Gathering of Developers

{{Infobox company

| name = Gathering of Developers, Inc.

| logo = Gathering of Developers.svg

| trade_name = Gathering (2003–2004)

| type = Subsidiary

| industry = Video games

| fate = Dissolved; operations folded into Global Star Software

| founded = {{Start date and age|1998|01|13}} in Dallas, US

| founder = {{Unbulleted list|Mike Wilson|Harry Miller|Jim Bloom|Rick Stults|Doug Myres}}

| defunct = {{End date and age|2004|09|09}}

| hq_location_city = New York City

| hq_location_country = US

| key_people =

| parent = Take-Two Interactive (2000–2004)

}}

Gathering of Developers, Inc. (shortened as G.O.D. or GodGames, and branded as Gathering between 2003 and 2004) was an American video game publisher based in New York City. Founded by Mike Wilson and associates in January 1998 and originally based in Dallas, the company was acquired by Take-Two Interactive in May 2000. Between May 2000 and March 2001, Gathering of Developers also operated a division, On Deck Interactive, which acted as their mass market label. In August 2001, Take-Two Interactive closed Gathering of Developers' Dallas headquarters and moved the label in-house, to New York City. The label was shut down in September 2004, with all assets consumed by Global Star Software.

History

=Opening and growth=

Gathering of Developers was announced by Mike Wilson in 1997, with the official opening scheduled for January 1998.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/1997/12/g-o-d-wants-to-help-developers-help-themselves/ |title=g.o.d Wants to Help Developers Help Themselves |first=Janelle |last=Brown |date=December 30, 1997 |magazine=Wired |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235207/https://www.wired.com/1997/12/g-o-d-wants-to-help-developers-help-themselves/ |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |url-status=live }} Wilson had previously been the CEO of Ion Storm, a video game developer.{{cite web |url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_12/11_ion/index.html |title=ION's Mike Wilson Takes a Hike |author=Staff |date=December 11, 1997 |website=GameSpot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000416092646/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_12/11_ion/index.html |archive-date=April 16, 2000 |url-status=dead }} Wilson's stated vision for the company was to have a video games publisher run by experienced developers rather than marketeers and conventional businessmen.{{cite magazine |first=Colin |last=Campbell |title=Movers and Shakers |magazine=Next Generation|issue=39 |publisher=Imagine Media |date=March 1998|page=26}} Gathering of Developers was initially an alliance of eight development companies, with each of the founding companies having an equity in the publisher and a representative on the board of directors.{{cite magazine |title=Do You Believe in G.O.D.? |magazine=Next Generation|issue=41 |publisher=Imagine Media |date=May 1998|pages=10-15}}

