously) Bubsy and HardBall, among others. The company was purchased and absorbed by Infogrames in 1999. In June 2017, the company was revived by Billionsoft. Accolade's newest game announced after the revival is Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back.

1st Logo (1985-1988)[]

Logo: On the title screen, we see the word "Accolade" in a blue ITC Avant Garde font with the word "A" in italicized and the "e" was stylized like Kabel. Next to it is the word "PRESENTS".

FX/SFX: None

Music/Sounds: None or the opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on very early Accolade titles of the time period, like HardBall!, Fight Night and The Dam Busters.

2nd Logo (1986-1989)[]

Logo: Same as before, except this time, the "ACCOLADE" text is now in the futuristic font, split up in two parts by a small red line which is positioned at the "E" (intending to look as if a the word was cut in half by a laser).

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None or the opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on early Accolade titles of the time period, like the aformentioned titles as seen in the 1st logo, 4th & Inches, Ace of Aces and Killed Until Dead.

3rd Logo (1987-1995)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see the word "ACCOLADE" in the same font as the previous logo shows up. Below it is the word "PRESENTS", usually in a serif font. A red laser then draws over the logo and then positioned at the the letter "E".

Variants:

On the Game Boy game StarHawk, the background is white, and the text is in black.
Sometimes, a copyright notice is shown below.
On Bubsy in: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind, the logo is beveled.
Sometimes, the logo is still, like on the Arcade Classics releases on Game Boy.
Sometimes, the word "PRESENTS" is absent.
Sometimes, "PRESENTS" is in spaced-out letters.
Sometimes, the word "PRESENTS" is in red.
On the European Genesis version of Gods, the already formed logo flashes in.

FX/SFX: The line splitting the name.

Music/Sounds: The opening theme of the game, and sometimes it was accompanied by an announcer saying "Accolade presents..."

Availability: Seen on Accolade's computer games from the late 1980s to early 1990s on home computers, like the first two Test Drive games, Power at Sea, Grand Prix Circuit, The Cycles: International Grand Prix Racing and Ishido: The Way of Stones. It was also seen on the Genesis version of the latter.

Editor's Note: Those who played Accolade's games in the late '80s may remember this logo.

4th Logo (1987-1989)[]

Logo: Same as before, but only the name, the line and the word "PRESENTS" were made of gradient color palettes.

FX/SFX: Same as before.

Music/Sounds: Same as before.

Availability: Seen on the Amiga and Atari ST versions of the first two Test Drive games and the Amiga version of The Cycles: International Grand Prix Racing.

5th Logo (1987)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see the Accolade logo on the bottom right. Steve Keen runs into the logo, from the top, to the bottom, and then Steve stands next to the Accolade logo. Steve shoots the gun, then the red line comes out of the gun, doing the same animation from the previous logos. The word "PRESENTS" appear in black, with a white outline and in spaced-out letters, zooms out, and then the word "PRESENTS" then turns white.

FX/SFX: Steve Keen running, the gun wiping into the name.

Music/Sounds: The opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on Accolade Comics for Apple II and Commodore 64.

6th Logo (1988-1990)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see the Accolade logo in the same style as the previous logos, with a drop shadow. Below it is the word "and", and below it is the Jack Nicklaus Productions logo in gold, and below it is the word "PRESENT". A red line splits up to the name, just like it was in the third logo.

Variants:

On Commodore 64, the logo is simplified with a grey shadow and "JACK NICKLAUS PRODUCTIONS" was in two lines.
On Jack Nicklaus Golf & Course Design, the dust comes out of the line, instead of doing the red line animation.
On Jack Nicklaus Turbo Golf, the word "ACCOLADE" appear spreading out of any letter.

FX/SFX: Same as the previous logos.

Music/Sounds: None or the opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on Jack Nicklaus' Greatest 18 Holes of Major Championship Golf and Jack Nicklaus Golf & Course Design for home computers. The logo is not on the console ports for the NES and SNES, due to it being published by Konami and Tradewest, respectively.

