2K Los Angeles

{{Infobox company

| name = 2K Los Angeles

| logo = Kush Games.png

| former_name = Kush Games, Inc. {{nowrap|(2002–2007)}}

| type = Subsidiary

| industry = Video games

| fate = Dissolved

| founded = {{Start date and age|1998}}

| founder = Umrao Mayer

| defunct = {{End date|2008}}

| hq_location_city = Camarillo, California

| hq_location_country = US

| key_people = Graeme Bayless (president)

| parent = {{Unbulleted list|Visual Concepts {{nowrap|(2004–2005)}}|2K {{nowrap|(2005–2008)}}}}

}}

2K Los Angeles (formerly Kush Games, Inc.) was an American video game developer based in Camarillo, California. Founded by Umrao Mayer in 1998, the company was part of Visual Concepts, which itself was a part of Sega. Both Kush Games and Visual Concepts were sold to Take-Two Interactive and subsequently became part of their new 2K label. Kush Games was renamed 2K Los Angeles in February 2007 before being shut down in 2008.

History

Kush Games was founded by Umrao Mayer in 1998 to develop sports games.{{cite web |url=https://www.thecamarilloacorn.com/articles/sale-of-camarillo-gaming-company-could-fetch-75m/ |title=Sale of Camarillo gaming company could fetch $75M |first=Hector |last=Gonzalez |date=March 25, 2016 |website=Camarillo Acorn |access-date=February 3, 2018 |archive-date=September 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914175520/https://www.thecamarilloacorn.com/articles/sale-of-camarillo-gaming-company-could-fetch-75m/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.pacbiztimes.com/2016/02/18/zynga-buys-camarillo-based-zindagi-games/ |title=Zynga buys Camarillo-based Zindagi Games |date=February 18, 2016 |website=pacbiztimes.com |access-date=January 13, 2019 |archive-date=January 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114044818/https://www.pacbiztimes.com/2016/02/18/zynga-buys-camarillo-based-zindagi-games/ |url-status=live }} Kush Games was acquired by Sega in 2004 and became part of Visual Concepts.{{cite web |url=https://www.thecamarilloacorn.com/articles/video-game-company-ceo-to-speak/ |title=Video game company CEO to speak - Camarillo Acorn |author=ohtadmin |date=September 13, 2013 |website=The Camarillo Acorn |access-date=January 13, 2019 |archive-date=September 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914173636/https://www.thecamarilloacorn.com/articles/video-game-company-ceo-to-speak/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-officially-out-of-the-sports-game/1100-6117016/ |title=Sega officially out of the sports game |first1=Curt |last1=Feldman |first2=Tor |last2=Thorsen |date=January 24, 2005 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 3, 2018 |archive-date=October 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014034622/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-officially-out-of-the-sports-game/1100-6117016/ |url-status=live }} On January 24, 2005, Visual Concepts and Kush Games were acquired by Take-Two Interactive for {{US$|24|link=yes}} million.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/01/25/take-two-buys-visual-concepts |title=Take Two Buys Visual Concepts |first=David |last=Adams |date=January 24, 2005 |website=IGN |access-date=February 3, 2018 |archive-date=February 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204001234/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/01/25/take-two-buys-visual-concepts |url-status=live }} A total of {{US$|32.2}} million had been paid to Sega for the acquisition of Visual Concepts and affiliated properties by January 2006.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-reveals-acquisition-prices-hints-at-future-lawsuits/1100-6143447/ |title=Take-Two reveals acquisition prices, hints at future lawsuits |first=Brendan |last=Sinclair |date=January 31, 2006 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 17, 2018 |archive-date=February 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226001336/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-reveals-acquisition-prices-hints-at-future-lawsuits/1100-6143447/ |url-status=live }} On January 25, 2005, the day following the acquisition, Take-Two Interactive announced their new publishing label, 2K, which would henceforth manage Visual Concepts and Kush Games.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/take-two-acquires-visual-concepts-announces-2k-games-brand |title=Take-Two Acquires Visual Concepts, Announces 2K Games Brand |first=David |last=Jenkins |date=January 25, 2005 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=February 3, 2018 |archive-date=February 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204070208/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/95818/TakeTwo_Acquires_Visual_Concepts_Announces_2K_Games_Brand.php |url-status=live }}

In February 2007, Kush Games was rebranded 2K Los Angeles.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/04/mlb-2k8-review-4 |title=MLB 2K8 Review |first=Nate |last=Ahearn |date=March 4, 2008 |website=IGN |access-date=February 3, 2018 |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107042232/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/04/mlb-2k8-review-4 |url-status=live }} By August 2007, Mayer had been succeeded as president by Graeme Bayless.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2k-sports-announces-more-gameplay-features-for-nhl-2k8 |title=2K Sports Announces More Gameplay Features for NHL® 2K8 |publisher=GamesIndustry International |date=August 17, 2007 |access-date=February 3, 2018 |archive-date=February 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204000627/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2k-sports-announces-more-gameplay-features-for-nhl-2k8 |url-status=live }} Mayer, together with partner George Simmons, went on to found Zindagi Games in 2008. 2K Los Angeles was shut down that same year.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/5876693/every-game-studio-thats-closed-down-since-2006 |title=Every Game Studio That's Closed Down Since 2006 |first=Luke |last=Plunkett |date=January 16, 2012 |website=Kotaku |access-date=February 3, 2018 |archive-date=September 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922002849/https://kotaku.com/5876693/every-game-studio-thats-closed-down-since-2006 |url-status=live }}