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It has been suggested that Battlecry Studios be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since October 2012. |
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| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Interactive entertainment Computer and video games |
| Founded | May 1999 |
| Headquarters | Rockville, Maryland, U.S. |
| Key people | Robert A. Altman, Chairman and CEO Ernest Del, President |
| Products | Doom, Quake, The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Wolfenstein, Rage, Prey, Dishonored |
| Owner(s) | Providence Equity Partners (25%) ProSiebenSat.1 Media(9%) |
| Employees | 600[1] |
| Divisions | Bethesda Softworks |
| Subsidiaries | Bethesda Game Studios ZeniMax Online Studios id Software Arkane Studios Tango Gameworks MachineGames Battlecry Studios |
| Website | www.zenimax.com |
ZeniMax Media Inc. is an American media company that develops and publishes video games through its subsidiaries. ZeniMax is known as the owner of id Software (developer of Doom and Quake), Bethesda Game Studios (developer of The Elder Scrolls and Fallout 3), Arkane Studios (developer of Arx Fatalis, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic and Dishonored), Tango Gameworks,[2] MachineGames[3] and ZeniMax Online Studios. ZeniMax is currently headquartered in Maryland, with offices in North America, Europe, and Asia.[4]
ZeniMax Media was reportedly valued at about USD $1.2 billion, in 2007.[5][6]
Contents |
History [edit]
ZeniMax Media was Co-founded in May 1999 by Bethesda Softworks founder Christopher Weaver and DC lawyer Robert A. Altman.[7] Weaver's vision was to use Bethesda Softworks as a hybrid-media company which would create cross-media properties for a diverse range of different platforms. Weaver brought Altman on board as CEO, contributing his stock in Bethesda Softworks so that the new shell company, named ZeniMax Media, would be able to obtain funding. Weaver moved to a non-operational role in 2002.Weaver also served initially as Chief Technology Officer of the Company from 1999-2002.
In 2004, ZeniMax Media acquired the Fallout franchise from Interplay Entertainment.[8] Bethesda's Todd Howard said in January 2007 that "We started work on Fallout 3 in late 2004 with a few people. We only had about 10 people on it until Oblivion wrapped (...)"[9] Fallout 3 was released in October 2008.
On October 6, 2010, ZeniMax Media received $150 million private investment in convertible preferred stock from Providence Equity Partners.[10] Providence had earlier invested US$300 million in ZeniMax convertible preferred stock in 2007.[11] Providence Equity Partners holds a 25% stake in ZeniMax Media.[12][13]
On August 1, 2007, ZeniMax Media announced the creation of ZeniMax Online Studios a division headed by Matt Firor. In 2012, the company announced that it is currently developing The Elder Scrolls Online.[14]
On October 30, 2007, ZeniMax Media announced that Euro broadcasting group ProSiebenSat.1 Media is intensifying its relationship with ZeniMax.It launched SevenGames.com, the international version of its German game platform, in December and work with ZeniMax to develop online gaming.ProSiebenSat.1 Media holds a 9% stake in ZeniMax Media through SBS Broadcasting,which it acquired the same year.[15][16][17]
In September 2009, ZeniMax Media acquired rights to the Prey video game franchise.[18]
In December 2009, ZeniMax Media acquired publishing rights to the id Software game Rage. The game was to be published by Electronic Arts.[19]
On March 3, 2011, ZeniMax Media announced a partnership with the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts to support its Interactive Media Division with a comprehensive educational program of guest lectures and internships.[20]
Corporate governance [edit]
The company's Board of Directors consists of 8 individuals:
- Robert A. Altman (Chairman & CEO)
- Ernest Del (President)
- Jerry Bruckheimer (Jerry Bruckheimer Films)
- Michael Dominguez (Managing Director, Providence Equity Partners Inc.)
- Leslie Moonves (President & CEO, CBS Corporation)
- Cal Ripken, Jr (President & CEO, Ripken Baseball, Inc.)
