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Infogrames Entertainment SA
Type Public Euronext: IFG
Founded June 1983
Headquarters Lyon, France
Key people David Gardner, Chairman, CEO, and Chief Creative Officer
Phil Harrison, President
Thomas Schmider, Chief Operating Officer
Industry Software & Programming
Products Alone in the Dark
Unreal Tournament 2003
North & South
RollerCoaster Tycoon
Civilization III
Test Drive
Revenue ▼EUR €305. A public company usually refers to a company that is permitted to offer its registered securities ( Stock, bonds, etc Euronext NV is a pan- European Stock exchange based in Paris and with subsidiaries in Belgium, France, Netherlands Events A major shakeout of the video game industry begins By 1986, total video games sales will decrease from US$ 3200 million to US$100 million ||-||} Lyon, also known as Lyons in English is a city in east-central France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. David Gardner is one of the three founders of The Motley Fool. Phil Harrison is the former British corporate executive and a representative director of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc President is a Title leaders of Organizations companies, Trade unions universities, and countries. For other uses of this term see Industry (disambiguation An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent industrious" A video game is a Game that involves interaction with a User interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. In Marketing, a product is anything that can be offered to a Market that might satisfy a want or need Alone in the Dark is a 1992 Survival horror game developed by Infogrames. Unreal Tournament 2003 or UT2003 is a First-person shooter Video game designed mainly for Multiplayer gaming North & South is a combined strategy and Action game for the Commodore Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS RollerCoaster Tycoon (or often abbreviated RCT) is a series of Computer games that simulate Amusement park Sid Meier's Civilization III is a turn-based strategy Computer game by Firaxis Games, the sequel to Sid Meier's Civilization II Test Drive is a Cross-platform Racing game in 1987. It is the first entry in the ''Test Drive'' series of Video games. In business revenue or revenues is Income that a company receives from its normal business activities usually from the sale of goods and services Please update other articles as well to avoid contradiction within Wikipedia e 3 million (2007)
Net income ▼ EUR €-103. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Net income is equal to the Income that a firm has after subtracting costs and Expenses from the total Revenue. Please update other articles as well to avoid contradiction within Wikipedia e 1 million (2007)[1]
Subsidiaries Atari, Inc, Atari Interactive
Website www.infogrames.com

Infogrames Entertainment SA (IESA) (Euronext: IFG) is an international holding company headquartered in Villeurbanne, Lyon, France. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. A subsidiary, in business matters is an entity that is controlled by a bigger and more powerful entity The company that currently bears the Atari Inc name was founded in 1993 under the name GT Interactive. Atari Interactive is a wholly owned subsidiary of Infogrames (IESA that is the current owner of the Atari brand and various other properties formerly belonging A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages Euronext NV is a pan- European Stock exchange based in Paris and with subsidiaries in Belgium, France, Netherlands A holding company is a company that owns part all or a majority of other companies' outstanding Stock. Villeurbanne is a commune in east-central France. It is situated northeast of Lyon, with which it forms the heart of the second largest Conurbation ||-||} Lyon, also known as Lyons in English is a city in east-central France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. It owns 51. 2 percent of Atari, Inc., headquartered in New York, N.Y., USA, and Atari Europe. The company that currently bears the Atari Inc name was founded in 1993 under the name GT Interactive. The City of New York The United States of America —commonly referred to as the It was founded in 1983 by Bruno Bonnell and Christophe Sapet using the proceeds from an introductory computer book. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Bruno Bonnell is one of the founders of Infogrames Entertainment SA. Through its subsidiaries, Infogrames produces, publishes and distributes interactive games for all major video game consoles and computer game platforms. A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual that creates Video games A developer may specialize in a certain video A video game publisher is a company that publishes Video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a Video game developer A video game is a Game that involves interaction with a User interface to generate visual feedback on a video device.

Contents

Early History

The founders wanted to christen the company Zboub Système, but were dissuaded by their legal counsel[2]. According to Bonnell in a TV interview, they then used a mix-and-match computer program to suggest other names, one of which was "Infogramme": a portmanteau of the French words "informatique" (information technology) and "programme" (a computer program). French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The final choice, "Infogrames", was a slightly modified version of that suggestion, and is pronounced /ˌɪnfoʊˈgræmz/ in English.