The opening of the company took place on January 13, 1998.{{cite web |url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_01/13_god/index.html |title=Mike Wilson's g.o.d. Becomes Reality |date=13 January 1998 |website=headline.gamespot.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980119045752/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_01/13_god/index.html |archive-date=19 January 1998}} Co-founders included Harry Miller, Jim Bloom, Rick Stults and Doug Myres. The same month, video game developer Terminal Reality became an equity partner of Gathering of Developers, through which their vice-president, Brett Combs, took a seat on the publisher's board of directors.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/terminal-reality-takes-stake-in-god/1100-2462182/ |title=Terminal Reality Takes Stake in g.o.d. |first=Micheal |last=Mullen |date=January 14, 1998 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235152/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/terminal-reality-takes-stake-in-god/1100-2462182/ |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |url-status=live }} Other founding partners included Edge of Reality, 3D Realms, Epic Games, PopTop Software, and Ritual Entertainment.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/god-blesses-edge-of-reality/1100-2462948/ |title=g.o.d. Blesses Edge of Reality |first=Micheal |last=Mullen |date=March 16, 1998 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235257/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/god-blesses-edge-of-reality/1100-2462948/ |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/697/697083p13.html |title=GameSpy Retro: Developer Origins, Page 13 of 19 |first=John |last=Keefer |date=March 31, 2006 |website=GameSpy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609133215/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/697/697083p13.html |archive-date=June 9, 2007 |url-status=dead }} By February 1998, the company had struck an investment deal with Pennsylvania Merchants Group.{{cite web |url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_02/13_god/index.html |title=G.o.d. Makes a Friend |first=Alan |last=Dunkin |date=February 13, 1998 |website=GameSpot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000308210423/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_02/13_god/index.html |archive-date=March 8, 2000 |url-status=dead }} On June 1, 1998, video game publisher Take-Two Interactive announced a "subsistantial non-equity investment" in Gathering of Developers, wherein Take-Two Interactive would distribute games published by Gathering of Developers.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/god-partners-with-take-2/1100-2463312/ |title=g.o.d. Partners with Take 2 |first=Curt |last=Feldman |date=June 1, 1998 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211000728/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/god-partners-with-take-2/1100-2463312/ |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live }} Take-Two Interactive later went on to acquire a 20% stake in the company by February 1999.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/02/10/take-two-buys-20-of-god |title=Take-Two Buys 20% of G.O.D. |author=IGN Staff |date=February 9, 1999 |website=IGN |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211072406/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/02/10/take-two-buys-20-of-god |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live }} Also in February 1999, Gathering of Developers co-founded the Independent Games Festival, which was to premier Game Developers Conference,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/1999/02/and-god-created-a-games-fest/ |title=And GOD Created a Games Fest |first=Ronald Warren |last=Deutsch |date=February 18, 1999 |magazine=Wired |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211071548/https://www.wired.com/1999/02/and-god-created-a-games-fest/ |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live }} and also co-hosted and funded the 1999 edition of it.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/08/god-gears-up-for-games-gala |title=G.O.D. Gears up for Games Gala |author=IGN Staff |date=January 7, 1999 |website=IGN |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211072445/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/08/god-gears-up-for-games-gala |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/indie-finalists-announced/1100-2452262/ |title=Indie Finalists Announced |first=Harley |last=Jebens |date=February 11, 1999 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235133/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/indie-finalists-announced/1100-2452262/ |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |url-status=live }} In May 1999, Gathering of Developers signed an agreement with Sega to distribute eight of their games on the Heat.net platform.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/05/13/heat-deals-with-the-gathering |title=HEAT Deals with The Gathering |author=IGN Staff |date=May 13, 1999 |website=IGN |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211072527/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/05/13/heat-deals-with-the-gathering |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live }}

During the Electronic Entertainment Expo trade shows, Gathering of Developers offered free barbecue, live music and beer to the nearly 10,000 attendees that crossed the street into their parking lot, dubbed the "Promised Lot".{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gods-promised-lot/1100-2451803/ |title=G.O.D.'s Promised Lot |first=Amer |last=Ajami |date=April 30, 1999 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211000748/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gods-promised-lot/1100-2451803/ |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/05/09/god-again-hosts-its-own-e3-party |title=G.O.D. Again Hosts its Own E3 Party |author=IGN Staff |date=May 9, 2001 |website=IGN |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211072538/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/05/09/god-again-hosts-its-own-e3-party |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live }} At the 2001 edition of the event, Gathering of Developers' booth displayed booth babes dressed up as schoolgirls to promote their adult content.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/130178/book_excerpt_and_review__sex_in_.php?page=11 |title=Book Excerpt and Review – Sex in Video Games, Page 11 of 15 |first1=Brad |last1=Kane |first2=Brenda |last2=Brathwaite |date=December 12, 2006 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235239/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/130178/book_excerpt_and_review__sex_in_.php?page=11 |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/06/the-gathering-goes-back-to-school-girls |title=The Gathering Goes Back to School, Girls |author=IGN Staff |date=January 5, 2001 |website=IGN |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235258/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/06/the-gathering-goes-back-to-school-girls |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}

