Empire Interactive was a British video game developer and publisher based in London. Founded in 1987 by Ian Higgins and Simon Jeffrey, it was acquired by Silverstar Holdings in 2006 and collapsed in 2009.
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Company type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Video games |
Founded | 1987 |
Founders |
|
Defunct | 1 May 2009 |
Fate | Administration |
Headquarters | , England |
Area served | Europe |
Key people | Ian Higgins (CEO; 1987–2008) |
Number of employees | 55 (2009) |
Parent | Silverstar Holdings (2006–2009) |
History
editEmpire Interactive was founded by Ian Higgins (chief executive officer) and Simon Jeffrey (managing director) in 1987.[1][2] In November 2000, the company acquired development studio Razorworks.[3]
As well as full priced titles, Empire also had a budget range of titles, Xplosiv, for PC and PS2.[4] Initially launched for PC in January 2000, Xplosiv also published titles in Europe from third parties such as Sega and Microsoft.[5][6] Later, in 2003, Empire began launching titles for PS2.[7]
In March 2002 Empire acquired music creation software eJay.[4][8]
Silverstar Holdings, a U.S. public company listed on NASDAQ, offered a deal to acquire Empire Interactive in late October 2006.[9] The deal was accepted by 90% of Empire Interactive's shareholders by late November, and so Silverstar Holdings acquired 85% of Empire Interactive's shares. The deal was valued at approximately £4.5 million. Admissions of further Empire Interactive shares on the Alternative Investments Market of the London Stock Exchange, were expected to be cancelled, effective by 20 December.[1][10] Higgins stepped down from his position in May 2008.[2][11] In July, Empire Interactive reduced its staff count by 30%, with the intent to sell Razorworks.[12] Razorworks was sold to and absorbed by Rebellion Developments a few days later.[13] Two months after Silverstar Holdings was delisted from NASDAQ in March 2009, Empire Interactive was placed into administration on 1 May 2009, with KPMG Restructuring appointed as administrator. Subsequently, 49 out of 55 employees were laid off, with the remaining six staying to aiding KPMG Restructuring in the winding-down of the company. Empire Interactive's intellectual property was sold to U.S.-based company New World IP.[14][15] Shortly thereafter, U.S. publisher Zoo Publishing acquired an exclusive licence for the publishing and distribution of Empire Interactive from New World IP.[16][17]
Games
edit- 101st Airborne in Normandy
- 911: First Responders
- Adventures of Yogi Bear
- Animal Paradise
- Animal Paradise 2
- Antz Extreme Racing
- Big Mutha Truckers
- Big Mutha Truckers 2: Truck Me Harder
- Campaign
- Campaign II
- The Civil War
- Coala
- Combat Chess
- Crazy Taxi (PC)
- Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller (PC)
- Dino Crisis 2 (PC)
- Double Dragon (XBLA version)
- Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
- DreamWeb
- Endgame (PS2)
- Enemy Engaged: Apache vs Havoc
- Enemy Engaged: RAH-66 Comanche vs. KA-52 Hokum
- Enemy Zero (PC)
- FlatOut series
- Flying Corps Gold
- Ford Racing
- Ford Racing 2
- Ford Racing 3
- Ford Racing Full Blown (developed for SEGA Amusements Europe)
- Ford Racing Off Road
- Ford Street Racing
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy
- Ghost Master
- The Golf Pro
- Go Go Copter
- Hanna Barbera's Turbo Toons
- Heavy Gear II (PC)
- Hello Kitty: Big City Dreams (DS)
- Hot Wheels: Beat That! (unpublished)
- The House of the Dead (PC)
- The House of the Dead 2 (PC)
- International Cricket Captain
- Jackass: The Game (PS2, PSP and DS versions)
- Jacked (PS2, Windows, and Xbox)
- The Longest Journey
- Mashed (aka Drive To Survive)
- Midtown Madness 2 (PC)
- Navy Strike (PC)
- Picture Perfect Golf (Windows)
- Panzer Dragoon (PC)
- Paraworld
- Pepsi Max Extreme Sports (PC)
- Pipe Mania
- Pro Pinball series
- RayStorm (PC)
- Sega Bass Fishing (PC)
- Sega Marine Fishing (PC)
- Sega Rally 2 (PC)
- Sega Rally Championship (PC)
- Sega Touring Car Championship (PC)
- Sheep
- Sleeping Gods Lie
- Solid Ice (PC)
- Space Ace (SNES)
- Speedball
- Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe
- Spin Jam (PS1)
- Stars!
- Starship Troopers
- Starsky & Hutch
- Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory
- Taito Legends 2
- Taito Legends
- Team Yankee and its sequels Pacific Islands and War in the Gulf
- Total Immersion Racing
- Unsolved Crimes (DS)
- Victorious Boxers (PS2)
- Victorious Boxers 2 (PS2)
- Virtua Cop 2 (PC)
- Virtua Tennis (PC)
- Volfied
- War Along the Mohawk
- Warrior Kings: Battles
References
edit- ^ a b Boyes, Emma (22 November 2006). "Empire Interactive accepts Silverstar takeover". GameSpot.
- ^ a b MCV Staff (1 May 2008). "Empire Interactive co-founder stands down". MCV.
- ^ Walker, Trey (21 November 2000). "Empire Interactive Acquires Razorworks". GameSpot.
- ^ a b Empire Interactive (24 January 2005). "Corporate". Empire Interactive. Archived from the original on 24 January 2005.
- ^ Empire Interactive (October 2000). "Empire signs exclusive budget deal with Sega Enterprises for its budget range, Xplosiv" (PDF). Empire Interactive. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 August 2006.
- ^ "Empire Adds Momentous Value to Xplosiv Range" (PDF). Empire Interactive. 20 September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 September 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
- ^ "Empire's Xplosiv business expands into PlayStation 2" (PDF). Empire Interactive. 2 May 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2004. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
- ^ "Empire Acquires eJay" (PDF). Empire Interactive. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
- ^ Boyes, Emma (30 October 2006). "Silverstar to acquire Empire". GameSpot.
- ^ Boyer, Brandon (4 December 2006). "Empire Accepts 90% Acquisition From Silverstar". Gamasutra.
- ^ Androvich, Mark (1 May 2008). "Empire CEO steps down". GamesIndustry.biz.
- ^ Jenkins, David (3 July 2008). "Empire Interactive Cuts Staff, Will Sell Studio". Gamasutra.
- ^ Elliott, Phil (19 July 2008). "Rebellion acquires Razorworks". GamesIndustry.biz.
- ^ MCV Staff (5 May 2009). "Confirmed: Empire goes into administration". MCV.
- ^ Martin, Matt (5 May 2009). "Empire IP rights sold as 49 staff made redundant". GamesIndustry.biz.
- ^ Graft, Kris (7 May 2009). "Zoo Publishing Picks Up Empire Slate". Gamasutra.
- ^ Nelson, Randy (7 May 2009). "Empire Interactive's catalog sold to Zoo". Engadget.