View source for GameWorks

{{Short description|Arcade in Seattle, WA}}
{{About|a chain of entertainment venues|Nvidia's proprietary middleware software suite|Nvidia GameWorks}}
{{Infobox company
| name = GameWorks, Inc.
| logo = GameWorks Logo.jpg
| type = [[Private company|Private]]
| industry = Entertainment
| predecessor = Sega City
| founded = {{Start date and age|1996|07}}
| location = [[Seattle]], Washington, United States
| num_locations = 1 ({{as of|2022|lc=y}})
| owners = {{ubl|Howard Brand|Greg Stevens}}
| website = {{URL|gameworks.com/}}
}}

'''GameWorks''' is a gaming-based entertainment center with a single location {{as of|2022|lc=y}}. It was owned by then-owner ExWorks Capital, each venue featured a wide array of [[video game arcade]]s, in addition to full-service bars and restaurants. It was originally created in 1996 as a [[joint venture]] by [[Sega]], [[DreamWorks SKG]], and [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]], with the company growing into an international chain. Two former executives subsequently acquired the [[Seattle]] location and reopened it in August 2022.

== History ==
[[File:November 2022 in Seattle, Washington - 003.jpg|thumb|Interior of GameWorks in Seattle, November 2022]]
GameWorks began as a joint venture between the video game developer [[Sega]] and the film studios [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] and [[DreamWorks Pictures|DreamWorks]], with filmmaker [[Steven Spielberg]] providing creative input.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Webb|first=Marcus|date=May 1996|title=Sega Gameworks Goes Forward with Speilberg and MCA|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|issue=17|page=26}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Inside Scoop|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=104 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=May 1997|page=24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Ernie |title=That Time Steven Spielberg and Sega Built the Arcade of Your Dreams |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/vvapxx/that-time-steven-spielberg-and-sega-built-the-arcade-of-your-dreams |website=vice.com |access-date=5 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105231853/https://www.vice.com/en/article/vvapxx/that-time-steven-spielberg-and-sega-built-the-arcade-of-your-dreams |archive-date=5 November 2020 |date=29 April 2017 |quote="...Steven Spielberg, who offered creative input on the concept..."}}</ref> Skip Paul was GameWorks' first chairman and CEO, and [[Jon Snoddy]] headed the design team.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Arcades Grow Up |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=104 |date=March 1998 |pages=106–111}}</ref> Its first location opened in [[Seattle]] in March 1997 with many high-profile guests in attendance, such as celebrities [[Will Smith]] and [[Gillian Anderson]] and billionaire [[Bill Gates]].<ref name=NGen30>{{cite magazine|date=June 1997|title=Tokyo Game Show Report from Japan|url=https://archive.org/stream/NextGeneration30Jun1997/Next_Generation_30_Jun_1997#page/n17|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|issue=30|page=17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Eads |first=Stefani |last2=Eddy |first2=Andy |date=July 1997 |title=GameWorks, opened with a star-studded gala |pages=24 |work=Digital Diner |url=https://archive.org/details/digital-diner-july-1997/}}</ref> DreamWorks sold its portion in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.awn.com/news/dreamworks-backs-out-gameworks|title=DreamWorks Backs Out Of GameWorks|publisher=}}</ref>

GameWorks filed its first bankruptcy in 2004. On November 3, 2005, [[Sega Sammy Holdings]], formed following the 2004 merger of Sega and [[Sammy Corporation|Sammy]], bought the controlling interests of GameWorks. GameWorks filed its second bankruptcy in 2010; as a result, Sega Entertainment USA, the parent company at that time, closed seven GameWorks venues on March 29, in an attempt to focus on profitability and future growth. Two locations that closed, one in [[Circle Centre]] at Indianapolis, Indiana, and another in [[Irvine Spectrum Center]] at Irvine, California, originally opened as Sega City.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}