The company logo is an armadillo (tatou in French), chosen when the company was moved to Villeurbanne. Armadillos are small Placental Mammals known for having a leathery armor shell Villeurbanne is a commune in east-central France. It is situated northeast of Lyon, with which it forms the heart of the second largest Conurbation Bonnell commented: "This dinosaur [sic] is our symbol. The armadillo has always survived changes to its environment, from the melting of glaciers to the worst of heat waves. "[2]

In the late 1980s Infogrames was noted for its French computer games that often featured original game ideas and occasionally humorous content. They had acquired several licences for popular Franco-Belgian comics, such as Tintin, Asterix and Les Tuniques Bleues. Franco-Belgian comics are Comics that are created in Belgium and France. The Adventures of Tintin (Les Aventures de Tintin is a series of Comic strips created by Belgian artist Hergé, the pen name of Georges Remi The Adventures of Asterix ( French: Astérix or Astérix le Gaulois) is a series of French Les Tuniques Bleues is a Belgian series of bandes dessinées ( Comic books in the Franco -Belgian tradition first featured

1996-2002 Growth Through Acquisition

In 1996, Bruno Bonnell's Infogrames embarked on an acquisition campaign that would last seven years and cost more than $500 million; the objective was to become the worlds leading interactive entertainment publisher[3]. Bruno Bonnell is one of the founders of Infogrames Entertainment SA. While the company's debt increased from $55 million in 1999 to $493 million in 2002, the company's revenue also increased from $246 million to $650 million during the same period. [4]

In 1996 IESA bought Ocean Software for about $100 million[5], renaming the company as Infogrames UK. Ocean Software (or Ocean Software Ltd and sometimes Ocean of America Inc [6] In 1997 Philips Media BV was purchased.

In 1998 IESA acquired a majority share of 62. 5% in the game distributor OziSoft, which became Infogrames Australia,[7] and in 2002 IESA bought the remaining shares of Infogrames Australia from Sega and other share holders[8] for $3. is a multinational Video game Software and Hardware development company and a former Home computer 7 million. [9] In this same year the distributors ABS Multimedia, Arcadia and the Swiss Gamecity GmbH were acquired. [10][11]

In 1999 IESA bought Gremlin Interactive for $40 million, renaming it to Infogrames Sheffield House but closed it down in 2003[12]. Gremlin Interactive was a British Software house based in Sheffield and working mostly in the Home computer market In the same year IESA also bought Accolade for $60 million[13][14] and Beam Software, later renamed to Infogrames Melbourne House Pty Ltd[15]. Accolade was a Video game developer and publisher of the 1980s and 1990s Krome Studios Melbourne, formerly Melbourne House, is a video game development studio owned by Krome Studios and based in Melbourne Australia

Acquisition of GT Interactive

Then in December 1999, IESA made one of the most expensive acquisitions in the company's history. Infogrames bought 70% of GT Interactive for $135 million, and assumed the new subsidiary's $75 million bank debt. GT Interactive Software Corporation ( Good Times In 2003 Infogrames Inc By June 2000 Infogrames had invested another $30 million in GT Interactive [16][17]. GT Interactive Software Corporation ( Good Times In 2003 Infogrames Inc IESA justified the purchase by stating that GT Interactive provided Infogrames with a "distribution network for all of its products in the United States, as well as a catalog of products that includes Driver, Oddworld, Unreal Tournament and Deer Hunter". GT Interactive Software Corporation ( Good Times In 2003 Infogrames Inc Driver (known as Driver You Are the Wheelman in the US is a 1998 Video game developed by Reflections Interactive (now known as Oddworld is a comprehensive Fictional universe presented in Video game form created by game developers Oddworld Inhabitants under the direction Unreal Tournament is a First-person shooter Video game co-developed by Epic Games and Digital Extremes. [18]

Included in the GT Interactive purchase were the game development studios Humongous Entertainment[19], Legend Entertainment[20] and Reflections Interactive. GT Interactive Software Corporation ( Good Times In 2003 Infogrames Inc Humongous Inc is an American Video game developer. The company is known for its line of educational sports games for Children that Atari owns from Legend Entertainment was an American developer of Computer games The company was founded in 1989 by Bob Bates and Mike Verdu after the end Ubisoft Reflections Ltd, formerly known as Reflections Interactive or Reflections, is a Video game developer based in Newcastle, UK [21]

GT Interactive became Infogrames, Inc. [22]

