Majesco


Majesco Games Corporation is an American video game publisher and distributor based in Hazlet, New Jersey. The company was founded as Majesco Sales in Edison, New Jersey in 1986, and was a privately held company until acquiring operation-less company ConnectivCorp in a reverse merger takeover, becoming its subsidiary and thus a public company on December 5, 2003. ConnectivCorp later changed its name to Majesco Holdings Inc. on April 13, 2004.
On December 1, 2016, Majesco Entertainment was acquired by PolarityTE, Inc., a biotech company, in another reverse merger takeover, because of which it formally ceased all video game operations on December 8, 2016. In mid-2017, chief executive officer Jesse Sutton re-acquired the company through a management buyout and continued operating it privately held. On January 15, 2018, Liquid Media Group announced the acquisition of Majesco.

History

1986–1998

Majesco was first known as a reissuer of old titles that had been abandoned by their original publisher. By cutting the prices and eventually arranging the rights to self-manufacture games for both Nintendo and Sega systems, the company found a sustainable market niche.
Later, Majesco arranged with Sega to manufacture a version of its Genesis 16-bit console, which had been superseded by the 32-bit Saturn. It released this in 1998 as the Genesis 3 and followed up with a version of the handheld Game Gear called the Game Gear Core System. In 1998, it signed a deal with Hasbro Interactive to publish their titles for the 8-bit handheld and 16-bit console formats, notably the Game Boy Color.

1998–2016

The company's focus shifted to in-house game development, initially under the brand Pipe-Dream Interactive since few believed they could make the transition successfully. It was originally by two lead producers who were employees of Morning Star Multimedia, Dan Kitchen and Kevin Mitchell. Majesco had a licensing agreement with publisher Red Storm Entertainment to bring Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six to the Sega Dreamcast platform in 1999. Pipe Dream Interactive, a Majesco subsidiary would eventually produce their titles for Hasbro Interactive on the Game Boy Color and the Sega Dreamcast in 2000, most notably Q*Bert. In 2000, Majesco had a licensing agreement with Activision to publish ports of their classic titles for various platforms, most notably the PlayStation 2 and the Game Boy Advance. The following year, Majesco signed an agreement with THQ to bring its vast catalog for the Game Boy Advance for the European market, and the following year, had an agreement with Codemasters to publish two titles for PlayStation 2.
Majesco focused on developing for console systems, such as GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Xbox, and PlayStation 2. A few of the titles it released, involving popular characters, included a few Bomberman titles for the GameCube and Game Boy Advance. Majesco also published computer games with Terminal Reality as the developer, such as BloodRayne and BloodRayne 2.
In 2003, Majesco was slated to publish Black 9, but producers forced the developers, Taldren, Inc., to shut down when the game was about 85% complete.
The publisher had reached financial trouble with its larger-budget games, such as Psychonauts, which sold poorly although receiving several awards and critical acclaim, and Advent Rising, which generated intense hype but was ultimately panned by critics for being released prematurely and without adequate bug testing. Around this time, the company's best-selling titles in the last few years was the series of GBA Videos for the Game Boy Advance. It also published the game Jaws Unleashed.
On January 19, 2006, the company's financial situation worsened to the degree that it had to cancel two games it was going to publish: Demonik, developed by Terminal Reality, and Taxi Driver, a sequel to the 1976 film of the same name. Majesco's president, Jesse Sutton, said that in the future the company would "focus primarily on publishing value and handheld video games." Since that announcement, the company has followed through with publishing successful budget titles in North America like Cooking Mama for the Nintendo DS.
On September 14, 2006, Majesco released Advent Rising and re-released BloodRayne and BloodRayne 2 on Steam. On November 6, 2007, Majesco announced the opening of a new development facility in the Los Angeles area dedicated to the development of casual game products and properties. On December 10, 2007, Majesco announced that they would be publishing a rhythm-based game, Major Minor's Majestic March, exclusively for the Wii developed by NanaOn-Sha. Majesco has announced that it will be launching an internet version of Bananagrams on August 18, 2008, that will be available on Facebook, a social networking website. On November 4, 2009, Majesco released BloodRayne and BloodRayne 2 on GOG.com. On June 6, 2011, Majesco announced that it was acquiring the assets of social game developer Quick Hit and Quick Hit Football to build out its social gaming strategy.
After a disastrous fiscal year of 2013, the company was expected to enjoy a recovering growth in 2014. It has an online casino gambling subsidiary GMS Entertainment. However, this proved incorrect, as they continued to lose large amounts of money in 2014, resulting in the closure of Midnight City and the cancellation of the console port of Gone Home.
On August 12, 2015, Majesco announced that they had appointed a new CEO, and that only five employees would remain in the company. The company's focus also shifted to develop mobile and downloadable titles. Two new titles, Glue and a new installment in the A Boy and His Blob franchise, were announced after the reconstruction.
On December 9, 2016, Majesco announced it was ceasing operations in the entertainment industry, and merged with biotech firm PolarityTE. Polarity will obtain Majesco's NASDAQ symbol name, COOL. On June 29, 2017, PolarityTE divested itself entirely of and subsequently sold, Majesco Entertainment's assets, which were subsequently taken private, leading to the rebirth of the company as an independent corporation.