7th Logo (1989-1990)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see the Accolade logo from the previous logos flipping toward the screen, and flies over. When the Accolade comes, a red line comes over through the logo, and when it reaches the screen, it segues into the logo of developer Artech.

FX/SFX: The flying of the logo.

Music/Sounds: The opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on Blue Angels: Formation Flight Simulation and Heat Wave: Offshore Superboat Racing for DOS, Amiga and Atari ST.

8th Logo (1990)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see the Accolade logo from before, now in gradient and has a shadow drop in it. The word "PRESENTS" in the same font as the 3rd logo is shown below. A line split then does the name.

FX/SFX: Same as the previous logos.

Music/Sounds: The opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on Test Drive III: The Passion.

9th Logo (1990-1994)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see the blue gradient text "ACCOLADE" flashes in, before going darker. A red line splits toward the text, and then the logo shines. The logo then sparkles. The word "PRESENTS" zooms in toward from the bottom, and then the logo shines.

Variants:

On Mike Ditka Power Football, a football comes out of the second letter "A", then the red line hits and throws the football before it disappears.
Sometimes the word "PRESENTS" fading in with a flash.
On Ballz 3D, the logo is still and lacks the word "PRESENTS".
A simpler version of the logo, without the shining exists.
On Jack Nicklaus Power Challenge Golf, the logo moves differently. We start out with the name wiping in, and the logo shines. Then the red line does the usual animation, and the shadow starts to appear, and the word "PRESENTS" wiping in. The logo shines again.

FX/SFX: The flashing, the sparkling of the logo, the line split, the shining.

Music/Sounds: None, or the opening theme of the game. On some sports games like HardBall III, Winter Challenge and Summer Challenge, a synth drone is heard, followed by a snyth chime.

Availability: Seen on Accolade's PC games of the era like Star Control, Altered Destiny, Hoverforce, Snoopy Game Club, Mike Ditka Power Football and the Les Manley games, and also seen on Genesis games like HardBall III, Jack Nicklaus Power Challenge Golf and Ballz 3D.

10th Logo (1991-1992, 1995)[]

Logo: On a white background, we see the Accolade logo in black, minus the line, and the logo is more thinner. The word "PRESENTS" is shown below, in a plain 8-bit font. The actions then follow the logo, depending on the variant.

Variants:

On The Game of Harmony, the word "IN ASSOCIATION WITH US GOLD AND THE ASSEMBLY LINE" is shown between the name and the word "PRESENTS". Plus, the line moves toward the direction, just like in the previous logo.
On Turrican, the titular robot character drops by, and it hooks toward the name. The word "PRESENTS" comes up letter by letter
On Asteroids, the rocket from the game, splits out the name. The word "PRESENTS" then slides up below.
On Missile Command, the line is thin, and it stops after reaching the letter "E".
On Centipede, the centipede moves over through the word, and a centipede appears after reaching the "E".
On Universal Soldier, a comet splits out the name, and the word "PRESENTS" drops down below.
On Millipede, the millipede splits up the name, and when it moves at the letter "E", the line is then displayed.
On the Arcade Classics rereleases, the word "Presents" is in a cursive script font. The color palette depends when it displays on Super Game Boy.

FX/SFX: The actions moving.

Music/Sounds: The opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on Accolade-published Game Boy games developed by The Code Monkeys, such as The Game of Harmony, Centipede, Asteroids, Millipede, Missile Command, Turrican and Universal Soldier. Four of the games featuring the logo was retained on the 1995 Arcade Classics re+releases published by Nintendo.

11th Logo (1991-1992)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see the stone version of the Accolade logo from the previous logos, with a line already cut out between the names. A stone version of the red line, then moves over between parts of the name.

Variant: On Elvira II, the word "PRESENTS" fades in and blood comes out of the word.

FX/SFX: Same as the previous logos.

Music/Sounds: The opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on Elvira II, WaxWorks and Zyconix.

