SCi Games explained

SCi Entertainment Group plc
Type:Public
Industry:Video games
Fate:Acquired by Square Enix
Founder:Jane Cavanagh
Hq Location City:London
Hq Location Country:England
Key People:Jane Cavanagh (chairwoman, 1988–2006; CEO, 1988–2008)
Num Employees:900
Num Employees Year:2008
Subsid:Eidos Interactive (2005—2009)

SCi Entertainment Group plc (formerly The Sales Curve Limited and SCi (Sales Curve Interactive) Limited) was a British video game publisher based in London. The company was founded in 1988 by Jane Cavanagh and floated on the stock exchange in 1996. In May 2005, SCi acquired Eidos plc, the parent company of publisher Eidos Interactive, and merged their operations by June 2006. In December 2008, SCi was briefly renamed Eidos and was subsequently acquired by Square Enix in March 2009.

History

Jane Cavanagh, formerly an executive for British Telecom's Telecomsoft division,[1] founded The Sales Curve in 1988, following a trip to Japan that convinced her of the potential of the video game industry.[2] Cavanagh established and ran the company without external funding, and owned 100% of the company's shares.[3] The Sales Curve was renamed SCi (Sales Curve Interactive) in 1994, and floated on the Alternative Investment Market in 1996, becoming SCi Entertainment.[4]

By February 1999, SCi reported a turnover of .[5] In February 2004, the company acquired Pivotal Games.[6] In October 2004, SCi announced publishing agreements of its games for the Gizmondo handheld.[7] In January 2005, SCi invested in Rocksteady Studios, acquiring 25.1% of the company's shares.[8]

Eidos takeover

In April 2005, SCi entered into a bid for Eidos plc, the parent company of Eidos Interactive.[9] Eidos was acquired by SCi in May 2005,[10] [11] and fully merged with SCi by June 2006 with the Eidos brand used for all future games.[12] Following Eidos' acquisition, all executives of the acquired company resigned, and were replaced by SCi's management.[13] In October 2005, SCi employed around 600 people.[14] By February 2006, it was the largest video game company in Britain, when Robert Tchenguiz's Thorson Investments owned a 14.6% stake after acquiring a holding from Robert Bonnier.[15] In December 2006, Warner Bros. started investing in SCi in exchange for granting game licences to Warner Bros. films to SCi.[16] Warner Bros. owned 10.3% in September 2007.[17]

In July 2006, Cavanagh stepped down as chairwoman of SCi, while remaining chief executive officer (CEO).[18] She was replaced by Tim Ryan, formerly non-executive director, as non-executive chairman of the board. In the 2007 New Year Honours, Cavanagh was named Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services in the video game industry, particularly SCi. Cavanagh was ousted as CEO in January 2008, and left the company alongside her husband, Bill Ennis, and studio chief Rob Murphy.[19] Following their departure, SCi's shares doubled in value.[20] [21] At the time, SCi had 900 employees. On 2 December 2008, SCi filed for changing its name to Eidos,[22] which was finalised the following day.[23] [24] During 2008 the company raised £60 million at 35p a share. Eidos shareholders approved the acquisition by Square Enix on 27 March 2009 at 32p a share, a valuation of just over £84 million.[25]

List of games

Published games!Date!Title!Developer(s)!Platform(s)!Ref.
1996Gender WarsThe 8th Day
1997CarmageddonStainless Games
1999Live Wire!The Code Monkeys
Cool BricksPukka Games
2000Thunderbirds
2002Conflict: Desert StormPivotal Games
2003RollingRage Software
Developed games!Date!Title!Publisher(s)!Platform(s)!Ref.
1994CyberwarInterplay Productions
1996Kingdom O' Magic
XS

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Big shot . Mary . Duby . 25 October 2005 . 25 August 2018 . www.thetimes.co.uk.
  2. Web site: SCi shares flourish after founder is forced out . Simon . Bowers . 19 January 2008 . the Guardian . 25 August 2018.
  3. Web site: SCi's Jane Cavanagh Receives OBE . Jason . Dobson . gamasutra.com . 2 January 2007 . 25 August 2018.
  4. Web site: 1996-07-19 . SALES CURVE INTERACTIVE TO FLOAT ON JUNIOR LONDON MARKET . 2024-03-29 . CBR . en-US.
  5. Web site: Shanks sold to US buyer for pounds 235m . independent.co.uk . 3 February 1999 . 25 August 2018.
  6. Web site: Calvert . Justin . 19 February 2004 . SCi acquires Pivotal Games . 2022-03-05 . . en-US.
  7. Web site: Kohler . Chris . SCi announces new publishing agreements . . 11 October 2004.
  8. Web site: Roll Call back on track as SCi funds new development studio . GamesIndustry.biz . 17 January 2005 . en.
  9. Web site: 'They probably paid too much' . Guy . Dennis . 9 April 2005 . 25 August 2018 . www.telegraph.co.uk.
  10. Web site: Can Tomb Raider's owner dodge the grave? . independent.co.uk . 27 January 2008 . 25 August 2018.
  11. News: SCi reveals Eidos plan . eurogamer.net . 20 June 2005 . 25 August 2018.
  12. Web site: The Investment Column: With Lara Croft on the rampage, Sci . independent.co.uk . 17 July 2006 . 25 August 2018.
  13. Web site: Eidos board quits . theregister.co.uk . 25 August 2018.
  14. Web site: Bounty hunters set their sights on Tomb Raider company . Jane . Martinson . 25 October 2005 . the Guardian . 25 August 2018.
  15. Web site: SCi Entertainment calls time on talks with potential bidders . Simon . Bowers . 16 February 2006 . the Guardian . 25 August 2018.
  16. Web site: Warner Bros. Entertainment To Invest In SCi EntertainmentGroup, Leading Video Games Publisher . gamesindustry.biz . 15 December 2006 . 25 August 2018.
  17. Web site: SCi Entertainment shares soar on takeover approach . Emma . Thelwell . 4 September 2007 . 25 August 2018 . www.telegraph.co.uk.
  18. Web site: Cavanagh steps down as SCi chair, remains as CEO . gamesindustry.biz . 3 July 2006 . 25 August 2018.
  19. Web site: Lara Croft firm SCi's boss fired in clearout . standard.co.uk . 12 April 2012 . 25 August 2018.
  20. Web site: SCi Entertainment shares soar on shake-up . Emma . Thelwell . 25 August 2018 . 25 August 2018 . www.telegraph.co.uk.
  21. Web site: Lara Croft owner soars as founder ousted . Juliette Garside and Ben . Bland . 25 August 2018 . 25 August 2018 . www.telegraph.co.uk.
  22. Web site: SCi files to change name to Eidos . gamesindustry.biz . 2 December 2008 . 25 August 2018.
  23. Web site: SCi Finalizes Name Change To Eidos As Buyout Rumors Mount . Eric . Caoili . gamasutra.com . 3 December 2008 . 25 August 2018.
  24. Web site: SCi: Just call me 'Eidos' . engadget.com . 25 August 2018.
  25. Web site: Eidos approves takeover by Square Enix . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211191217/https://www.ft.com/content/b711622c-1af9-11de-8aa3-0000779fd2ac . 11 December 2022 . subscription . live . Financial Times . 25 August 2018 .