In 2011, GameWorks was sold to an investment group, HNR Capital.<ref name=Geekwire>{{cite news |last1=Wilde |first1=Thomas |title=GameWorks ready to power back on in Seattle as onetime execs take control of arcade/restaurant |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2022/gameworks-ready-to-power-back-on-in-seattle-as-onetime-execs-take-control-of-arcade-restaurant/ |access-date=August 4, 2022 |work=[[GeekWire]] |date=May 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506223603/https://www.geekwire.com/2022/gameworks-ready-to-power-back-on-in-seattle-as-onetime-execs-take-control-of-arcade-restaurant/ |archive-date=May 6, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2011, GameWorks acquired the assets of several [[Jillian's]] Billiards Clubs in California, Washington, and Virginia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/gameworks/jillians/prweb8884962.htm|title=GameWorks Entertainment, LLC Acquires Five Locations From JBC Entertainment|date=October 18, 2011|work=[[Cision|PRWeb]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023214125/http://www.prweb.com/releases/gameworks/jillians/prweb8884962.htm|archive-date=October 23, 2020|url-status=dead|access-date=February 24, 2023|language=en-US}}</ref>

In May 2017, Oomba acquired GameWorks.<ref>{{cite news|last=Madler|first=Mark|date=May 16, 2017|url=http://sfvbj.com/news/2017/may/16/gameworks-acquired-oomba|title=GameWorks Acquired by Oomba|work=[[San Fernando Valley Business Journal]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804045929/https://www.sfvbj.com/media/video-games/gameworks-acquired-oomba/|archive-date=August 4, 2022|url-status=live|access-date=August 4, 2022}}</ref> In May 2018, [[Chicago]]-based ExWorks Capital took ownership of GameWorks.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Minotti|first=Mike|url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/09/05/gameworks-arcades-has-a-new-owner-exworks-capital/|title=GameWorks arcades has a new owner: ExWorks Capital|date=September 5, 2018|work=[[VentureBeat]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906040301/https://venturebeat.com/2018/09/05/gameworks-arcades-has-a-new-owner-exworks-capital/|archive-date=September 6, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=September 16, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

On December 24, 2021, GameWorks announced that it would be closing all of its remaining locations, citing financial difficulties brought on by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Winslow |first1=Jeremy |title=The Arcade In The Last Of Us 2 Has Seemingly Closed IRL |url=https://kotaku.com/the-arcade-in-the-last-of-us-2-has-seemingly-closed-irl-1848266237 |website=[[Kotaku]] |date=23 December 2021 |access-date=24 December 2021 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|user=GameWorks |number=1474424432856870912|title=Thank you for the many years of memories! The past 20 months we have seen our business turned upside down-the continued slow economic recovery has left us no choice other than to close}}</ref> Greg Stevens, who served as the company's CEO from 2011 to 2018, subsequently reacquired the assets of the Seattle location with business partner Howard Brand, a [[managing partner]] at former owner HNR Capital.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilde |first1=Thomas |title=GameWorks ready to power back on in Seattle as onetime execs take control of arcade/restaurant |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2022/gameworks-ready-to-power-back-on-in-seattle-as-onetime-execs-take-control-of-arcade-restaurant/ |access-date=August 4, 2022 |work=[[GeekWire]] |date=May 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506223603/https://www.geekwire.com/2022/gameworks-ready-to-power-back-on-in-seattle-as-onetime-execs-take-control-of-arcade-restaurant/ |archive-date=May 6, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> After some reorganization, the Seattle location reopened on August 3, 2022, after the closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name=Geekwire/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cassidy |first1=Benjamin |title=GameWorks Reopens in Downtown Seattle |url=https://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-city-life/2022/08/gameworks-reopens-in-downtown-seattle-august-2022 |access-date=August 4, 2022 |work=[[Seattle Met]] |date=August 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804043332/https://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-city-life/2022/08/gameworks-reopens-in-downtown-seattle-august-2022 |archive-date=August 4, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Locations==
* [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] - [[Downtown Seattle]] (Opened March 15, 1997, closed December 24, 2021, reopened August 3, 2022)

