Venom Games

Venom Games was a British video game developer based in Gateshead, England. The studio was established in 2003 under the leadership of Peter Johnson and was formed as the successor to Rage Newcastle, a development team associated with Rage Games that had previously closed. Its creation continued a local development presence in the Newcastle and Gateshead area after the earlier studio's shutdown. In 2004, Take-Two Interactive acquired Venom Games. The transaction was negotiated with assistance from the law firm Weightmans. Following Take-Two's creation of the 2K publishing label in January 2005, Venom Games became part of the development organization managed under that label. This placed the studio within a larger international publisher's network of internal game-development teams. The studio remained part of Take-Two's operations for several years. In July 2008, employees were informed that Venom Games was expected to close at the end of the month. Take-Two publicly described the situation as an assessment of the studio's role and said that possible redundancies were being considered, subject to consultation with employees. Venom Games nevertheless shut down during 2008. Because the available reference material does not identify a complete catalogue of games, specific product lines and flagship releases cannot be reliably listed here. The company's historical significance lies primarily in its role as a successor to Rage Newcastle, its acquisition by Take-Two Interactive, its integration into the 2K development structure, and its eventual closure.

Venom Games was founded in 2003 in Gateshead, England, as a successor to Rage Newcastle. Rage Newcastle had been a development studio associated with Rage Games and had previously closed, leaving Venom Games to continue a game-development presence in the local area. Peter Johnson headed the new company as studio head. The studio operated independently for only a limited period before being acquired by Take-Two Interactive in 2004. The acquisition was handled in negotiations involving Weightmans, a law firm that assisted with the transaction. The deal brought Venom Games into the portfolio of a major international publisher and changed the company's position from a successor studio operating on its own to an internal development team within Take-Two's corporate structure. On 25 January 2005, Take-Two announced the creation of 2K, a publishing label intended to manage a number of the company's development studios and publishing activities. Venom Games was included among the studios associated with the new label. Its subsequent history therefore formed part of Take-Two's broader organization of internal game-development resources under 2K. In July 2008, Take-Two informed Venom Games employees that the studio was due to close at the end of the month. The parent company described the matter as an assessment of Venom Games' role and stated that possible redundancies were being considered. Take-Two also indicated that a final decision would follow consultation with employees. Despite that consultation process, the studio closed during 2008. The available reference material does not provide a verified list of games developed by Venom Games, nor does it identify later successor operations, a continuing consumer brand, or a replacement corporate entity. Venom Games is therefore best understood as a defunct British game-development studio whose principal documented corporate milestones were its formation after the closure of Rage Newcastle, its 2004 acquisition by Take-Two Interactive, its association with the 2K label from 2005, and its closure in 2008.

• 2008

  Studio closure

  [1]Venom Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Take-Two reviews Venom Games' role, considers possible redundancies, and closes the studio during July 2008.

• 2005

  Integration with the 2K label

  [1]Venom Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Following Take-Two's launch of the 2K publishing label, Venom Games becomes one of the development studios managed within that structure.

• 2004

  Acquisition by Take-Two Interactive

  [1]Venom Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Take-Two Interactive acquires Venom Games, bringing the studio into its corporate portfolio.

• 2003

  Venom Games is established

  [1]Venom Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Venom Games is founded in Gateshead as the successor to the previously closed Rage Newcastle studio, with Peter Johnson as studio head.

A British internal video game development studio operating first as an independent successor to Rage Newcastle and later within Take-Two Interactive's 2K development structure.

• 2008

  Take-Two decides to close Venom GamesStrategy

  Background

  Take-Two assessed the role of Venom Games and considered possible redundancies during an employee consultation.

  Action taken

  The company proceeded with the studio's closure in July 2008.

  Aftermath

  Venom Games ceased operations and its employees were affected by the closure.

  Source

• 2005

  Venom Games is placed within the 2K label structureStrategy

  Background

  Take-Two established the 2K publishing label to manage publishing and development activities, including work by its internal studios.

  Action taken

  Venom Games was included among the development studios managed under 2K.

  Aftermath

  The studio operated as part of Take-Two's 2K-oriented development organization until its closure in 2008.

  Source

• 2004

  Take-Two Interactive acquires Venom GamesM&A

  Background

  Venom Games was a young British development studio formed as the successor to Rage Newcastle.

  Action taken

  Take-Two Interactive purchased the company, with negotiations assisted by Weightmans.

  Aftermath

  Venom Games became part of Take-Two's internal development network and was subsequently associated with the 2K label.

  Source

1. 1Venom Gamesen.wikipedia.org