# NewKidCo

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**NewKidCo LLC** was an American [video game publisher](/source/Video_game_publisher) of children's titles based on popular licensed characters, for [Sony](/source/Sony), [Nintendo](/source/Nintendo) and [Microsoft](/source/Microsoft) consoles. The company was a subsidiary of NewKidCo International Inc. ([TSE](/source/Toronto_Stock_Exchange):NKC; [OTC BB](/source/OTC_BB): NKCIF)[1]

NewKidCo had subsidiary offices in [Burlington, Massachusetts](/source/Burlington,_Massachusetts) and [Midtown Manhattan](/source/Midtown_Manhattan), [New York City](/source/New_York_City).[2] At a later point, it was headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, with its only office being there.[3]

## History

NewKidCo Holdings, LLC was formed as a start-up company in 1997 by Henry Kaplan and Jonathan D. Harber, the latter being the former CEO of fellow video game publisher Hi Tech Expressions, with Harber also having worked for the company. Shortly afterwards, the company secured a licensing deal with [Children's Television Workshop](/source/Children's_Television_Workshop) to publish *[Sesame Street](/source/Sesame_Street)* games for the [PlayStation](/source/PlayStation_(console)). This was done though Kaplan's long-time partnership with the organization.

On April 21, 1998, NewKidCo Holdings, LLC announced that they had entered into a joint venture with Alpha Software Corporation, a subsidiary of [SoftQuad International Inc.](/source/SoftQuad_Software) to secure game publishing rights; of which Alpha Software would own a majority stake in the business.[4] On the same day, the venture announced that the *Sesame Street* titles would release in the Fall of 1998.[5] The joint-venture with Alpha Software was finalized on June 10 as NewKidCo LLC, with Alpha holding 75% in the combined company. SoftQuad International soon announced a possible diversion of its hardware assets to focus strictly on video games.[6][7] At [E3 1998](/source/E3_1998), the company secured its third license: *[Tiny Toon Adventures](/source/Tiny_Toon_Adventures)* with the announcement of *[Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster and the Beanstalk](/source/Tiny_Toon_Adventures:_Buster_and_the_Beanstalk)*.[8] SoftQuad International was delisted from the NASDAQ on October 9,[9] and on November 10, they had entirely sold SoftQuad Inc.'s assets to private investors and management, sending the company private. This completed the international division's move to children's video games and were renamed **NewKidCo International Inc.**[10] Prior to that, the company began releasing games for the [Game Boy Color](/source/Game_Boy_Color) with *Elmo' ABCs* and *Elmo's 123s*.[11]

In March 1999, [The Learning Company](/source/The_Learning_Company) (later [Mattel Interactive](/source/Mattel_Interactive)) secured North American distribution rights to NewKidCo's titles in North America. These rights expired in July 2000 when NewKidCo decided to open up their own distribution network.[12]

At E3 1999, the company entered the [Nintendo 64](/source/Nintendo_64) market with enhanced ports of *Elmo's Letter Adventure* and *Elmo's Number Journey*,[13] as well as a Game Boy Color tie-in game to the film *[The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland](/source/The_Adventures_of_Elmo_in_Grouchland)*.[14] The company also secured a license to release video games based on *[Hello Kitty](/source/Hello_Kitty)* from [Sanrio](/source/Sanrio).[15] On June 15, NewKidCo International Inc. purchased out NewKidCo Holdings LLC's 25% share in NewKidCo LLC, becoming a fully owned subsidiary.[16] On October 7, the company entered into a publishing deal with [Disney Interactive](/source/Disney_Interactive_Studios) to release titles based on the *[Winnie the Pooh](/source/Winnie_the_Pooh_(franchise))* franchise, as well as a PlayStation port of *[Disney's Animated Storybook: Mulan](/source/Disney's_Animated_Storybook:_Mulan)*.[17] On December 18, the company secured a license from [Sony Pictures Family Entertainment Group](/source/Sony_Pictures_Family_Entertainment_Group) to release *[Dragon Tales](/source/Dragon_Tales)* video games.[18]

At [E3 2000](/source/E3_2000), the company secured the [E.T.](/source/E.T.) license from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment[19] and *[Tom & Jerry](/source/Tom_%26_Jerry)* from [Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment](/source/Warner_Bros._Interactive_Entertainment). In July 2000, [Ubi Soft](/source/Ubi_Soft) signed a publishing deal with the company to allow them to release the company's titles in PAL region territories.[20] The partnership was extended in January 2001.[21]