12th Logo (1992)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see the Accolade logo, in the same style as the 9th logo. Then the dust forms out of the line on the left and the red line on the right. Below it is the word "AND", the Jack Nicklaus Productions logo and the word "PRESENT".

FX/SFX: The dust forming out the name.

Music/Sounds: The opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on Jack Nicklaus Golf & Course Design: Signature Edition.

13th Logo (1992)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see the Accolade logo in a blue gradient texture. Below it is the red word "AND" and below it is the Road & Track logo, also in a blue gradient color. Below it is the white word "PRESENT" in a Helvetica font, with a grey shadow. The Accolade logo shines, then a red line is drawn through the same way as the previous logos. The Road & Track logo shines and the word "PRESENT" flashes.

FX/SFX: Same as the previous logos, plus the shining of the logos.

Music/Sounds: The opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on Grand Prix Unlimited.

14th Logo (1992)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see a metallic version of the Accolade print logo. Below it is the word "PRESENTS", also in metallic grey.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters for PC. Don't except to see this on the 3DO version, because it was published by Crystal Dynamics.

15th Logo (1992-1993)[]

Logo: On a sky background, we see the Accolade logo from the previous logo in a more three-dimensional look. The word "PRESENTS" flashes in below, which was in red.

FX/SFX: The sky background.

Music/Sounds: Part of the Speed Racer theme, along with a sound of a car driving when "PRESENTS" appears.

Availability: Seen on Speed Racer: The Challenge of Racer X.

16th Logo (1993)[]

Logo: On a black background, we pan over to see a 3D glass version of the Accolade logo rotates toward to the center. A red line then moves forward while the Accolade logo is panning. It zooms toward through the logo, and the red line explodes, and we see the Accolade logo in full view. Then the text turns solid white and the line turns solid red, forming the Accolade logo.

FX/SFX: CGI.

Music/Sounds: At the end of the logo, a female voiceover says "Accolade presents..."

Availability: Seen on WarpSpeed for Sega Genesis.

17th Logo (1993-1994)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see the white rectangle with the Accolade logo from the previous logos in blue. Then a red line splits through the name, just like it was does in the previous logos. Below it is a rectangle with the slogan "GAMES WITH PERSONALITY" in an Art Deco-like font, which is wider than the red rectangle.

Variants:

On a few games, the Accolade text is in a gradient and there's a shadow on the slogan.
On Bubsy II, the logo is beveled, like it was in the 1st game's variant of the 3rd logo. "PRESENTS" is shown below. Then Bubsy's paw reaches down, takes the letters "PER", and replaces it with "Purr" to make the word as "Purrsonality". (one of many terrible cat puns featured in the Bubsy games)
On sports titles like Brett Hull Hockey, the SNES version of Hardball III and Pele!, the Accolade rectangle is in black. There's a sparkle on the "A" of the text on the top right, but on the SNES version of Hardball III, it does not sparkle.
On Combat Cars for the Genesis, the logo is still and it has a copyright stamp shown below the logo.

FX/SFX: Same as the previous logos.

Music/Sounds: None or the opening theme of the game.

Music/Sounds Variants: In Bubsy II, a small, Alvin and the Chipmunks-like voice sings "Bubsy, Bubsy, Bubsy, Bubsy Bobcat!"

Availability: Seen on Accolade games of the era, like Speed Racer in My Most Dangerous Adventures, Combat Cars, Bubsy II, Brett Hull Hockey, the SNES version of Hardball III and Pele!. The logo was also used as a print logo on video game covers, floppy disks, discs and cartridges from this time period, but these games used the above and below logos of the time period.

18th Logo (1993)[]

Logo: On a blue gradient background, we see the Accolade logo from the previous logos, complete with the same "GAMES WITH PERSONALITY" slogan from the previous logo below the Accolade logo, albeit lacking the rectangles. Below it is the trademark information and copyright text. On the right side, we see a black outline of the then-company's mascot Bubsy the Bobcat, with white filling.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The first part of the Bubsy theme.

Availability: Seen on the failed Bubsy cartoon pilot.

