Editing Visual Concepts (section)

== History ==
[[File:Visual Concepts.svg|thumb|left|100px|Logo used until 2018]]
Visual Concepts was founded in 1988 by [[Video game programmer|programmer]] Scott Patterson and brothers Greg and Jeff Thomas, and was originally based in a small office above a bank in [[Novato, California]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2796233-inside-nba2ks-journey-to-the-top-of-sports-gaming |title=Inside NBA 2K's Journey to the Top of Sports Gaming |first=Patrick |last=Hruby |date=September 18, 2018 |website=[[Bleacher Report]] |access-date=December 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214065406/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2796233-inside-nba2ks-journey-to-the-top-of-sports-gaming |archive-date=December 14, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 25, 1995, Electronic Arts announced that they had acquired a stake in the company.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Electronic+Arts+takes+equity+stake+in+leading+software+developer,...-a016231665 |title=Electronic Arts takes equity stake in leading software developer, Visual Concepts Entertainment. |publisher=The Free Library |date=January 25, 1995 |author=Business Wire |access-date=June 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622111435/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Electronic+Arts+takes+equity+stake+in+leading+software+developer,...-a016231665 |archive-date=June 22, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In September 1997, [[Sega]] announced their intentions to acquire the company; the deal was closed on May 18, 1999, and Visual Concepts switched ownership for an undisclosed sum.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-to-acquire-visual-concepts/1100-2451359/ |title=Sega to Acquire Visual Concepts |first=Sam |last=Kennedy |date=May 15, 1999 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=February 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218024116/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-to-acquire-visual-concepts/1100-2451359/ |archive-date=February 18, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following a June 2004 deal between Sega and [[Take-Two Interactive]], wherein the two would co-publish and distribute titles in Visual Concepts' [[ESPN]]-based game series,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/06/08/take-two-takes-sega-sports |title=Take-Two Takes SEGA Sports |first=David |last=Adams |date=June 8, 2004 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=February 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218024443/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/06/08/take-two-takes-sega-sports |archive-date=February 18, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> rumors started spreading in December 2004, which suggested that Take-Two Interactive was planning to acquire Visual Concepts from Sega.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-taking-over-visual-concepts/1100-6115592/ |title=Take-Two taking over Visual Concepts? |first=Tor |last=Thorsen |date=December 23, 2004 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=February 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218024335/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-taking-over-visual-concepts/1100-6115592/ |archive-date=February 18, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.videogamer.com/news/take-two-to-purchase-visual-concepts |title=Take-Two to purchase Visual Concepts? |first=Tom |last=Orry |date=December 24, 2004 |website=VideoGamer.com |access-date=February 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218090413/https://www.videogamer.com/news/take-two-to-purchase-visual-concepts |archive-date=February 18, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 24, 2005, Take-Two Interactive announced to have completed a transaction of {{US$|24&nbsp;million|link=yes}} to Sega for the acquisition of Visual Concepts, its subsidiary [[Kush Games]], and the [[intellectual property]] to the ''2K'' franchise.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-officially-out-of-the-sports-game/1100-6117016/ |title=Sega officially out of the sports game |first=Curt |last=Feldman |date=January 24, 2005 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=February 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014034622/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-officially-out-of-the-sports-game/1100-6117016/ |archive-date=October 14, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/01/25/take-two-buys-visual-concepts |title=Take Two Buys Visual Concepts |first=David |last=Adams |date=January 24, 2005 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=February 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204001234/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/01/25/take-two-buys-visual-concepts |archive-date=February 4, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The publisher's 2006 [[Form 10-K]] filing later showed that a total of {{US$|32.2&nbsp;million}} had been paid to Sega for the acquisition of Visual Concepts and affiliated properties by January 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-reveals-acquisition-prices-hints-at-future-lawsuits/1100-6143447/ |title=Take-Two reveals acquisition prices, hints at future lawsuits |first=Brendan |last=Sinclair |date=January 31, 2006 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=February 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226001336/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-reveals-acquisition-prices-hints-at-future-lawsuits/1100-6143447/ |archive-date=February 26, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 25, 2005, the day following the acquisition, Take-Two Interactive announced their new publishing label, [[2K (company)|2K]], which would henceforth manage Visual Concepts and Kush Games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/take-two-acquires-visual-concepts-announces-2k-games-brand |title=Take-Two Acquires Visual Concepts, Announces 2K Games Brand |first=David |last=Jenkins |date=January 25, 2005 |website=[[Gamasutra]] |access-date=February 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204070208/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/95818/TakeTwo_Acquires_Visual_Concepts_Announces_2K_Games_Brand.php |archive-date=February 4, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A March 2009 research study on [[Metacritic]] scores, conducted by [[GameQuarry]], ranked Visual Concepts as the number one "most consistent" video game developer on the [[review aggregator]] website, with 50 out of their 72 games at the time having received an aggregated review score of 80/100 or higher.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/visual-concepts-most-consistent-developer |title=Visual Concepts 'most consistent' developer |first=Phil |last=Elliott |date=March 17, 2009 |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |access-date=February 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218090126/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/visual-concepts-most-consistent-developer |archive-date=February 18, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2010, Visual Concepts laid off 30 employees due to "the need for resource alignment and better efficiency".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/120742/NBA_2K11_Developer_Visual_Concepts_Lays_Off_30_Employees.php |title=''NBA 2K11'' Developer Visual Concepts Lays Off 30 Employees |first=Colette |last=Bennett |date=August 16, 2010 |website=[[Gamasutra]] |access-date=February 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218024157/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/120742/NBA_2K11_Developer_Visual_Concepts_Lays_Off_30_Employees.php |archive-date=February 18, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In December 2018, at [[The Game Awards 2018]], Greg Thomas was honored with the "Industry Icon" award for his 30-year services with Visual Concepts.<ref name="tga" />

2K acquired HookBang's game division, which had worked with Visual Concepts on the ''NBA 2K'' games previously, in March 2021. The division was rebranded as Visual Concepts Austin to continue to support Visual Concepts.<ref name="gibiz hookbang">{{cite web | url = https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-03-23-2k-acquires-hookbang-games-business | title = 2K acquires HookBang games business | first = Brendan | last= Sinclair | date = March 23, 2021 | accessdate = March 23, 2021 | work = [[GamesIndustry.biz]] }}</ref> In February 2024, an unknown number of employees at Visual Concepts Austin were affected by layoffs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kennedy |first=Victoria |date=2024-02-07 |title=Layoffs hit WWE, Lego 2K Drive studio Visual Concepts Austin |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/layoffs-hit-wwe-lego-2k-drive-studio-visual-concepts-austin |access-date=2024-03-05 |work=Eurogamer.net |language=en}}</ref>