2017–present

On November 9, 2017, Majesco announced that it had re-entered the video game business after having previously been brought back to a privately held company, releasing their Romans from Mars onto Steam. On January 15, 2018, 51 percent of Majesco was bought by Liquid Media Group, and Jesse Sutton became LMG's Gaming Advisor. The company announced Coba: Tale of the Moon for the Nintendo Switch on December 7, 2018.
On June 15, 2020, Ziggurat Interactive purchased a number of IP formerly owned by Majesco Entertainment, including the rights to BloodRayne, Advent Rising, Flip's Twisted World, and Raze's Hell. On the same day, Ziggurat announced that the PC release of BloodRayne would receive updates to improve compatibility with current-day systems, with updates done by original developer Terminal Reality. They also announced plans to continue the franchise.
In 2021, Majesco announced Monster Tale for the Nintendo Switch with an expected release later that year. As of February 2025, the game has still not been released.
Liquid Media Group no longer lists Majesco Entertainment among its subsidiaries, though no announcement of a divestment has been made. Jesse Sutton still lists himself as a member of the board, though he is no longer employed by Liquid Media Group and is actively involved in two other companies.

Controversies and lawsuits

Majesco was accused by former employees of Taldren, Inc. of forcing the company to shut down in an attempt to gain ownership of the Black9 IP. They alleged the company delayed payment of milestones and used "programmer assistance" to try and gain control of the source code.
To promote the release of Advent Rising, a million dollars was offered in a contest via Xbox Live for the first player to find a set of hidden symbols spread throughout the levels of the game. On August 15, 2005, the contest was cancelled, due to concerns that there was "no technically feasible solution that would allow the contest to continue in a fair and secure manner". Majesco offered, as compensation to those players, the choice of two free games and an apology on its home page.
A class action lawsuit was brought against the company by shareholders in 2005, they alleged the company had sent product to retailers knowing it would be returned in an attempt to boost revenue projections and raise the stock price. In 2006, a second lawsuit was filed by Trinad Capital Master Fund who accused the company of mismanagement. The lawsuit was settled in 2007.
In 2011, Majesco was among a list of defendants who were sued over alleged patent violations relating to the use of motion controls in video games for the Nintendo Wii. In 2018, the Federal Circuit court ruled in favour of Majesco and other defendants in the case.

Subsidiaries

  • Pipe Dream Interactive
  • Majesco Studios Santa Monica
  • Midnight City: On August 29, 2013, Majesco announced the creation of an indie publishing label, Midnight City, in order to bring various indie games to consoles.

