System 3 Software

United Kingdom Founded 1982 Website

Formed in 1982 by Mark Cale, System 3 is recognised as one of the founding pioneers of the gaming industry and as a name synonymous with producing original genre defining gaming concepts year on year. System 3 stands proud as the last surviving British Independent Publisher from those grass roots years 2012 marked System 3′s 30th anniversary, a monumental occasion in the company’s long and fruitful history! From early 8-bit Commodore 64 and the Sinclair Spectrum machines, through the days of 16-bit Commodore Amiga and Atari ST formats right up to and beyond the phenomenal Sega, Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox console boom, the company has brought a unique gaming style to new formats as and when they enter the market. In the mid 1980′s International Karate was a huge hit, attaining global recognition as the first game from a European publisher to hit the number one spot in the prestigious US Billboard Charts. What followed is true gaming folklore. Hailed as the most original series of games for a generation The Last Ninja and Last Ninja 2 set the standard in arcade adventuring, hitting number one around the world and garnering the company with armfuls of awards by the turn of the decade. Making up the final part of the historic trilogy Last Ninja 3 became the only game to date to be awarded a 100% review in Commodore User Magazine. As the market began to lean more and more towards licenses and franchises, Myth: History in the Making, Putty Squad and Constructor continued to showcase System 3′s development ethos for producing truly original gaming experiences for everyone. In 2007 System 3 entered into an agreement with Ferrari, the worlds most prestigious and instantly recognisable car brand. With one eye on producing a super-slick original racing game befitting the name and another on developing the definitive race game engine, Ferrari Challenge: Trofeo Pirelli was born. A critical success and widely regarded as the best racing simulation available today, the game has gone on to form the bedrock of ongoing plans to continue to produce original games for all genres and, in particular, technically superior video racing games for many years to come. In 2010 System 3 began the process of welcoming back one of its most popular IPs; Putty. Putty Squad is set for release on PS3, Vita and Apple formats in 2013. System 3 produces games for the key hardware platforms including; Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PSP go, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 306, Windows-based personal computers and mobile phone applications.

System 3 Software at a Glance

System 3 Software operates from the United Kingdom and began its history in 1982. They remain one of the last surviving independent publishers from those early years. The company has released a total of 27 games across their career, with 21 titles listed under their publishing role and 20 under development. Their output peaked in the 1980s with 10 games before dropping to 8 in the 1990s, 5 in the 2000s, and just 4 in the 2010s. This data shows a clear decline in their production volume over the decades since their founding in 1983. Their catalog spans many platforms but focuses heavily on older hardware. They released 11 games for the Commodore C64, 10 for the Amiga, and 9 for the ZX Spectrum. They also made titles for the Atari ST and Amstrad CPC. In more recent years, they have published games for the Wii, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The genre focus is broad but leans toward Arcade titles which make up 9 of their releases. Platformers follow with 6 games, while Adventure, Simulator, Fighting, and Strategy each account for multiple entries. The quality of their work varies significantly over time. They hold an average IGDB rating of 75.8 out of 100 across the 11 titles that have received scores. The breakdown shows three great games scoring 80 or higher and eight good games between 60 and 79. There are no mixed or poor ratings in their tracked list. Their highest rated title is Flimbo's Quest from 1990 with a score of 99.7. Other strong entries include International Karate + (87.1) and Last Ninja 2: Back with a Vengeance (85.1). Later releases show a drop in critical reception compared to their early hits. Constructor Plus from February 2019 holds a score of 70, and Supercar Challenge from 2009 also scored 70. Recent games like Fruit Fall Crush and Super Putty Squad lack specific ratings in the provided data but follow the pattern of fewer releases. While their bio claims to produce truly original gaming experiences, the numbers indicate that their most acclaimed work comes from the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Total Games

75.8

Avg Rating

1983

First Release

2019

Latest Release