===Former locations===
====Standard====
* [[Auburn Hills, Michigan|Auburn Hills]], [[Michigan]] - [[Great Lakes Crossing Outlets]] (closed March 29, 2010, now [[Sea Life Michigan|Sea Life Michigan Aquarium]])
* [[Bloomington, Minnesota|Bloomington]], [[Minnesota]], [[Mall of America]] (closed December 24, 2021)
* [[Chesapeake, Virginia|Chesapeake]], [[Virginia]] - [[Greenbrier Mall]] (Closed in March 2020) (formerly [[Jillian's]])
* [[City of Industry, California|City of Industry]], [[California]] - [[Puente Hills Mall]] (Changed to [[Tilt (arcade)|Tilt Arcade]] until it ultimately also closed. The mall is now anchored by [[Round One Entertainment|Round 1]].)
* [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]], [[Ohio]] - [[Easton Town Center]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/33/371002/restaurant/Easton/Gameworks-Columbus |title = Gameworks - Easton - Columbus &#124; Urbanspoon |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914025712/http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/33/371002/restaurant/Easton/Gameworks-Columbus |archive-date=14 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> (closed March 29, 2010, reopened as Kitchen Den Bar, now [[Legoland Discovery Center]])
* [[Denver]], [[Colorado]] - [[Northfield Stapleton]] (Opened in March 2016, closed December 24, 2021)
* [[Grapevine, Texas|Grapevine]], [[Texas]] - [[Grapevine Mills]] (closed June 27, 2010, now [[Sea Life Grapevine|Sea Life Grapevine Aquarium]])
* [[Irvine, California|Irvine]], [[California]] - [[Irvine Spectrum Center]] (opened as [[Sega|Sega City]], later became [[Fox Sports|Fox Sports Grill]], now Paul Martin's)
* [[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]] - [[Showcase Mall]] on the [[Las Vegas Strip]] (closed March 11, 2012)<ref>{{cite news|title=After 15 years, GameWorks closing on Strip, looking for new location to serve locals|newspaper=Las Vegas Sun|author=Conor Shine|date=February 23, 2012|url=http://lasvegassun.com/news/2012/feb/23/gameworks-leaving-strip-shifting-efforts-find-new-/|access-date=2015-07-18}}</ref>
* [[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]] - [[Town Square (Las Vegas)]] (Opened on July 28, 2014, closed December 24, 2021)
* [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]], [[California]] - [[Downtown Long Beach]] - [[Waterfront (area)|Waterfront]] - [[The Pike|The Pike at Rainbow Harbor]] (closed March 29, 2010, reopened as Kitchen Den Bar until The Pike was ultimately closed and remodeled.) <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_15411450 |title=Kitchen den Bar to open in former GameWorks space at Pike - Press-Telegram |access-date=2010-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613200249/http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_15411450 |archive-date=2011-06-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]] - [[Downtown Minneapolis]] (closed March 29, 2010)
* [[Newport, Kentucky|Newport]], [[Kentucky]] (near [[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]]) - [[Newport on the Levee]] (Opened in October 2001, closed December 24, 2021)
* [[Ontario, California|Ontario]], [[California]] - [[Ontario Mills]] (closed July 5, 2017, now [[Under Armour|Under Armour Factory Store]]).<ref>{{cite news|title=GameWorks closes at Ontario Mills after 20-year run|newspaper=San Bernardino County Sun|author=Neil Nisperos|date=July 11, 2017|url=http://www.sbsun.com/business/20170711/gameworks-closes-at-ontario-mills-after-20-year-run}}</ref>
* [[Orange, California|Orange]], [[California]] - [[The Outlets at Orange]] (replaced with The Power House Arcade until its closure)
* [[Rosedale, Maryland|Rosedale]], [[Maryland]] - [[Golden Ring Mall]] (as Sega City, closed 1999)
* [[Salt Lake City]], [[Utah]] - [[The Gateway (Salt Lake City)|The Gateway Mall]] (closed 2015)
* [[Schaumburg, Illinois|Schaumburg]], [[Illinois]] - [[The Streets of Woodfield]] (Opened on June 3, 1999, closed December 24, 2021, now [[Dave & Buster's]])
* [[South Miami, Florida|South Miami]], [[Florida]] - [[The Shops at Sunset Place]] (now GameTime)
* [[Sunrise, Florida|Sunrise]], [[Florida]] - [[Sawgrass Mills]] (then GameRoom, now In the Game)
* [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], [[Florida]] - [[Centro Ybor]] (closed March 29, 2010 now GameTime)<ref name="Gametime">[http://beta2.tbo.com/business/business/2010/apr/13/tampa-gameworks-reopen-ar-51547/ Tampa GameWorks to reopen] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724100635/http://beta2.tbo.com/business/business/2010/apr/13/tampa-gameworks-reopen-ar-51547/ |date=2011-07-24 }}, article from TBO about GameWorks/GameTime.</ref>
* [[Tempe, Arizona|Tempe]], [[Arizona]] - [[Arizona Mills]] (opened November 19, 1997;<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Marcus |last=Webb |title=LBE News: Namco Buys 'XS' Concept; Sega Opens New GameWorks |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=38|publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=February 1998|page=35}}</ref> closed January 29, 2016, now [[Tilt (arcade)|Tilt Studio]])

