Editing GameSpy

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Short description|American video game company}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2012}}
{{Infobox company
| name             = GameSpy
| logo             = GameSpy - Official Logo.png
| logo_size        = 200px
| logo_caption     = 
| image            = 
| image_caption    = 
| trading_name     = <!-- d/b/a/, doing business as - if different from legal name above -->
| native_name      = <!-- Company's name in home country language -->
| native_name_lang = <!-- Use ISO 639-1 code, e.g. "fr" for French. If there is more than one native name, in different languages, enter those names using {{tl|lang}}, instead. -->
| romanized_name   = 
| former_name      = 
| former type      = 
| type             = [[Subsidiary]]
| traded_as        = 
| fate             = [[GameSpy Technology|GameSpy Industries]] acquired by [[Glu Mobile]], site acquired by [[Ziff Davis]] and shut down<ref name=joystiq-layoffs/>
| predecessor      = 
| successor        = 
| foundation       = {{Start date and age|1999}}
| founder          = 
| defunct          =  {{End date|2013|02|21}}
| location_city    = 
| location_country = 
| locations        = <!-- Number of locations, stores, offices, etc. -->
| area_served      = 
| key_people       = Mark Surfas ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])
| products         = 
| production       = 
| services         = 
| owner            = [[IGN Entertainment]]
| revenue          = 
| operating_income = 
| net_income       = 
| aum              = <!-- Only used with financial services companies -->
| assets           = 
| equity           = 
| num_employees    = 
| divisions        = 
| subsid           = 
| homepage         = {{URL|gamespy.com}}
| footnotes        = 
| intl             = 
| bodystyle        = 
}}

'''GameSpy''' was an American  provider of [[online multiplayer]] and [[Matchmaking (video games)|matchmaking]] [[middleware]] for [[video game]]s founded in 1999 by Mark Surfas.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-21-fi-2793-story.html|title=GameSpy to Buy Mplayer Web Site for $20 Million|last=Pham|first=Alex|date=December 21, 2000|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701212225/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-21-fi-2793-story.html|archive-date=July 1, 2020|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref> After the release of a multiplayer server browser for [[Quake (video game)|Quake]], QSpy, Surfas licensed the software under the GameSpy brand to other video game publishers through a newly established company, [[GameSpy Technology|GameSpy Industries]], which also incorporated his Planet Network of video game news and information websites, and GameSpy.com.

GameSpy merged with [[IGN]] in 2004;<ref name="ign-gsi-merger">{{cite press release |url=https://corp.ign.com/press/press/2004/igngamespy-merger-creates-one-of-the-internets-largest-game-and-entertainment-focused-companies |title=IGN/GameSpy Merger Creates One of the Internet's Largest Game and Entertainment-Focused Companies |publisher=[[IGN]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102223614/http://corp.ign.com/press/2004/igngamespy-merger-creates-one-of-the-internets-largest-game-and-entertainment-focused-companies |archive-date=January 2, 2018 |date=March 4, 2004 |access-date=March 18, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="gibiz-gsi-ign-merger">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/gamespy-and-ign-announce-intention-to-merge |title=GameSpy and IGN announce intention to merge |work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |first=Rob |last=Fahey |date=December 5, 2003 |access-date=March 18, 2019}}</ref> by 2014, its services had been used by over 800 video game publishers and developers since its launch.<ref name="gi-shutdown"/> In August 2012, the GameSpy Industries division (which remained responsible for the GameSpy service) was acquired by mobile video game developer [[Glu Mobile]]. IGN (then owned by [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]]) retained ownership of the GameSpy.com website. In February 2013, IGN's new owner, [[Ziff Davis]], shut down IGN's "secondary" sites, including GameSpy's network. This was followed by the announcement in April 2014 that GameSpy's service platform would be shut down on May 31, 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarkar |first=Samit |date=April 3, 2014 |title=GameSpy Technology shutting down May 31 (update) |url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/4/3/5579254/gamespy-technology-shutdown-date-multiplayer-server-hosting-matchmaking |access-date=June 1, 2022 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=GameSpy online services shutting down May 31 |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/83880/gamespy-online-services-shutting-down-may-31 |access-date=June 1, 2022 |website=Shacknews |date=April 3, 2014 |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
The 1996 release of [[id Software]]'s video game ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]'', one of the first 3D multiplayer action games to allow play over the [[Internet]], furthered the concept of players creating and releasing "[[Mod (computer gaming)|mods]]" or modifications of games. Mark Surfas saw the need for hosting and distribution of these mods and created PlanetQuake, a ''Quake''-related hosting and news site.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/article-30438 |title=GoofySpy Industries? |author=Gestalt |work=[[Eurogamer]] |date=April 2, 2001 |access-date=June 7, 2015 |publisher=Gamer Network}}</ref><ref name=wiispy/> The massive success of mods catapulted PlanetQuake to huge traffic and a central position in the burgeoning game website scene.

