Strategy First
{{Short description|Canadian video game publisher}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=June 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Strategy First Inc.
| logo = Strategy First.png
| logo_caption = An iteration of the original Strategy First logo that was painted gold and made 3D so that it could be rotated on the company's website.
| type = Subsidiary
| industry = Video games
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1988}}
| founders = {{Unbulleted list|Don McFatridge|Steve Wall|Dave Hill}}
| hq_location_city = Montreal, Quebec
| hq_location_country = Canada
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Emanuel Wall (director)
| products = See List of Strategy First games
| parent = Silverstar Holdings (2005–present)
| website = http://www.strategyfirst.com/
}}
Strategy First Inc. is a Canadian video game publisher based in Montreal. Founded in 1988 by Don McFatridge, Steve Wall and Dave Hill, the company filed for bankruptcy in 2004 and was subsequently acquired by Silverstar Holdings in 2005. Initially specializing in developing strategy video games, it since switched to primarily publishing, releasing games like the Disciples series, the Jagged Alliance series, O.R.B: Off-World Resource Base, and the Space Empires series.
History
Strategy First was founded by Don McFatridge, Steve Wall and Dave Hill, three board game designers. During one lunch break in 1988, they decided that they would begin their careers anew, establishing Strategy First as a video game development company. Richard Therrien joined as a partner shortly thereafter. The four wished to focus on strategy video games and named the company accordingly.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/697/697083p9.html |title=GameSpy Retro: Developer Origins, Page 9 of 19 |first=John |last=Keefer |date=31 March 2006 |website=GameSpy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609133006/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/697/697083p9.html |archive-date=9 June 2007 |url-status=dead}}
By May 2004, Strategy First had amassed over {{US$|5 million|link=yes}} in debt and had shrunk from more than 100 employees in three offices to sixteen staff in its primary office in Montreal. The debts included almost {{US$|4 million|long=no}} owed to investors, as well as {{US$|1.7 million|long=no}} owed to developers. As a result, Strategy First filed for bankruptcy on 4 August 2004.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/strategy-first-files-for-bankruptcy |title=Strategy First Files For Bankruptcy |first=David |last=Jenkins |date=22 September 2004 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=20 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620211652/https://gamasutra.com/view/news/95285/Strategy_First_Files_For_Bankruptcy.php |archive-date=20 June 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/02/05/new-developers-report-no-payments-from-strategy-first/ |title=Correction Regarding Strategy First |first=John |last=Walker |date=5 February 2014 |website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |access-date=20 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620210238/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/02/05/new-developers-report-no-payments-from-strategy-first/ |archive-date=20 June 2019 |url-status=live }} Due to this insolvency, multiple developers, including Stardock and Paradox Interactive, did not receive royalties for their respective games published by Strategy First.{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/8/7/4554042/paradox-interactive-history |title=Solving Paradox: How the historical strategy game maker stayed alive |first=Charlie |last=Hall |date=7 August 2013 |website=Polygon |access-date=20 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620210238/https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/8/7/4554042/paradox-interactive-history |archive-date=20 June 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/stardock-brad-wardell-interview |title=The other Gabe: Stardock CEO Brad Wardell talks independence, feminism, and taking responsibility |first=Jeremy |last=Peel |date=6 October 2016 |website=PCGamesN |access-date=20 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620213242/https://www.pcgamesn.com/stardock-brad-wardell-interview |archive-date=20 June 2019 |url-status=live }} Subsequently, Polish developer Techland cut all ties with Strategy First, disallowing Strategy First from distributing any Techland product, effective on 18 September.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/strategy-first-loses-techland-rights |title=Strategy First Loses Techland Rights |first=David |last=Jenkins |date=24 September 2004 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=20 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620211649/https://gamasutra.com/view/news/95297/Strategy_First_Loses_Techland_Rights.php |archive-date=20 June 2019 |url-status=live }}