In 2000 the developer Paradigm Entertainment was bought for $19. Paradigm Entertainment (previously known as Paradigm Simulations is an American video game development company. 5 million and in-flight games developer Den-o-Tech Int. (DTI) , later renamed to Infogrames DTI, was also acquired for $5. 6 million. [23][24]

Acquisition of Hasbro Interactive

In January 2001, IESA purchased Hasbro Interactive and the handheld game console Game.com from Hasbro for $100 million; with $95 million as 4. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Hasbro Interactive was a video game production and publishing subsidiary of Hasbro, the large Game and Toy company A handheld game console is a lightweight portable electronic machine for playing Video games Unlike Video game consoles the controls screen and speakers The gamecom (pronounced in TV commercials as "game com" not "game dot com" and not capitalized in marketing material was a Handheld game console released Hasbro ( is an American Toy company It is one of the largest toy makers in the world second only to the toy giant Mattel. 5 million common shares of Infogrames and $5 million in cash. [25][26]

With the acquisition of Hasbro Interactive, which was renamed as Infogrames Interactive, Inc,[27][28] IESA became the owner of:

Also under the terms of the sale agreement, Infogrames gained the exclusive rights to develop and publish games based on Hasbro properties, which included Dungeons and Dragons, Mr Potato Head, My Little Pony and others, for a period of 15 years plus an option for an additional 5 years based on performance. Dungeons & Dragons (abbreviated as D&D or DnD) is a Fantasy Role-playing game (RPG originally designed by Mr Potato Head is a popular children's Toy, first sold in 1952 by Hasbro, consisting of a Plastic model of a Potato which can be decorated My Little Pony is a line of colorful Toy ponies marketed primarily to young girls and produced by the toy manufacturer Hasbro. [29]

Eden Games and Shiny Entertaiment

In 2002 IESA acquired the remaining 80% of game development studio Eden Games[30] for $4. A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual that creates Video games A developer may specialize in a certain video Eden Games (known as Eden Studios until 2003) is a Game development studio most well known for the Need For Speed and V-Rally 1 million[31] and Shiny Entertainment for $47 million. Shiny Entertainment was a Video game developer based in Laguna Beach, Southern California, and is the creator of several hits such as Earthworm With the Shiny Entertainment acquisition, IESA obtained the rights to develop and publish Enter the Matrix which was the first game based on The Matrix films and sold more than 5 million copies. Enter the Matrix is the first Video game based on ''The Matrix'' series of films The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction - martial arts - Action film written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski and [32]

Atari Group

In October 2001, IESA relaunched the Atari brand when Atari Interactive, Inc. Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. Atari Interactive is a wholly owned subsidiary of Infogrames (IESA that is the current owner of the Atari brand and various other properties formerly belonging , at that time a wholly owned subsidiary of Infogrames Interactive, Inc. , released MXrider[33][34]. On May 7, 2003, IESA officially reorganized its Infogrames Inc. [35] US subsidiary as a separate Nasdaq listed company known as Atari Inc., named its European operations as Atari Europe, renamed Infogrames Interactive, Inc. The NASDAQ (acronym of National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations) is an American Stock exchange. The company that currently bears the Atari Inc name was founded in 1993 under the name GT Interactive. Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. to Atari Interactive, Inc. Atari Interactive is a wholly owned subsidiary of Infogrames (IESA that is the current owner of the Atari brand and various other properties formerly belonging , [36](a wholly-owned subsidiary of IESA)[37], rebranded Infogrames Australia Pty Ltd as Atari Australia Pty Ltd [38], renamed Infogrames Melbourne House Pty Ltd to Atari Melbourne House Pty Ltd [39], Infogrames UK became Atari UK[40], while IESA became a holding company[41]. Atari Australia Pty Ltd is an Australian and New Zealand Video game Distributor. A holding company is a company that owns part all or a majority of other companies' outstanding Stock.

Atari Inc. is a public company that, as of 2007, has as majority stockholder the company California U. The company that currently bears the Atari Inc name was founded in 1993 under the name GT Interactive. S. Holdings, Inc. , a wholly-owned subsidiary of IESA. [42] Atari Inc. licences the Atari trademark from Atari Interactive, Inc. The company that currently bears the Atari Inc name was founded in 1993 under the name GT Interactive. Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. Atari Interactive is a wholly owned subsidiary of Infogrames (IESA that is the current owner of the Atari brand and various other properties formerly belonging , a license which will expire in 2013. [43] Atari Inc. has the rights to publish and sublicense in North America certain intellectual properties either owned or licensed by IESA or its subsidiaries, including Atari Interactive, Inc. The company that currently bears the Atari Inc name was founded in 1993 under the name GT Interactive. Atari Interactive is a wholly owned subsidiary of Infogrames (IESA that is the current owner of the Atari brand and various other properties formerly belonging [44]