In April 2002, NewKidCo signed a deal with [Nickelodeon](/source/Nickelodeon) to release games based on *[Dora the Explorer](/source/Dora_the_Explorer)*.[22] In November 2002, the company signed a new North American distribution deal with [Jack of All Games](/source/Jack_of_All_Games).[23]

## Games

Title Platform(s) Developer(s) Year(s) Tiny Toon Adventures: The Great Beanstalk PlayStation Terraglyph Interactive Studios 1998 Sesame Street: Elmo's Letter Adventure "align="center" rowspan="2"|Nintendo 64, PlayStation "align="center" rowspan="2"|Realtime Associates "align="center" rowspan="2"|1998 (PS) 1999 (N64) Sesame Street: Elmo's Number Journey Disney's Story Studio: Mulan PlayStation Revolution Software "align="center" rowspan="5"|1999 Hello Kitty's Cube Frenzy Game Boy Color, PlayStation Culture Publishers (PlayStation) Torus Games (Game Boy Color) Sesame Street: The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland "align="center" rowspan="4"|Game Boy Color Bonsai Interactive Corporation Sesame Street: Elmo's 123s "align="center" rowspan="2"|Bonsai Entertainment Sesame Street: Elmo's ABCs Doug's Big Game ImaginEngine/Magellan Interactive "align="center" rowspan="8"|2000 Dragon Tales: Dragon Seek PlayStation "align="center" rowspan="2"|Zed Two Game Design Studio Dragon Tales: Dragon Wings Game Boy Color Tigger's Honey Hunt Nintendo 64, PlayStation Doki Denki Studio Tom and Jerry in Fists of Furry Nintendo 64, Windows VIS Entertainment Tom and Jerry in House Trap PlayStation "align="center" rowspan="2"|Warthog Games Tom and Jerry in Mouse Attacks! "align="center" rowspan="5"|Game Boy Color Winnie the Pooh: Adventures in the 100 Acre Wood TOSE Dragon Tales: Dragon Adventures Handheld Games "align="center" rowspan="6"|2001 E.T.: Digital Companion Powerhead Games E.T.: Escape from Planet Earth Saffire E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Game Boy Advance Fluid Studios Goofy's Fun House PlayStation The Code Monkeys Sesame Street Sports Game Boy Color, PlayStation Bonsai Interactive Corporation (GBC) Realtime Associates (PlayStation) E.T.: Away from Home PC Lexis Numérique "align="center" rowspan="10"|2002 E.T.: Interplanetary Mission PC, PlayStation Lexis Numérique (PC) Digital Eclipse Software (PlayStation) E.T.: Phone Home Adventure PC Lexis Numérique E.T. and the Cosmic Garden Game Boy Color Zed Two Game Design Studio Little League Baseball 2002 rowspan="6" "align="center" |Game Boy Advance Handheld Games Muppet Pinball Mayhem Digital Eclipse Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring Cave+Barn Studios Droopy's Tennis Open Warthog Games Tom and Jerry in Infurnal Escape rowspan="2" "align="center"|CinéGroupe Dora the Explorer: The Search for Pirate Pig's Treasure Tom and Jerry in War of the Whiskers GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox VIS Entertainment 2002 (PS2) 2003 (NGC/Xbox) Dr. Seuss: Green Eggs and Ham Game Boy Advance Handheld Games 2003 Dr. Seuss: The Cat in the Hat PlayStation DC Studios 2004 The Cat in the Hat Game Boy Advance Game Titan 2005

### Canceled

- *Droopy's Miniature Golf* ([Game Boy Advance](/source/Game_Boy_Advance))
- *E.T.: Return to the Green Planet* ([PlayStation 2](/source/PlayStation_2))
- *E.T.: Salerian Project* ([Game Boy Advance](/source/Game_Boy_Advance))
- *E.T.: Search for Dragora* ([GameCube](/source/GameCube), [Xbox](/source/Xbox_(console)))
- *Little League Baseball 2002* ([GameCube](/source/GameCube))
- *The Super-Stoo-Pendus World of Dr. Seuss* ([Game Boy Advance](/source/Game_Boy_Advance))
- *U.S. Youth Soccer: Power-Up Soccer* ([Game Boy Advance](/source/Game_Boy_Advance))

## References

1. "[About NewKidCo International Inc.](https://web.archive.org/web/20011229134540/http://www.newkidco.com/investor/about.html)" NewKidCo. December 29, 2001. Retrieved on July 28, 2010.

