Take-Two Licensing

Last updated

Take-Two Licensing, Inc.
Formerly
  • Sound Source Interactive, Inc. (1990–2000)
  • TDK Mediactive, Inc. (2000–2003)
Type Subsidiary
Industry Video games
Founded1988;34 years ago (1988)
FounderVincent Bitetti
DefunctJanuary 25, 2005;17 years ago (2005-01-25) (US)
2005 (Europe)
FateFolded into 2K
Headquarters
Westlake Village, California
,
US
Key people
Parent

Take-Two Licensing, Inc. (formerly Sound Source Interactive, Inc. and TDK Mediactive, Inc.) was an American video game publisher based in Westlake Village, California. Founded as Sound Source Interactive by Vincent Bitetti in March 1990, the company acquired BWT Labs in March 1998. In September 2000, the company was acquired by TDK and became TDK Mediactive. Take-Two Interactive acquired the company's North American operations in September 2003, renaming itself as Take-Two Licensing the following December. With the foundation of Take-Two Interactive's 2K Games label in January 2005, Take-Two Licensing was effectively folded into the new subsidiary. The European division of the company remained in operation independently from Take-Two until silently ceasing operations within the same year.

Contents

History

Sound Source Interactive was founded in 1988 [1] by Vincent Bitetti. [2] In March 1998, Sound Source Interactive announced that they had acquired BWT Labs, a Berkeley, California-based video game developer. [3]

On September 11, 2000, TDK acquired a 72% controlling stake in Sound Source Interactive, with an initial investment of US$1.425 million, followed by another of US$3.575 million, totaling to US$5 million. [4] The resulting subsidiary was renamed TDK Mediactive, the company's founder, Vincent Bitetti, remaining chief executive officer and Shin Tanabe, President of TDK Recording Media Europe, becoming the publisher's chief operating officer. [5] As TDK Mediactive, the company published various video games, of which many based on licensed properties. [6]

On May 21, 2002, the company signed a deal with Hasbro to produce video games based on the Tonka property for Nintendo systems under a sub-licensing deal with Infogrames, who were Hasbro's master video game licensor at the time. [7] On October 18, 2002, the company launched TDK Impulse, a publishing label intended for games that had "broad consumer appeal and a low price point". [8]

On September 3, 2003, TDK Mediactive announced that they were to be acquired by Take-Two Interactive for an estimated US$22.7 million. [9] [10] The transaction was finalized on December 2, 2003, with 23,005,885 shares, valued at US$12.6 million, and another US$200,000 in cash awarded to TDK. [11] As a result of the acquisition, TDK Mediactive was renamed Take-Two Licensing, and Take-Two Interactive received all licenses formerly held by TDK Mediactive, except for those based on Shrek. [12] The European division of the company - TDK Mediactive Europe, was not affected by the purchase and continued to operate as a subsidiary of TDK.

On January 25, 2005, Take-Two Interactive announced the opening of publishing label 2K Games, into which Take-Two Licensing was folded. [13] On May 4, 2005, TDK Mediactive Europe signed a publishing deal with Playlogic Entertainment to allow the latter to publish their existing titles. [14] The fate of the TDK Mediactive Europe company itself is currently unknown, although the company's website still remains open. [15]

