Venom Games

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Venom Games Limited
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
PredecessorRage Newcastle
Founded2003; 21 years ago (2003)
FounderPeter Johnson
DefunctJuly 2008 (2008-07)
FateDissolved
Headquarters,
England
Key people
Peter Johnson (studio head)
Parent

Venom Games Limited was a British video game developer based in Gateshead, England. The studio was established by Peter Johnson in 2003 and succeeded Rage Newcastle. Take-Two Interactive acquired the company in 2004, where it became part of the 2K label in 2005 and was closed down in July 2008.

History[edit]

Venom Games was established in 2003 as successor to the previously closed Rage Newcastle, a studio of Rage Games, and headed by Peter Johnson as studio head.[1][2] In 2004, the company was acquired by Take-Two Interactive.[1] The deal's negotiations were handled by law firm Weightmans.[3] On 25 January 2005, Take-Two Interactive announced the opening of publishing label 2K, which would henceforth manage their development studios, including Venom Games.[4]

On 2 July 2008, employees of Venom Games were informed that the company was due to close at the end of the month.[5] Take-Two Interactive confirmed that they were "assessing the role of Venom Games" and considering "possible redundancies", though no final decision would be made "until after the consultation with employees".[6][7] Venom Games still shut down that year.[8]

Games developed[edit]

Year Title Platform(s) Publisher
2004 Rocky: Legends PlayStation 2 Ubisoft
Xbox
2006 Prey Xbox 360 2K Games
2008 Don King Presents: Prizefighter 2K Sports

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b MCV Staff (2 July 2008). "Venom Games to close?". MCV/Develop.
  2. ^ GamesIndustry International (16 March 2009). "Peter Johnson appointment". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  3. ^ GamesIndustry International (6 February 2006). "Legal Firm To Appeal To The Development And Publishing Community - Weightmans". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  4. ^ Jenkins, David (25 January 2005). "Take-Two Acquires Visual Concepts, Announces 2K Games Brand". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  5. ^ Martin, Matt (3 July 2008). "Venom Games to close doors this month?". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  6. ^ Androvich, Mark (3 July 2008). "Take-Two confirms possible Venom redundancies". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  7. ^ MCV Staff (4 July 2008). "2K 'assessing role of Venom'". MCV/Develop.
  8. ^ Plunkett, Luke (16 January 2012). "Every Game Studio That's Closed Down Since 2006". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.