Hi Tech Expressions

Credits

Descriptions by
gohan56782

Captures by
Monocoin59

Editions by
Monocoin59

Video captures courtesy of
Random Guy Productions and Classic Sonic's TV & Commercial Vault

Background

Hi Tech Expressions was an American console game company headquartered in lower Manhattan, New York City. Created as Thoughtware Expressions after the success of JingleDisk, they were renamed after the declining sales of their programming and shifted focus on computer game publishing. It outlasted its original parent when it went defunct around the late 1980s, but after a long string of high-brand publishing deals that led to their downfall, they were rebranded as Hi Tech Entertainment in 1993, only to go bust within a few short years.

1st Logo (1988)

Visuals: On a black background, the green serif text "HI TECH EXPRESSIONS" is seen in the middle of the screen, with a red heart in-between them with a red line going through the entirety of the text. "PUBLISHED BY" is seen in a smaller sans font above it, and yellow copyright text is seen below.

Variant: All versions of Win, Lose, Or Draw have the logo on the title screen, this time all in the same color as the heart. The heart is also smaller and striped, which matches the print logo it used at the time.

Technique: A still digital graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: This particular version of the logo is found on the MS-DOS versions of Matterhorn Screamer! and The Chase on Tom Sawyer's Island.

2nd Logo (1989-1994)

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Visuals: On a black background, a white box is seen with a red heart aligned to the left of it. It appears to be breaking apart and trailing off into large pixels. Above it is "HI TECH" in a blue font with a line above and below it, and "EXPRESSIONS" in the same font below the heart with a line above it.

Variants:

• Sometimes, "PRESENTS" can be seen below.
• Due to data limitations on PC at the time, the logo would have different colors and proportions, and instead be integrated into the title screen in some way rather than by itself.
• Some DOS games have the font of "HI TECH" more "shaped" with sharp parallelograms for the dashlines, as well as a drop shadow for the box.
• Some DOS games sometimes have the "EXPRESSIONS" text the same size as "HI TECH" and also a line below it.
• On the SNES version of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? has the logo inverted in colors, with a blue heart and red text.
• Later titles have the logo now contained in a 3D shiny blue box, and the logo also appears to have a raised white section. The logo may be larger as well.
• Sometimes on the SNES games, the logo is now on a white background without any box, with a much thinner and larger font as well.

Technique: A still digital graphic.

Audio: None or the opening theme of the game. Most of the SNES games use a 5-note synth woodwind tune with the last note held out, a la the 1971 Lorimar Television logo.

Availability: Seen on a majority of their titles starting with Win, Lose, or Draw Junior, but would mostly appear on their console library like Tom & Jerry, Muppet Adventure: Chaos at the Carnival, and more.

3rd Logo (1994)

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Visuals: On a white background, the dark purple text "HI TECH" can be seen at the top of the screen, along with "ENTERTAINMENT" in a smaller print below it sandwiched between 2 lines. Below it, a orange/purple pinwheel-like fan can be seen floating off the ground.

Variant: Barbie and her Magical House has the logo fade in with a "dust" transition, has a much smoother gradient effect, and shares mentions with The Cute Company and a copyright date.

Technique: A still digital graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen only on Barbie's Vacation Adventure and Barbie and her Magical House. Despite appearing on the Genesis box art of We're Back!: A Dinosaur's Story, the previous logo was used instead.