Editing TimeGate Studios

{{Short description|American video game developer}}
{{Infobox company
| name             = TimeGate Studios
| logo             = TimeGate logo.png
| caption          = 
| type             = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| foundation       = August 1998<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timegatestudios.com/news.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000303025605/http://www.timegatestudios.com:80/news.htm|title=News|website=timegatestudios.com|archivedate=March 3, 2000|date=1999|accessdate=April 1, 2022}}</ref>
| fate             = [[Chapter 7, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 7]] bankruptcy
| defunct          = 2013
| location_city    = [[Sugar Land, Texas]]
| location_country = [[United States]]
| location         = <!-- modifies "Headquarters" entry -->
| key_people       = Adel Chaveleh, president<br />Alan Chaveleh, chairman
| industry         = [[Video game development]]
| products         = [[Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns|''Kohan'' series]]<br />''[[Axis & Allies (2004 video game)|Axis & Allies]]''<br />[[Section 8 (video game)|''Section 8'' series]]
| revenue          = 
| operating_income = 
| net_income       = 
| owner            = 
| num_employees    = 55
| parent           = 
| website          = [https://web.archive.org/web/20041209033518/http://www.timegate.com/ timegate.com]
}}

'''TimeGate Studios''' was an American [[video game developer]] based in [[Sugar Land, Texas]]. The company, founded in 1998, released eight titles before closing in 2013.<ref name="tim">{{cite web |title=TimeGate Studios - About Us - Sugar Land, Houston, Texas |url=http://www.timegate.com/about/ |work=TimeGate Information |access-date=2018-02-05 |date=April 2010 |publisher=TimeGate Studios |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508003855/http://timegate.com/about/ |archive-date=2012-05-08}}</ref>

==History==
TimeGate Studios was founded in 1998 by Alan and Adel Chaveleh, who respectively served as chairman and president of the studio. The company had worked with industry publishers such as [[Vivendi Games]], [[Take-Two Interactive]], [[Atari]], [[Ubisoft]], [[SouthPeak Games]], and [[Gamecock Media Group]].

===Releases===
TimeGate Studios' debut [[real-time strategy game]], ''[[Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns]]'', won positive critical reception receiving several awards including “Strategy Game of the Year” in 2001 by [[Computer Gaming World]], [[PC Gamer]], and [[Computer Games Magazine]].<ref name="tim"/> The standalone expansion pack, [[Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns#Expansion|''Kohan: Ahriman’s Gift'']], was released later that year and the company's relative success with the ''Kohan'' franchise earned it a nomination for “Rookie Studio of the Year” from the [[IGDA]] in 2001.<ref name="tim"/>

The studio released an addition to the ''Kohan'' series in September 2004 with the release of ''[[Kohan II: Kings of War]]'', which was featured as a “Top 10 Game” in 2004 by [[Computer Games Magazine]].<ref name="tim"/> In November 2004, TimeGate Studios and Atari released ''[[Axis & Allies (2004 video game)|Axis & Allies]]'', a real-time strategy game, based on the [[Axis & Allies|board game series of the same name]], that let players play the role of [[World War II]]’s different factions. This title is currently TimeGate's best-selling release to date.<ref name="tim"/>

The studio then began to develop in the genre of [[first-person shooters]] in October 2006 with the release of ''[[F.E.A.R. Extraction Point]]'', an expansion pack for Vivendi’s horror game ''[[F.E.A.R]]'' (First Encounter Assault Recon.) ''F.E.A.R. Extraction Point'' was named “Best Expansion Pack of 2006” by [[PC Gamer]].<ref name="tim"/> TimeGate Studios further propelled the ''F.E.A.R.'' series on the PC with the release of ''[[F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate]]'' in November 2007. The company released ''[[F.E.A.R. Files]]'', a combination of both expansion packs, for the [[Xbox 360]] in November 2007 as well.<ref name="tim"/>

The studio then began production on ''[[Section 8 (video game)|Section 8]]'', a sci-fi first-person shooter that was released on the [[Xbox 360]] and [[Personal computer|PC]] in September 2009. Several months later, TimeGate released ''Section 8'' on the [[PlayStation 3]] in March 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=TimeGate Studios - News - Section 8 Drops on Playstation 3 Computer Entertainment System |url=http://www.timegate.com/news/section-8-drops-on-ps3/ |work=TimeGate Information |access-date=2010-04-12 |date=April 2010 |publisher=TimeGate Studios |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330081912/http://www.timegate.com/news/section-8-drops-on-ps3/ |archive-date=2010-03-30 }}</ref> Further sequels have been hinted upon by TimeGate stating, "...it has never been our intent for it to be a one-product franchise," in reference to ''Section 8''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Section 8 Interview|url=http://www.strategyinformer.com/ps3/section8/interview.html|work=Strategy Informer|access-date=2010-04-12|date=April 2010}}</ref> On April 20, 2011, TimeGate released a digital downloadable sequel to the game called ''[[Section 8: Prejudice]]''.

