GameWorks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
GameWorks is a chain of entertainment venues featuring a full-service restaurant, a bar serving signature martinis and specialty cocktails, and interactive and state-of-the-art video games and attractions. GameWorks Studios are smaller facilities without food and beverage service. The first GameWorks opened in Downtown Seattle in March, 1997.
The chain began as a joint venture between Sega, Universal Studios, and Dreamworks SKG. Dreamworks SKG withdrew their involvement in 2001, and the chain itself filed for bankruptcy in 2004. The chain was bought out by Sega Sammy Holdings in November 3, 2005 and is now operated by its subsidiary SEGA Entertainment USA, Inc.
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[edit] National Tournaments
GameWorks has held a total of four national video game tournaments.
The first tournament featured the arcade game Top Skater at the grand opening of their Ontario location. David Simmons of Seattle, Washington was the $10,000 grand prize winner.
The second featured The House of the Dead during the grand opening of their Grapevine location. Ottis Pittman of Ontario, California won the $5,000 grand prize.
The third tournament was held on Harley Davidson and the LA Riders in Seattle during their one year anniversary party. A player from Ontario, California won the Harley Davidson Fat Boy motorcycle.
The fourth and final tournament, called the GameWorks Triathlon, featured three games, Racing Jam, Rapid River and Kick It Soccer in Las Vegas. A player from Tempe, Arizona took home the $5,000 prize.
[edit] Locations
[edit] United States
- Auburn Hills, MI (Detroit area)
- Chicago, Illinois
- Schaumburg, Illinois
- Columbus, Ohio
- Dallas, Texas
- Grapevine, Texas
- Indianapolis, Indiana (GameWorks Studios)
- Irvine, California (closed, now a Fox Sports Grill)
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Long Beach, California
- Miami, Florida
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Newport, Kentucky (Cincinnati, Ohio area)
- Ontario, California
- Orange, California (closed)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (GameWorks Studios) (closed)
- San Antonio, Texas (GameWorks Studios)
- Seattle, Washington
- Sunrise, Florida
- Tampa, Florida
- Tempe, Arizona
- Tucson, Arizona (GameWorks Studios)
[edit] International
- Santo Domigo, Dominican Republic at Mega Centro Mall
- Kuwait City, Kuwait - Called Gamewizz now
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Closed due to disagreements with the local representative. They wanted to get rid of the restaurant, and only keep the 2 bars. Due to this problem the company created its own arcade brand, called HotZone
- Tumon, Guam Closed in 2006.
- Vienna, Austria Opened in 2001, filed for bankruptcy around 2003.
[edit] Locations never built
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin (struck down in the Pabst City project vote)
- Westbury, Long Island, NYC (though a sign outside the Source mall touted its arrival, it never materialized)