====GameWorks Studio====
* [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], [[Texas]] - [[Lakeline Mall]]
* [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]] - [[Circle Centre Mall]] (First opened as Sega City) (closed March 29, 2010, now [[Tilt (arcade)|Tilt Studio]])
* [[Lone Tree, Colorado|Lone Tree]], [[Colorado]] - [[Park Meadows|Park Meadows Mall]]
* [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]] - [[Center City, Philadelphia|Center City Philadelphia]] - Riverview Plaza
* [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]] - [[Alamo Quarry Market]] (closed April 2009)
* [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]], [[Arizona]] - [[Foothills Mall (Arizona)|Foothills Mall]] (reopened as World Sports Grill, which later closed.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldsportsgrille.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209090749/http://worldsportsgrille.com/|archive-date=February 9, 2014|title=World Sports Grille}}</ref>

===International locations===
* [[Kuwait City]], [[Kuwait]] (opened in 2003, later called Gamewizz, closed in 2013)
* [[Mexico City|Mexico City, Mexico]] (Opened in 2006, closed in 2020)
* [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Brazil]] (Opened in 1999. Despite being a very successful location, constantly full, it was closed in 2003 due to disagreements with the local representative. They wanted to remove the restaurant, and only keep the two bars. The Brazilian company created its own arcade brand, called [http://www.hotzone.com.br HotZone].)
* [[Santo Domingo]], [[Dominican Republic]] (at Mega Centro Mall, opened in a former [[McDonald's]] fast food, closed in 2015)
* [[Tumon]], [[Guam]] (closed in 2006)
* [[Vienna]], [[Austria]] (opened in November 2001, filed for [[bankruptcy]] in April 2002)

==See also==
* [[Tilt (arcade)|Tilt Studio]]
* [[Round One Entertainment|Round 1]]
* [[Dave & Buster's]]
* [[Chuck E. Cheese]]
* [[Boomers! Parks|Boomers!]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|GameWorks}}
* {{official|http://www.gameworks.com/}}

{{Sega}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gameworks}}
[[Category:Video arcades]]
[[Category:Sega amusement parks]]
[[Category:DreamWorks Pictures]]
[[Category:Universal Pictures]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1996]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2004]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2010]]
[[Category:Esports venues in Nevada]]
[[Category:Former joint ventures]]