19th Logo (1994)[]

Logo: On a black background, a red line comes toward the direction. We see the Accolade logo from the previous logos, appearing letter by letter, first in white, and then in light blue, and then the "TM" symbol wipes in on the top right of the screen.

Variant: On the beta version, the logo is sped up, and the white rectangle appears with the same "Games with Personality" red rectangle from the 17th logo appears.

FX/SFX: The wiping in of the logo.

Music/Sounds: The opening theme of the game. None for the beta variant.

Availability: Seen on Zero Tolerance for Sega Genesis.

20th Logo (1994)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see a blurry blue gradient version of the Accolade logo from the previous logos with a darker shadow effect. A red gradient line does the name split, just like it was does in the previous logos. The words "Licensed by Nintendo" is shown below.

FX/SFX: Same as the previous logos.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on Ballz 3D for SNES.

21st Logo (1995-1996)[]

Logo: On a letterboxed background of a dark grey background with grey Accolade logo serving as wallpapers, we see the Accolade logo from the previous logos, zooming out letter by letter, and in 3D. The logo shines, and a red line does the split, just like in the the previous logos, and then it stops moving, when it get to the "E" letter. The logo then turns to solid 3D colors. There are two black bars above and below the logo.

Variant: On Unnecessary Roughness '96, the logo is sped up. and there's a football on the left of the second "A", just like in the Mike Ditka Power Football version of the 9th logo. The football throws up when the red line appears, just like in the MDPF version of the 9th logo.

FX/SFX: The zooming out of the letters, the red line moving.

Music/Sounds: Eight synth bangs, followed by a droning synth noise when the red line appears.

Music/Sounds Variant: On Unnecessary Roughness '96, a majestic fanfare is heard, with a bang sound.

Availability: Seen on Star Control II and Unnecessary Roughness '96.

22nd Logo (1995-1998)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see the 3D version of the Accolade logo from the previous logos, shown rotating from the bottom direction, gaining it silver outlines.

Variant: On Super Bubsy, the logo is lighter and had "PRESENTS" below, while Deadlock II had the logo darker and does not have "PRESENTS" below.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None or the opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on Super Bubsy and Deadlock II.

23rd Logo (1996)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see the Accolade logo from the previous logos, panning and rotating down from the top, all the way to the bottom. Then it rotates, and it pans down to form the 3D version of the Accolade logo. Then the red line splits toward the name, just like it was in the previous logos.

FX/SFX: The panning, rotating, the line split.

Music/Sounds: Same as the 21st logo, only sped-up.

Availability: Seen on PO'ed for PlayStation.

24th Logo (1996-1997)[]

Logo: On a black background, a light flash appears and it shines, revealing the Accolade logo from the previous logos, only more three dimensional. The logo then in reverses, just like in the UAV logo.

Variant: On NFL Legends Football 98, when the logo reverses, it fades to the opening of the game.

FX/SFX: The flashing of the logo.

Music/Sounds: The opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on Deadlock: Planetary Conquest and NFL Legends Football 98.

25th Logo (1996)[]

Logo: After the title screen, two brown doors close toward the logo, and opens, revealing the Accolade logo from the previous logos, but this time in more 3D and has a red outline, on a light black background. Then the door closes and opens, revealing the logo.

FX/SFX: The door revealing the logo.

Music/Sounds: The title theme of the game, with a sound of a door slamming.

Availability: Seen on Eradicator for PC.

26th Logo (1996)[]

Logo: On a space background, we see a torch, with a fire in it. Then the camera pans down, revealing the Accolade logo from the previous logos, with the red line already doing the split. Two planets appear, while the logo is panning. The camera zooms toward the direction, and then we pan down to reveal the Accolade logo zooms down, this time from the left angle. We pan down to see another torch with a fire in it, and the end result is the Accolade logo with two torches, and a planet is shown on the top right.

Variant: On Pitball, the logo is sped-up.

FX/SFX: CGI.

Music/Sounds: The fanfare from the UR'96 version of the 21st logo, followed by synth whooshing sounds and a choir, ending it with a bang.

