Editing Gathering of Developers (section)

===Opening and growth===
Gathering of Developers was announced by [[Mike Wilson (executive)|Mike Wilson]] in 1997, with the official opening scheduled for January 1998.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/1997/12/g-o-d-wants-to-help-developers-help-themselves/ |title=g.o.d Wants to Help Developers Help Themselves |first=Janelle |last=Brown |date=December 30, 1997 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235207/https://www.wired.com/1997/12/g-o-d-wants-to-help-developers-help-themselves/ |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Wilson had previously been the [[chief executive officer|CEO]] of [[Ion Storm]], a [[video game developer]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_12/11_ion/index.html |title=ION's Mike Wilson Takes a Hike |author=Staff |date=December 11, 1997 |website=[[GameSpot]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000416092646/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_12/11_ion/index.html |archive-date=April 16, 2000 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Wilson's stated vision for the company was to have a video games publisher run by experienced developers rather than marketeers and conventional businessmen.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Colin |last=Campbell |title=Movers and Shakers |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=39 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=March 1998|page=26}}</ref> Gathering of Developers was initially an alliance of eight development companies, with each of the founding companies having an equity in the publisher and a representative on the [[board of directors]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Do You Believe in G.O.D.? |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=41 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=May 1998|pages=10-15}}</ref>

The opening of the company took place on January 13, 1998.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_01/13_god/index.html |title=Mike Wilson's g.o.d. Becomes Reality |date=13 January 1998 |website=headline.gamespot.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980119045752/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_01/13_god/index.html |archive-date=19 January 1998}}</ref> Co-founders included Harry Miller, Jim Bloom, Rick Stults and Doug Myres.<ref name="GameSpot" /> The same month, video game developer [[Terminal Reality]] became an [[equity partner]] of Gathering of Developers, through which their [[vice-president]], Brett Combs, took a seat on the publisher's [[board of directors]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/terminal-reality-takes-stake-in-god/1100-2462182/ |title=Terminal Reality Takes Stake in g.o.d. |first=Micheal |last=Mullen |date=January 14, 1998 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235152/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/terminal-reality-takes-stake-in-god/1100-2462182/ |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other founding partners included [[Edge of Reality]], [[3D Realms]], [[Epic Games]], [[PopTop Software]], and [[Ritual Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/god-blesses-edge-of-reality/1100-2462948/ |title=g.o.d. Blesses Edge of Reality |first=Micheal |last=Mullen |date=March 16, 1998 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235257/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/god-blesses-edge-of-reality/1100-2462948/ |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/697/697083p13.html |title=GameSpy Retro: Developer Origins, Page 13 of 19 |first=John |last=Keefer |date=March 31, 2006 |website=[[GameSpy]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609133215/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/697/697083p13.html |archive-date=June 9, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> By February 1998, the company had struck an investment deal with Pennsylvania Merchants Group.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_02/13_god/index.html |title=G.o.d. Makes a Friend |first=Alan |last=Dunkin |date=February 13, 1998 |website=[[GameSpot]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000308210423/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_02/13_god/index.html |archive-date=March 8, 2000 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On June 1, 1998, video game publisher [[Take-Two Interactive]] announced a "subsistantial non-equity investment" in Gathering of Developers, wherein Take-Two Interactive would distribute games published by Gathering of Developers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/god-partners-with-take-2/1100-2463312/ |title=g.o.d. Partners with Take 2 |first=Curt |last=Feldman |date=June 1, 1998 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211000728/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/god-partners-with-take-2/1100-2463312/ |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Take-Two Interactive later went on to acquire a 20% stake in the company by February 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/02/10/take-two-buys-20-of-god |title=Take-Two Buys 20% of G.O.D. |author=IGN Staff |date=February 9, 1999 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211072406/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/02/10/take-two-buys-20-of-god |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Also in February 1999, Gathering of Developers co-founded the [[Independent Games Festival]], which was to premier [[Game Developers Conference]],<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/1999/02/and-god-created-a-games-fest/ |title=And GOD Created a Games Fest |first=Ronald Warren |last=Deutsch |date=February 18, 1999 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211071548/https://www.wired.com/1999/02/and-god-created-a-games-fest/ |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> and also co-hosted and funded the 1999 edition of it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/08/god-gears-up-for-games-gala |title=G.O.D. Gears up for Games Gala |author=IGN Staff |date=January 7, 1999 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211072445/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/08/god-gears-up-for-games-gala |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/indie-finalists-announced/1100-2452262/ |title=Indie Finalists Announced |first=Harley |last=Jebens |date=February 11, 1999 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235133/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/indie-finalists-announced/1100-2452262/ |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 1999, Gathering of Developers signed an agreement with [[Sega]] to distribute eight of their games on the [[Heat.net]] platform.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/05/13/heat-deals-with-the-gathering |title=HEAT Deals with The Gathering |author=IGN Staff |date=May 13, 1999 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211072527/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/05/13/heat-deals-with-the-gathering |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the [[Electronic Entertainment Expo]] trade shows, Gathering of Developers offered free [[barbecue]], live music and beer to the nearly 10,000 attendees that crossed the street into their parking lot, dubbed the "Promised Lot".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gods-promised-lot/1100-2451803/ |title=G.O.D.'s Promised Lot |first=Amer |last=Ajami |date=April 30, 1999 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211000748/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gods-promised-lot/1100-2451803/ |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/05/09/god-again-hosts-its-own-e3-party |title=G.O.D. Again Hosts its Own E3 Party |author=IGN Staff |date=May 9, 2001 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211072538/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/05/09/god-again-hosts-its-own-e3-party |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> At the 2001 edition of the event, Gathering of Developers' booth displayed [[booth babes]] dressed up as schoolgirls to promote their adult content.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/130178/book_excerpt_and_review__sex_in_.php?page=11 |title=Book Excerpt and Review – Sex in Video Games, Page 11 of 15 |first1=Brad |last1=Kane |first2=Brenda |last2=Brathwaite |date=December 12, 2006 |website=[[Gamasutra]] |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235239/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/130178/book_excerpt_and_review__sex_in_.php?page=11 |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/06/the-gathering-goes-back-to-school-girls |title=The Gathering Goes Back to School, Girls |author=IGN Staff |date=January 5, 2001 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235258/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/06/the-gathering-goes-back-to-school-girls |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>