Difference between revisions of "GameWorks"

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[[File:GameWorks logo.svg|right|300px]]
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[[File:GameWorks logo.svg|right|300px]]<!-- TODO: {{fileref|Fusion US 0105.pdf|page=16}} -->
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'''GameWorks''' is a chain of entertainment venues featuring video games, simulators, redemption prizes, and a full service bar and restaurant. Smaller venues which lacked the bar and restaurant aspect of the chain, called GameWorks Studios, once existed, and were usually placed in shopping malls. There are currently 10 GameWorks venues in the United States and two in international locations. The first GameWorks was created by Steven Spielberg and opened in Downtown Seattle in March, 1997.  
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'''GameWorks''' is a chain of entertainment centres formerly owned by Sega. It was launched in 1997 by [[Sega GameWorks]], a joint venture company formed by [[Sega]], [[MCA]]/[[Universal]], and [[DreamWorks SKG]] the previous year. GameWorks venues, identified by their mix of arcade games with food/drink and retail outlets, began opening across the United States in March 1997 with [[GameWorks Seattle]].{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20211224195437/https://www.gameworks.com/about/}} Several overseas branches and the smaller [[GameWorks Studio]] spin-off also appeared during the chain's active period, replacing the earlier [[Sega City]].
  
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The chain was created as a joint venture between [[Sega]], Universal Studios, and DreamWorks SKG. The first GameWorks opened in Downtown Seattle in March, 1997 to much fanfare. A typical facility cost about $10 million or more to build, and plans initially called for up to 150 locations. After earnings of the first stores proved disappointing, the scope of the chain was scaled back significantly. Nonetheless, Sega estimates that at its' height, the 18 U.S. locations that existed drew in over 15 million guests per year. Due to the costs involved in the venture, 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 was operated by its subsidiary, SEGA Entertainment USA, Inc., until May 2011. GameWorks has since been sold to a private investment group and is no longer affiliated with Sega, although some theming and redemption prizes are still based off of Sega game franchises.
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Following DreamWorks and Universal's exit from the venture in the early 2000s, [[Sega Sammy Holdings]] wholly owned its chain from 2005 to 2011 through [[Sega Entertainment USA]]. The 2010 liquidation of the subsidiary led to its locations being closed or sold off;{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20211207003717/https://www.intergameonline.com/coin-op/news/sega-sells-gameworks}} as of December 2021, all 6 of those that remained under the GameWorks brand through several new parent companies had been closed.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20211225005832/https://arcadeheroes.com/2021/12/23/rip-gameworks/}} In 2022 several former GameWorks executives acquired its assets from ExWorks Capital, who owned GameWorks at the time of its closure, with plans to revive the chain starting with the re-opening of its original location in Seattle in August 2022.{{ref|https://www.geekwire.com/2022/gameworks-ready-to-power-back-on-in-seattle-as-onetime-execs-take-control-of-arcade-restaurant/}}
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==Operations==
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{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Operations}}
  
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GameWorks is home to many Sega arcade games, from old classics like ''[[OutRun]]'' to the very newest, state-of-the-art simulators. Imported Japanese games and uncommon SEGA arcade titles such as [[Super Monkey Ball]] and [[Sonic Championship]] can be found at some venues. The Schaumburg Illinois venue has ''Virtual Bowling'', and many locations have interactive driving simulators such as ''[[Indy 500]]''. Games are played by loading a Play Card with credits, and then swiping the card through a reader on each game. Tickets can be won and exchanged for prizes at the redemption counter.
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==History==
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==2010 Restructuring==
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{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/History}}
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Due to the poor economy, GameWorks began to struggle financially as patrons could no longer afford to spend money on things like entertainment. As part of a major restructuring move, SEGA Entertainment USA, Inc. suddenly closed down seven GameWorks venues on March 29, 2010, in an attempt to focus the chain's mission on profitability and future growth. Employees and patrons were greeted with a sign on the door explaining the sudden closure of the venue. Media spokesmen for SEGA Entertainment USA reported that as a result of the closure, GameWorks employees at the closed locations lost their jobs, although some received 30 days of wages. The ten remaining locations and World Sports Grille in Tucson were to become the focus of renewed efforts going forward.
 
