Company:JoWooD

From HandWiki
JoWooD Entertainment AG
Formerly
  • JoWooD Productions Software GmbH (1995–2000)
  • JoWooD Productions Software AG (2000–2009)
TypePublic
IndustryVideo games
FateBankruptcy
Founded1995; 31 years ago (1995)
Founders
  • Andreas Tobler
  • Hans Schilcher
DefunctJune 2011 (2011-06)
Headquarters
Rottenmann (Liezen District), Styria
,
Austria
Products
SubsidiariesDreamCatcher Interactive

JoWooD Entertainment AG (formerly JoWooD Productions Software AG, commonly referred to as JoWooD) was an Austrian video game publisher that was founded in 1995. JoWooD went into administration in 2011 and all assets were purchased by Nordic Games.

Its games include the futuristic racing car game Beam Breakers which was released in 2002, action role-playing games in the Gothic series, the SpellForce series, and the Industry Giant series of games. Other titles include Transport Giant, Software:World War III: Black Gold, The Sting!, Hotel Giant, and other games of the Giants series.

History

JoWooD Productions Software AG was founded in 1995 in Ebensee by Dieter Bernauer, Johann Reitinger, Johann Schilcher, and Andreas Tobler with its headquarters later moved to Liezen, Austria.

In May 2000, JoWooD went public through the prime market section of the Vienna Stock Exchange.[1] Earlier on in the year, they invested 15% in publisher Media Publishing GmbH & Co KG, and acquired the developer Wings Simulations.[2] In September, they acquired NEON Software in Germany[3] and Massive Development in December.[4][5]

On 18 January 2001, JoWooD announced that it had purchased a 70% stake in Dynamic Systems, a video game distributor founded by JoWooD co-founder Andrea Tobler, with which they already distributed JoWooD's products in Austria and Central Europe. On the same day, JoWooD and Dynamic signed a three-year strategic alliance with French publisher Infogrames, where the company would exclusively distribute JoWooD's titles in Germany, France and Benelux territories while JoWooD and Dynamic would exclusively distribute Infogrames' titles in Austria.[6] In May, JoWooD purchased German distributor Leisuresoft from Infogrames, which was acquired in the latter's purchase of Hasbro Interactive earlier in the year but wasn't needed by Infogrames, which already had a German distribution unit.[7] In August, the company secured a distribution deal with Disney Interactive to distribute their PC titles in German-speaking territories.[8]

JoWooD suffered from heavy financial losses at the beginning of 2002 and was almost close to filing for insolvency.[9] In May 2002, JoWooD announced the acquisition of Ravensburger Interactive Media and its core publishing label Fishtank Interactive from Ravensburger AG. With these acquisitions, JoWooD became the largest German video game company and would allow the publisher to enter the family-friendly market.[10][11]

For 2003, JoWooD announced that they would pull out of the in-house distribution and sales business.[12] They would sell Dynamic Systems to Koch Media in August. With this deal, Koch secured exclusive distribution rights to JoWooD products in Austria. Earlier in January, JoWooD entered into a deal with Encore Software to distribute nine of JoWooD's titles in North America.[13]

On 8 April 2004, they expanded their distribution agreement with Koch to include Germany, Switzerland, Italy and the United Kingdom.[14]

In January 2005, JoWooD exited the game development industry and shuttered all of their in-house studios. JoWooD Ebensee and Wings Simulations closed in January[15] and Massive Development followed suit in May.[16] In May, JoWooD signed a distribution deal with Nobilis for distribution of titles in Spain and Portugal.[17] In August, they attempted to end their development agreement with developer Perception Pty because of a lack of quality on their "Stargate SG-1" product.[18] JoWooD carried out this action believing they owned the licence for the game Stargate SG-1: The Alliance, which was disputed by Perception.[19] In October, they once again extended their distribution deal with Koch Media to include co-publication of select JoWooD titles under the Deep Silver label.[20]

