Foundation 9 Entertainment Explained

Foundation 9 Entertainment, Inc.
Type:Private
Industry:Video games
Fate:Dissolved
Founded: in Los Angeles, US
Hq Location City:Irvine, California
Hq Location Country:US
Num Employees:750+[1]
Num Employees Year:2007
Website:F9E.com (archived version)

Foundation 9 Entertainment, Inc. was an American video game company based in Irvine, California. The company was formed in March 2005 through the merger of video game developers Backbone Entertainment and The Collective.

History

Foundation 9 Entertainment was founded on March 29, 2005, in Los Angeles, through the merger of video game developer Backbone Entertainment and The Collective.[2] The company's initial management board consisted of Jon Goldman (chief executive officer), Andrew Ayre and Douglas Hare (co-presidents), Gary Priest and Mark Loughridge (co-chairmen), Richard Hare (chief creative officer), Jeff Vavasour (vice-president of Canadian operations), Steven Sardegna (chief financial officer), and Larry Kelly (chief operating officer).[3] Shortly after the merger, on April 12, Foundation 9 acquired and integrated Pipeworks Software.[4] Subsequently, Dan Duncalf, the company's president and co-founder, joined Foundation 9's board of directors.[5] In May, Foundation 9 acquired an equity stake in Circle of Confusion, a Hollywood management company, to establish a strategic partnership.[6]

On June 1, 2006, investment firm Francisco Partners (as advised by UBS Securities) agreed to provide in funding to Foundation 9 over a time frame of several years, with additional funding to be provided when needed.[7] The investment was followed by the acquisitions of Shiny Entertainment from Atari in October 2006,[8] Amaze Entertainment and related studios in November 2006,[9] and Sumo Digital and its Indian sub-studio in August 2007.[10] Under the terms of Shiny's acquisition, the studio would co-locate and merge with The Collective. The merger was formally announced in October 2007, at which point both studios had moved to new 60000square feet offices in Irvine, California.[11] The amalgam was named Double Helix Games in March 2008.[12] In January 2008, Foundation 9 promoted David Mann (previously chief operating officer), Chris Charla and Jack Brummet to president, vice-president of business development, and vice-president of quality assurance, respectively,[13] followed by James North-Hearn, one of Sumo Digital's founders, becoming the chief executive officer of the company in March.[14]

In July 2008, Foundation 9 reinstated Griptonite Games and Fizz Factor, two studios absorbed into Amaze in 2005, under their original brandings.[15] However, in July 2009, Fizz Factor was closed down entirely, while Amaze was merged into Griptonite and Double Helix suffered staff cuts.[16] FXLabs, based in Hyderabad, India, was acquired by Foundation 9 in October 2010 and became part of Griptonite under the name Griptonite India.[17] Griptonite was sold to Glu Mobile in August 2011 in exchange for 6 million shares of Glu's common stock.[18] Backbone's location in Vancouver had been closed in May 2009, and in October 2012, its ImaginEngine studio was closed as well, while its primary location in Emeryville, California, laid off the majority of its staff.[19] [20] [21] In February 2014, Double Helix was sold to Amazon.[22] Later that year, under advisory from GP Bullhound, Foundation 9 sold Pipeworks to Italian publisher Digital Bros, and Sumo Digital to its own management, the latter of which was backed by NorthEdge Capital.[23] [24] [25] In 2015, Foundation 9's board of directors elected to dissolve the company.

