Company:JoWooD Entertainment
Formerly |
|
---|---|
Type | Public |
Industry | Video game industry |
Fate | Bankruptcy |
Successor | THQ Nordic |
Founded | 1995 |
Founders |
|
Defunct | 2011 |
Headquarters | Rottenmann , Austria |
Products |
|
Subsidiaries | DreamCatcher 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 and all assets were purchased by Nordic Games.
Their 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, World War III, 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. It owned five subsidiaries in the last years: DreamCatcher Interactive, JoWooD Distribution Services, JoWooD Deutschland, JoWooD Iberica and Quantic Lab. In May 2002, JoWooD acquired Ravensburger Interactive and its sister company Fishtank Interactive.
In August 2005, JoWooD attempted to end their development agreement with developer Perception Pty because of a lack of quality on their "Stargate SG-1" product.[1] JoWooD carried out this action believing they owned the licence for the game Stargate SG-1: The Alliance, which was disputed by Perception.[2] On 4 November 2006, JoWooD announced the acquisition of DreamCatcher Games, in efforts to move to the North American gaming markets.[3] In October 2009, JoWooD changed its name from JoWooD Productions Software AG to JoWooD Entertainment AG.[4] At the same time, JoWood also announced an agreement with Valve Corporation to make available future JoWooD titles on Steam.[4]
On 7 January 2011, JoWooD officially filed for bankruptcy and announced that the company would prepare for "a procedure of capital reorganization".[5] 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that, unable to negotiate with potential investors, they were officially facing bankruptcy proceedings and had withdrawn their application for a recapitalization plan.[6] In June 2011, JoWooD Entertainment all their assets and its subsidiary, Quantic Lab, was acquired by Nordic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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]
Games published
Release date | Title | Platform(s) | Developer(s) |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | Industry Giant | Microsoft Windows | JoWooD Productions |
1999 | Alien Nations[10] | Neo Software | |
1999[11] | Panzer Elite | Wings Simulations | |
2000 | Thandor | Innonics | |
2001 | Traffic Giant | JoWooD Productions | |
2001 | The Nations | JoWooD Vienna | |
2001 | The Sting! | Neo Software | |
2001 | Zax | Reflexive Entertainment | |
2001 | S.W.I.N.E.[12] | StormRegion | |
2001 | Rally Trophy | Bugbear Entertainment | |
2001 | AquaNox | Massive Development | |
2002[13] | Hard Truck 2 | SoftLab-NSK | |
2002 | Arx Fatalis | Arkane Studios | |
2003 | Xbox | Wizarbox | |
2002 | Cultures 2: The Gates of Asgard[14] | Microsoft Windows | Funatics Development GmbH |
2002 | Michael Schumacher Racing World Kart 2002 | Microsoft Windows | Radon Labs |
PlayStation | |||
2002 | Industry Giant II | Microsoft Windows | JoWooD Productions |
2002 | Beam Breakers | Similis Software GmbH | |
2002 | Archangel | Metropolis Software | |
2002 | Europa 1400 | 4HEAD Studios | |
2002 | The Nations Nations Gold Edition / The Nations 2 | JoWooD Productions | |
2002 | Gothic II | Piranha Bytes | |
2002 | K-Hawk: Survival Instinct[15] | Similis Software GmbH | |
2003 | Cold Zero: The Last Stand | JoWooD Productions | |
2003[16] | Neighbours from Hell | JoWooD Vienna Relativity Play | |
2005 | GameCube | ||
Xbox | |||
2003 | Gothic II - Expansion Pack | Microsoft Windows | Piranha Bytes |
2003 | AquaNox 2 | Massive Development | |
2003 | Chaser | Cauldron | |
2003 | Cold Zero: No Mercy[17] | JoWooD Productions | |
2003[18] | Railroad Pioneer[19] | Kritzelkratz 3000 | |
2003[20] | Silent Storm | Nival Interactive | |
2003[21] | SpellForce | Phenomic Game Development | |
2004 | Söldner | Wings Simulations | |
2004[22] | Transport Giant | JoWooD Productions | |
2004[23] | SpellForce: Breath of Winter - Expansion Pack | Phenomic Game Development | |
2004[24] | SpellForce: The Shadow of the Phoenix - Expansion Pack | Phenomic Game Development | |
2004 | Söldner: Secret Wars Reloaded | Wings Simulations | |
