ZeniMax Media

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
ZeniMax Media Inc.
Private
Industry Interactive entertainment
Computer and video games
Founded May 1999
Founders Christopher Weaver
Robert A. Altman
Headquarters Rockville, Maryland, U.S.
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Key people
Robert A. Altman, Chairman and CEO
Ernest Del, President
Products Doom, Quake, The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Wolfenstein, Rage, Dishonored
Owner Providence Equity Partners (25%)
ProSiebenSat.1 Media (9%)
Number of employees
600[1]
Parent Microsoft (2021-present)
Subsidiaries Bethesda Softworks
ZeniMax Online Studios
id Software
Arkane Studios
Tango Gameworks
MachineGames
BattleCry Studios
Website www.zenimax.com

ZeniMax Media Inc. is an American media company that develops and publishes video games through its subsidiaries. ZeniMax is known as the owner of id Software (developer of Doom, Quake and Wolfenstein), Bethesda Game Studios (developer of The Elder Scrolls, Fallout 3 and Fallout 4), Arkane Studios (developer of Arx Fatalis, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic and Dishonored), MachineGames (developer of Wolfenstein: The New Order and Wolfenstein: The Old Blood),[2] Tango Gameworks[3] (developer of The Evil Within) and ZeniMax Online Studios. ZeniMax Media Inc. is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, with offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.[4] Since March 2021, it has been owned by Big Tech megacorporation Microsoft as part of its Xbox Game Studios subsidiary.

ZeniMax Media was reportedly valued at about USD $1.2 billion, in 2007.[5][6]

History

ZeniMax Media was Co-founded in May 1999 by Bethesda Softworks founder Christopher Weaver and DC lawyer Robert A. Altman.[7] Weaver brought Altman on board as CEO, contributing his stock in Bethesda Softworks so that the new shell company, named ZeniMax Media, would be able to obtain funding. Weaver served initially as Chief Technology Officer of the company from 1999-2002, then moved to a non-operational role in 2002.

In 2004, ZeniMax Media acquired the Fallout franchise from Interplay Entertainment.[8] Bethesda's Todd Howard said in January 2007 that "We started work on Fallout 3 in late 2004 with a few people. We only had about 10 people on it until Oblivion wrapped (...)".[9] Fallout 3 was released in October 2008.

On October 6, 2010, ZeniMax Media received $150 million private investment in convertible preferred stock from Providence Equity Partners.[10] Providence had earlier invested US$300 million in ZeniMax convertible preferred stock in 2007.[11] Providence Equity Partners holds a 25% stake in ZeniMax Media.[12][13]

On August 1, 2007, ZeniMax Media announced the creation of ZeniMax Online Studios a division headed by Matt Firor. In 2012, the company announced that it was developing The Elder Scrolls Online, ultimately releasing it on April 4, 2014.[14]

On October 30, 2007, ZeniMax Media announced that Euro broadcasting group ProSiebenSat.1 Media was intensifying its relationship with ZeniMax. It launched SevenGames.com, the international version of its German game platform, in December and work with ZeniMax to develop online gaming. ProSiebenSat.1 Media holds a 9% stake in ZeniMax Media through SBS Broadcasting, which it acquired the same year.[15][16][17]

In September 2009, ZeniMax Media acquired rights to the Prey video game franchise.[18]

In December 2009, ZeniMax Media acquired publishing rights to the id Software game Rage. The game was to be published by Electronic Arts.[19]

On March 3, 2011, ZeniMax Media announced a partnership with the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts to support its Interactive Media Division with a comprehensive educational program of guest lectures and internships.[20][21]

In May 2014, ZeniMax Media, sent a letter to Facebook and Oculus VR asserting that any contributions that John Carmack made to the Oculus Rift project are the intellectual property of ZeniMax, stating that "ZeniMax provided necessary VR technology and other valuable assistance to Palmer Luckey and other Oculus employees in 2012 and 2013 to make the Oculus Rift a viable VR product, superior to other VR market offerings."

