Visual Concepts

Visual Concepts Entertainment
	Logo since 2018
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Video games
Founded	1988; 36 years ago
Founders	Scott Patterson; Greg Thomas; Jeff Thomas;
Headquarters	Novato, California, US
Key people	Greg Thomas (president)
Number of employees	350+ (2018)
Parent	Sega; (1999–2005); Take-Two Interactive; (2005); 2K; (2005–present);
Divisions	VC Austin; VC Blueshift; VC Budapest; VC China; VC Irvine; VC Korea; VC Novato; VC South; VC WWE;
Website	vcentertainment.com

Visual Concepts Entertainment is an American video game developer based in Novato, California. Founded in May 1988, the company is best known for developing sports games in the 2K franchise, most recently NBA 2K and WWE 2K, and previously NFL 2K and College Hoops 2K. Visual Concepts was acquired by Sega in May 1999 and sold to Take-Two Interactive in January 2005. The acquisition of the company led Take-Two Interactive to open their 2K label which Visual Concepts became part of, on the day following the acquisition. As of December 2018, the company employs more than 350 people.^[1]

History

Visual Concepts was founded in 1988 by programmer Scott Patterson and brothers Greg and Jeff Thomas, and was originally based in a small office above a bank in Novato, California.^[2] On January 25, 1995, Electronic Arts announced that they had acquired a stake in the company.^[3] In September 1997, Sega announced their intentions to acquire the company; the deal was closed on May 18, 1999, and Visual Concepts switched ownership for an undisclosed sum.^[4]

Following a June 2004 deal between Sega and Take-Two Interactive, wherein the two would co-publish and distribute titles in Visual Concepts' ESPN-based game series,^[5] rumors started spreading in December 2004, which suggested that Take-Two Interactive was planning to acquire Visual Concepts from Sega.^[6]^[7] On January 24, 2005, Take-Two Interactive announced to have completed a transaction of US$24 million to Sega for the acquisition of Visual Concepts, its subsidiary Kush Games, and the intellectual property to the 2K franchise.^[8]^[9] The publisher's 2006 Form 10-K filing later showed that a total of US$32.2 million had been paid to Sega for the acquisition of Visual Concepts and affiliated properties by January 2006.^[10] On January 25, 2005, the day following the acquisition, Take-Two Interactive announced their new publishing label, 2K, which would henceforth manage Visual Concepts and Kush Games.^[11]

A March 2009 research study on Metacritic scores, conducted by GameQuarry, ranked Visual Concepts as the number one "most consistent" video game developer on the review aggregator website, with 50 out of their 72 games at the time having received an aggregated review score of 80/100 or higher.^[12] In August 2010, Visual Concepts laid off 30 employees due to "the need for resource alignment and better efficiency".^[13] In December 2018, at The Game Awards 2018, Greg Thomas was honored with the "Industry Icon" award for his 30-year services with Visual Concepts.^[1]

2K acquired HookBang's game division, which had worked with Visual Concepts on the NBA 2K games previously, in March 2021. The division was rebranded as Visual Concepts Austin to continue to support Visual Concepts.^[14] In February 2024, an unknown number of employees at Visual Concepts Austin were affected by layoffs.^[15]

Games developed

1989–2004

Year	Title	Platform(s)
1989	Gnarly Golf	Apple IIGS
	Great Western Shootout
	Sword of Sodan (unreleased)
1990	Designasaurus II	MS-DOS
	Pipe Mania	Apple IIGS
	Task Force	Apple IIGS
1991	Trog	NES
1992	McDonaldland	Game Boy
	Spot: The Cool Adventure
	Star Trek: 25th Anniversary
	Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf	Super NES
1993	Bill Walsh College Football
	ClayFighter
	Harley's Humongous Adventure
	Madden NFL '94
	Taz-Mania
	We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story
1994	ClayFighter: Tournament Edition
	Claymates
	Dominus	MS-DOS
	Lester the Unlikely	Super NES
	Madden NFL '95
	MLBPA Baseball
	NHL 95
	Nickelodeon Guts
1995	Toughman Contest	Sega Genesis
	Weaponlord	Sega Genesis, Super NES
	Viewpoint	PlayStation
	Madden NFL '96	PlayStation (cancelled)^[16]^[17]^[18]
1996	NHL 97	PlayStation, Sega Saturn
1997	NBA Action 98	Microsoft Windows, Sega Saturn
1997	NBA Fastbreak '98	PlayStation
1998	One	PlayStation
1999	NBA 2K	Dreamcast
	NFL 2K
	NHL 2K
2000	NBA 2K1
2000	NFL 2K1
2001	Floigan Bros.
	NBA 2K2	Dreamcast, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
	NCAA College Football 2K2: Road to the Rose Bowl	Dreamcast
	NFL 2K2	Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Xbox
	NHL 2K2	Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Xbox
	Ooga Booga	Dreamcast
	World Series Baseball 2K2	Dreamcast, Xbox
2002	NBA 2K3	GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
	NCAA College Basketball 2K3
	NCAA College Football 2K3
	NFL 2K3
	NHL 2K3
	Sega Soccer Slam
	ToeJam & Earl III: Mission to Earth	Xbox
2003	ESPN College Hoops	PlayStation 2, Xbox
	ESPN NBA Basketball
	ESPN NHL Hockey
	ESPN NFL Football
	World Series Baseball 2K3
2004	ESPN College Hoops 2K5
	ESPN NBA 2K5
	ESPN NFL 2K5
	ESPN NHL 2K5
	ESPN Major League Baseball

