Earthworm Jim Timeline
Dates for events are arranged in their respective categories.
Characters Created
1991
They Called Him EvilDoug TenNapel creates Evil The Cat Character, who starred in his first published short comic book "They Called Him Evil". Evil The Cat would later go on to be a character in the Earthworm Jim universe.
Publisher - Mocking Bird Press 1991.
1993
Earthworm Jim character CreatedDoug TenNapel creates Earthworm Jim Character while working at the newly formed Shiny Entertainment by David Perry. The first two Earthworm Jim video games were developed by the development team who worked there from 1994 - 1997.
Earthworm Jim
1994
Several versions of Earthworm Jim were simultaneously made for multiple game consoles/platforms from 1994 to 1995:
Sega Genesis (Mega Drive), Super Nintendo, PC CD-ROM, Sega CD and Game Gear.
Developer: Shiny Entertainment
Publisher(s) - virgin Interactive, Playmates
1995
Earthworm Jim Special Edition (Sega CD)Developer: Shiny Entertainment
Publisher(s) - Interplay, Playmates
Developer: Shiny Entertainment
Publisher(s) - Interplay, Playmates
Developer: Shiny Entertainment
Publisher(s) - Interplay, Playmates
Developer: Eurocom Entertainment
Publisher(s) - Interplay, Playmates
Developer: Kinesoft
Publisher - Activision
Earthworm Jim 2
1996
Earthworm Jim 2Made for multiple game consoles/platforms:
Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis (Mega Drive), Sega Saturn, PC CD-ROM, Playstation (UK).
Shiny Entertainment
Publisher - Interplay
Developer: Screaming Pink
Publisher - Virgin Interactive
Earthworm Jim 1 & 2 for PC - Developer: Shiny Entertainment / Rainbow Arts
Publisher - Playmates
TV, Comics and Action Toys
1995
Earthworm Jim CartoonThe release of the Earthworm Jim TV Show which was made at Universal Cartoon Studios and aired on the Warner Brothers TV network. It ran for two seasons until 1996.
Earthworm Jim Action Figures by Playmates ToysToyline was released by Playmates Toys based on the video games and TV Show.
Comic BooksThree issue Comic Book series published by Marvel Absurd in the USA. It was based on both the video game and TV show.
A Comic Book based on the TV Show was also produced by Arcadia in the UK around the same time which was similar in style to the TV show.
2011
Earthworm Jim Cartoon DVDThe entire series of the 1995 TV Show released on DVD by Madman / ViaVision on June 1st in Australia and New Zealand.
2012
The entire series of the 1995 TV Show released on DVD by Millennium on July 10th - US and Canada.
Mezco Earthworm Jim ToyNew Earthworm Jim action figure made by Mezco Toys were released in July.
Earthworm Jim 3D & Beyond
1995
Earthworm Jim was a secret playable character in Battle Arena Toshinden which was developed by Digital Dialect for the PC version of that game in 1995. A cloned character, it used old EWJ sound effects, and was an alternate skin over a character called "Rungo Iron".
1997
Clay Fighter 63 1/3: Sculptor's Cut Released Oct 21, 1997 on Nintendo 64. Developer / publisher: Interplay. This game had Earthworm Jim as a playable character in it.
1999
Earthworm Jim Menace 2 The GalaxyMade for the Game Boy Color
Developer: IMS Productions
Publisher - Crave Entertainment
Made for the N64
Publisher - Rockstar games
Developer: Vis Entertainment, release date: Dec 17th 1999.
2000
PC version of Earthworm Jim 3D released
Developer: Vis Entertainment
Publisher - Interplay.
2001
Earthworm Jim GBA portDeveloper: Game Titan.
2002
Earthworm Jim 2 GBA port (Nov the 29th) Developer: Super Empire
Both games were published by Majesco.
2003
Development started on a new Earthworm Jim game by an undisclosed development studio which was cancelled in early development by Interplay.
2006
Earthworm Jim PSPDevelopment started on a new Earthworm Jim game by Shiny Entertainment for the Play Station Portable console. Development stopped short around the autumn of 2006.
Publisher - Atari - (cancelled).
2008
Interplay Press ReleaseApril 22nd.