On May 21, 2014, ZeniMax Media filed a lawsuit against Oculus VR.[22][23] On June 25, 2014, Oculus VR filed an official response to the lawsuit. Oculus claimed Zenimax Media was falsely claiming ownership to take advantage of the acquisition by Facebook. Oculus also claimed that the Oculus Rift did not share a single line of code or any technology with Zenimax's code and technology.[24]

Corporate governance

The company's Board of Directors consists of 8 individuals:

Note: Todd Hollenshead, the Former President of id Software, is not listed in the ZeniMax Board of Directors on the official ZeniMax website nor do the recent filings mention him, but Hollenshead was a ZeniMax Board member according to a 2009 filing by ZeniMax. It is unknown what period he was a Director.[27]

Other board members in the past included Mark Schneider, the former Chairman and CEO of United Pan-Europe Communications, Inc., as well as Christopher Weaver.[28][29]

Outside advisors

ZeniMax's Business Advisory Board consists of 7 individuals:

Previous advisors included Dean Devlin Co-Founder of Centropolis Entertainment,[32] as well as Mark Bilfield, the former Director of Integrated Marketing, at Saatchi & Saatchi.[33][34]

Investors

ZeniMax Media had many different investors over the years. The investors are Providence Equity Partners, ProSiebenSat.1 Media, Robert A. Altman, Leslie Moonves, Cal Ripken, Jr, Harry E. Sloan, Jerry Bruckheimer, Ernest Del, J. Griffin Lesher, James Cedar, Cindy C. Tallent, Robert S. Trump, Michael J. Domingues, Christopher Weaver, SBS Broadcasting Europe, Ardsley Partners Fund, ZM Investment, The Gordon and Donva Crawford Trust(Gordon Crawford), the Schon Family Trust and ZeniMax private investor Tony Coelho.[35][36][37]

Subsidiaries

Development studios

Publishing

Defunct

  • e-Nexus Studios (internet entertainment).[44]
  • XL Translab (computer graphics & multimedia production).[45] Acquired in 1997 by Bethesda Softworks, defunct date unknown.[46]
  • Vir2L Studios, acquired in 1999, inactive since late 2010.
  • Mud Duck Productions, founded in 2002, inactive since 2007.
  • ZeniMax Los Angeles, founded in 1999, the office was closed in September 2001 due to lack of investor funding.[47]
  • Bethesda Softworks East in Moscow, Russia founded in 2001, closed in 2004.[48][49]

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/vprr/07/9999999997-07-005258
  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. Fallout 3 360-bound? from GameSpot
  10. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. http://www.uis.no/getfile.php/Forskning/Senter%20for%20Innovasjonsforskning/Zademach2009_Global%20Finance%20and%20CLuster%20Development.pdf
  17. http://translate.google.lv/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&prev=_t&hl=lv&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http://www.finanzen.net/nachricht/aktien/ProSiebenSat-1-Group-verstaerkt-Games-Aktivitaeten-Beteiligung-an-US-Spieleproduzent-ZeniMax-242586
  18. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. http://www.bizapedia.com/ny/TRUMP-MANAGEMENT-INC.html
  27. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. http://www.dlapiper.com/john_merrigan/
  31. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. http://web.archive.org/web/20010712002423/http://www.zenimax.com/profile9.html - His initial and surname are in the image name when you right click and click "view image", or view the page source. The image name is "n_mbilfield.gif"
  34. http://www.linkedin.com/in/markbilfield - Found his profile with the information in the previous cite.
  35. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/vprr/07/9999999997-07-035686
  37. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. http://www.bethblog.com/2013/10/02/gday-australia-and-new-zealand/
  44. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. http://www.flash8.net/uploadflash/2/flash8net_1547.swf
  46. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=55852656&authType=name&authToken=IteG&trk=prof-sb-browse_map-name
  48. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2315082/bio
  49. http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=1217333&authType=OPENLINK&authToken=kuhN&locale=en_US&srchid=1907704941377874607950&srchindex=2&srchtotal=9&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A1907704941377874607950%2CVSRPtargetId%3A1217333%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary

External links

  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.