''Quake'' also marked the beginning of the Internet [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] real-time action game scene. However, finding a ''Quake'' [[server (computing)|server]] on the Internet proved difficult, as players could only share IP addresses of known servers between themselves or post them on websites. To solve this problem, a team of three programmers (consisting of Joe "QSpy" Powell, Tim Cook, and Jack "morbid" Matthews) formed Spy Software and created QSpy (or QuakeSpy). This allowed the listing and searching of Quake servers available across the Internet. Surfas licensed QSpy and became the official distributor and marketer while retaining the original programming team. QSpy became QuakeSpy and went on to be bundled with its [[QuakeWorld]] update – an unprecedented move by a top tier developer and huge validation for QuakeSpy. With the release of the [[Quake engine]]-based game ''[[Hexen II]]'', QuakeSpy added this game to its capabilities and was renamed GameSpy3D. In 1997 Mark Surfas licensed GameSpy 3D from Spy Software, and created GameSpy Industries.

In 1999, GameSpy received [[angel investment]] funding from entrepreneur David Berkus. The company released MP3Spy.com (later renamed RadioSpy.com), a software browser allowing people to browse and connect to online radio feeds, such as those using [[Nullsoft]]'s [[ShoutCast]]. GameSpy received $3 million in additional funding from the [[Yucaipa Companies]], an investment group headed by [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] agent [[Michael Ovitz]] and [[Southern California]] supermarket billionaire [[Ronald Burkle]].

The expanding of the company's websites included the games portal, GameSpy.com, created in October 1999;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/552/552075p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041010085836/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/552/552075p1.html|title=GameSpy's 25 Most Memorable Games of the Past 5 Years|archive-date=October 10, 2004|date=September 28, 2004|access-date=June 23, 2019}}</ref> the Planet Network (also known as the GameSpy Network), a collection of "Planet" websites devoted to popular video games (such as Planet Quake, [[Planet Half-Life]] and Planet Unreal) as well as the [[video game genre|genre]]-related websites, 3DActionPlanet, RPGPlanet, SportPlanet and StrategyPlanet; ForumPlanet, the network's extensive message board system; and FilePlanet, which was one of the largest video game file download sites. It also included [[video game#Platforms|platform]]-specific sites (e.g., Planet PS2, Planet Xbox, Planet Nintendo and Planet Dreamcast), but these were consolidated into GameSpy.com; only Classic Gaming remains separate. ForumPlanet and FilePlanet were services offered by GameSpy, and were not part of the Planet Network.

In 2000, GameSpy received additional investment funding from the [[Ziff Davis]] publishing division [[ZDNet.com]] and from Guillemot Corporation. GameSpy shut down its RadioSpy division, backing away from the online music market which was dominated by [[peer-to-peer]] applications such as [[Napster]] and [[Gnutella]]. In 2001, GameSpy's corporate technology business grew to include [[software development kit]]s and [[middleware]] for video game consoles, such as Sony's [[PlayStation 2]], Sega's [[Dreamcast]] and Microsoft's [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]]. In March 2007, [[IGN]] and GameSpy Industries merged, and was briefly known as IGN/GameSpy before formalizing their corporate name as IGN Entertainment.<ref name=gsshutdown>{{Cite web |title=Goodbye, And Thank You From The GameSpy Team |url=http://au.pc.gamespy.com/articles/122/1227460p1.html |work=GameSpy |publisher=[[IGN Entertainment]] |first=Dan |last=Stapleton |date=February 21, 2013 |access-date=March 18, 2019}}</ref>