Acquisition of DreamCatcher Games, formation of the JoWooD Group, and Insolvency (2006-2011)

On 4 November 2006, JoWooD announced the acquisition of DreamCatcher Games, in efforts to move to the North American game markets.[21]

In January 2007, JoWooD announced a UK distribution agreement with Pinnacle Software to allow the latter to distribute JoWooD's titles.[22] In August 2007, the JoWooD Group formed a budget casual game label named GS-Line.[23]

In October 2009, JoWooD changed its name from JoWooD Productions Software AG to JoWooD Entertainment AG.[24] At the same time, JoWood also announced an agreement with Valve to make available future JoWooD titles on Steam.[24]

It owned five subsidiaries in the last years: DreamCatcher Interactive, JoWooD Distribution Services, JoWooD Deutschland, JoWooD Iberica and Quantic Lab.

On 7 January 2011, JoWooD officially filed for bankruptcy and announced that the company would prepare for "a procedure of capital reorganization".[25] However, on 21 April 2011, JoWooD announced that, unable to negotiate with potential investors, they were officially facing bankruptcy proceedings and had withdrawn their application for a recapitalization plan.[26] In June 2011, JoWooD Entertainment, all their assets and its subsidiary, Quantic Lab, was acquired by Nordic Games. From this point on, JoWooD was no longer operating. All activities of the two companies were taken over by Nordic Games.[27] On 16 August 2011, Nordic Games announced that it had acquired JoWooD's products and brands and some of the companies labels, including The Adventure Company.[28] Following the acquisition, it was announced that JoWood and the Adventure Company would become publishing labels for Nordic Games, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nordic Games Holding.[29]

