Gathering of Developers

Gathering of Developers
Computer and video game publishing
Industry Interactive entertainment
Computer and video games
Fate Shut down by parent company Take-Two Interactive in September 2004
Founded January, 1998
Defunct September, 2004
Headquarters Texas, United States
Key people
 Mike Wilson
Harry Miller
Rick Stults
Doug Myres
Jim Bloom
Products Max Payne, Mafia, Age of Wonders and more
Number of employees
 135

Gathering of Developers (aka God Games and Gathering) was a Texas-based PC and video games publishing company, founded in January 1998 with the mission to bridge the gap between publishers and independent game developers, allowing independent developers creative control over their projects, ownership of their IP, and participation in the publishing and marketing decisions. Fueled by past publishing experiences and frustrations, several experienced development companies bound together to form a relationship-based publisher. The company later became a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive. Gathering's first wave of releases included Railroad Tycoon II, Nocturne, Darkstone, Age of Wonders and Fly!. The company later expanded to the console market.

Take Two acquired the company outright in May 2000, and attempted unsuccessfully to manage the Texas based group from its New York HQ. The founders and employees of G.O.D. were unhappy with the lack of freedom the company allowed for following through on its principles of fair treatment of developers and IP ownership. Founder Doug Myres died unexpectedly in May 2001, prompting the other partners to negotiate a separation with the company shortly thereafter. Eventually Take-Two took over all operations and rebranded the label simply Gathering, and have since folded it into the label 2K Games.

During the gaming trade event E3, Gathering was known for being extremely extravagant, offering free barbecue, live music, and beer to the nearly 10,000 E3 attendees that would cross the street into their "Promised Lot" each day; they were also famous for their Catholic Schoolgirl 'booth babes'.[1]

Founding developers

Founding individuals

  • Mike Wilson
  • Harry A. Miller IV
  • Rick Stults
  • Doug Myres
  • Jim Bloom
  • Binu Philip
  • J. Holt Foster, III

List of video games

For video games published after Take-Two Interactive's acquisition of Gathering of Developers, see List of Take-Two Interactive video games.
Logo used by the company from 2000 to 2002
Title System Release date Developer(s) Ref.
Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Microsoft Windows July 31, 1998 Epic Games [2]
Railroad Tycoon II Mac October 31, 1998 PopTop Software [3]
Microsoft Windows [3]
Fly! Microsoft Windows January 31, 1999 Terminal Reality [4]
Darkstone: Evil Reigns Microsoft Windows July 27, 1999 Delphine Software International [5]
Age of Wonders Microsoft Windows October 25, 1999 Triumph Studios / Epic Games [6]
Nocturne Microsoft Windows October 31, 1999 Terminal Reality [7]
Railroad Tycoon II Dreamcast January 30, 2000 PopTop Software [8]
PlayStation January 31, 2000 [3]
Fly! Mac February 1, 2000 Terminal Reality [4]
Fly! 2K Microsoft Windows April 26, 2000 Terminal Reality [9]
Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic Microsoft Windows July 25, 2003 Triumph Studios

See also


References

  1. ↑ "Sex in Video Games". Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  2. ↑ "Jazz Jackrabbit 2". GameSpot. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Railroad Tycoon II". GameSpot. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Fly!". GameSpot. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
  5. ↑ "Darkstone - PC". IGN. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
  6. ↑ "Age of Wonders - PC". IGN. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
  7. ↑ "Nocturne - PC". IGN. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
  8. ↑ "Railroad Tycoon II: Gold Edition". GameSpot. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
  9. ↑ "Fly! 2K - PC". IGN. Retrieved 2013-02-15.

External links