Games published

As TDK Mediactive

TitlePlatform(s)Release dateDeveloperRef.
The Land Before Time: Great Valley Racing Adventure PlayStation May 4, 2001Vision Scape Interactive [16]
Shrek: Fairy Tale Freakdown Game Boy Color May 30, 2001Prolific [17]
Wendy: Every Witch Way Game Boy Color September 2001 WayForward Technologies [18]
Casper: Spirit Dimensions PlayStation 2 October 1, 2001 Lucky Chicken Games [19]
Lady Sia Game Boy Advance October 16, 2001RFX Interactive [20]
No Rules: Get Phat Game Boy Advance November 15, 2001 Flying Tiger Development [21]
Shrek Xbox November 15, 2001Digital Illusions Canada [22]
Rainbow Islands Game Boy Color 2001Dreams Co. [23]
Shrek: Swamp Kart Speedway Game Boy Advance March 25, 2002Prolific Publishing [24]
Dinotopia: The Timestone Pirates Game Boy Advance April 30, 2002RFX Interactive [25]
Pryzm: Chapter One - The Dark Unicorn PlayStation 2 June 10, 2002 Digital Illusions CE [26]
Robotech: Battlecry GameCube August 23, 2002 Vicious Cycle Software [27]
PlayStation 2 September 23, 2002
Xbox
Casper: Spirit Dimensions GameCube October 1, 2002 Lucky Chicken Games [19]
Shrek: Hassle at the Castle Game Boy Advance October 10, 2002 Tose [28]
Shrek: Treasure Hunt PlayStation October 18, 2002 The Code Monkeys [29]
Shrek GameCube October 30, 2002Digital Illusions Canada [22]
Masters of the Universe: He-Man - Power of Grayskull Game Boy Advance November 2, 2002Taniko [30]
Robotech: The Macross Saga Game Boy Advance November 15, 2002 Lucky Chicken Games [31]
Shrek: Super Party PlayStation 2 November 15, 2002 Mass Media Games [32]
Xbox
The Land Before Time: Big Water Adventure PlayStation November 27, 2002 Digital Illusions CE [33]
Ultimate Fighting Championship: Tapout 2 Xbox March 20, 2003 Dream Factory [34]
SeaBlade Xbox March 28, 2003Vision Scape Interactive
The Muppets: On with the Show Game Boy Advance April 17, 2003 Vicarious Visions [35]
Shrek: Super Party GameCube May 29, 2003 Mass Media Games [32]
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Game Boy Advance July 1, 2003Pocket Studios [36]
Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis GameCube July 23, 2003 Lucky Chicken Games [37]
Dinotopia: The Sunstone Odyssey GameCube July 23, 2003 Vicious Cycle Software [38]
Shrek: Reekin' Havoc Game Boy Advance July 31, 2003 Tose [39]
Dinotopia: The Sunstone Odyssey Xbox August 5, 2003 Vicious Cycle Software [38]
Disney's The Haunted Mansion GameCube October 14, 2003 High Voltage Software [40]
PlayStation 2
Xbox
Corvette Game Boy Advance November 11, 2003Visual Impact [41]
Jim Henson's Muppets Party Cruise GameCube November 11, 2003 Jim Henson Interactive / Mass Media Games [42]
PlayStation 2
Spy Muppets: License to Croak Game Boy Advance November 18, 2003 Vicarious Visions [43]
Tonka Rescue Patrol GameCube November 18, 2003 Lucky Chicken Games [44]

As Take-Two Licensing

TitlePlatform(s)Release dateDeveloperRef.
Corvette Microsoft Windows December 10, 2003Steel Monkeys [45]
Xbox
Star Trek: Shattered Universe PlayStation 2 January 13, 2004Starsphere Interactive [46]
Xbox January 14, 2004

By TDK Mediactive Europe

TitlePlatform(s)Release dateDeveloperRef.
Babe and Friends: Animated Preschool Adventure macOS 1999Sound Source Interactive [47]
Microsoft Windows
The Land Before Time: Math Adventure macOS 1999Digital Media International [48]
Microsoft Windows
The Land Before Time: Return to the Great Valley PlayStation September 15, 2000 Realtime Associates [49]
Casper: Friends Around the World PlayStation November 16, 2000 Realtime Associates [50]
Elevator Action EX Game Boy Color 2000Altron [51]
Westlife Fan-O-Mania Microsoft Windows June 6, 2002 Runecraft [52]
PlayStation June 28, 2002
Outlaw Golf Xbox February 4, 2003 Hypnotix [53]
Darkened Skye GameCube May 28, 2003 Boston Animation [54]
Outlaw Volleyball Xbox July 3, 2003Hypnotix [55]
Mercedes-Benz World Racing Microsoft Windows September 19, 2003 Synetic [56]
PlayStation 2
Outlaw Golf GameCube November 4, 2003Hypnotix [57]
Microsoft Windows November 21, 2003
PlayStation 2 November 24, 2003 Buzz Monkey Software
Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade GameCube March 19, 2004 Starbreeze Studios [58]
Conan Microsoft Windows April 8, 2004 Cauldron [59]
PlayStation 2
Xbox
Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade Microsoft Windows April 8, 2004 Starbreeze Studios [60]
Xbox
Mercedes-Benz World Racing GameCube April 8, 2004 Synetic [61]
Conan GameCube April 30, 2004 Cauldron [62]
Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade PlayStation 2 June 4, 2004 Starbreeze Studios [63]

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Gathering of Developers American video game publisher

Gathering of Developers, Inc. was an American video game publisher based in New York City. Founded by Mike Wilson and associates in January 1998 and originally based in Dallas, the company was acquired by Take-Two Interactive in May 2000. Between May 2000 and March 2001, Gathering of Developers also operated a division, On Deck Interactive, which acted as their mass market label. In August 2001, Take-Two Interactive closed Gathering of Developers' Dallas headquarters and moved the label in-house, to New York City. The label was shut down in September 2004, with all assets consumed by Global Star Software.