Financial Difficulties

In the fiscal year of 2002 IESA had a net loss of $67 million on revenues of $650 million, and in 2003 the net losses increased to $89 million. [45] In 2006 IESA reported a net loss of $201 million on revenues of $525 million, and debts of around $290 million[46]. From 1999 to 2006 IESA accumulated losses totaling €500 million. [47]

In 2004 Infogrames sold the rights to the Civilization's franchise to Take Two for $22. Civilization is a series of Turn-based strategy Video games produced by Sid Meier. Take-Two Interactive Software Inc ( is an American publisher, developer, and distributor of Video games and video game Peripherals 3 million[48] and closed down Legend Entertainment[49] studios. Legend Entertainment was an American developer of Computer games The company was founded in 1989 by Bob Bates and Mike Verdu after the end In June 2005, Infogrames sold back to Hasbro the digital rights to all Hasbro properties including The Transformers, My Little Pony and Connect Four for $65 million. Hasbro ( is an American Toy company It is one of the largest toy makers in the world second only to the toy giant Mattel. My Little Pony is a line of colorful Toy ponies marketed primarily to young girls and produced by the toy manufacturer Hasbro. Connect Four (also known as Plot Four, Four in a Row, and Four in a Line) is a two-player game (not board game in which the players take [50][51]

On April 2006 Infogrames' founding chairman Bruno Bonnell left the company after 24 years; on the day of the announcement of his departure IESA's shares jumped 24%. Bruno Bonnell is one of the founders of Infogrames Entertainment SA. [52] After his resignation, Infogrames through the remainder of 2006 sold intellectual properties and some studios in order to raise cash and stave off the threat of bankruptcy. [53]

In May 2006 IESA sold the rights to the games Stuntman to THQ and Timeshift to Saber Interactive. Stuntman is a Video game for PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Advance that was produced by Reflections Interactive and published by THQ Inc ( Toy Headquarters) is a global American developer and publisher of Video games. Saber Interactive is a Video game developer based in Cranford New Jersey. The sales generated $13 million in revenue. THQ also bought developer Paradigm Entertainment from IESA[54]. Paradigm Entertainment (previously known as Paradigm Simulations is an American video game development company. In July 2006 IESA sold the game developer Reflections Interactive and the rights to the Driver franchise for $21. Ubisoft Reflections Ltd, formerly known as Reflections Interactive or Reflections, is a Video game developer based in Newcastle, UK Driver (known as Driver You Are the Wheelman in the US is a 1998 Video game developed by Reflections Interactive (now known as 6 million to Ubisoft. Ubisoft Entertainment (formerly Ubi Soft) ( is a French computer and Video game publisher and developer with headquarters in [55] In October, Shiny Entertainment was acquired by Foundation 9 Entertainment for $1. Foundation 9 Entertainment (sometimes abbreviated as F9E is an entertainment products developer which works on properties for multiple media including Video games Comic 6 million. [56][57] In November of the same year Atari Melbourne House was sold to Krome Studios and renamed to Krome Studios Melbourne. Krome Studios is one of the largest independent Video game developers in the world with over 300 staff [58]

In 2007 Infogrames fired the majority of Atari's directors and laid off 20% of its workforce. For the 2006-2007 fiscal year Atari posted a net loss of $70 million. [59]

On March 6, 2008, Infogrames made an offer to Atari Inc. Events 1079 - Omar Khayyám completes the Iranian calendar. 1454 - Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common to buy out all remaining public shares for a value of US$1. 68 per share or US$11 million total. The offer would make Infogrames sole owner of Atari Inc. , making it a privately held company. [60].

On April 30, 2008, Atari Inc. Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common announced its intentions to accept Infogrames' buyout offer and merge with Infogrames. [61].