2005[25] | Söldner: Marine Corps - Expansion Pack | Wings Simulations | |
2006[26] | Neighbours from Hell 2 | JoWooD Vienna | |
2005 | Legend of Kay[27] | PlayStation 2 | Neon Studios Kaiko |
2006 | SpellForce 2 | Microsoft Windows | Phenomic Game Development |
2006 | The Guild 2[28] | 4HEAD Studios | |
2006 | Gothic 3[29] | Piranha Bytes | |
2007[30] | Freak Out | PlayStation 2 | ColdWood Interactive |
2007 | Microsoft Windows | ||
2007[31] | SpellForce 2 | Phenomic Game Development | |
2007[32] | The Guild 2 - Pirates of The European Sea - Stand-alone expansion pack[33][34] | 4HEAD Studios | |
2007[35] | Space Force | Provox Games | |
2007 | SpellForce Universe Edition - Collection pack[36] | Phenomic Game Development | |
2007 | Gothic Universe Edition - Collection pack[37] | DreamCatcher Interactive | |
2007 | Painkiller | Mindware Studios | |
2008 | Gothic 3 | Handy-Games GmbH | |
2008 | The Golden Horde[38] | World Forge | |
2008 | Painkiller Universe - Collection Pack[39] | DreamCatcher Interactive | |
2008 | The Guild 2 - Venice - Stand-alone Expansion Pack | Trine Games[40] | |
2008 | Gothic 3 - Expansion Pack | Trine Games Mad Vulture Games | |
2009 | Painkiller | HomeGrown Games | |
2009 | Yoga Wii | Wii | Trine Games |
2010 | Torchlight[41] | Microsoft Windows | Runic Games |
2010 | Arcania | Spellbound Entertainment | |
Xbox 360 | Black Forest Games | ||
2011 | PlayStation 3 | ||
2010[42] | The Guild 2 - Renaissance - Stand-alone expanded edition | Microsoft Windows | 4HEAD Studios |
2011 | Painkiller: Redemption | DreamCatcher Interactive | |
2012 | SpellForce 2 | Trine Games[40] Mind Over Matter[43] |
References
- ↑ Jowood Terminates Development Agreement with Perception - PC News at GameSpot[yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
- ↑ "Video Games, Wikis, Cheats, Walkthroughs, Reviews, News & Videos - IGN". IGN. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120206041332/http://au.xbox.ign.com/articles/641/641502p1.html. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ↑ "Aktuelle Aussendungen". euro adhoc - IR-Kommunikation. http://ots.euroadhoc.com/irmeldung.php?schluessel=OTA_20061103_OTA0003&ag=OTA. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Rietumu Guide". Archived from the original on 29 June 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100629002833/http://press.jowood.com/. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ↑ GameZone. "JoWooD Entertainment Files for Bankruptcy". http://www.gamezone.com/news/item/jowood_entertainment_files_for_bankruptcy/. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ↑ "JoWood: Sanierungsverfahren gescheitert, Publisher ist am Ende". PC GAMES. http://www.pcgames.de/JoWooD-Entertainment-AG-Firma-15517/News/JoWood-Sanierungsverfahren-gescheitert-Publisher-ist-am-Ende-821482/. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ↑ "JoWooD - Now Swedish … sort of! - RPGWatch Forums". http://www.rpgwatch.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13884. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ↑ "JoWooD & The Adventure Company, wholly owned labels of Nordic Games.". Nordic Games. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. https://www.webcitation.org/610SKndr7?url=http://www.nordicgames.at/. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ↑ "Nordic Games Holding AB Group Acquires JoWood & The Adventure Company". Nordic Games. 16 August 2011. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. https://www.webcitation.org/610PuFXES?url=http://www.nordicgames.se/index.php?%2Farticle%2Fnordic_games_holding_ab_group_acquires_jowood_the_adventure_company. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ↑ "Alien Nations - PC". IGN. http://www.ign.com/games/alien-nations/pc-490846. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
- ↑ "Panzer Elite - PC". IGN. http://www.ign.com/games/panzer-elite/pc-9978. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ↑ "JoWooD Productions - S.W.I.N.E.". 2006-03-24. Archived from the original on 24 March 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060324131637/http://www.jowood.com/gamers/?lang=en&site=2&GameID=swine&pfid=PC.