- Harry E. Sloan (Chairman, Global Eagle Acquisition Corp).[21] (Previously, served as Chairman and CEO of MGM).
- Robert S. Trump (President, Trump Management, Inc.), (Donald Trump's Brother)[22]
Note: Todd Hollenshead the President of id Software is not listed in the ZeniMax Board of Directors, on the official ZeniMax website neither are the recent filings mention him, but Hollenshead was a ZeniMax Board member according to a 2009 filing by ZeniMax. It is unknown what period he was a Director.[23]
Other board members in the past included Mark Schneider, the former Chairman and CEO of United Pan-Europe Communications, Inc., as well as Christopher Weaver.[24][25]
Outside advisors [edit]
ZeniMax's Business Advisory Board consists of 7 individuals:
- John A. Merrigan (Partner of DLA Piper US LLP. Former Democratic Business Council Chairman)[26]
- Jon Feltheimer (CEO of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.)
- Terry McAuliffe (Former Democratic National Committee Chairman)
- George J. Mitchell (Former Senate Majority Leader from Maine. Also previously served as Chairman of Disney)[27]
- Miguel Sanchez-Nevarro Redo (CEO and Chairman of Editorial Mexico Desconocido)
- Paul J. Wilmot (Chairman and CEO of Paul Wilmot Communications)
- Tony Coelho (Former United States House of Representatives Majority Whip)
Previous advisors included Dean Devlin Co-Founder of Centropolis Entertainment[28], as well as Mark Bilfield, the former Director of Integrated Marketing, at Saatchi & Saatchi.[29][30]
Investors [edit]
ZeniMax Media had many different investors over the years. The investors are Providence Equity Partners, ProSiebenSat.1 Media, Robert A. Altman, Leslie Moonves, Cal Ripken, Jr, Harry E. Sloan, Jerry Bruckheimer, Ernest Del, J. Griffin Lesher, James Cedar, Cindy C. Tallent, Robert S. Trump, Michael J. Domingues, Christopher Weaver, SBS Broadcasting Europe, Ardsley Partners Fund, ZM Investment, The Gordon and Donva Crawford Trust(Gordon Crawford), the Schon Family Trust and ZeniMax private investor Tony Coelho.[31][32][33]
Subsidiaries [edit]
Development studios [edit]
- Bethesda Game Studios, acquired in 1999.
- ZeniMax Online Studios, founded in 2007.
- id Software, acquired in June 2009.[34]
- Arkane Studios, acquired in August 2010.
- Tango Gameworks, acquired in October 2010.[35]
- MachineGames, acquired in November 2010.[36]
- Battlecry Studios, founded in October 2012.[37]
Publishing [edit]
- Bethesda Softworks
- ZeniMax Asia KK (general manager Toru Takahashi)
- ZeniMax Europe Ltd. (European Managing Director Sean Brennan)[38]
- ZeniMax Germany GmbH (Managing Director Frank Matzke)
- ZeniMax France SAS (Président Julie Chalmette)
- ZeniMax Benelux BV (General Manager Menno Eijck)
- ZeniMax Asia Pacific Ltd.
Defunct [edit]
- e-Nexus Studios (internet entertainment)[39]
- XL Translab (computer graphics & multimedia production)[40] Acquired in 1997 by Bethesda Softworks, defunct date unknown.[41]
- Vir2L Studios, acquired in 1999,inactive since late 2010.