Also in 2000, GameSpy turned GameSpy3D into [[GameSpy Arcade]] and purchased [[Roger Wilco (software)|RogerWilco]], [[MPlayer.com]] and various assets from HearMe; the MPlayer service was shut down and the RogerWilco technology is improved and incorporated into GameSpy Arcade. GameSpy Arcade was the company's flagship matchmaking software, allowing users to find servers for different online video games (whether they be free or purchased) and connect the user to game servers of that game. GameSpy also published the [[Roger Wilco (software)|Roger Wilco]] voice chat software, primarily meant for communication and co-ordination in team-oriented games, where users join a server to chat with other users on the server using voice communication. This software rivaled the other major voice chat software [[Ventrilo]] and [[Teamspeak]]. The company's "Powered by GameSpy" technology enabled online functionality in over 300 PC and console games.<ref name=gsnds/> In 2005, GameSpy added the [[PlayStation Portable]], and [[Nintendo DS]]<ref name=gsnds>{{cite news |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/news120505gamespyds |title=GameSpy Doing DS Network |author=Games Industry International |work=[[Eurogamer]] |date=May 12, 2005 |access-date=June 7, 2015 |publisher=Gamer Network}}</ref> to its stable supported platforms. In March 2007, GameSpy added the [[Wii]] as another supported platform.<ref name=wiispy>{{cite news |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/wii-gets-gamespy |title=Wii Gets GameSpy |first=Robert |last=Purchese |work=[[Eurogamer]] |date=March 13, 2007 |access-date=June 7, 2015 |publisher=Gamer Network}}</ref>

=== Shutdown ===
GameSpy Industries (the entity responsible for GameSpy multiplayer services) was bought from IGN Entertainment by Glu Mobile in August 2012,<ref name=glu>{{Cite web |title=Glu Acquires GameSpy Technology to Expand Connected, Cross-platform Mobile Leadership |url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=207033&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1721900&highlight= |work=[[Glu Mobile]] |access-date=November 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411143602/http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=207033&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1721900&highlight= |archive-date=April 11, 2016 |date=August 2, 2012 |first=Seth |last=Potter |url-status=live }}</ref> and proceeded in December to raise integration costs and shut down servers for many older games, including ''[[Fairytale Fights]]'', ''[[Star Wars: Battlefront]]'', ''[[Sniper Elite (video game)|Sniper Elite]]'', ''[[Microsoft Flight Simulator X]]'', ''[[Saints Row 2]]'', and ''[[Neverwinter Nights (2002 video game)|Neverwinter Nights]]'', with no warning to developers or players, much to the outrage of communities of those games.<ref name=shutdown>{{Cite web |title=Glu Shutting Down Multiplayer for GameSpy-based PC Titles |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/Glu-Mobile-GameSpy-Multiplayer-PC-Gaming-Rebellion,19684.html |work=[[Tom's Hardware]] |access-date=November 19, 2012 |first=Kevin |last=Parrish |date=December 11, 2012 |publisher=[[Purch]]}}</ref>  GameSpy Technologies remained operational as a separate entity since.<ref name=gamespytech>{{Cite web |title=A Tale of Two GameSpys |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/122/1226912p1.html |work=GameSpy |access-date=February 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213052002/http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/122/1226912p1.html |archive-date=December 13, 2012 |first=Dan |last=Stapleton |date=December 11, 2012 |publisher=[[IGN Entertainment, Inc.]]}}</ref> In February 2013, following the acquisition of IGN Entertainment by [[Ziff Davis]], IGN's "secondary" sites were shut down, ending GameSpy's editorial operations.<ref name=joystiq-layoffs>{{cite web |title=IGN hit with layoffs; 1UP, Gamespy and UGO shutting down |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/ign-layoffs/ |work=[[Joystiq]] |access-date=February 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326162102/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/ign-layoffs/ |archive-date=March 26, 2014 |date=February 21, 2013 |first=Alexander |last=Sliwinski |publisher=[[AOL Inc.]] |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=gsshutdown/>