Silverstar Holdings, a public company based in Boca Raton, Florida, that specialized in the acquisition of pay-to-play businesses, announced on 22 April 2005 that it had acquired Strategy First from the bankruptcy proceedings. The company contributed {{US$|600,000|long=no}} in cash and 400,000 shares of common stock to Strategy First's creditors, while also assuming {{US$|400,000|long=no}} of Strategy First's existing debt.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamezone.com/news/silverstar_holdings_announces_acquisition_of_strategy_first/ |title=Silverstar Holdings Announces Acquisition of Strategy First |author=jkdmedia |date=22 April 2005 |website=GameZone |access-date=20 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620210250/https://www.gamezone.com/news/silverstar_holdings_announces_acquisition_of_strategy_first/ |archive-date=20 June 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/strategy-first-signs-post-resurrection-european-distribution-deal |title=Strategy First Signs Post-Resurrection European Distribution Deal |first=Nich |last=Maragos |date=7 July 2005 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=20 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620211651/https://gamasutra.com/view/news/5874/Strategy_First_Signs_PostResurrection_European_Distribution_Deal.php |archive-date=20 June 2019 |url-status=live }} Clive Kabatznik, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Silverstar Holdings, stated that the company intended to use Strategy First as a niche publisher, in parallel to its other recent acquisition, Empire Interactive, which Kabatznik described as a "more fully fledged publisher".{{cite web |url=https://gamasutra.com/view/news/103746/QA_Kabatznik_On_FlatOut_Growth_For_EmpireStrategy_First.php |title=Q&A: Kabatznik On FlatOut Growth For Empire/Strategy First |first=Jason |last=Dobson |date=16 February 2007 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=20 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620211650/https://gamasutra.com/view/news/103746/QA_Kabatznik_On_FlatOut_Growth_For_EmpireStrategy_First.php |archive-date=20 June 2019 |url-status=dead }} In April 2005, Strategy First acquired and absorbed all assets of Santa Rosa, California-based developer Malfador Machinations. That company's president and CEO, Aaron Hall, joined Strategy First's management team as a result.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/strategy-first-acquires-malfador-machinations |title=Strategy First Acquires Malfador Machinations |first=Jason |last=Dobson |date=5 April 2006 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=20 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620211652/https://gamasutra.com/view/news/99762/Strategy_First_Acquires_Malfador_Machinations.php |archive-date=20 June 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://news.softpedia.com/news/Strategy-First-Acquires-The-Assets-Of-Malfador-Machinations-21065.shtml |title=Strategy First Acquires the Assets of Malfador Machinations |first=Silviu |last=Stahie |date=7 April 2006 |website=Softpedia |access-date=20 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620210239/https://news.softpedia.com/news/Strategy-First-Acquires-The-Assets-Of-Malfador-Machinations-21065.shtml |archive-date=20 June 2019 |url-status=live }}
In March 2009, Silverstar Holdings was delisted from the NASDAQ stock exchange. Subsequently, Empire Interactive was put into administration in May, with 49 out of 55 positions terminated.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/empire-interactive-confirmed-in-administration-49-staffers-laid-off |title=Empire Interactive Confirmed In Administration, 49 Staffers Laid Off |first=Leigh |last=Alexander |author-link=Leigh Alexander (journalist) |date=5 May 2009 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=20 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620212620/https://gamasutra.com/view/news/114428/Empire_Interactive_Confirmed_In_Administration_49_Staffers_Laid_Off.php |archive-date=20 June 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.mcvuk.com/confirmed-empire-goes-into-administration/ |title=Confirmed: Empire goes into administration |author=MCV Staff |date=5 May 2009 |website=MCV}}
Games
{{Main|List of Strategy First games}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
External links
- [http://www.strategyfirst.com/ Official website]
Category:1988 establishments in Quebec
Category:Canadian companies established in 1988
Category:Companies based in Montreal
Category:Video game companies established in 1988
Category:Video game companies of Canada
Category:Video game publishers