    Games published

  • Advent Rising
  • Æon Flux
  • Age of Empires: The Age of Kings
  • Air Traffic Chaos
  • Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
  • Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
  • Attack of the Movies 3D
  • ATV: Quad Frenzy
  • Away: Shuffle Dungeon, North America
  • Babysitting Mama
  • Babysitting Mania
  • BattleBots: Beyond the BattleBox
  • BattleBots: Design & Destroy
  • Black & Bruised
  • Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy
  • Blokus Portable: Steambot Championship
  • BloodRayne
  • BloodRayne 2
  • BloodRayne: Betrayal
  • BlowOut
  • Bomberman Generation
  • Bomberman Jetters
  • Bomberman Max 2: Blue Advance
  • Bomberman Max 2: Red Advance
  • Boxing Fever
  • A Boy and His Blob
  • Brain Boost: Beta Wave, North America
  • Brain Boost: Gamma Wave, North America
  • Bust-A-Move Bash!
  • Bust-a-Move Deluxe
  • Bust-a-Move DS, North America
  • Camping Mama, North America
  • Cartoon Network: Block Party
  • Centipede
  • Cooking Mama, North America
  • Camping Mama: Outdoor Adventures, North America
  • Cooking Mama: Cook Off, North America
  • Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends, North America
  • Cooking Mama: World Kitchen, North America
  • Cooking Mama 3: Shop & Chop, North America
  • Cooking Mama 4: Kitchen Magic, North America
  • Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appétit!, North America
  • Crafting Mama
  • Crash City Mayhem
  • Dance Sensation!
  • The Daring Game for Girls
  • Dark Arena
  • Data East Arcade Classics
  • Dawn of Heroes
  • Dino Master: Dig, Discover, Duel
  • Double Dragon Neon developed by WayForward Technologies
  • Drake of the 99 Dragons
  • Drama Queens
  • Eco Creatures: Save the Forest, North America
  • Escape the Museum
  • F-14 Tomcat
  • F-18 Thunder Strike
  • F24: Stealth Fighter
  • Face Racers: Photo Finish
  • Fish Tycoon
  • Flip's Twisted World developed by Frozen North Productions
  • Fortress
  • Freddi Fish: Kelp Seed Mystery
  • Furu Furu Park, North America
  • FusionFall
  • Gardening Mama, North America
  • Gardening Mama 2: Forest Friends, North America
  • Geminose: Animal Popstars
  • Girl Fight
  • Global Touring Challenge: Africa
  • Go Play: Circus Star
  • Go Play: City Sports
  • Go Play: Lumberjacks
  • Golden Nugget Casino DS
  • Greg Hastings' Paintball 2
  • Guilty Gear Dust Strikers
  • Guilty Gear: Judgment
  • Guilty Gear X2 #Reload
  • Gun Metal
  • Hello Kitty Party
  • The Hidden
  • Hot and Cold: A 3D Hidden Object Adventure
  • Hulk Hogan's Main Event
  • HSX: Hypersonic Xtreme
  • Infected
  • Jaws Unleashed
  • Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2009
  • Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2010
  • Jillian Michaels' Pocket Trainer
  • KarmaStar
  • Kengo: Legend of the 9
  • Kong: King of Atlantis
  • Left Brain, Right Brain
  • Left Brain, Right Brain 2
  • Let's Draw
  • Lion's Pride: Adventures in the Serengeti
  • Mad Dog McCree: Gunslinger Pack
  • Major Minor's Majestic March
  • Marker Man Adventures
  • Maximum Chase, published
  • MechAssault: Phantom War
  • Mega Brain Boost
  • Mickey Mouse Camping Trip
  • Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine
  • Monster Bomber
  • Monster Tale
  • Monster Trucks
  • Monster Trucks DS
  • My Baby 3 & Friends
  • Nacho Libre
  • Nancy Drew: The Deadly Secret of Olde World Park
  • Nancy Drew: The Mystery of the Clue Bender Society
  • Nano Assault
  • Nanostray
  • Nanostray 2
  • NBA Baller Beats
  • The New York Times Crosswords
  • Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
  • Operation: Vietnam
  • Orchard
  • Our House
  • Pajama Sam: Don't Fear The Dark
  • Pet Pals: Animal Doctor
  • Pet Zombies in 3D
  • Phantom Dust
  • Pirates Plund-Arrr
  • Pizza Delivery Boy
  • Powerbike
  • Psychonauts
  • Puffins: Island Adventure
  • Quad: Desert Fury
  • Raze's Hell
  • Rollin' Rascals
  • Sharknado: The Video Game
  • Sideswiped
  • Spy Fox in "Dry Cereal"
  • Spy Kids: All the Time in the World
  • Summer Camp Showdown
  • Super Black Bass Fishing
  • Super Hornet F/A 18F
  • Super Speed Machines
  • Swords
  • Teen Titans
  • Teen Titans, Originally published by THQ
  • Teen Titans 2: The Brotherhood's Revenge
  • Texas Hold 'Em Poker
  • Toon-Doku
  • Totaled!
  • Toy Shop
  • Turn It Around
  • Twister Mania
  • Ultimate Game Room
  • Ultra Bust-a-Move
  • Wild Earth: African Safari
  • Wonder World Amusement Park
  • Worms 4: Mayhem, North America
  • Zoo Hospital
  • ''Zumba Fitness''