In April 2014, Glu announced that it would shut down the GameSpy servers on May 31, 2014, so its developers could focus on work for Glu's own services. Games that still used GameSpy are no longer able to offer online functionality or multiplayer services through GameSpy. While some publishers announced plans to migrate GameSpy-equipped games to other platforms (such as [[Steam (service)|Steam]] or in-house servers), some publishers, such as [[Nintendo]] (who used the GameSpy servers as the basis of its [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]] platform for DS and Wii games) did not, particularly due to the age of the affected games.<ref name="gi-shutdown">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/04/03/glu-shutting-down-gamespy-service-affecting-a-reported-800-developers-and-publishers.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072627/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/04/03/glu-shutting-down-gamespy-service-affecting-a-reported-800-developers-and-publishers.aspx |url-status=live |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |title=Glu Shutting Down Gamespy Service, Affecting A Reported 800 Developers And Publishers |first=Mike |last=Futter |date=April 3, 2014 |access-date=April 3, 2014 |magazine=[[Game Informer]] }}</ref><ref name=ign-nintendoterminate>{{cite web |title=Nintendo Terminating Wi-fi Service For DS and Wii |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/27/nintendo-terminating-wi-fi-service-for-ds-and-wii |work=[[IGN]] |access-date=April 4, 2014 |date=February 26, 2014 |first=Katie |last=Williams |publisher=[[Ziff Davis, LLC]]}}</ref><ref name=ign-gamespyshutdown>{{cite web |title=GameSpy Multiplayer Shutting Down, Hundreds of Games at Risk |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/04/03/gamespy-multiplayer-shutting-down-hundreds-of-games-at-risk |work=[[IGN]] |access-date=April 4, 2014 |date=April 3, 2014 |first=Mitch |last=Dyer |publisher=[[Ziff Davis, LLC]]}}</ref> [[Electronic Arts]], in particular, announced 24 PC games, including titles such as ''[[Battlefield 2]]'', the ''[[Crysis]]'' series, ''[[Saints Row 2]]'' and the ''[[Star Wars: Battlefront]]'' series, would be affected by the end of GameSpy service.<ref name=pcgamer-eashutdown>{{cite web |title=EA list 24 PC games affected by Gamespy shutdown, including Battlefield 2, Crysis |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/ea-gamespy-shutdown-update/ |work=[[PC Gamer]] |access-date=October 2, 2014 |first=Phil |last=Savage |date=May 12, 2014 |publisher=[[Future US, Inc.]]}}</ref>

Fan-created [[Game mod|mods]] restored online functionality with alternative servers. One such mod for the PC version of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved|Halo]]'' was officially incorporated into a patch for the game released by [[Bungie]] in May 2014, and [[Disney]] helped developers create a similar mod for ''[[Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005 video game)|Battlefront II]]'' (2005) in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Andy Chalk published |date=October 2, 2017 |title=Star Wars: Battlefront 2 multiplayer restored, now with Steam/GOG crossplay |language=en |work=PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/star-wars-battlefront-2-multiplayer-restored-now-with-steamgog-crossplay/ |access-date=June 1, 2022}}</ref> 10 days prior to the [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]] shutdown, a fan continuation of the project was created named Wiimmfi. By contrast, in 2017, Electronic Arts demanded the takedown of modified versions of ''Battlefield 2'' and ''[[Battlefield 2142]]'' on alternate servers, distributed by a group known as "Revive Network", as infringement of their copyrights.<ref name=wired-stranded>{{cite news |title=Gamers Unite to Bring Back Titles Stranded by GameSpy Shutdown |url=https://www.wired.com/2014/06/gamespy-server-shutdown/ |access-date=October 2, 2014 |work=[[Wired.com]] |first=Bo |last=Moore |date=June 23, 2014 |publisher=[[Condé Nast]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/10/ea-shuts-down-fan-run-servers-for-older-battlefield-games/ |title=EA shuts down fan-run servers for older Battlefield games |work=[[Ars Technica]] |access-date=October 29, 2017 |first=Kyle |last=Orland |date=October 27, 2017 |publisher=[[Condé Nast]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/star-wars-battlefront-2-multiplayer-restored-now-with-steamgog-crossplay/ |title=Star Wars: Battlefront 2 multiplayer restored, now with Steam/GOG crossplay |magazine=[[pcgamer.com]] |access-date=October 29, 2017 |first=Andy |last=Chalk |date=October 2, 2017 |publisher=[[Future US, Inc.]]}}</ref>

