GameWorks, Inc.
TypePrivate
IndustryEntertainment
PredecessorSega City
FoundedJuly 1996 (1996-07)
HeadquartersSeattle, Washington, United States
Number of locations
1 (as of 2022)
Owners
  • Howard Brand
  • Greg Stevens
Websitegameworks.com

GameWorks is a gaming-based entertainment center with a single location as of 2022. It was owned by then-owner ExWorks Capital, each venue featured a wide array of video game arcades, in addition to full-service bars and restaurants. It was originally created in 1996 as a joint venture by Sega, DreamWorks SKG, and Universal Studios, with the company growing into an international chain. Two former executives subsequently acquired the Seattle location and reopened it in August 2022.

History

Interior of GameWorks in Seattle, November 2022

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 with many high-profile guests in attendance, such as celebrities Will Smith and Gillian Anderson and billionare Bill Gates.[5][6] DreamWorks sold its portion in 2001.[7]

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.[8] In October 2011, GameWorks acquired the assets of several Jillian's Billiards Clubs in California, Washington, and Virginia.[9]

In May 2017, Oomba acquired GameWorks.[10] In May 2018, Chicago-based ExWorks Capital took ownership of GameWorks.[11]

On December 24, 2021, GameWorks announced that it would be closing all of its remaining locations, citing financial difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.[12][13] Greg Stevens, who served as the company's CEO from 2011 to 2018, subsequently reacquired the assets of the Seattle location with business partner Howard Brand, a managing partner at former owner HNR Capital.[14] After some reorganization, the Seattle location reopened on August 3, 2022, after the closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8][15]

Locations

Former locations

Standard

GameWorks Studio

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. ↑ Eads, Stefani; Eddy, Andy (July 1997). "GameWorks, opened with a star-studded gala". Digital Diner. p. 24.
  7. ↑ "DreamWorks Backs Out Of GameWorks".
  8. 1 2 Wilde, Thomas (May 6, 2022). "GameWorks ready to power back on in Seattle as onetime execs take control of arcade/restaurant". GeekWire. Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  9. ↑ "GameWorks Entertainment, LLC Acquires Five Locations From JBC Entertainment". PRWeb. October 18, 2011. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  10. ↑ Madler, Mark (May 16, 2017). "GameWorks Acquired by Oomba". San Fernando Valley Business Journal. Archived from the original on August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  11. ↑ Minotti, Mike (September 5, 2018). "GameWorks arcades has a new owner: ExWorks Capital". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on September 6, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  12. ↑ Winslow, Jeremy (23 December 2021). "The Arcade In The Last Of Us 2 Has Seemingly Closed IRL". Kotaku. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  13. ↑ @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.
  14. ↑ Wilde, Thomas (May 6, 2022). "GameWorks ready to power back on in Seattle as onetime execs take control of arcade/restaurant". GeekWire. Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  15. ↑ Cassidy, Benjamin (August 3, 2022). "GameWorks Reopens in Downtown Seattle". Seattle Met. Archived from the original on August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Gameworks - Easton - Columbus | Urbanspoon". Archived from the original on 14 September 2012.
  17. ↑ 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.
  18. ↑ "Kitchen den Bar to open in former GameWorks space at Pike - Press-Telegram". Archived from the original on 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
  19. ↑ Neil Nisperos (July 11, 2017). "GameWorks closes at Ontario Mills after 20-year run". San Bernardino County Sun.
  20. ↑ Tampa GameWorks to reopen Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine, article from TBO about GameWorks/GameTime.
  21. ↑ Webb, Marcus (February 1998). "LBE News: Namco Buys 'XS' Concept; Sega Opens New GameWorks". Next Generation. No. 38. Imagine Media. p. 35.
  22. ↑ "World Sports Grille". Archived from the original on February 9, 2014.
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