Subsidiaries

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Solid Foundations . Matt . Martin . April 12, 2007 . . April 15, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414182003/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/solid-foundations . April 14, 2019 . live.
  2. Web site: The Collective, Backbone laying Foundation 9 . Curt . Feldman . March 29, 2005 . . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140417074801/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-collective-backbone-laying-foundation-9/1100-6121251/ . April 17, 2014 . live.
  3. Web site: Backbone Entertainment, The Collective To Merge . David . Jenkins . March 29, 2005 . . April 14, 2019 . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414143006/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/96165/Backbone_Entertainment_The_Collective_To_Merge.php . live .
  4. Web site: Foundation 9 Acquires Pipeworks Software . Nich . Maragos . April 12, 2005 . . April 14, 2019 . June 21, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200621094129/https://gamasutra.com/view/news/96242/Foundation_9_Acquires_Pipeworks_Software.php . live .
  5. Web site: Pipeworks laid into Foundation 9 . Gamespot Staff . April 12, 2005 . GameSpot.
  6. Web site: Foundation 9 teams up with Hollywood management specialists . Ellie . Gibson . May 27, 2005 . . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181201051326/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/foundation-9-teams-up-with-hollywood-management-specialists . December 1, 2018 . live.
  7. Web site: Foundation 9 Gets 'Significant' Funding Investment . Simon . Carless . June 1, 2006 . . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190203201726/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/100505/Foundation_9_Gets_Significant_Funding_Investment.php . February 3, 2019 . live.
  8. Web site: Foundation 9 Acquires Shiny From Atari . Jason . Dobson . October 2, 2006 . . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180131024303/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/102045/Foundation_9_Acquires_Shiny_From_Atari.php . January 31, 2018 . live.
  9. Web site: Foundation 9 Amazed . Gamespot Staff . November 14, 2006 . . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181128210650/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/foundation-9-amazed/1100-6161582/ . November 28, 2018 . live.
  10. Web site: Foundation 9 buys Sumo . Phil . Elliott . August 17, 2007 . . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150407084041/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/foundation-9-buys-sumo . April 7, 2015 . live.
  11. Web site: Shiny, Collective Merged into Mega Studio . Daemon . Hatfield . October 9, 2007 . . April 28, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190428194013/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/10/09/shiny-collective-merged-into-mega-studio . April 28, 2019 . live.
  12. Web site: Double Helix is new Foundation 9 studio . Mark . Androvich . March 27, 2008 . . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180625103920/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/double-helix-is-new-foundation-9-studio . June 25, 2018 . live.
  13. Web site: Foundation 9 promotes three execs . Matt . Martin . January 16, 2008 . . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171009042302/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/foundation-9-promotes-three-execs . October 9, 2017 . live.
  14. Web site: North-Hearn named Foundation 9 CEO . Mark . Androvich . March 17, 2008 . . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171009042304/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/north-hearn-named-foundation-9-ceo . October 9, 2017 . live.
  15. Web site: F9E Reinstates Griptonite, Fizz Factor Brands . Eric . Caoili . July 21, 2008 . . April 14, 2019 . January 24, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210124153446/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/110451/F9E_Reinstates_Griptonite_Fizz_Factor_Brands.php . live .
  16. Web site: Foundation 9 Confirms Staff Cuts, Merges Studios . Kris . Graft . July 29, 2009 . . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131113164437/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/115562/Foundation_9_Confirms_Staff_Cuts_Merges_Studios.php . November 13, 2013 . live.
  17. Web site: Griptonite India (Formerly FXLabs) Announces Expansion Plans in Hyderabad . Tiffany . Spencer . March 21, 2011 . . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151011202226/http://www.ptinews.com/pressrelease/4037_press-subGriptonite-India--Formerly-FXLabs--Announces-Expansion-Plans-in-Hyderabad . October 11, 2015 . live.
  18. Web site: Glu Mobile Picks Up Griptonite, Blammo After Narrowing Losses . Frank . Cifaldi . August 2, 2011 . . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171101024413/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/126331/Glu_Mobile_Picks_Up_Griptonite_Blammo_After_Narrowing_Losses.php . November 1, 2017 . live.
  19. Web site: Is it Game Over for Vancouver's Video Game Industry? Not quite yet . Terry . Lavender . November 18, 2009 . . April 9, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151222174950/http://www.vancouverobserver.com/blogs/megabytes/2009/11/18/it-game-over-vancouvers-video-game-industry-not-quite-yet . December 22, 2015 . live.
  20. Web site: ImaginEngine game studio shuts down (exclusive) . Dean . Takahashi . October 12, 2012 . . April 9, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181201051533/https://venturebeat.com/2012/10/12/imaginengine-game-studio-shuts-down-exclusive/ . December 1, 2018 . live.
  21. Web site: Layoffs at digital game studio Backbone Entertainment . Mike . Rose . October 9, 2012 . . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181201054420/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/179049/Layoffs_at_digital_game_studio_Backbone_Entertainment.php . December 1, 2018 . live.
  22. Web site: Double Helix Games acquired by Amazon (update) . Megan . Farokhmanesh . February 5, 2014 . . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190408035434/https://www.polygon.com/2014/2/5/5384672/report-double-helix-games-acquired-by-amazon . April 8, 2019 . live.
  23. Web site: Pipeworks progress . Sherri . Buri McDonald . February 21, 2016 . . April 15, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190415111301/https://www.registerguard.com/article/20160221/BUSINESS/302219970 . April 15, 2019 . live.
  24. Web site: Sumo Digital has separated from its parent company . Mike . Rose . November 11, 2014 . . April 15, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170214002621/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/229849/Sumo_Digital_has_separated_from_its_parent_company.php . February 14, 2017 . live.
  25. Web site: GP Bullhound advises Foundation 9 Entertainment on the sale of Sumo Digital and Pipeworks . November 18, 2014 . GP Bullhound . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160807152155/http://www.gpbullhound.com/news/gp-bullhound-advises-foundation-9-entertainment-sale-sumo-digital-pipeworks/ . August 7, 2016 . dead .
  26. Web site: 2004-02-06 . 2024-02-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040206203019/http://www.amazeentertainment.com/index.asp?p=home . February 6, 2004 .
  27. Web site: 2004-02-14 . 2024-02-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040214155902/http://www.knowwonder.com/Whoweare.html . February 14, 2004 .

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