Games published

Release date Title Platform(s) Developer(s)
1998 Industry Giant Microsoft Windows JoWooD Productions
1999 Alien Nations[30] Neo Software
1999[31] Panzer Elite Wings Simulations
2000 Keep the Balance Item Multimedia
2000 Software:Thandor: The Invasion Innonics
2001 Traffic Giant JoWooD Productions
2001 The Nations JoWooD Vienna
2001 The Sting! Neo Software
2001 Software:Zax: The Alien Hunter Reflexive Entertainment
2001 S.W.I.N.E.[32] StormRegion
2001 Rally Trophy Bugbear Entertainment
2001 AquaNox Massive Development
2001 Software:Gorasul: The Legacy of the Dragon Silver Style
2002[33] Software:Hard Truck 2: King of the Road SoftLab-NSK
2002 Arx Fatalis Microsoft Windows Arkane Studios
2003 Xbox Wizarbox
2002 Software:Cultures 2: The Gates of Asgard[34] Microsoft Windows Funatics Development GmbH
2002 Michael Schumacher Racing World Kart 2002 Microsoft Windows Radon Labs
PlayStation
2002 Pusher[35] Microsoft Windows JoWood Productions Software AG
2002 Industry Giant II JoWooD Productions
2002 Beam Breakers Similis Software GmbH
2002 Archangel Metropolis Software
2002 Software:Europa 1400: The Guild 4HEAD Studios
2002 The Nations Nations Gold Edition / The Nations 2 JoWooD Productions
2002 Gothic II Piranha Bytes
2002 K-Hawk: Survival Instinct[36] Similis Software GmbH
2003 Cold Zero: The Last Stand JoWooD Productions
2003[37] Neighbours from Hell Microsoft Windows JoWooD Vienna
2005 GameCube, Xbox
2003 Software:Gothic II: Night of the Raven - Expansion Pack Microsoft Windows Piranha Bytes
2003 Software:AquaNox 2: Revelation Massive Development
2003 Chaser Cauldron
2003 Cold Zero: No Mercy[38] JoWooD Productions
2003[39] Railroad Pioneer[40] Kritzelkratz 3000
2003[41] Silent Storm Nival Interactive
2003[42] Software:SpellForce: The Order of Dawn Phenomic Game Development
2004 Software:Söldner: Secret Wars Wings Simulations
2004[43] Transport Giant JoWooD Productions
2004[44] SpellForce: The Breath of Winter - Expansion Pack Phenomic Game Development
2004[45] SpellForce: Shadow of the Phoenix - Expansion Pack Phenomic Game Development
2004 Söldner: Secret Wars Reloaded Wings Simulations
2005[46] Söldner: Marine Corps - Expansion Pack Wings Simulations
2006[47] Software:Neighbours from Hell 2: On Vacation JoWooD Vienna
2005 Legend of Kay[48] PlayStation 2 Neon Studios
Kaiko
2006 Software:SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars Microsoft Windows Phenomic Game Development
2006 The Guild 2[49] 4HEAD Studios
2006 Gothic 3[50] Piranha Bytes
2007[51] Software:Freak Out: Extreme Freeride PlayStation 2 ColdWood Interactive
2007 Microsoft Windows
2007[52] Software:SpellForce 2: Dragon Storm Phenomic Game Development
2007[53] The Guild 2 - Pirates of The European Sea - Stand-alone expansion pack[54][55] 4HEAD Studios
2007[56] Software:Space Force: Rogue Universe Provox Games
2007 SpellForce Universe Edition - Collection pack[57] EA Phenomic
2007 Gothic Universe Edition - Collection pack[58] DreamCatcher Interactive
2007 Software:Painkiller: Overdose Mindware Studios
2008 Software:Gothic 3: The Beginning Handy-Games GmbH
2008 The Golden Horde[59] World Forge
2008 Painkiller Universe - Collection Pack[60] DreamCatcher Interactive
2008 The Guild 2 - Venice - Stand-alone Expansion Pack Trine Games[61]
2008 Software:Gothic 3: Forsaken Gods - Expansion Pack Trine Games
Mad Vulture Games
2009 Software:Painkiller: Resurrection HomeGrown Games
2009 Yoga Wii Wii Trine Games
2010 Torchlight[62] Microsoft Windows Runic Games
2010 Software:Arcania: Gothic 4 Spellbound Entertainment
Xbox 360 Black Forest Games
2011 PlayStation 3
2010[63] The Guild 2 - Renaissance - Stand-alone expanded edition Microsoft Windows 4HEAD Studios
2011 Painkiller: Redemption DreamCatcher Interactive

