FormGen

FormGen was founded in 1987 by friends Randy MacLean and Robert Van Rycke in Bolton, Ontario. It was a software producer and distributor, selling its text-based form generation program through Radio Shack stores in Canada. Van Rycke left the company in October 1988 and was replaced later by James Perkins.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

The company advanced rapidly in the early 1990s when it made an agreement with id Software to distribute its new games, such as Commander Keen in Aliens Ate My Babysitter, Wolfenstein 3D: Spear of Destiny, Doom (shareware), and with Apogee Software (later 3D Realms) for Rise of the Triad and Duke Nukem 3D.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

After being based in North Andover, Massachusetts,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86416879/design-your-own-forms-keep-a-diary/ |title=Design your own forms, keep a diary |first=Nosh |last=Matthews |agency=Knight-Ridder News Service |newspaper=Austin American-Statesman |date=March 23, 1992 |page=C4 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003165540/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86416879/design-your-own-forms-keep-a-diary/ |url-status=live }} FormGen relocated to the Scottsdale Airpark in Scottsdale, Arizona, in November 1993.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86416057/five-businesses-moving-to-scottsdale/ |title=Five businesses moving to Scottsdale |first=John |last=Schroeder |newspaper=The Arizona Republic |date=November 10, 1993 |page=155 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003165541/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86416057/five-businesses-moving-to-scottsdale/ |url-status=live }} The facility, which measured {{convert|9000|sqft|m2}}, was outgrown by October 1995, so the company moved to a nearby office of {{convert|25000|sqft|m2}}.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86416816/expansion-continues/ |title=Expansion continues |first=Chris |last=Fiscus |newspaper=The Arizona Republic |date=October 18, 1995 |page=168 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003165541/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86416816/expansion-continues/ |url-status=live }} FormGen opened its website in April 1996 to serve news and shareware downloads online.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86416903/hot-new-web-sites/ |title=Hot new Web sites |first=David |last=Hoye |newspaper=The Arizona Republic |date=April 8, 1996 |page=E1 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003165541/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86416903/hot-new-web-sites/ |url-status=live }} GT Interactive acquired FormGen in July 1996.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/11/business/company-news-gt-interactive-acquires-humongous-entertainment.html |title=Company News;GT Interactive Acquires Humongous Entertainment |date=July 11, 1996 |website=The New York Times |access-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-date=September 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925134248/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/11/business/company-news-gt-interactive-acquires-humongous-entertainment.html |url-status=live }}{{cite press release |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GT+Interactive+Acquires+FormGen%2c+Publishers+of+Number+One+PC+Software...-a018491525 |title=GT Interactive Acquires FormGen, Publishers of Number One PC Software Hit, 'Duke Nukem 3D'; Highly Anticipated 'Shadow Warrior' Now Part of GT Lineup. |publisher=GT Interactive |date=July 1, 1996 |via=The Free Library |archive-date=May 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514144801/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GT+Interactive+Acquires+FormGen%2c+Publishers+of+Number+One+PC+Software...-a018491525 |url-status=dead}}

FormGen was involved in a landmark intellectual property lawsuit, Micro Star v. FormGen Inc. They claimed that Micro Star's sale of the Nuke It compilation of user-created maps and levels infringed on its copyright of the derivative works of Duke Nukem 3D and won the case on appeal.Micro Star v. FormGen Inc., [http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F3/154/154.F3d.1107.html 154.F.3d 1107] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100517124947/http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F3/154/154.F3d.1107.html |date=2010-05-17 }} (9th Cir. 1999) (opinion full text).

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Category:Defunct software companies of the United States

Category:Defunct video game companies of Canada

Category:Defunct video game companies of the United States

Category:Software companies established in 1987

Category:Video game companies established in 1987

Category:1987 establishments in Ontario

Category:Defunct companies based in Arizona

Category:Defunct companies of Ontario

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