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==2011 Sale==
 
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In May 2011, Sega sold GameWorks, which now consisted of only seven locations, to an investor group headed by theme park and arcade chain veteran Steve Dooner. Now known as Gameworks Entertainment LLC, the company has moved its headquarters from the Chicago suburbs to Las Vegas. Dooner, GameWorks' new chief executive, said he originally tried to buy Gameworks in 2001 and discussed the possibilities of making the acquisition a second time in 2004 before the chain was declared bankrupt. His third and successful round of negotiations with Sega began in January 2010. Dooner plans to revitalize GameWorks by making broad changes  to technology, menus and marketing, increasing the company's emphasis on social media, and eventually opening new locations.
 
  
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==Locations==
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==Quotes==
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===United States===
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{{quote|GameWorks is about fun, excitement, competition and bringing people together. It is also about escape, adventure, and connecting.
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*Schaumburg, Illinois (with ''[[The House of the Dead 4 Special]]'', ''Street Fighter IV'' arcade machines and new Stern pinball games on test)
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<br>
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*Newport, Kentucky (Cincinnati, Ohio area)
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It gives each person a chance to prove he or she is a star.|''[[Steven Spielberg]]''|ref={{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20211224195437/https://www.gameworks.com/about/}}{{fileref|GameWorks Spielbergquote sign.png}}}}
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*Seattle, Washington
 
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*Ontario, California
 
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*Tempe, Arizona
 
  
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Now closed/defunct:
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{{quote|As kids we loved watching computer games explode onto the scene and loved going to arcades. But, when we grew up, the arcades did not. At GameWorks, we're building the entertainment concept that closes the gap and gives adults and kids (young or old) the ultimate place to play.|''Chairman and Co-Founder Skys Paul''|ref=<ref>M Pegler (2000). ''Entertainment Destinations''</ref>}}
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*Grapevine, Texas (closed June 27, 2010)
 
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*Auburn Hills, Michigan (closed March 29, 2010)
 
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*Minneapolis, Minnesota (closed March 29, 2010)
 
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*Columbus, Ohio  (closed March 29, 2010, reopened as Kitchen Den Bar)
 
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*Indianapolis, Indiana (as GameWorks Studios)(closed March 29, 2010, reopened by Tilt)
 
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*Irvine, California (opened as Sega City, later became Fox Sports Grill, now vacant)
 
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*Long Beach, California (closed March 29, 2010, reopening as Kitchen Den Bar)
 
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*Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (GameWorks Studios)
 
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*Orange, California (now The Power House arcade)
 
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*City of Industry, California (now Tilt arcade)
 
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*Tucson, Arizona (GameWorks Studios) (has replaced by World Sports Grille, which is also operated by SEGA)
 
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*San Antonio, Texas (GameWorks Studio in The Quarry Market, closed April 2009)
 
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*Austin, Texas (GameWorks Studio in Lakeline Mall)
 
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*Littleton, Colorado (GameWorks Studio in Park Meadows Mall)
 
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*Las Vegas, Nevada (closed March 2012, is planned to re-open in a new location)
 
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*Tampa, Florida (Closed March 29, 2010, sold to new owner and reopened as GameTime)
 
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*Sunrise, Florida (Reopened as GameRoom)
 
  
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==Venues==
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===United States===
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{{multicol|
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*[[GameWorks Seattle]] (1997, re-opened 2022)
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*[[GameWorks Las Vegas]] (1997)
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*[[GameWorks Ontario]] (1997)
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*[[GameWorks Grapevine]] (1997)
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*[[GameWorks Tempe]] (1997)
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*[[GameWorks Auburn Hills]] (1998)
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*[[GameWorks Orange County]] (1998)
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*[[GameWorks Miami]] (1999)
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*[[GameWorks Sawgrass Mills]] (1999)
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*[[GameWorks Chicago]] (1999)
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*[[GameWorks Columbus]] (1999)
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*[[GameWorks Irvine]] (1999)
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*[[GameWorks Tampa]] (2000)
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*[[GameWorks Newport]] (2002)
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*[[GameWorks Minneapolis]] (2002)
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*[[GameWorks Long Beach]] (2003)
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|col=3}}
  