References

  1. ↑ https://www.derstandard.at/story/251521/jowood-gelungenes-boersendebuet-in-wien
  2. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20010816015454/http://www.jowood.com/ir/en/
  3. ↑ https://www.golem.de/0009/9558.html
  4. ↑ Ihlenfeld, Jens (December 12, 2000). "JoWooD takes over German developer Massive Development" (in DE). https://www.golem.de/0012/11287.html. 
  5. ↑ Reis, Thomas (14 December 2000). "News und Presseerklärungen - JoWood [PE"] (in DE). JoWooD. Archived from the original on 3 February 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010203192600/http://www.massive.de/news/news_d.shtml. Retrieved 17 November 2015. 
  6. ↑ https://www.golem.de/0101/11790.html
  7. ↑ "JoWooD takes over distribution company Leisuresoft" (in DE). May 3, 2001. https://www.golem.de/0105/13747.html. 
  8. ↑ https://www.derstandard.at/story/692394/jowood-bekommt-vertriebsrechte-fuer-disney-interactive-produkte
  9. ↑ https://www.derstandard.at/story/1230153/jowood-hat-wieder-gewinne-im-visier
  10. ↑ "May 16: JoWooD Takes over Ravenburger". 16 May 2002. http://uk.ign.com/articles/2002/05/16/may-16-jowood-takes-over-ravenburger. 
  11. ↑ https://www.golem.de/0205/19822.html
  12. ↑ https://www.gamesindustry.biz/jowood-swings-into-the-black-in-preliminary-2003-results
  13. ↑ https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/03/31/jowood-gets-an-encore
  14. ↑ https://www.gamesindustry.biz/jowood-signs-up-koch-to-handle-key-european-distribution-for-2004
  15. ↑ Jenkins, David (January 31, 2005). "JoWooD Closes Development Studios". https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/jowood-closes-development-studios. 
  16. ↑ Rottenmann (30 May 2005). "JoWooD schließt Studio" (in DE). Busch Entertainment Media. http://www.mediabiz.de/games/news/jowood-schliesst-studio/179709. Retrieved 17 November 2015. 
  17. ↑ https://www.presseportal.ch/fr/pm/100003949/100489927
  18. ↑ Jowood Terminates Development Agreement with Perception - PC News at GameSpot
  19. ↑ "Video Games, Wikis, Cheats, Walkthroughs, Reviews, News & Videos - IGN". IGN. http://au.xbox.ign.com/articles/641/641502p1.html. 
  20. ↑ "KOCH Media announces co-publishing agreement with JoWooD Productions for "Panzer Elite Action"". October 28, 2005. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/koch-media-announces-co-publishing-agreement-with-jowood-productions-for-panzer-elite-action. 
  21. ↑ "Aktuelle Aussendungen". euro adhoc - IR-Kommunikation. http://ots.euroadhoc.com/irmeldung.php?schluessel=OTA_20061103_OTA0003&ag=OTA. 
  22. ↑ "JoWooD Productions Sign with Pinnacle". 10 January 2007. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/jowood-productions-sign-with-pinnacle. 
  23. ↑ https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gs-line-open-for-new-projects-and-ideas
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Rietumu Guide". http://press.jowood.com/. 
  25. ↑ GameZone (4 May 2012). "JoWooD Entertainment Files for Bankruptcy". http://www.gamezone.com/news/item/jowood_entertainment_files_for_bankruptcy/. 
  26. ↑ "JoWood: Sanierungsverfahren gescheitert, Publisher ist am Ende". PC GAMES. 21 April 2011. http://www.pcgames.de/JoWooD-Entertainment-AG-Firma-15517/News/JoWood-Sanierungsverfahren-gescheitert-Publisher-ist-am-Ende-821482/. 
  27. ↑ "JoWooD - Now Swedish … sort of! - RPGWatch Forums". 7 June 2011. http://www.rpgwatch.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13884. 
  28. ↑ "JoWooD & The Adventure Company, wholly owned labels of Nordic Games.". Nordic Games. http://www.nordicgames.at/. 
  29. ↑ "Nordic Games Holding AB Group Acquires JoWood & The Adventure Company". Nordic Games. 16 August 2011. http://www.nordicgames.se/index.php?/article/nordic_games_holding_ab_group_acquires_jowood_the_adventure_company. 
  30. ↑ "Alien Nations - PC". IGN. http://www.ign.com/games/alien-nations/pc-490846. 
  31. ↑ "Panzer Elite - PC". IGN. http://www.ign.com/games/panzer-elite/pc-9978. 
  32. ↑ "JoWooD Productions - S.W.I.N.E.". 2006-03-24. http://www.jowood.com/gamers/?lang=en&site=2&GameID=swine&pfid=PC. 
