JoWooD Entertainment AG
Public
Former name
  • JoWooD Productions Software GmbH (1995–2000)
  • JoWooD Productions Software AG (2000–2009)
IndustryVideo games
Founded1995 (age 31)
Founders
  • Andreas Tobler
  • Hans Schilcher
DefunctJune 2011
FateBankruptcy
Hq location cityRottenmann (Liezen District), Styria
Hq location countryAustria
Products
SubsidDreamCatcher Interactive

JoWooD Entertainment AG (formerly JoWooD Productions Software AG, commonly referred to as JoWooD) was an Austrian video game publisher that was founded in 1995. JoWooD went into administration in 2011 and all assets were purchased by Nordic Games.

Its games include the futuristic racing car game Beam Breakers which was released in 2002, action role-playing games in the Gothic series, the SpellForce series, and the Industry Giant series of games. Other titles include Transport Giant, World War III: Black Gold, The Sting!, Hotel Giant, and other games of the Giants series.

History

JoWooD Productions Software AG was founded in 1995 in Ebensee by Dieter Bernauer, Johann Reitinger, Johann Schilcher, and Andreas Tobler with its headquarters later moved to Liezen, Austria.

In May 2000, JoWooD went public through the prime market section of the Vienna Stock Exchange.[1] Earlier on in the year, they invested 15% in publisher Media Publishing GmbH & Co KG, and acquired the developer Wings Simulations.[2] In September, they acquired NEON Software in Germany[3] and Massive Development in December.[4][5]

On 18 January 2001, JoWooD announced that it had purchased a 70% stake in Dynamic Systems, a video game distributor founded by JoWooD co-founder Andrea Tobler, with which they already distributed JoWooD's products in Austria and Central Europe. On the same day, JoWooD and Dynamic signed a three-year strategic alliance with French publisher Infogrames, where the company would exclusively distribute JoWooD's titles in Germany, France and Benelux territories while JoWooD and Dynamic would exclusively distribute Infogrames' titles in Austria.[6] In May, JoWooD purchased German distributor Leisuresoft from Infogrames, which was acquired in the latter's purchase of Hasbro Interactive earlier in the year but wasn't needed by Infogrames, which already had a German distribution unit.[7] In August, the company secured a distribution deal with Disney Interactive to distribute their PC titles in German-speaking territories.[8]

JoWooD suffered from heavy financial losses at the beginning of 2002 and was almost close to filing for insolvency.[9] In May 2002, JoWooD announced the acquisition of Ravensburger Interactive Media and its core publishing label Fishtank Interactive from Ravensburger AG. With these acquisitions, JoWooD became the largest German video game company and would allow the publisher to enter the family-friendly market.[10][11]

For 2003, JoWooD announced that they would pull out of the in-house distribution and sales business.[12] They would sell Dynamic Systems to Koch Media in August. With this deal, Koch secured exclusive distribution rights to JoWooD products in Austria. Earlier in January, JoWooD entered into a deal with Encore Software to distribute nine of JoWooD's titles in North America.[13]

On 8 April 2004, they expanded their distribution agreement with Koch to include Germany, Switzerland, Italy and the United Kingdom.[14]

In January 2005, JoWooD exited the game development industry and shuttered all of their in-house studios. JoWooD Ebensee and Wings Simulations closed in January[15] and Massive Development followed suit in May.[16] In May, JoWooD signed a distribution deal with Nobilis for distribution of titles in Spain and Portugal.[17] In August, they attempted to end their development agreement with developer Perception Pty because of a lack of quality on their "Stargate SG-1" product.[18] JoWooD carried out this action believing they owned the licence for the game Stargate SG-1: The Alliance, which was disputed by Perception.[19] In October, they once again extended their distribution deal with Koch Media to include co-publication of select JoWooD titles under the Deep Silver label.[20]

Acquisition of DreamCatcher Games, formation of the JoWooD Group, and Insolvency (2006-2011)

On 4 November 2006, JoWooD announced the acquisition of DreamCatcher Games, in efforts to move to the North American game markets.[21]

Throughout 2006-2007, JoWooD entered into several physical distribution agreements. In December 2006, Eidos Interactive secured the rights to distribute JoWooD titles in France, Spain and Benelux territories,[22] while in January 2007, Pinnacle Software secured distribution rights in the United Kingdom.[23] In August 2007, the JoWooD Group formed a budget casual game label named GS-Line.[24]

In October 2009, JoWooD changed its name from JoWooD Productions Software AG to JoWooD Entertainment AG.[25] At the same time, JoWood also announced an agreement with Valve to make available future JoWooD titles on Steam.[25] It owned five subsidiaries in the last years: DreamCatcher Interactive, JoWooD Distribution Services, JoWooD Deutschland, JoWooD Iberica and Quantic Lab.