In late 2012, TimeGate were involved in the development of the much-hyped science-fiction first-person shooter, ''[[Aliens: Colonial Marines]]''. The game was outsourced to TimeGate by ''[[Borderlands (video game)|Borderlands]]'' developer [[Gearbox Software]], who were originally assigned by publisher [[Sega]] to work on the ''[[Alien (franchise)|Alien]]'' game.  However, due to troubled development, the game was released in a rushed, incomplete state and received mostly negative reviews. Most issues were resolved with a post-release patch. Nevertheless, the state of the game upon initial release led to TimeGate laying off twenty-five members of its staff after its release.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.bit-tech.net/news/gaming/2013/03/05/timegate-studios-sheds-25-staff/1
|title=TimeGate Studios sheds 25 staff
|publisher=BitGamer
|first=David
|last=Hing
|date=March 5, 2013
|access-date=2013-03-25
}}</ref>

In 2013, it was announced that TimeGate was developing a new [[free-to-play]] game, titled ''Minimum'', expected to be released at the end of the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vg247.com/2013/04/10/minimum-is-timegate-studios-latest-goes-into-alpha-next-week/ |title=Minimum is Timegate Studios' latest, goes into alpha next week |publisher=VG247 |date=2013-04-10 |access-date=2013-08-20}}</ref>

===Bankruptcy===
On Wednesday, May 1, 2013, TimeGate Studios filed a [[Bankruptcy in the United States#Chapters of the Bankruptcy Code|petition]] for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection]] in Texas Southern Bankruptcy Court, according to court documents obtained by [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]].<ref name="polygon_chap11">{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/5/2/4293890/section-8-timegate-studios-aliens-colonial-marines-bankruptcy |title=Section 8 developer TimeGate Studios files for bankruptcy protection |author=McWhertor, Michael |date=2013-05-02 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=2018-02-26}}</ref><ref name=chap11>{{cite web| last=Matulef | first=Jeffrey | url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-05-02-timegate-studios-has-filed-for-bankruptcy | title=TimeGate Studios has filed for bankruptcy | publisher=[[Eurogamer.net]] | date=March 5, 2013 | access-date=2013-08-20}}</ref><ref name="kotaku closure??"/> The petition filed by TimeGate listed [[Liability (financial accounting)|total liabilities]] that ranged from $10 - $50 million, owed to [[creditor]]s. Creditors included companies such as [[Unreal Engine]] developer [[Epic Games]], online game service [[Agora Games]], transmedia developer DJ2 Entertainment, video game agency Birthplace Management Group, and video game publisher [[SouthPeak Games|Southpeak Interactive]].<ref name="polygon_chap11"/> TimeGate Studios faced $7.35 million in damages and lost the license for [[Section 8 (video game)|Section 8]] as part of a fraud suit between itself and SouthPeak.<ref name="polygon_chap11"/>

In 2009, TimeGate sued [[SouthPeak Games|Southpeak]], claiming Southpeak had withheld royalties and failed to follow through with localizing the title "[[Section 8 (video game)|Section 8]]". SouthPeak countersued, claiming TimeGate hadn't invested enough of its own capital into the game's development, among other complaints. The two entered into [[arbitration]] with a third party, who ruled in favor of SouthPeak, awarding SouthPeak $7.35 million in compensatory damages and control of the Section 8 license. In March 2013, this ruling was overturned in a federal court. In April 2013, a [[United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit|U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit]] filed to reverse and [[Remand (court procedure)|remand]] the prior March ruling, reinstating the arbitration award for SouthPeak.<ref name="polygon_chap11"/> SouthPeak Interactive looked to convert TimeGate's Chapter 11 bankruptcy into a [[Chapter 7, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 7 liquidation]], which would mean a studio closure for TimeGate.<ref name="kotaku closure??"/> It was reported later in May that the studio had closed.<ref name="kotaku closure??">{{cite web| last=Schreirer| first=Jason| title=The Studio Behind Aliens: Colonial Marines Just Laid Off Its Staff| url=http://kotaku.com/the-studio-behind-aliens-colonial-marines-just-laid-of-498772251| work=[[Kotaku]]| access-date=2013-08-20| date=May 9, 2013}}</ref><ref name="eurogamer closure??">{{cite web| last=Matulef| first=Jeffrey| title=Aliens: Colonial Marines co-developer TimeGate Studios has been shuttered - report| url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-05-10-aliens-colonial-marines-co-developer-timegate-studios-has-been-shuttered-report| publisher=Eurogamer.net| access-date=2013-08-20| date=May 10, 2013}}</ref><ref name="pcgamer closure??">{{cite web|last=Hafer|first=T.J.|title=Colonial Marines devs TimeGate Studios reportedly laying off all staff|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/05/09/colonial-marines-devs-timegate-studios-reportedly-laying-off-all-staff/|publisher=[[PCGamer|pcgamer.com]]|access-date=2013-08-20|date=May 9, 2013}}</ref>

==Games==
* ''[[Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns]]'' – (2001)
* ''[[Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns#Expansion|Kohan: Ahriman's Gift]]'' – (2001)
* ''[[Kohan II: Kings of War]]'' – (2004)
* ''[[Axis & Allies (2004 video game)|Axis & Allies]]'' – (2004)
* ''[[F.E.A.R. Extraction Point]]'' – (2006)
* ''[[F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate]]'' – (2007)
* ''[[F.E.A.R. Files]]'' – (2007)
* ''[[Section 8 (video game)|Section 8]]'' – (2009)
* ''[[Section 8: Prejudice]]'' – (2011)
* ''[[Aliens: Colonial Marines]]'' – (2013)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041209033518/http://www.timegate.com/ Official website] via [[Internet Archive]]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/company/timegate-studios-inc TimeGate Studios] at [[MobyGames]]

{{TimeGate Studios}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Companies based in Sugar Land, Texas]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 1998]]
[[Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2013]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2013]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2013]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Texas]]
[[Category:Defunct video game companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Companies that have filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy]]
[[Category:Video game development companies]]
[[Category:1998 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:2013 disestablishments in Texas]]