<i>Robotech: Battlecry</i> 2002 video game

Robotech: Battlecry is a video game set in the Robotech universe, the first video game successfully released for the franchise. It was developed by Vicious Cycle Software and published by the now-defunct TDK Mediactive, in association with Harmony Gold USA. With a story focused on new characters created for the game and with guest appearances of main characters Rick Hunter, Roy Fokker, Lisa Hayes and a part of one in-game mission directly centered on Lynn Minmei, it somewhat follows the Robotech continuum.

<i>Robotech: Invasion</i> 2004 video game

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<i>NASCAR Thunder 2003</i> 2003 Racing simulator video game developed by EA Sports and Budcat Creations

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<i>Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis</i> 2003 video game

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<i>Robotech: The Macross Saga</i> 2002 video game

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<i>Shrek 2</i> (video game) 2004 video game

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<i>Top Gun: Combat Zones</i> 2001 video game

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<i>Shrek</i> (video game) 2001 video game

Shrek is a 2001 platform video game developed by Sandbox Studios and published by TDK Mediactive for the Xbox, based on the 2001 film Shrek. The game was released on November 15, 2001 as one of 22 North American launch titles for the Xbox and March 28, 2002 in Europe. A reworked version of the game, titled Shrek: Extra Large, was released for the GameCube on October 30, 2002 in North America and on October 24, 2003 in Europe. Shrek: Extra Large uses the same engine and game mechanics as the original Xbox release, but with an altered story and different levels. The game was noted for being one of the first commercial titles to make use of deferred shading.

<i>Shrek: Treasure Hunt</i> 2002 video game

Shrek: Treasure Hunt is a 2002 party video game developed by The Code Monkeys and published by TDK Mediactive under their TDK Impulse label for the PlayStation. It is the only Shrek game released for the PlayStation. Digital Illusions were going to develop the game, but switched focus to Shrek Extra Large.

<i>Shrek: Fairy Tale Freakdown</i> 2001 video game

Shrek: Fairy Tale Freakdown is an action fighting video game based on the Shrek franchise, developed by Prolific and published by TDK Mediactive for Game Boy Color in 2001. It is the only Shrek game released for the Game Boy Color, and is the first video game based on Shrek released overall.

<i>Wendy: Every Witch Way</i> 2001 video game

Wendy: Every Witch Way is an action platform video game published by TDK Mediactive and developed by WayForward Technologies for the Game Boy Color in 2001. The game centers on Wendy the Good Little Witch from the Casper the Friendly Ghost series. Wendy accidentally opens her aunts' chest containing magical stones, which upset the gravity of a floating castle that crashes onto her house. The player controls Wendy through four worlds with sixteen levels, with each world having three side-scrolling levels and one horizontal shooter stage. Inserting the game in the Game Boy Advance unlocks a new world exclusive to the console.

