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Strategy First

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Strategy First Inc.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
Founded1988; 36 years ago (1988)
Founders
  • Don McFatridge
  • Steve Wall
  • Dave Hill
Headquarters
Montreal, Quebec
,
Canada
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Emanuel Wall (director)
ProductsSee List of Strategy First games
ParentSilverstar Holdings (2005–present)
Websitehttp://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

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The original logo for Strategy First; each character represents one of the four founding partners, as well as a strategy sub-genre the company intended to develop.[1]

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.[1]

By May 2004, Strategy First had amassed over US$5 million 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 $4 million owed to investors, as well as $1.7 million owed to developers. As a result, Strategy First filed for bankruptcy on 4 August 2004.[2][3] Due to this insolvency, multiple developers, including Stardock and Paradox Interactive, did not receive royalties for their respective games published by Strategy First.[4][5] Subsequently, Polish developer Techland cut all ties with Strategy First, disallowing Strategy First from distributing any Techland product, effective on 18 September.[6]

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 $600,000 in cash and 400,000 shares of common stock to Strategy First's creditors, while also assuming $400,000 of Strategy First's existing debt.[7][8] 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".[9] 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.[10][11]

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.[12][13]

Games

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Main article: List of Strategy First games

References

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  1. ^ a b c Keefer, John (31 March 2006). "GameSpy Retro: Developer Origins, Page 9 of 19". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 9 June 2007.
  2. ^ Jenkins, David (22 September 2004). "Strategy First Files For Bankruptcy". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  3. ^ Walker, John (5 February 2014). "Correction Regarding Strategy First". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  4. ^ Hall, Charlie (7 August 2013). "Solving Paradox: How the historical strategy game maker stayed alive". Polygon. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  5. ^ Peel, Jeremy (6 October 2016). "The other Gabe: Stardock CEO Brad Wardell talks independence, feminism, and taking responsibility". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  6. ^ Jenkins, David (24 September 2004). "Strategy First Loses Techland Rights". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  7. ^ jkdmedia (22 April 2005). "Silverstar Holdings Announces Acquisition of Strategy First". GameZone. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  8. ^ Maragos, Nich (7 July 2005). "Strategy First Signs Post-Resurrection European Distribution Deal". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  9. ^ Dobson, Jason (16 February 2007). "Q&A: Kabatznik On FlatOut Growth For Empire/Strategy First". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  10. ^ Dobson, Jason (5 April 2006). "Strategy First Acquires Malfador Machinations". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  11. ^ Stahie, Silviu (7 April 2006). "Strategy First Acquires the Assets of Malfador Machinations". Softpedia. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  12. ^ Alexander, Leigh (5 May 2009). "Empire Interactive Confirmed In Administration, 49 Staffers Laid Off". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  13. ^ MCV Staff (5 May 2009). "Confirmed: Empire goes into administration". MCV.
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