Music/Sounds Variant: On Pitball, the second half of the fanfare is shown, followed by a voiceover saying "Accolade, we come to play!"

Availability: Seen on Pitball and Bubsy 3D for PlayStation.

27th Logo (1997)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see a darker version of the Accolade logo in the same style as the previous logos, only this time there's a bit of a dark shadow. The red line then draws itself, just like in the previous logos.

FX/SFX: Same as the previous logos.

Music/Sounds: A whoosh sound.

Availability: Seen on Test Drive: Off-Road for PlayStation and PC.

28th Logo (1997)[]

Logo: On a black background, with a rectangle showing the footage of a grass with a river below, we see the 3D version of the Accolade logo from the previous logos in a shiny texture, and we see the Cinematronics logo below. The logos then dissolve, and the footage fades out.

FX/SFX: The footage, the logo dissolving.

Music/Sounds: The second half of the fanfare from the 26th logo.

Availability: Seen on Jack Nicklaus 4 for PC.

29th Logo (1997-1998)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see the Accolade logo like those of the previous logos, except the logo has a pink tint, and it was in 3D and had a pink outline. Below it is the copyright stamp.

Variant: On a promo for NFL Legends Football '98, the word "PRESENTED BY" is shown above the logo and below it is the word "AND" and below it is the pre-1998 Saffire Corporation logo.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None, or the opening theme of the trailer.

Availability: Seen on NFL Legends Football '98, Test Drive 4 and Test Drive: Off-Road 2.

30th Logo (1998-1999)[]

Logo: On the entrance door of the game, we see the logo of Accolade and the developer Mindspan, which is displayed on the left side of the screen.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on Hardball 6 for PC and its PlayStation counterpart Hardball 99.

31st Logo (1998-1999)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see the Accolade logo from the previous logos, but this time it was in a chrome texture. A shine appears from the right side of the logo, to the left side of the logo.

Variant: On Big Air, the logo is sped-up.

FX/SFX: The shining of the logo.

Music/Sounds: A sound of a car driving.

Music/Sounds Variant: On Big Air, the logo is silent.

Availability: Seen on Test Drive 5 for PC and PlayStation and Big Air for PlayStation.

32nd Logo (1999)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see a wheel from a car driving. Then the car from the game zooms out, and we pan over to silver textures, and we pan down to reveal the Accolade logo from the previous logos, but this time in a metallic shiny texture. Then, the logo explodes, and the car disappears, and the Accolade logo turns to solid blue. The fire then wipes the red line, which is shown on the right side of the "E". Then the fire disappears and then the logo shines.

FX/SFX: The car driving, the panning of the logo, the logo shining.

Music/Sounds: A sound of a car driving, then explosions, and then a synth hum with a male announcer saying "Accolade presents..."

Availability: Seen on Redline for PC.

33rd Logo (2017)[]

Logo: On a cloudy background, we see multicolored trailing outlines of the glowing Accolade logo, like it was in a previous logo, which was in light blue, red and yellow, wiping in towards the logo. It then zooms out and it merges into a solid light blue outline. A red laser then draws through the logo. Then it glitches just like a static can do, forming a 3D chrome version of the Accolade logo, which then glows.

Variant: On trailers, a short version is used.

FX/SFX: The wiping, the trailing, the red line and the static glitching.

Music/Sounds: A reverbating synth theme with a hum, followed by a man whispering the company name. On Bubsy: The Woolies Strikes Back, it lacks the man whispering the name.

Availability: No longer current. It first appeared on a teaser trailer for Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back, and it later appeared on the game itself.

Editor’s Note: This is a great throwback to the company's ages, with its impressive animation.

34th Logo (2019)[]

Logo: On a black background, we see the Accolade logo from the previous logos, in light blue with a red line.

Variant: On the trailer, the background is blue and the text is in white.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: A soundbyte of Bubsy saying "Accolade, nah hah hah!".

Availability: Seen on Bubsy: Paws on Fire!