Gathering of Developers

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Gathering of Developers, Inc. (shortened as G.O.D. or GodGames, and branded as Gathering between 2003 and 2004) was an American video game publisher based in New York City. Founded by Mike Wilson and associates in January 1998 and originally based in Dallas, the company was acquired by Take-Two Interactive in May 2000. Between May 2000 and March 2001, Gathering of Developers also operated a division, On Deck Interactive, which acted as their mass market label. In August 2001, Take-Two Interactive closed Gathering of Developers' Dallas headquarters and moved the label in-house, to New York City. The label was shut down in September 2004, with all assets consumed by Global Star Software.

History

Opening and growth

Gathering of Developers was announced by Mike Wilson in 1997, with the official opening scheduled for January 1998.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Wilson had previously been the CEO of Ion Storm, a video game developer.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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>Template:Cite magazine</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>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

The opening of the company took place on January 13, 1998.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Other founding partners included Edge of Reality, 3D Realms, Epic Games, PopTop Software, and Ritual Entertainment.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> By February 1998, the company had struck an investment deal with Pennsylvania Merchants Group.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Take-Two Interactive later went on to acquire a 20% stake in the company by February 1999.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Also in February 1999, Gathering of Developers co-founded the Independent Games Festival, which was to premier Game Developers Conference,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and also co-hosted and funded the 1999 edition of it.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In May 1999, Gathering of Developers signed an agreement with Sega to distribute eight of their games on the Heat.net platform.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Decline and acquisition

On May 1, 2000, Take-Two Interactive announced that they had acquired Gathering of Developers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The deal was signed mainly due to Gathering of Developers' financial instability.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On May 4, 2000, Take-Two Interactive and Gathering of Developers launched On Deck Interactive as a publishing label for games with "a consumer friendly price point and a mass market appeal".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Following the departure of On Deck Interactive's CEO Robert Westmoreland, the label was shut down again on March 5, 2001, with all of its upcoming games shifted to Gathering of Developers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Death of co-founder and shut down

On May 3, 2001, Gathering of Developers co-founder Myres unexpectedly died of an asthma attack.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In his honor, Gathering of Developers announced the "Doug Myres Substance Award" in June that year, which would be handed out at the July 2001 edition of the Cyberathlete Professional League, with a donation to the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center made in the recipient's name.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Gathering of Developers' Dallas offices were closed down by Take-Two Interactive in August 2001, with all operations relocated to Take-Two Interactive's headquarters in New York City.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> All staff were laid off or left the company, most of which were then hired by SubstanceTV, a new venture previously launched by Wilson and Myres.<ref name="GameSpot">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> By February 2003, Gathering of Developers had been shortened to Gathering.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On September 9, 2004, following poor financial results in Take-Two Interactive's Q3 2004 fiscal quarter, Gathering of Developers was folded into Global Star Software, Take-Two Interactive's budget range publishing label.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Games published

Title	Platform(s)	Release date	Developer	Ref.
Jazz Jackrabbit 2	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Epic MegaGames / Orange Games	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sort	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	PopTop Software	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Jazz Jackrabbit 2: Holiday Hare '98	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Epic MegaGames	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Jazz Jackrabbit 2	Mac OS	Template:Dts	Logicware	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Jazz Jackrabbit 2: The Secret Files	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Epic MegaGames	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sort	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	PopTop Software	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sort	Mac OS	Template:Dts	Westlake Interactive	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sort	Mac OS	Template:Dts	Westlake Interactive	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Darkstone	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Delphine Software International	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Fly!	Mac OS	Template:Dts	Terminal Reality	<ref name=":2532"/>
	Microsoft Windows			<ref name=":2532"/>
Template:Sort	Linux	Template:Dts	Loki Entertainment Software	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Nocturne	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Terminal Reality	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Age of Wonders	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Triumph Studios / Epic Games	<ref name=":2532"/>
Fly! 2K	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Terminal Reality	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
KISS: Psycho Circus – The Nightmare Child	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Third Law Interactive	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K.²	Mac OS	Template:Dts	Ritual Entertainment	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Microsoft Windows			citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sort	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Terminal Reality	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sort	Mac OS	Template:Dts	Terminal Reality	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Microsoft Windows			<ref name=":252" />
Rune	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Human Head Studios	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sort	Dreamcast	Template:Dts	Terminal Reality	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sort	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Human Head Studios	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sort	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Ritual Entertainment	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Rune	Mac OS	Template:Dts	Human Head Studios	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Kingdom Under Fire: A War of Heroes	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Phantagram	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Oni	Mac OS	Template:Dts	Bungie	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Microsoft Windows			citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sort	PlayStation 2	Template:Dts	Terminal Reality	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Serious Sam: The First Encounter	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Croteam	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Tropico	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	PopTop Software	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sort	Mac OS	Template:Dts	Terminal Reality	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Microsoft Windows			citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Rune: Halls of Valhalla	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Human Head Studios	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Rune	Linux	Template:Dts	Loki Entertainment Software	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Max Payne	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Remedy Entertainment / 3D Realms	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Tropico	Mac OS	Template:Dts	Feral Interactive	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Rune: Halls of Valhalla	Mac OS	Template:Dts	Westlake Interactive	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Linux		Loki Entertainment Software	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Stronghold	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Firefly Studios	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
4x4 EVO 2	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Terminal Reality	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K.²	Linux	Template:Dts	Loki Entertainment Software	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
4x4 EVO 2	Xbox	Template:Dts	Terminal Reality	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sort	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	MumboJumbo	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Mac OS	Template:Dts	MacSoft	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Tropico: Paradise Island	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	BreakAway Games	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Serious Sam: The Second Encounter	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Croteam	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
4x4 EVO 2	Mac OS	Template:Dts	Aspyr	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Stronghold	macOS	Template:Dts	MacSoft	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Triumph Studios / PopTop Software	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Max Payne	macOS	Template:Dts	Feral Interactive	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Mafia	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Illusion Softworks	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Stronghold: Crusader	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Firefly Studios	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Vietcong	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Pterodon / Illusion Softworks	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Tropico 2: Pirate Cove	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Frog City Software / PopTop Software	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Triumph Studios	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Space Colony	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Firefly Studios	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sort	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Illusion Softworks	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Railroad Tycoon 3	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	PopTop Software	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Mafia	PlayStation 2	Template:Dts	Illusion Softworks	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Vietcong: Fist Alpha	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Pterodon / Illusion Softworks	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Mafia	Xbox	Template:Dts	Illusion Softworks	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Destruction Derby: Arenas	PlayStation 2	Template:Dts	Studio 33	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Space Colony	macOS	Template:Dts	Aspyr	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Gotcha! Extreme Paintball	Microsoft Windows, Xbox	Template:Dts	Sixteen Tons Entertainment	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Railroad Tycoon 3: Coast to Coast	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	PopTop Software	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Guy Game	Xbox	Template:Dts	Topheavy Studios	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	PlayStation 2	Template:Dts	Atomic Planet Entertainment	<ref name=":2502"/>
Wings of War	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Silver Wish Games	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Xbox			<ref name=":251" />
Railroad Tycoon 3	macOS	Template:Dts	MacSoft	<ref name=":2492"/>
Vietcong: Purple Haze	PlayStation 2	Template:Dts	Coyote Developments	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Xbox			<ref name=":254" />
The Guy Game	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Topheavy Studios	<ref name=":2502"/>
Vietcong: Red Dawn	Microsoft Windows	Template:Dts	Pterodon / Illusion Softworks	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Tropico 2: Pirate Cove	macOS	Template:Dts	MacSoft	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>