GameWorks

GameWorks was a chain of location-based entertainment centers owned by ExWorks Capital, originally created in a joint venture by Sega, DreamWorks SKG, and Universal Studios. The venues featured a wide array of video game arcades, in addition to full-service bars and restaurants.

This article is about a chain of entertainment venues. For Nvidia's proprietary middleware software suite, see Nvidia GameWorks.
GameWorks
IndustryEntertainment
PredecessorSega City
FoundedJuly 1996 (1996-07)
DefunctDecember 24, 2021 (2021-12-24)
Number of locations
6 arcades (2021)
ParentExWorks Capital

History

GameWorks began as a joint venture between the video game developer Sega and the film studios Universal Studios and DreamWorks, with filmmaker Steven Spielberg providing creative input.[1][2][3] Skip Paul was GameWorks' first chairman and CEO, and Jon Snoddy headed the design team.[4] Its first location opened in Seattle in March 1997.[5] DreamWorks sold its portion in 2001.[6]

GameWorks filed its first bankruptcy in 2004. On November 3, 2005, Sega Sammy Holdings, formed following the 2004 merger of Sega and Sammy, bought the controlling interests of GameWorks. GameWorks filed its second bankruptcy in 2010; as a result, Sega Entertainment USA, the parent company at that time, closed seven GameWorks venues on March 29, in an attempt to focus on profitability and future growth. Two locations that closed, one in Circle Centre at Indianapolis, Indiana, and another in Irvine Spectrum Center at Irvine, California, originally opened as Sega City.

In 2011, GameWorks was sold to an investment group, HNR Capital. In October 2011, GameWorks acquired the assets of several Jillian's Billiards Clubs in California, Washington, and Virginia.

In May 2017, Oomba agreed to acquire GameWorks.[7] In May 2018, ExWorks Capital took ownership of its parent company, and as a result, GameWorks is now owned by ExWorks Capital.[8] On December 24, 2021, GameWorks announced that it would be closing all of their remaining locations, citing financial difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.[9][10]

Former locations

International locations

See also

References
  1. Webb, Marcus (May 1996). "Sega Gameworks Goes Forward with Speilberg and MCA". Next Generation. No. 17. Imagine Media. p. 26.
  2. "Inside Scoop". GamePro. No. 104. IDG. May 1997. p. 24.
  3. Smith, Ernie (29 April 2017). "That Time Steven Spielberg and Sega Built the Arcade of Your Dreams". vice.com. Archived from the original on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020. ...Steven Spielberg, who offered creative input on the concept...
  4. "Arcades Grow Up". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 104. Ziff Davis. March 1998. pp. 106–111.
  5. "Tokyo Game Show Report from Japan". Next Generation. No. 30. Imagine Media. June 1997. p. 17.
  6. "DreamWorks Backs Out Of GameWorks".
  7. "GameWorks Acquired by Oomba - San Fernando Valley Business Journal". sfvbj.com.
  8. "GameWorks arcades has a new owner: ExWorks Capital". VentureBeat. 2018-09-05. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  9. Winslow, Jeremy. "The Arcade In The Last Of Us 2 Has Seemingly Closed IRL". Kotaku. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  10. @GameWorks (December 24, 2021). "Thank you for the many years of memories! The past 20 months we have seen our business turned upside down-the continued slow economic recovery has left us no choice other than to close" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. "Gameworks - Easton - Columbus | Urbanspoon". Archived from the original on 14 September 2012.
  12. Conor Shine (February 23, 2012). "After 15 years, GameWorks closing on Strip, looking for new location to serve locals". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2010-08-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. Neil Nisperos (July 11, 2017). "GameWorks closes at Ontario Mills after 20-year run". San Bernardino County Sun.
  15. Tampa GameWorks to reopen Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine, article from TBO about GameWorks/GameTime.
  16. "World Sports Grille". Archived from the original on February 9, 2014.
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