1. "[Corporate Directory](https://web.archive.org/web/19991007142311/http://www.newkidco.com/investor/corporate_directory.html)." NewKidCo. October 7, 1999. Retrieved on July 27, 2010.

1. "[Corporate Directory](https://web.archive.org/web/20020104081938/http://www.newkidco.com/investor/corporate_directory.html)." NewKidCo. January 4, 2002. Retrieved on July 27, 2010.

1. [https://web.archive.org/web/20000104032617/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/4-21-98_1.html](https://web.archive.org/web/20000104032617/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/4-21-98_1.html)

1. [https://web.archive.org/web/19991009012454/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/4-21-98_2.html](https://web.archive.org/web/19991009012454/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/4-21-98_2.html)

1. [https://web.archive.org/web/19991104055341/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/6-9-98.html](https://web.archive.org/web/19991104055341/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/6-9-98.html)

1. ["SoftQuad International Explores Strategic Alternatives for Web Tools Unit - Press Centre"](https://xml.coverpages.org/softQuadKidCo.html). *Xml.coverpages.org*. 1998-06-10. Retrieved 2013-09-21.

1. ["NewKidCo and Warner Brothers to Bring Tiny Toon Adventures to PlayStation Buster & the Beanstalk PlayStation Game Offers Fast-Paced Family Fun"](http://newkidco.com/press_releases/5-29-98.html). [Atlanta](/source/Atlanta): NewKidCo. May 29, 1998. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20010226202716/http://newkidco.com/press_releases/5-29-98.html) February 26, 2001 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 12, 2022.

1. ["SoftQuad International Inc. NASDAQ Listing Status"](http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=5977524). Silicon Investor. October 9, 1998. Retrieved June 15, 2014.

1. ["Business Wire: SoftQuad International Inc. Announces Special Meeting of Shareholders"](https://web.archive.org/web/20050515155508/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1998_Dec_22/ai_53445742). 15 May 2005. Archived from [the original](https://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1998_Dec_22/ai_53445742) on 15 May 2005. Retrieved 19 December 2018.

1. [https://web.archive.org/web/19991103231002/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/10-7-98.html](https://web.archive.org/web/19991103231002/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/10-7-98.html)

1. ["NewKidCo Gets Learning Co. Distribution"](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/newkidco-gets-learning-co-distribution/1100-2451880/)

1. [https://web.archive.org/web/19991104033413/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/5-13-99SSN64.html](https://web.archive.org/web/19991104033413/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/5-13-99SSN64.html)

1. [https://web.archive.org/web/19991009031902/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/5-13-99GLD.html](https://web.archive.org/web/19991009031902/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/5-13-99GLD.html)

1. [https://web.archive.org/web/19991104012939/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/5-13-99GK1.html](https://web.archive.org/web/19991104012939/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/5-13-99GK1.html)

1. [https://web.archive.org/web/19990829052008/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/6-15-99.html](https://web.archive.org/web/19990829052008/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/6-15-99.html)

1. [https://web.archive.org/web/19991127230108/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/10-7-99.html](https://web.archive.org/web/19991127230108/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/10-7-99.html)

1. ["Dragons Flock to Game Boy Color"](https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/18/dragons-flock-to-game-boy-color). 18 December 1999.

1. ["E.T. Has Dial-Up"](https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/18/et-has-dial-up). 18 May 2000.

1. ["Ubi Soft to take NewKidCo's Video Games to Kids Around the World"](https://spong.com/press_release/483/Ubi-Soft-to-take-NewKidCo-s-Video-Games-To-Kids-Around-the-World)

1. ["NewKidCo and Ubi Soft Extend International Publishing Agreement for NewKidCo's Line-Up of Popular Children's Video Games"](https://spong.com/press_release/973/NewKidCo-and-Ubi-Soft-Extend-International-Publishing-Agreement-For-NewKidCos-Line-Up-Of-Popular-Childrens-Video-Games)

1. ["Dora the Explorer Discovers Video Games"](https://www.awn.com/news/dora-explorer-discovers-video-games)

1. [https://web.archive.org/web/20041210021559/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/11-06-02.html](https://web.archive.org/web/20041210021559/http://www.newkidco.com/press_releases/11-06-02.html)

## External links

- [Official website](https://web.archive.org/*/http://www.newkidco.com) (archived)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [NewKidCo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NewKidCo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NewKidCo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.