In May 2010, JoWooD entered into a deal with HMH to distribute and publish the Playmobil Interactive line of products globally except in Germany, while in the US they would be released by DreamCatcher.[26][27]

On 7 January 2011, JoWooD officially filed for bankruptcy and announced that the company would prepare for "a procedure of capital reorganization".[28] However, on 21 April 2011, JoWooD announced that, unable to negotiate with potential investors, they were officially facing bankruptcy proceedings and had withdrawn their application for a recapitalization plan.[29] In June 2011, JoWooD Entertainment, all their assets and its subsidiary, Quantic Lab, was acquired by Nordic Games. From this point on, JoWooD was no longer operating. All activities of the two companies were taken over by Nordic Games.[30] On 16 August 2011, Nordic Games announced that it had acquired JoWooD's products and brands and some of the companies labels, including The Adventure Company.[31] Following the acquisition, it was announced that JoWood and the Adventure Company would become publishing labels for Nordic Games, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nordic Games Holding.[32]

Games published

Release dateTitlePlatform(s)Developer(s)
14 April 1998Industry GiantMicrosoft WindowsJoWooD Productions
11 May 1999Alien Nations[33]Neo Software
26 October 1999[34]Panzer EliteWings Simulations
2000Keep the BalanceItem Multimedia
1 December 2000Thandor: The InvasionInnonics
28 February 2001Traffic GiantJoWooD Productions
15 June 2001The NationsJoWooD Vienna
1 July 2001The Sting!Neo Software
9 October 2001'Reflexive Entertainment
25 October 2001S.W.I.N.E.[35]StormRegion
20 November 2001Rally TrophyBugbear Entertainment
30 November 2001AquaNoxMassive Development
26 November 2001Gorasul: The Legacy of the DragonSilver Style
7 June 2002[36]Hard Truck 2: King of the RoadSoftLab-NSK
28 June 2002Arx FatalisMicrosoft WindowsArkane Studios
23 December 2003XboxWizarbox
26 August 2002Cultures 2: The Gates of Asgard[37]Microsoft WindowsFunatics Development GmbH
18 September 2002Michael Schumacher Racing World Kart 2002Microsoft WindowsRadon Labs
PlayStation
23 September 2002Pusher[38]Microsoft WindowsJoWood Productions Software AG
30 September 2002Industry Giant IIJoWooD Productions
10 October 2002Beam BreakersSimilis Software GmbH
18 October 2002ArchangelMetropolis Software
25 October 2002Europa 1400: The Guild4HEAD Studios
16 November 2002The Nations Nations Gold Edition / The Nations 2JoWooD Productions
29 November 2002Gothic IIPiranha Bytes
10 December 2002K-Hawk: Survival Instinct[39]Similis Software GmbH
13 April 2003Cold Zero: The Last StandJoWooD Productions
20 June 2003[40]Neighbours from HellMicrosoft WindowsJoWooD Vienna
4 March 2005GameCube, Xbox
22 August 2003Gothic II: Night of the Raven - Expansion PackMicrosoft WindowsPiranha Bytes
22 August 2003AquaNox 2: RevelationMassive Development
30 August 2003ChaserCauldron
22 October 2003Cold Zero: No Mercy[41]JoWooD Productions
29 October 2003[42]Railroad Pioneer[43]Kritzelkratz 3000
31 October 2003[44]Silent StormNival Interactive
28 November 2003[45]SpellForce: The Order of DawnPhenomic Game Development
27 May 2004Söldner: Secret WarsWings Simulations
8 June 2004[46]Transport GiantJoWooD Productions
24 June 2004[47]SpellForce: The Breath of Winter - Expansion PackPhenomic Game Development
November 2004[48]SpellForce: Shadow of the Phoenix - Expansion PackPhenomic Game Development
11 November 2004Söldner: Secret Wars ReloadedWings Simulations
25 February 2005[49]Söldner: Marine Corps - Expansion PackWings Simulations
27 March 2006[50]Neighbours from Hell 2: On VacationJoWooD Vienna
2 March 2005Legend of Kay[51]PlayStation 2Neon Studios
Kaiko
20 April 2006SpellForce 2: Shadow WarsMicrosoft WindowsPhenomic Game Development
29 September 2006The Guild 2[52]4HEAD Studios
13 October 2006Gothic 3[53]Piranha Bytes
30 March 2007[54]Freak Out: Extreme FreeridePlayStation 2ColdWood Interactive
28 August 2007Microsoft Windows
14 May 2007[55]SpellForce 2: Dragon StormPhenomic Game Development
18 May 2007[56]The Guild 2 - Pirates of The European Sea - Stand-alone expansion pack[57][58]4HEAD Studios
5 June 2007[59]Space Force: Rogue UniverseProvox Games
15 October 2007SpellForce Universe Edition - Collection pack[60]EA Phenomic
15 October 2007Gothic Universe Edition - Collection pack[61]DreamCatcher Interactive
30 October 2007Painkiller: OverdoseMindware Studios
15 January 2008Gothic 3: The BeginningHandy-Games GmbH
28 March 2008The Golden Horde[62]World Forge
8 July 2008Painkiller Universe - Collection Pack[63]DreamCatcher Interactive
7 October 2008The Guild 2 - Venice - Stand-alone Expansion PackTrine Games[64]
21 November 2008Gothic 3: Forsaken Gods - Expansion PackTrine Games
Mad Vulture Games
27 October 2009Painkiller: ResurrectionHomeGrown Games
27 November 2009Yoga WiiWiiTrine Games
9 April 2010Torchlight[65]Microsoft WindowsRunic Games
12 October 2010Arcania: Gothic 4Spellbound Entertainment
Xbox 360Black Forest Games
September 2011PlayStation 3
19 October 2010[66]The Guild 2 - Renaissance - Stand-alone expanded editionMicrosoft Windows4HEAD Studios
25 February 2011Painkiller: RedemptionDreamCatcher Interactive

References

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