=Decline and acquisition=

On May 1, 2000, Take-Two Interactive announced that they had acquired Gathering of Developers.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_27343 |title=Take 2 Interactive buys GOD |author=Gestalt |date=May 1, 2000 |website=Eurogamer |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235151/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_27343 |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-finds-god/1100-2565601/ |title=Take Two Finds G.O.D. |first=Sam |last=Parker |date=May 1, 2000 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922002602/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-finds-god/1100-2565601/ |archive-date=September 22, 2017 |url-status=live }} The deal was signed mainly due to Gathering of Developers' financial instability.{{cite web |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/gamings-greatest-flops-duke-nukem-forever-retrospective |title=Gaming's Greatest Flops: Duke Nukem Forever |first=Bob |last=Mackey |date=November 28, 2014 |website=USgamer |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235202/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/gamings-greatest-flops-duke-nukem-forever-retrospective |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |url-status=live }} On May 4, 2000, Take-Two Interactive and Gathering of Developers launched On Deck Interactive as a publishing label for games with "a consumer friendly price point and a mass market appeal".{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/06/take-2-and-god-launch-on-deck-interactive |title=Take 2 And G.O.D. Launch On Deck Interactive |author=IGN Staff |date=May 5, 2000 |website=IGN |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235309/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/06/take-2-and-god-launch-on-deck-interactive |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gathering-launches-mass-market-line/1100-2565640/ |title=Gathering Launches Mass-Market Line |first=Sam |last=Parker |date=May 4, 2000 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922002724/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gathering-launches-mass-market-line/1100-2565640/ |archive-date=September 22, 2017 |url-status=live }} Following the departure of On Deck Interactive's CEO Robert Westmoreland, the label was shut down again on March 5, 2001, with all of its upcoming games shifted to Gathering of Developers.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/on-deck-interactive-folds/1100-2692871/ |title=On Deck Interactive folds |first=Trey |last=Walker |date=March 5, 2001 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211000744/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/on-deck-interactive-folds/1100-2692871/ |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live }}

=Death of co-founder and shut down=

On May 3, 2001, Gathering of Developers co-founder Myres unexpectedly died of an asthma attack.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/douglas-myres-dies-from-asthma-attack-at-age-36/1100-2715770/ |title=Douglas Myres dies from asthma attack at age 36 |first=Trey |last=Walker |date=May 4, 2001 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235254/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/douglas-myres-dies-from-asthma-attack-at-age-36/1100-2715770/ |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.bluesnews.com/s/24832/rip-doug-myres |title=R.I.P. Doug Myres |date=May 4, 2001 |website=Blue's News |access-date=February 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215204357/https://www.bluesnews.com/s/24832/rip-doug-myres |archive-date=February 15, 2018 |url-status=live }} In his honor, Gathering of Developers announced the "Doug Myres Substance Award" in June that year, which would be handed out at the July 2001 edition of the Cyberathlete Professional League, with a donation to the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center made in the recipient's name.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/06/14/godgames-announces-the-doug-myres-substance-award |title=GodGames Announces the Doug Myres Substance Award |author=IGN Staff |date=June 14, 2001 |website=IGN |access-date=February 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215204221/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/06/14/godgames-announces-the-doug-myres-substance-award |archive-date=February 15, 2018 |url-status=live }}

Gathering of Developers' Dallas offices were closed down by Take-Two Interactive in August 2001, with all operations relocated to Take-Two Interactive's headquarters in New York City.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2001/08/game-over-for-max-payne-makers/ |title=Game Over for Max Payne Makers |first=Noah |last=Shachtman |date=August 16, 2001 |magazine=Wired |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930192333/https://www.wired.com/2001/08/game-over-for-max-payne-makers/ |archive-date=September 30, 2017 |url-status=live }} All staff were laid off or left the company, most of which were then hired by SubstanceTV, a new venture previously launched by Wilson and Myres.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/god-moves-to-new-york/1100-2803226/ |title=GOD moves to New York |first=Geoff |last=Keighley |date=August 9, 2001 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211000750/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/god-moves-to-new-york/1100-2803226/ |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live }} By February 2003, Gathering of Developers had been shortened to Gathering.{{cite web |url=http://ir.take2games.com/ReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=131828 |title=Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Record First Quarter Fiscal 2003 Financial Results |date=February 27, 2003 |website=Take-Two Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040717035040/http://ir.take2games.com/ReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=131828 |archive-date=July 17, 2004 |url-status=dead}} On September 9, 2004, following poor financial results in Take-Two Interactive's Q3 2004 fiscal quarter, Gathering of Developers was folded into Global Star Software, Take-Two Interactive's budget range publishing label.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-reports-loss-reorganizes-publishing-division/1100-6107068/ |title=Take-Two reports loss, reorganizes publishing division |author=Gamespot Staff |date=September 9, 2004 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235259/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-reports-loss-reorganizes-publishing-division/1100-6107068/ |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/09/10/take-two-q3-results |title=Take-Two Q3 Results |first=David |last=Adams |date=September 9, 2004 |website=IGN |access-date=February 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215204214/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/09/10/take-two-q3-results |archive-date=February 15, 2018 |url-status=live }}

Games published

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Jazz Jackrabbit 2