References

  1. ↑ "Company Background". Sound Source Interactive. Archived from the original on May 5, 1999.
  2. ↑ "Form 10KSB 1 FORM 10KSB". October 13, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  3. ↑ Jebens, Harley (March 26, 1998). "BWT Bought by Sound Source". GameSpot . Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  4. ↑ Ahmed, Shahed (September 11, 2000). "TDK Plans Sound Source Acquisition". GameSpot . Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  5. ↑ Hong, Quang (September 12, 2000). "TDK Buys Sound Source". Gamasutra . Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  6. ↑ Fahey, Rob (December 3, 2003). "Take Two completes TDK acquisition – but without Shrek". GamesIndustry.biz . Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  7. ↑ "TDK Mediactive Gets Tonka License". May 21, 2002.
  8. ↑ "TDK Mediactive Launches New Publishing Label". Gamasutra . October 18, 2002. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  9. ↑ Fahey, Rob (September 3, 2003). "Take-Two buys TDK Mediactive, brings GTA to Xbox as profits rise". GamesIndustry.biz . Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  10. ↑ IGN (September 3, 2003). "Take-Two Acquires TDK Mediactive". IGN . Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  11. ↑ Jenkins, David (December 2, 2003). "Take-Two Acquire TDK Mediactive". Gamasutra . Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  12. ↑ Lewis, Ed (December 2, 2003). "Take-Two Takes One". IGN . Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  13. ↑ Jenkins, David (January 25, 2005). "Take-Two Acquires Visual Concepts, Announces 2K Games Brand". Gamasutra . Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  14. ↑ "TDK Mediactive Europe - PLAYLOGIC INTERNATIONAL AND TDK MEDIACTIVE SIGN WORLDWIDE PUBLISHING AGREEMENT".
  15. ↑ "TDK Mediactive Europe".
  16. ↑ "The Land Before Time: Great Valley Racing Adventure (2001) PlayStation release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  17. ↑ Shrek: Fairy Tale FreakDown - IGN, May 9, 2001, retrieved November 26, 2019
  18. ↑ Another Witch for Game Boy Color - IGN, April 17, 2001, retrieved November 26, 2019
  19. 1 2 TDK Mediactive Officially Announces Casper - IGN, April 5, 2001, retrieved November 26, 2019
  20. ↑ Lady Sia Ships on Game Boy Advance - IGN, September 27, 2001, retrieved November 26, 2019
  21. ↑ Get Phat on GBA - IGN, November 22, 2001, retrieved November 26, 2019
  22. 1 2 Shrek Ships - IGN, October 30, 2002, retrieved November 26, 2019
  23. ↑ "Rainbow Islands (2001) Game Boy Color release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  24. ↑ Shrek Skids to Shelves - IGN, March 20, 2002, retrieved November 26, 2019
  25. ↑ Dinotopia Ships - IGN, April 30, 2002, retrieved November 26, 2019
  26. ↑ Przym Goes Gold - IGN, May 10, 2002, retrieved November 27, 2019
  27. ↑ "Robotech: Battlecry goes gold". GameSpot. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  28. ↑ Another Shrek Ships for GBA - IGN, October 8, 2002, retrieved November 27, 2019
  29. ↑ "TDK launches new division". GameSpot. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  30. ↑ "He-Man ships". GameSpot. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  31. ↑ Robotech GBA Ships - IGN, October 16, 2002, retrieved November 27, 2019
  32. 1 2 A Party on Xbox - IGN, September 25, 2002, retrieved November 27, 2019
  33. ↑ "TDK delivers Pryzm". GameSpot. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  34. ↑ "TDK ships two". GameSpot. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  35. ↑ "The Muppets: On with the Show (2003) Game Boy Advance release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  36. ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean Out - IGN, June 30, 2003, retrieved November 27, 2019
  37. ↑ Aquaman Ships - IGN, July 30, 2003, retrieved November 27, 2019
  38. 1 2 Dinosaurs Once Again Walk the Earth - IGN, August 2003, retrieved November 27, 2019
  39. ↑ "Shrek: Reekin' Havoc ships". GameSpot. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  40. ↑ Haunted Mansion Released - IGN, October 16, 2003, retrieved November 27, 2019
  41. ↑ "Corvette for PlayStation 2 (2004)". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  42. ↑ "Jim Henson's Muppets Party Cruise (2003) GameCube release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  43. ↑ "Spy Muppets: License to Croak (2003) Game Boy Advance release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  44. ↑ "Tonka Rescue Patrol (2003) GameCube release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  45. ↑ Take-Two's Financial Results Reveals New Games - IGN, December 18, 2003, retrieved November 27, 2019
  46. ↑ E3 2003: Star Trek: Shattered Universe Update - IGN, May 16, 2003, retrieved November 27, 2019
  47. ↑ "Babe and Friends: Animated Preschool Adventure (1999) Macintosh release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  48. ↑ "The Land Before Time: Math Adventure (1999) Macintosh release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  49. ↑ "The Land Before Time: Return to the Great Valley (2000) PlayStation release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  50. ↑ "Casper: Friends Around the World (2000) PlayStation release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  51. ↑ "Elevator Action EX (2000) Game Boy Color release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  52. ↑ "Westlife Fan-O-Mania (2002) PlayStation release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  53. ↑ Outlaw Golf Gets Legal on the Xbox - IGN, April 24, 2001, retrieved November 27, 2019
  54. ↑ "Darkened Skye ships". GameSpot. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  55. ↑ Outlaw Volleyball in Stores - IGN, July 9, 2003, retrieved November 27, 2019
  56. ↑ World Racing to PC - IGN, July 21, 2003, retrieved November 27, 2019
  57. ↑ Outlaw Golf Coming - IGN, July 21, 2003, retrieved November 27, 2019
  58. ↑ "Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade (2004) GameCube release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  59. ↑ "Conan (2004) GameCube release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  60. ↑ "Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade (2004) GameCube release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  61. ↑ "World Racing (2004) GameCube release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  62. ↑ "Conan (2004) GameCube release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  63. ↑ "Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade (2004) PlayStation 2 release dates". MobyGames. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
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