  33. ↑ "Some Information news - Hard Truck 2: King of the Road Game". ModDB. 26 September 2001. http://www.moddb.com/games/hard-truck-2/news/some-information2. 
  34. ↑ "Cultures 2: The Gates of Asgard". GameSpot. 17 May 2006. http://www.gamespot.com/cultures-2-the-gates-of-asgard/. 
  35. ↑ "Pusher (2002)". MobyGames. https://www.mobygames.com/game/7309/pusher/. 
  36. ↑ "K-Hawk: Survival Instinct". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/k-hawk-survival-instinct/. 
  37. ↑ "Neighbours from Hell: Revenge is a Sweet Game (PC CD)". Amazon. https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000070GQL/ref=nosim/JoWooDprodu0b-21#detail_bullets_id. 
  38. ↑ "Cold Zero: No Mercy". GameSpot. 19 April 2005. http://www.gamespot.com/cold-zero-no-mercy/. 
  39. ↑ "KRITZELKRATZ 3000 - Game Development". Kritzelkratz 3000 GmbH. http://www.kritzelkratz.de/ie_eng/global/main_frame.html. 
  40. ↑ "Railroad Pioneer - Content". Kritzelkratz 3000 GmbH. http://www.kritzelkratz.de/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=10. 
  41. ↑ "The Storm is coming! - JoWooD News Archive". JoWooD Entertainment. http://www.JoWooD.com/gamers/?archiv=2&lang=en&ScreenID=8809&Quartal=4&Jahr=2003. 
  42. ↑ "Welcome at Phenomic Game Development - Latest News". Phenomic Game Development. http://www.phenomic.de/. 
  43. ↑ "Transport Giant on Steam". Steam. http://store.steampowered.com/app/271370/. 
  44. ↑ "SpellForce Breath of Winter in UK stores today!". JoWooD Entertainment. http://www.JoWooD.com/gamers/?archiv=2&lang=en&ScreenID=10233&Quartal=2&Jahr=2004. 
  45. ↑ "SpellForce News Archive". JoWooD Entertainment. http://spellforce.JoWooD.com/?rid=848&lang=en&archiv=1. 
  46. ↑ "Solder: Marine Corps". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/soldner-marine-corps/. 
  47. ↑ "Neighbours from Hell: On Vacation". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/neighbors-from-hell-on-vacation/. 
  48. ↑ PAL version of the PlayStation 2 release. Published in North America by Capcom. "Capcom Release Date Info". Capcom. http://www.capcom.com/release_dates.xpml. 
  49. ↑ In cooperation with Deep Silver. "The Guild 2 - DEEP SILVER". Capcom. http://www.deepsilver.co.uk/c/export/DeepSilver/en/games/game.html_104395068.html. 
  50. ↑ EU release in affiliation with Deep Silver. NA release by Aspyr Media.
  51. ↑ "Release Data - Freak Out: Extreme Freeride". GameFAQs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps2/934987-freak-out-extreme-freeride/data. 
  52. ↑ "SpellForce 2: Dragon Storm". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/spellforce-2-dragon-storm/details/?platform=pc. 
  53. ↑ Initially delayed due to logistical issues. "Die Gilde 2: Release des AddOns wurde verschoben" (in de). Spieletipps. http://www.spieletipps.de/n_10897/. 
  54. ↑ EU release. Released in AU by N3VRF41L Publishing and in the US by DreamCatcher Interactive.
  55. ↑ Also released under the name The Guild 2: Pirates of the High Seas. "The Guild 2: Pirates of the High Seas for PC". GameFAQs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/939810-the-guild-2-pirates-of-the-high-seas. 
  56. ↑ "Space Force: Rogue Universe". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/spaceforce-rogue-universe/details/?platform=pc. 
  57. ↑ "SpellForce Universe Edition". IGN. http://www.ign.com/games/spellforce-universe-edition/pc-14218101. 
  58. ↑ "Details and Credits - Gothic Universe". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/gothic-universe/details/?platform=pc. 
  59. ↑ EU region. RU release by Russobit-M
  60. ↑ "Painkiller Universe". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/painkiller-universe/. 
  61. ↑ "Trine Entertainment Ltd. - Games". Trine Games. http://www.trinegames.com/games/. 
  62. ↑ EU retail version. "Torchlight Release Information". GameFAQs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/960163-torchlight/data. 
  63. ↑ "The Guild 2: Renaissance". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-guild-2-renaissance/details/?platform=pc. 



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