TDK Mediactive

TDK Mediactive

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Video game publishing, multimedia distribution
Predecessor	Sound Source Interactive
Founded	1988 (as Sound Source Interactive)
Fate	Acquired by Take-Two Interactive in 2003; rebranded as Take-Two Licensing, later absorbed into 2K Games in 2005
Headquarters	Westlake Village (TDK Mediactive, Inc.) , United States
Area served	North America, Europe
Key people	Vincent Bitetti (founder and CEO of Sound Source Interactive/TDK Mediactive, Inc.), Shin Tanabe (COO)
Products	Video games, music DVDs, software
Parent	TDK Corporation (original), later Take-Two Interactive (North American division)

TDK Mediactive served as the brand designation for two separate multimedia branches within the Japanese global electronics corporation TDK: TDK Mediactive Europe, operating as a subsidiary of TDK Recording Media Europe and specializing in music DVD distribution alongside video game and software publishing; and TDK Mediactive, Inc., a video game publisher that emerged through the rebranding of developer and publisher Sound Source Interactive. Although these divisions functioned autonomously, they engaged in mutual licensing of each other's products within their respective territories before ultimately parting ways following changes in ownership.

TDK Mediactive Europe

Established in 1999 as part of TDK Recording Media Europe, TDK Mediactive Europe focused on publishing video games, software, and DVDs under the TDK label.

In April 2000, the company obtained exclusive global publishing rights for Sound Source Interactive’s portfolio, a relationship that continued after TDK acquired Sound Source in September of the same year. Acting as the sole European publishing representative for technology and content licensed by TDK Mediactive, Inc., it managed localization and publication efforts throughout Europe. Additionally, it released proprietary titles such as Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade.

On September 6, 2001, TDK Mediactive Europe authorized TDK Mediactive, Inc. with North American rights to publish video games inspired by Mercedes-Benz.

In March 2002, the division entered into a contract with O3 Games to publish the title Templar. A few months later, in June, it relocated its operations from Bascharage, Luxembourg to Ratingen, Germany, consolidating its presence alongside TDK Recording Media Europe's main office.

On May 4, 2005, a global publishing agreement was signed between TDK Mediactive Europe and Playlogic Entertainment, enabling Playlogic to distribute TDK’s existing video game catalog worldwide. The current operational status of the company remains uncertain; however, its official website continues to be accessible.

Video games

Title	Platform(s)	Release date	Developer
Babe and Friends: Animated Preschool Adventure	macOS	Template:Date table sorting	Sound Source Interactive
	Microsoft Windows
The Land Before Time: Math Adventure	macOS	Template:Date table sorting	Digital Media International
	Microsoft Windows
The Land Before Time: Return to the Great Valley	PlayStation	Template:Date table sorting	Realtime Associates
Casper: Friends Around the World	PlayStation	Template:Date table sorting	Realtime Associates
Elevator Action EX	Game Boy Color	Template:Date table sorting	Altron
Westlife Fan-O-Mania	Microsoft Windows	Template:Date table sorting	Runecraft
	PlayStation	Template:Date table sorting
Outlaw Golf	Xbox	Template:Date table sorting	Hypnotix
Darkened Skye	GameCube	Template:Date table sorting	Boston Animation
Outlaw Volleyball	Xbox	Template:Date table sorting	Hypnotix
Mercedes-Benz World Racing	Microsoft Windows	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Synetic GmbH
	PlayStation 2
Outlaw Golf	GameCube	Template:Date table sorting	Hypnotix
	Microsoft Windows	Template:Date table sorting
	PlayStation 2	Template:Date table sorting	Buzz Monkey Software
Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade	GameCube	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Starbreeze Studios
Conan	Microsoft Windows	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	(Cauldron)
	PlayStation 2
	Xbox
Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade	Microsoft Windows	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Starbreeze Studios
	Xbox
Mercedes-Benz World Racing	GameCube	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Synetic GmbH
Conan	GameCube	4}|30}	Cauldron
Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade	PlayStation 2	6}|4}	Starbreeze Studios

Take-Two Licensing

TDK Mediactive, Inc.—originally known as Sound Source Interactive, Inc. and later renamed Take-Two Licensing, Inc.—was an American video game publisher established by Vincent Bitetti in 1988, with its headquarters located in Westlake Village, California. In 1998, the company expanded by acquiring the developer BWT Labs. By 2000, after securing majority ownership, it rebranded as TDK Mediactive. Take-Two Interactive took over its North American division in 2003, subsequently renaming it Take-Two Licensing. Eventually, this subsidiary was integrated into Take-Two's 2K Games label in 2005.

History

Sound Source Interactive was established in 1988 by Vincent Bitetti. In March 1998, the company expanded by acquiring BWT Labs, a developer based in Berkeley.

On September 11, 2000, TDK purchased a majority stake of 72% for a total of $5 million, subsequently renaming the firm TDK Mediactive. Bitetti continued as CEO while Shin Tanabe took on the role of COO. Under the TDK Mediactive name, the company released licensed titles based on intellectual properties from Universal Pictures (such as The Land Before Time) and Harvey Entertainment (Harvey Comics).