Interplay stated in a press release that they intended to work on a new Earthworm Jim game. Also to develop Earthworm Jim for Film and TV.
September 22nd.
Interplay relaunched with all their old Intellectual Properties.
Earthworm Jim 1 ported to the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console.
Europe release date, October the 3rd. USA Release date, October the 27th.
Good Old Games (GOG) Provide Earthworm Jim 1 & 2 (The Whole can o' Worms, PC version) and Earthworm Jim 3D (PC) for download.
2009
Earthworm Jim 1 port for the Apple IPhone Touch, October 21st. Developer: Gameloft.
The Iphone version was based off of the original Mega Drive/Genesis version of Earthworm Jim, but with graphical changes and an interface intended for the IPhone Touch.
Earthworm Jim Collection released on the Steam PC Engine, November 4th. Earthworm Jim 1, 2 & Earthworm Jim 3D PC Windows version.
Earthworm Jim 2 Wii Virtual ConsoleEarthworm Jim 2 released for the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console, December 4th. (Mega Drive/Genesis version).
2010
Earthworm Jim released for Palm Pre by Gameloft, February 17th.
Earthworm Jim for Nintendo DSIWareRelease dates: April 23rd Europe, May 10th North America.
Developer Gameloft.
The original Earthworm Jim game ported again. Extra levels were designed for a cooperative mode where four players could play at the same time. Release dates: XBLA version June 9th, PSN version August 3rd.
Developer Gameloft.
Shiny Entertainment
1997
MDK MDK released.
1998
Wild 9 released.
1999
R/C Stunt Copter 1999 released.
2000
Messiah and Sacrifice released.
2003
Enter The Matrix released.
2005
The Path of Neo released.
After Shiny
1996
Shiny Entertainment sold to Interplay.
The NeverhoodDoug TenNapel, Edward Schofield, Mike Dietz, Mark Lorenzen, Eric Ciccone and Steve Crow left Shiny Entertainment to form independent game studio The Neverhood.
1997
Planet MoonNick Bruty and Bob Stevenson left Shiny Entertainment to form the independent game studio Planet Moon.
2002
Shiny sold to Infrogrames by Interplay. Later Infrogrames bought Atari and took on their brand as their identity. Interplay retained rights to all Shiny Entertainment's past titles.
2005
Tommy Tallarico, the original composer for the Earthworm 1 & 2 music formed Video Games Live.
2006
David Perry Left Shiny Entertainment.
Game Industry MapDavid Perry creates online wiki community resource for people getting their foot into the Games Industry.
2007
Shiny Entertainment sold to Foundation 9.
2008
Shiny Entertainment ceased to exist. It was merged with The Collective and Foundation 9 to become Double Helix Games.
2009
GaikaiDavid Perry becomes a co-founder of Gaikai (Technology for the streaming of high-end video games), April 2009.
David Perry on Game Design: A Brainstorming ToolboxDavid Perry releases book - published by Delmar. The book is also a online wiki-like non-profit resource for students.
Pencil Test Studios
Mike Dietz and Ed Schofield form their own independent content creation studio for animation (TV & Film), mobile devices and video games.
2011
Rogue Rocket GamesNick Bruty and Richard Sun formed a new independent games studio Rogue Rocket Games.
2012
Video Games Live Earthworm Jim ConcertJune's E3 event was the venue for Tommy Tallarico's Video Games Live concert which premiered a music medley from Earthworm Jim 1 and 2.
In addition, other original Team members from the video games David Perry, Mike Dietz, Ed Schofield, Doug TenNapel and Nick Bruty Joined the event.
2013
Armikrog. video game went into development by PencilTest Studios after a successful Kickstarter campaign.
2015
Armikrog. released October 1st. PC and Mac.
Earthworm Jim The Comic
2019
Earthworm Jim The Comic: Launch The Cow
The creator of Earthworm Jim, Doug TenNapel announced a new Earthworm Jim comic book - Earthworm Jim: Launch The Cow. It was successfully funded through IndieGoGo and published in December 2019.
2020
Earthworm Jim 2 The Comic: Fight The Fish
Earthworm Jim 2 The Comic: Fight The Fish was crowd funded on Kickstarter and IndyGogo in 2020. Published in 2021
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