- Mud Duck Productions, founded in 2002,inactive since 2007
References [edit]
- ^ "Providence Equity Partners executive says video-game industry is 'challenging'". Techzone360.com. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ^ "Boom: Zenimax buys Tango and Shinji Mikami". VG247. 2010-10-28. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ^ "Buyout brings birth of ZeniMax Sweden – report | Game Development | News by Develop". Develop-online.net. 2010-11-05. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ^ "ZeniMax Media Company Profile". Zenimax.com. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ "RR Donnelley Private Equity". Docstoc.com. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ^ "ProSiebenSat.1 hold talks with US game producer ZeniMax". Telecompaper. 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/vprr/07/9999999997-07-005258
- ^ "Facing Fallout - Edge Magazine". Next-gen.biz. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ Fallout 3 360-bound? from GameSpot
- ^ "ZeniMax Online Studios". Zenimax.com. 2010-10-06. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ^ "ZeniMax Online Studios". Zenimax.com. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ^ "ZeniMax Media Buys DOOM Maker | peHUBpeHUB". Pehub.com. 2009-06-25. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ "Providence Backs ZeniMax Media | peHUBpeHUB". Pehub.com. 2007-10-26. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ "ZeniMax Media Inc". Zenimax.com. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ^ Meza, Ed (2007-10-30). "ProSieben tightens hold on ZeniMax". Variety. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ http://www.uis.no/getfile.php/Forskning/Senter%20for%20Innovasjonsforskning/Zademach2009_Global%20Finance%20and%20CLuster%20Development.pdf
- ^ http://translate.google.lv/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&prev=_t&hl=lv&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http://www.finanzen.net/nachricht/aktien/ProSiebenSat-1-Group-verstaerkt-Games-Aktivitaeten-Beteiligung-an-US-Spieleproduzent-ZeniMax-242586
- ^ Bailey, Kat (2009-09-08). "ZeniMax Media Acquires Rights To 'Prey'". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
- ^ Purchese, Robert (2009-12-15). "Bethesda takes Rage from EA". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
- ^ "Bethesda developers to lecture at USC | Bethesda Blog". Bethblog.com. 2011-03-03. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ^ "Harry E. Sloan of Global Eagle Acquisition Corp Board of Directors". Insiders.morningstar.com. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ^ http://www.bizapedia.com/ny/TRUMP-MANAGEMENT-INC.html
- ^ "Sec Form D". Sec.gov. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ "Zenimax Media Inc. | profile - board of directors". Web.archive.org. 2000-09-29. Archived from the original on 2000-09-29. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ "TVSL S.A. IN LIQUIDATION - 20-F - 20050630 - DIRECTORS_AND_OFFICERS". Google.brand.edgar-online.com. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ http://www.dlapiper.com/john_merrigan/
- ^ "ZeniMax Media Inc". Web.archive.org. 2006-10-09. Archived from the original on 2006-10-09. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ "Zenimax Media Inc. | profile - business advisory board". Web.archive.org. 2001-09-23. Archived from the original on 2001-02-11. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20010712002423/http://www.zenimax.com/profile9.html - His initial and surname are in the image name when you right click and click "view image", or view the page source. The image name is "n_mbilfield.gif"
- ^ http://www.linkedin.com/in/markbilfield - Found his profile with the information in the previous cite.
- ^ May 30, 2008 3:49 PM (2008-05-30). "ZeniMax Media raises $9.9 million from some big names". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/vprr/07/9999999997-07-035686
- ^ "ZeniMax Media Inc". Web.archive.org. 2008-09-05. Archived from the original on 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ Remo, Chris (2009-06-24). "Bethesda Parent ZeniMax Acquires id Software". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
- ^ "Tango Gameworks, led by Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami, joins ZeniMax | Bethesda Blog". Bethblog.com. 2010-10-28. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ^ Gilbert, Ben (2010-11-05). "Machinegames purchased by ZeniMax Media, becomes ZeniMax Sweden". Joystiq. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ^ "Welcome to Battlecry Studios! | Bethesda Blog". Bethblog.com. 2012-10-03. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ^ "Financial statement of Zenimax Europe Limited in Berkshire". Duedil.com. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ "SBS Broadcasting SA Announces Major European Internet Initiatives; SBS Invests in Bidlet and Partners with Sweden's Largest Auction Site. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. 1999-11-17. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
- ^ http://www.flash8.net/uploadflash/2/flash8net_1547.swf
- ^ "ThunderWave makes a big splash at Getty Center - Washington Business Journal". Bizjournals.com. 1997-12-22. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
External links [edit]
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