References

  1. ^ Infogrames GB
  2. ^ a b Link to a French language website Author excerpt from Daniel Ichbiah, La saga des jeux vidéo. Vuibert. 2004. ISBN 2-7117-4825-1
  3. ^ Infogrames Launches Infogrames.com
  4. ^ Gamasutra - The Euro Vision: 'Bye-Bye Bruno'
  5. ^ Mergers & Acquisitions - UK News 1996
  6. ^ MobyGames - Atari UK Ltd
  7. ^ Frequently Asked Questions - Atari Australia
  8. ^ Ozisoft becomes Infogrames Australia: News - Business - ZDNet Australia
  9. ^ Gamasutra - The Euro Vision: 'Bye-Bye Bruno'
  10. ^ Portail d'informations
  11. ^ http://corporate.infogrames.com/uk/download/reports/infogrames_entertainment_annual_report_99_00.pdf
  12. ^ Infogrames Buys UK Games Company Gremlin | Computergram International | Find Articles at BNET.com
  13. ^ France's Infogrames Grows in US With $60m Accolade Buy | Computergram International | Find Articles at BNET.com
  14. ^ Chronology of Video Game Systems (1999)
  15. ^ MobyGames - Krome Studios Melbourne
  16. ^ Infogrames Gets Control of GT Interactive - New York Times
  17. ^ http://corporate.infogrames.com/uk/download/reports/infogrames_entertainment_annual_report_99_00.pdf
  18. ^ http://corporate.infogrames.com/uk/download/reports/infogrames_entertainment_annual_report_99_00.pdf
  19. ^ GT Interactive Software - Company History
  20. ^ Amazon.com: Game Design, Second Edition: Bob Bates: Books
  21. ^ Gt Interactive Hires Disney Honcho, Raises Cash
  22. ^ Microsoft Word - couverture_GB.doc
  23. ^ MobyGames - Atari UK Ltd
  24. ^ http://corporate.infogrames.com/uk/download/reports/infogrames_entertainment_annual_report_99_00.pdf
  25. ^ Company News; Hasbro Completes Sale Of Interactive Business - New York Times
  26. ^ Press Release
  27. ^ allgame ((( Atari Interactive, Inc. > Overview )))
  28. ^ 11.2) What is the History of Atari?
  29. ^ Press Release
  30. ^ Infogrames buys Eden Studios - PlayStation 2 News at GameSpot
  31. ^ Gamasutra - The Euro Vision: 'Bye-Bye Bruno'
  32. ^ Infogrames Acquires both Shiny Entertainment and Exclusive Matrix License - PC News
  33. ^ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/05/07/infogrames_rechristens_itself_atari/
  34. ^ allgame ((( Atari Interactive, Inc. > Overview )))
  35. ^ SEC Info - Atari Inc - 10-KT - For 3/31/03
  36. ^ allgame ((( Atari Interactive, Inc. > Overview )))
  37. ^ Summary of ATARI INC - Yahoo! Finance
  38. ^ Frequently Asked Questions - Atari Australia
  39. ^ MobyGames - Krome Studios Melbourne
  40. ^ MobyGames - Atari UK Ltd
  41. ^ Infogrames GB
  42. ^ http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071008/nym115.html?.v=80
  43. ^ Summary of ATARI INC - Yahoo! Finance
  44. ^ Summary of ATARI INC - Yahoo! Finance
  45. ^ MobyGames - Atari UK Ltd
  46. ^ Gamasutra - The Euro Vision: 'Bye-Bye Bruno'
  47. ^ Gamasutra - The Euro Vision: 'Bye-Bye Bruno'
  48. ^ http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/civilizationiv/news.html?sid=6117117
  49. ^ Atari closes Legend Entertainment - PC News at GameSpot
  50. ^ Atari locks down D&D; Hasbro buys back Transformers - PC News at GameSpot
  51. ^ Microsoft Word - couverture_GB.doc
  52. ^ Infogrames shares shine after chairman leaves | Reuters
  53. ^ Video Game Features, PC Game Features
  54. ^ THQ buys Paradigm and Stuntman // News // GamesIndustry.biz
  55. ^ Cost-cutting puts Atari in black-barely - Xbox 360 News at GameSpot
  56. ^ Foundation 9 Acquires Shiny From Atari, GamaSutra, October 2, 2006
  57. ^ Cost-cutting puts Atari in black-barely - Xbox 360 News at GameSpot
  58. ^ MobyGames - Krome Studios Melbourne
  59. ^ Infogrames overhauls Atari's board - News at GameSpot
  60. ^ http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080306/nyth121.html?.v=101
  61. ^ http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080430/nyw164.html?.v=1

See also

External links

This is a list of computer and video game companies most of whose rights and assets presently belong to a specific MobyGames is a Website devoted to cataloging computer and video games, both past and present
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