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===International===
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===Overseas===
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* Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (at Mega Centro Mall)
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*[[GameWorks Guam]] (1999)
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* Mexico City, Mexico (Opened in 2006)
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*[[GameWorks Rio de Janeiro]] (1999)
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*[[GameWorks Vienna]] (2001){{ref|https://archive.ph/Lhezy|https://www.kleinezeitung.at/wirtschaft/5381565/Kryptowaehrung_Putzi-will-groesste-Kryptobank-der-Welt}}{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20231016111354/https://www.news.at/a/putzi-dubai-geld-superarena-8987}}{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20210925133744/https://www.derstandard.at/story/466560/videospiel-sportbar-und-grill}}
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*[[GameWorks Kuwait]] (2003)
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*[[GameWorks Santo Domingo]] (2004)
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*[[GameWorks Mexico]] (2006)
  
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Now closed/defunct:
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===Unopened===
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* Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Despite being a very successful location, constantly full, it was closed 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.)
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*Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (announced in 2001 but never materialized. The location would have been the first to incorporate a cinema){{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20211207004220/https://www.highwaygames.com/arcade-news/sega-gameworks-to-anchor-oklahoma-canal-site-407/}}{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20211212014839/https://www.upi.com/Archives/2001/05/24/Scotts-World-UPI-Arts-Entertainment/8083990676800/}}
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* Tumon, Guam (Closed in 2006)
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*Milwaukee, Wisconsin (struck down in the Pabst City project vote)
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* Vienna, Austria (Opened in 2001, filed for bankruptcy around 2003)
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* Westbury, New York (though a sign outside the Source mall touted its arrival, it never materialized; [[wikipedia:Jillian's|Jillian's]] then [[wikipedia:Dave & Buster's|Dave & Buster's]] took the location)
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*Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (building built in Harrisburg Mall, but the project was abandoned in the wake of the financial crisis of 2007–2010)
  
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===Locations never built===
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==Videos==
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*Milwaukee, Wisconsin (struck down in the Pabst City project vote)
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{{gallery|
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* Westbury, New York (though a sign outside the Source mall touted its arrival, it never materialized; instead, 'Jillians' took over the location which is now Dave & Busters)
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{{gitem|MTVPremiereParty_1997_GameWorks.mp4|First 26 minutes of MTV launch party for the Seattle, Washington location (incomplete)}}
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*Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (building built in Harrisburg Mall but the project was abandoned in the wake of the financial crisis of 2007–2010)
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}}
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
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* [http://www.gameworks.com/ Official site]
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*[http://www.gameworks.com/ Official website]
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*''[https://www.destructoid.com/sega-closing-50-of-gameworks-locations/ Sega closing 50% of GameWorks locations]'' article by Dale North at ''[https://www.destructoid.com/ Destructoid]''
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==References==
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<references />
  
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[[Category:Venues]]
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{{SegaVenuesUSA}}
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[[Category:Venues in the United States]]

Latest revision as of 21:22, 16 October 2023

GameWorks logo.svg

GameWorks is a chain of entertainment centres formerly owned by Sega. It was launched in 1997 by Sega GameWorks, a joint venture company formed by Sega, MCA/Universal, and DreamWorks SKG the previous year. GameWorks venues, identified by their mix of arcade games with food/drink and retail outlets, began opening across the United States in March 1997 with GameWorks Seattle.[1] Several overseas branches and the smaller GameWorks Studio spin-off also appeared during the chain's active period, replacing the earlier Sega City.

Following DreamWorks and Universal's exit from the venture in the early 2000s, Sega Sammy Holdings wholly owned its chain from 2005 to 2011 through Sega Entertainment USA. The 2010 liquidation of the subsidiary led to its locations being closed or sold off;[2] as of December 2021, all 6 of those that remained under the GameWorks brand through several new parent companies had been closed.[3] In 2022 several former GameWorks executives acquired its assets from ExWorks Capital, who owned GameWorks at the time of its closure, with plans to revive the chain starting with the re-opening of its original location in Seattle in August 2022.[4]

Operations

Main article: GameWorks/Operations.

History

Main article: GameWorks/History.

Quotes

“ GameWorks is about fun, excitement, competition and bringing people together. It is also about escape, adventure, and connecting.


It gives each person a chance to prove he or she is a star.