==''The GameSpy Debriefings''==
{{Infobox Podcast
|title = The GameSpy Debriefings
|hosting = Anthony Gallegos, Ryan Scott <br />(previous host: Patrick Joynt)
|language = English
|updates = Fridays
|length = 50–60 minutes
|audio format = [[MP3]]
|began = May 11, 2007
|ended = July 30, 2011
|genre = Video games, comedy
|provider = GameSpy
|url = [http://feeds.gamespy.com/gsfeeds/podcasts/ RSS Feed]
|italic title = no
|image=|num_episodes=170 [http://www.gamespy.com/articles/118/1185126p1.html]
|fetchwikidata= ALL
}}

''The GameSpy Debriefings'' was a party-style discussion between editors of GameSpy and IGN Entertainment on (purportedly) that week's gaming news.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/why-we-write-about-games-1785271251|title=Why We Write About Games|website=Kotaku|date=August 14, 2016 |language=en-us|access-date=November 21, 2019}}</ref> ''The GameSpy Debriefings'' was the 25th most popular podcast under the category "Games and Hobbies" on [[iTunes]] (as of May 1, 2011). It was however infamous for the crew's frequent propensity to de-rail the conversation from video games into explicit content or in-depth discussions about [[nerd culture]].

The main crew at the show's conclusion of ''The GameSpy Debriefings'' consisted of:
* Anthony Gallegos, then of IGN Entertainment, previously of [[1UP.com]], ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'', and GameSpy
* Ryan Scott, then of GameSpy, previously the executive editor for the 1UP.com Network's reviews department, and the reviews editor for both ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' and ''[[Games for Windows: The Official Magazine]]''
* Scott Bromley, formerly of IGN Entertainment
* Brian Altano, Humor Editor and graphic designer for IGN.com/GameSpy

Frequent guests  included:
* Arthur Gies, formerly of IGN Entertainment
* Brian Miggels, formerly of IGN Entertainment and GameSpy
* Will Tuttle, former Editor-In-Chief of GameSpy
* Jack DeVries, former Editor of GameSpy

On July 30, 2011, ''The GameSpy Debriefings'' ended with an episode consisting of only the main crew. Following its conclusion, they launched a fundraising drive on [[Kickstarter]] which resulted in the release of their own popular podcast, '''''The Comedy Button'''''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/988149443/the-comedy-button-podcast-from-the-makers-of-the-d/ |title=The Comedy Button Podcast by Scott Bromley |work=[[Kickstarter.com]] |access-date=October 22, 2014 |first=Scott |last=Bromley |date=August 11, 2011}}</ref> ''The Comedy Button'' is similar in content to the later ''GameSpy Debriefings'', with a renewed focus on humorous discussions and listener e-mails rather than the in-depth discussion of recent video games like the early ''Debriefings''.

{{asof|2023|post=,}} ''The Comedy Button'' ended with 550 episodes being produced.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Comedy Button |url=https://www.comedybutton.com/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=comedybutton.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Comedy Button : The Comedy Button: Episode 550 — THE GRAND FINALE! |url=https://comedybutton.libsyn.com/the-comedy-button-episode-550-the-grand-finale |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=comedybutton.libsyn.com}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060614024114/http://www.gamespy.com/ GameSpy]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060921051111/http://arena.gamespy.com/ GameSpy Arena]

{{Online video game networks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gamespy}}
[[Category:GameSpy| ]]
[[Category:Defunct websites]]
[[Category:Download websites]]
[[Category:IGN]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 1996]]
[[Category:Internet properties disestablished in 2013]]
[[Category:Video game news websites]]
[[Category:Webby Award winners]]