In December 2000, the firm obtained an exclusive video game license for DreamWorks' Shrek. By April 2001, it had entered into a five-year agreement with apparel brand No Limits to develop licensed games. At E3 2001, TDK secured rights to RoboTech from Mattel and later acquired a license for Dinotopia. In September, a two-year co-publishing partnership with Activision Value was announced to distribute TDK’s PC games. Toward the end of 2001, TDK ventured into GameCube publishing and procured the Aquaman license from DC Comics.

During 2002, TDK broadened its portfolio with licenses including The Muppets from Jim Henson Interactive, extended its rights to Shrek to encompass Shrek 2, acquired Mattel's He-Man, secured a Nintendo-exclusive Tonka license through Hasbro (sub-licensed from Infogrames), and obtained Disney Interactive’s licenses for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and The Haunted Mansion. In October 2002, TDK introduced TDK Impulse, a publishing label focused on budget titles.

In January 2003, TDK gained video game rights for UFC from Crave Entertainment. By May, it revealed plans to co-publish Shrek 2 alongside Activision.

On September 3, 2003, Take-Two Interactive announced its acquisition of TDK Mediactive for roughly $22.7 million; this transaction was finalized on December 2 with shares valued at $12.6 million plus cash paid to TDK. Following the acquisition, Take-Two rebranded the entity as Take-Two Licensing and maintained most existing licenses except for the Shrek franchise, which was fully transferred to Activision under a new agreement with DreamWorks.

On January 25, 2005, Take-Two launched its publishing label 2K Games and absorbed Take-Two Licensing into this new division.

As Sound Source Interactive

Title	Platform(s)	Release date	Developer
Babe: A Little Pig Goes a Long Way	Windows	1995	Sound Source Interactive
Star Trek: The Game Show	Windows, Macintosh	1998-02-09	Sound Source Interactive
The Abyss: Incident at Europa	Windows	1998-10-01	Sound Source Interactive

As TDK Mediactive

Title	Platform(s)	Release date	Developer
The Land Before Time: Great Valley Racing Adventure	PlayStation	2001-05-04	Vision Scape Interactive
Shrek: Fairy Tale Freakdown	Game Boy Color	2001-05-30	Prolific
Wendy: Every Witch Way	Game Boy Color	2001-09	WayForward Technologies
Casper: Spirit Dimensions	PlayStation 2	2001-10-01	Lucky Chicken Games
Lady Sia	Game Boy Advance	2001-10-16	RFX Interactive
No Rules: Get Phat	Game Boy Advance	2001-11-15	Flying Tiger Development
Shrek	Xbox	2001-11-15	Digital Illusions Canada
Rainbow Islands	Game Boy Color	2001	Dreams Co.
Shrek: Swamp Kart Speedway	Game Boy Advance	2002-03-25	Prolific Publishing
Dinotopia: The Timestone Pirates	Game Boy Advance	2002-04-30	RFX Interactive
Pryzm: Chapter One - The Dark Unicorn	PlayStation 2	2002-06-10	Digital Illusions CE
GameCube	2002-08-23	Vicious Cycle Software
PlayStation 2	2002-09-23
Xbox	2002-09-23
Casper: Spirit Dimensions	GameCube	2002-10-01	Lucky Chicken Games
Shrek: Hassle at the Castle	Game Boy Advance	2002-10-10	Tose
Shrek: Treasure Hunt	PlayStation	2002-10-18	The Code Monkeys
Shrek Extra Large	GameCube	2002-10-30	Digital Illusions Canada
He-Man: Power of Grayskull	Game Boy Advance	2002-11-02	Taniko
Robotech: The Macross Saga	Game Boy Advance	2002-11-15	Lucky Chicken Games
PlayStation 2	2002-11-15	Mass Media Games
Xbox
The Land Before Time: Big Water Adventure	PlayStation	2002-11-27	Digital Illusions CE
Ultimate Fighting Championship: Tapout 2	Xbox	2003-03-20	DreamFactory
SeaBlade	Xbox	2003-03-28	Vision Scape Interactive
The Muppets: On with the Show	Game Boy Advance	2003-04-17	Vicarious Visions
Shrek Super Party	GameCube	2003-05-29	Mass Media Games
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (video game)	Game Boy Advance	2003-07-01	Pocket Studios
Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis	GameCube	2003-07-23	Lucky Chicken Games
Dinotopia: The Sunstone Odyssey	GameCube, Xbox	2003 (July–August)	Vicious Cycle Software
Shrek: Reekin' Havoc	Game Boy Advance	2003-07-31	Tose
(GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox)	2003–10–14	High Voltage Software
Corvette (video game)	(Game Boy Advance)	2003–11–11	Visual Impact
(GameCube, PlayStation 2)	2003–11–11	Jim Henson Interactive / Mass Media Games
Spy Muppets: License to Croak	(Game Boy Advance)	2003–11–18	Vicarious Visions
Tonka Rescue Patrol	(GameCube)	2003–11–18	Lucky Chicken Games

Take-Two Licensing

Title	Platform(s)	Release Date	Developer
Corvette	Microsoft Windows	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Steel Monkeys
	Xbox
Star Trek: Shattered Universe	PlayStation 2	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Starsphere Interactive
	Xbox	REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting