GameWorks

GameWorks is a chain of location-based entertainment venues featuring a wide array of video game arcades, in addition to full-service bars and restaurants. There are currently seven GameWorks venues throughout the U.S,[1] with the re-opening of the chains' flagship store in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Las Vegas store is the first store in the chain with a dedicated esports arena, a devoted space for multi-player online computer gaming. Esports has now become an integral part of all new and developing locations in the chain.

This article is about a chain of entertainment venues. For Nvidia's proprietary middleware software suite, see Nvidia GameWorks.
GameWorks
IndustryEntertainment
PredecessorSega City
Founded1996 (1996)
Number of locations
7 arcades (2018)
ParentExWorks Capital

History

GameWorks began as a joint venture between the video game developer Sega and the film studios Universal Studios and DreamWorks, with filmmaker Steven Spielberg providing creative input.[2][3][4] Its first location opened in Seattle in March 1997.[5] DreamWorks sold its portion in 2001.[6]

GameWorks filed its first bankruptcy in 2004. On November 3, 2005, Sega Sammy Holdings, formed following the 2004 merger of Sega and Sammy, bought the controlling interests of GameWorks. GameWorks filed its second bankruptcy in 2010; as a result, Sega Entertainment USA, the parent company at that time, closed seven GameWorks venues on March 29, in an attempt to focus on profitability and future growth. Two locations that closed, one in Circle Centre at Indianapolis, Indiana, and another in Irvine Spectrum Center at Irvine, California, originally opened as Sega City.

In 2011, GameWorks was sold to an investment group, HNR Capital. In October 2011, GameWorks acquired the assets of several Jillian's Billiards Clubs in California, Washington, and Virginia.

In May 2017, Oomba agreed to acquire GameWorks.[7] In May 2018, ExWorks Capital took ownership of its parent company, and as a result, GameWorks is now owned by ExWorks Capital.[8]

Locations

USA locations
Midwest
Northwest
Southwest
East Coast

Former locations

International locations
In North America
Former locations
  • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Opened in 1999. Despite being a very successful location, constantly full, it was closed in 2003 due to disagreements with the local representative. They wanted to remove the restaurant, and only keep the 2 bars. The Brazilian company created its own arcade brand, called HotZone.)
  • Tumon, Guam (closed in 2006)
  • Vienna, Austria (opened in 2001, filed for bankruptcy around 2003)
  • Kuwait City, Kuwait (opened in 2003, later called Gamewizz, closed in 2013)
  • Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (at Mega Centro Mall, opened in a former McDonald's fast food, closed in 2015)

See also

References
  1. "GameWorks, Inc. to Host Large, National Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Tournament; Esports Prize Pool Valued at $25,000". AP NEWS. 2019-04-16. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
  2. Webb, Marcus (May 1996). "Sega Gameworks Goes Forward with Speilberg and MCA". Next Generation. No. 17. Imagine Media. p. 26.
  3. "Inside Scoop". GamePro. No. 104. IDG. May 1997. p. 24.
  4. Smith, Ernie (29 April 2017). "That Time Steven Spielberg and Sega Built the Arcade of Your Dreams". vice.com. Archived from the original on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020. ...Steven Spielberg, who offered creative input on the concept...
  5. "Tokyo Game Show Report from Japan". Next Generation. No. 30. Imagine Media. June 1997. p. 17.
  6. "DreamWorks Backs Out Of GameWorks".
  7. "GameWorks Acquired by Oomba - San Fernando Valley Business Journal". sfvbj.com.
  8. "GameWorks arcades has a new owner: ExWorks Capital". VentureBeat. 2018-09-05. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2010-08-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. Neil Nisperos (July 11, 2017). "GameWorks closes at Ontario Mills after 20-year run". San Bernardino County Sun.
  12. Conor Shine (February 23, 2012). "After 15 years, GameWorks closing on Strip, looking for new location to serve locals". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
  13. Tampa GameWorks to reopen Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine, article from TBO about GameWorks/GameTime.
  14. "World Sports Grille". Archived from the original on February 9, 2014.
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