„

— Steven Spielberg[1][5]



“ As kids we loved watching computer games explode onto the scene and loved going to arcades. But, when we grew up, the arcades did not. At GameWorks, we're building the entertainment concept that closes the gap and gives adults and kids (young or old) the ultimate place to play. „

— Chairman and Co-Founder Skys Paul[6]


Venues

United States

Overseas

Unopened

  • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (announced in 2001 but never materialized. The location would have been the first to incorporate a cinema)[10][11]
  • Milwaukee, Wisconsin (struck down in the Pabst City project vote)
  • Westbury, New York (though a sign outside the Source mall touted its arrival, it never materialized; Jillian's then Dave & Buster's took the location)
  • Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (building built in Harrisburg Mall, but the project was abandoned in the wake of the financial crisis of 2007–2010)

Videos

Video Placeholder.svg
First 26 minutes of MTV launch party for the Seattle, Washington location (incomplete)

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.gameworks.com/about/ (Wayback Machine: 2021-12-24 19:54)
  2. ↑ https://www.intergameonline.com/coin-op/news/sega-sells-gameworks (Wayback Machine: 2021-12-07 00:37)
  3. ↑ https://arcadeheroes.com/2021/12/23/rip-gameworks/ (Wayback Machine: 2021-12-25 00:58)
  4. ↑ https://www.geekwire.com/2022/gameworks-ready-to-power-back-on-in-seattle-as-onetime-execs-take-control-of-arcade-restaurant/
  5. ↑ File:GameWorks Spielbergquote sign.png
  6. ↑ M Pegler (2000). Entertainment Destinations
  7. ↑ https://www.kleinezeitung.at/wirtschaft/5381565/Kryptowaehrung_Putzi-will-groesste-Kryptobank-der-Welt (archive.today)
  8. ↑ https://www.news.at/a/putzi-dubai-geld-superarena-8987 (Wayback Machine: 2023-10-16 11:13)
  9. ↑ https://www.derstandard.at/story/466560/videospiel-sportbar-und-grill (Wayback Machine: 2021-09-25 13:37)
  10. ↑ https://www.highwaygames.com/arcade-news/sega-gameworks-to-anchor-oklahoma-canal-site-407/ (Wayback Machine: 2021-12-07 00:42)
  11. ↑ https://www.upi.com/Archives/2001/05/24/Scotts-World-UPI-Arts-Entertainment/8083990676800/ (Wayback Machine: 2021-12-12 01:48)


Sega-related venues in the United States
GameWorks
Seattle (1997) | Las Vegas (1997) | Ontario (1997) | Grapevine (1997) | Tempe (1997) | Auburn Hills (1998) | Orange County (1998) | Miami (1999) | Sawgrass Mills (1999) | Chicago (1999) | Columbus (1999) | Irvine (1999) | Lone Tree (199x) | Tampa (2000) | Newport (2002) | Minneapolis (2002) | Long Beach (2003) | Las Vegas at Town Square (201x)
GameWorks Studio
Austin (199x) | City of Industry (199x) | Daytona (199x) | Henderson (199x) | Indianapolis (199x) | Kansas City (199x) | Littleton (199x) | Orlando (199x) | Philadelphia (199x) | San Antonio (199x) | Tucson (199x)
Sega City
Indianapolis (1995) | Cedar Park (1995) | Irvine (1995) | Lone Tree (1996) | Albuquerque (1997) | Baltimore (199x) | San Jose (199x)
Kingdom of Oz
Westminster Mall (19xx) | West Covina Fashion Plaza (19xx) | Puente Hills Mall (19xx) | Old Towne (19xx) | Tanforan Shopping Center (19xx)
Sega Center
Anaheim Plaza (19xx) | Carson Mall (19xx) | Fashion Valley Shopping Center (19xx) | Fox Hills Mall (19xx) | Los Cerritos Center (19xx) | Montclair Plaza (19xx) | Puente Hills Mall (19xx) | Sherman Oaks Galleria (19xx) | Tanforan Shopping Center (19xx)
Sega's Time-Out
Fox Hills Mall (19xx) | Golden Ring Mall (19xx) | Great Northern Mall (19xx) | Time-Out on the Court (19xx)
Sega Station
Boulder Station (1997) | Kansas City (1997) | Sunset Station (1997)
World Sports Grille
Tucson (2008) | Seattle (200x) | Detroit (20xx)
P.J. Pizzazz
Eastland Center (1980) | Garden Grove (1982) | Puente Hills Mall (1982)
Others
Game City (1992) | Grand Slam Canyon (1993) | Midway (1993) | Sega VirtuaLand (1993) | Innoventions (1994) | Sega Speedway (1995) | Stage 35 (xxxx) | Sega Sports at Centerfield (2000)
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