2005–present

Year	Title	Platform(s)	Notes
2005	College Hoops 2K6	PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360
	Major League Baseball 2K5	PlayStation 2, Xbox	Assisted Kush Games
	Major League Baseball 2K5: World Series Edition	PlayStation 2, Xbox	Assisted Kush Games
	NBA 2K6	PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360
	NHL 2K6	PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360	Assisted Kush Games
2006	College Hoops 2K7	PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360
	Major League Baseball 2K6	GameCube, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Xbox, Xbox 360	Assisted Kush Games
	NBA 2K7	PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360
	NHL 2K7	PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360	Assisted Kush Games
2007	All-Pro Football 2K8	PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
	College Hoops 2K8	PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
	Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer	PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
	Major League Baseball 2K7	PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox, Xbox 360	Assisted Kush Games
	NBA 2K8	PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
	NHL 2K8	PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360	Assisted 2K Los Angeles
	The Bigs	PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360	Assisted Blue Castle Games
2008	Major League Baseball 2K8	PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360	Assisted 2K Los Angeles
	NBA 2K9	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
	NHL 2K9	PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
2009	Major League Baseball 2K9	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
	NBA 2K10	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
	NBA 2K10: Draft Combine	PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
	NHL 2K10	PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
2010	Major League Baseball 2K10	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
	NBA 2K11	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
	NHL 2K11	Wii
2011	Major League Baseball 2K11	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
2011	NBA 2K12	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
2012	Major League Baseball 2K12	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
	MyNBA 2K	Android, iOS
	NBA 2K13	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Xbox 360
	NBA 2K MyLife	Facebook Platform
2013	Major League Baseball 2K13	PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
	NBA 2K14	Android, Fire OS, iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
	WWE 2K14	PlayStation 3, Xbox 360	Assisted Yuke's
2014	NBA 2K15	Android, Fire OS, iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
	NHL 2K	Android, iOS	Assisted Virtuos
	WWE 2K15	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One	Assisted Yuke's
2015	NBA 2K16	Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
2015	WWE 2K16	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One	Assisted Yuke's
2016	NBA 2K17	Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
	NBA 2K17: The Prelude	PlayStation 4, Xbox One
	NBA 2KVR Experience	Android, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4	Assisted Specular Interactive
	WWE 2K17	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One	Assisted Yuke's
2017	NBA 2K18	Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
	NBA 2K18: The Prelude	PlayStation 4, Xbox One
	WWE 2K18	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One	Assisted Yuke's
2018	NBA 2K19	Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
	NBA 2K19: The Prelude	PlayStation 4, Xbox One
	WWE 2K19	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One	Assisted Yuke's
2019	NBA 2K20	Stadia, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2019	WWE 2K20	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2020	NBA 2K21	Stadia, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
2021	NBA 2K22	Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
2022	WWE 2K22	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
2022	NBA 2K23	Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
2023	WWE 2K23	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
2023	Lego 2K Drive	Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

References

^ ^a ^b The Game Awards (December 6, 2018). "Greg Thomas Wins Industry Icon | The Game Awards 2018". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
^ Hruby, Patrick (September 18, 2018). "Inside NBA 2K's Journey to the Top of Sports Gaming". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
^ Business Wire (January 25, 1995). "Electronic Arts takes equity stake in leading software developer, Visual Concepts Entertainment". The Free Library. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
^ Kennedy, Sam (May 15, 1999). "Sega to Acquire Visual Concepts". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 18, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
^ Adams, David (June 8, 2004). "Take-Two Takes SEGA Sports". IGN. Archived from the original on February 18, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
^ Thorsen, Tor (December 23, 2004). "Take-Two taking over Visual Concepts?". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 18, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
^ Orry, Tom (December 24, 2004). "Take-Two to purchase Visual Concepts?". VideoGamer.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
^ Feldman, Curt (January 24, 2005). "Sega officially out of the sports game". GameSpot. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
^ Adams, David (January 24, 2005). "Take Two Buys Visual Concepts". IGN. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
^ Sinclair, Brendan (January 31, 2006). "Take-Two reveals acquisition prices, hints at future lawsuits". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 26, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
^ Jenkins, David (January 25, 2005). "Take-Two Acquires Visual Concepts, Announces 2K Games Brand". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
^ Elliott, Phil (March 17, 2009). "Visual Concepts 'most consistent' developer". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on February 18, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
^ Bennett, Colette (August 16, 2010). "NBA 2K11 Developer Visual Concepts Lays Off 30 Employees". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on February 18, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
^ Sinclair, Brendan (March 23, 2021). "2K acquires HookBang games business". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
^ Kennedy, Victoria (February 7, 2024). "Layoffs hit WWE, Lego 2K Drive studio Visual Concepts Austin". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
^ "IGN Presents the History of Madden". IGN. August 8, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
^ "PlayStationMuseum.com - Madden 96". PlayStation Museum. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
^ David Short (March 1996). "Madden '96 in '97?". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 80. Ziff Davis. p. 121.