- ↑ "Some Information news - Hard Truck 2: King of the Road Game". ModDB. http://www.moddb.com/games/hard-truck-2/news/some-information2. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ↑ "Cultures 2: The Gates of Asgard". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/cultures-2-the-gates-of-asgard/. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ "K-Hawk: Survival Instinct". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/k-hawk-survival-instinct/. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ "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. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ↑ "Cold Zero: No Mercy". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/cold-zero-no-mercy/. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ "KRITZELKRATZ 3000 - Game Development". Kritzelkratz 3000 GmbH. Archived from the original on 11 May 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040511143450/http://www.kritzelkratz.de/ie_eng/global/main_frame.html. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ "Railroad Pioneer - Content". Kritzelkratz 3000 GmbH. http://www.kritzelkratz.de/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=10. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ "The Storm is coming! - JoWooD News Archive". JoWooD Entertainment. Archived from the original on 10 September 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040910231517/http://www.jowood.com/gamers/?archiv=2&lang=en&ScreenID=8809&Quartal=4&Jahr=2003. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ↑ "Welcome at Phenomic Game Development - Latest News". Phenomic Game Development. Archived from the original on 6 February 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050206063314/http://www.phenomic.de/. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ↑ "Transport Giant on Steam". Steam. http://store.steampowered.com/app/271370/. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ↑ "SpellForce Breath of Winter in UK stores today!". JoWooD Entertainment. Archived from the original on 6 September 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040906145424/http://www.jowood.com/gamers/?archiv=2&lang=en&ScreenID=10233&Quartal=2&Jahr=2004. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ↑ "SpellForce News Archive". JoWooD Entertainment. Archived from the original on 29 August 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050829132744/http://spellforce.jowood.com/?rid=848&lang=en&archiv=1. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ↑ "Solder: Marine Corps". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/soldner-marine-corps/. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ↑ "Neighbours from Hell: On Vacation". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/neighbors-from-hell-on-vacation/. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ↑ PAL version of the PlayStation 2 release. Published in North America by Capcom. "Capcom Release Date Info". Capcom. Archived from the original on 1 June 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060601022619/http://www.capcom.com/release_dates.xpml. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ In cooperation with Deep Silver. "The Guild 2 - DEEP SILVER". Capcom. Archived from the original on 6 May 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070506102339/http://www.deepsilver.co.uk/c/export/DeepSilver/en/games/game.html_104395068.html. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ EU release in affiliation with Deep Silver. NA release by Aspyr Media.
- ↑ "Release Data - Freak Out: Extreme Freeride". GameFAQs. Archived from the original on 18 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151018082355/http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps2/934987-freak-out-extreme-freeride/data. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ "SpellForce 2: Dragon Storm". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/spellforce-2-dragon-storm/details. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ Initially delayed due to logistical issues. "Die Gilde 2: Release des AddOns wurde verschoben" (in German). Spieletipps. http://www.spieletipps.de/n_10897/. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ EU release. Released in AU by N3VRF41L Publishing and in the US by DreamCatcher Interactive.
- ↑ Also released under the name The Guild 2: Pirates of the High Seas. "The Guild 2: Pirates of the High Seas for PC". GameFAQs. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150605060202/http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/939810-the-guild-2-pirates-of-the-high-seas. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ "Space Force: Rogue Universe". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/space-force-rogue-universe/details. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ "SpellForce Universe Edition". IGN. http://www.ign.com/games/spellforce-universe-edition/pc-14218101. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ "Details and Credits - Gothic Universe". MetaCritic. http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/gothic-universe/details. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ EU region. RU release by Russobit-M
- ↑ "Painkiller Universe". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/painkiller-universe/. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 "Trine Entertainment Ltd. - Games". Trine Games. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120723193134/http://www.trinegames.com/games/. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ EU retail version. "Torchlight Release Information". GameFAQs. Archived from the original on 22 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150422164834/http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/960163-torchlight/data. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ "The Guild 2: Renaissance". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/the-guild-2-renaissance/details. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ "SpellForce 2: Faith in Destiny on Steam". http://store.steampowered.com/app/65530/. Retrieved 8 July 2016.