Competitors Play CD-ROM Catch Up

The success of companies like Virgin Interactive Entertainment and Interplay Productions Inc. has video game competitors scrambling to avoid being left behind.

Sunsoft Inc. in Cypress, which expects sales of $80 million this year, has relied in the past on subcontractors to develop most of its Nintendo and Sega video games based on Warner Bros. cartoon characters. The company has waited for the CD-ROM market to grow before launching such games--and now the moment is at hand.

David Siller, director of product development, said the Japanese-owned company is searching for new headquarters space and is recruiting a team of about 20 game designers and development artists for the future. The company has also licensed rights to make games based on DC Comics super-heroes Superman and Batman.

“The CD-ROM is coming, and we’ll be there developing games on it as it makes economic sense,” Siller said. “We’ll show people how to make a real compact disc game. By 1995, you’ll see our first of the next generation CD-ROM games.”