Midway Games
Encyclopedia
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....

. Following a bankruptcy
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...

 filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating
Liquidation
In law, liquidation is the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. Liquidation is also sometimes referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation...

 all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat (video game)
Mortal Kombat is a 1992 fighting-game developed and published by Midway for arcades. In 1993, home versions were released by Acclaim Entertainment. Released in the Fall of 1994, the Microsoft Windows 3.1x version was released by Activision Interactive. It is the first title in the Mortal Kombat...

, Ms.Pac-Man
Ms. Pac-Man
Ms. Pac-Man is an arcade video game produced by Midway as an unauthorized sequel to Pac-Man. It was released in North America in 1981 and became one of the most popular video games of all time, leading to its adoption by Pac-Man licensor Namco as an official title...

, Spy Hunter
Spy Hunter
Spy Hunter is a 1983 arcade game developed and released by Bally Midway. It has also been ported to various home computers and video game systems....

, Tron, Rampage
Rampage (arcade game)
Rampage is a 1986 arcade game by Bally Midway. Players take control of gigantic monsters trying to survive against onslaughts of military forces...

, the Cruis'n series
Cruis'n
Cruis'n is a series of racing video games developed by Eugene Jarvis for American based company Midway Games, and published by Nintendo. The series debuted in North America, and Europe in 1994. Initially, the series was exclusive to the fifth generation consoles and was brought back later in the...

, NFL Blitz
NFL Blitz
NFL Blitz is a series of American football themed video games by Midway featuring the teams of the National Football League. It began as a 1997 arcade game but was eventually ported to home consoles and spawned several sequels...

and NBA Jam
NBA Jam
NBA Jam is a basketball arcade game developed by Midway in 1993. It is the first entry in the NBA Jam series, and was written entirely in assembly language. The main designer and programmer for this game was Mark Turmell...

. Midway also acquired the rights to video games that were originally developed by Williams Electronics and Atari Games
Atari Games
Atari Games Corporation was an American producer of arcade games, and originally part of Atari, Inc..-History:When, in 1984, Warner Communications sold the Atari Consumer division of Atari Inc...

, such as Defender
Defender (game)
Defender is an arcade video game developed released by Williams Electronics in 1980. A shooting game featuring two-dimensional graphics, the game is set on a fictional planet where the player must defeat waves of invading aliens while protecting astronauts...

, Joust, Robotron 2084, Gauntlet
Gauntlet (arcade game)
Gauntlet is a fantasy-themed hack and slash 1985 arcade game by Atari Games. It is noted as the first class-based multiplayer game. Released during the emergence of popularity of other role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, the game was a sensation, being one of the first true dungeon crawl...

and the Rush series
Rush (video game series)
Rush is a series of racing game video games developed by American based company Atari Games and published by Atari Games and Midway Games for the Home Consoles. The series debuted worldwide in 1996. Initially, the series was exclusive to the fifth generation consoles and was brought back later in...

.

The company's predecessor was founded in 1958 as Midway Manufacturing, an amusement game manufacturer. In 1973 it moved into the interactive entertainment
Interactive entertainment
The phrase interactive entertainment also known as video games refers to the business of producing and distributing products and services, or the products and services, of which the entertainment value can be influenced by users through direct feedback.-Origins:Although Hal Halpin claims credit...

 industry, developing
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...

 and publishing
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....

 arcade video games
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...

. The company scored its first hit with the U.S. distribution of Space Invaders
Space Invaders
is an arcade video game designed by Tomohiro Nishikado, and released in 1978. It was originally manufactured and sold by Taito in Japan, and was later licensed for production in the United States by the Midway division of Bally. Space Invaders is one of the earliest shooting games and the aim is to...

in 1978. Midway was purchased and re-incorporated in 1988 by WMS Industries Inc.  After many years as a leader in the arcade segment, Midway moved into the growing home video game market beginning in 1996, the same year that it made its initial public offering
Initial public offering
An initial public offering or stock market launch, is the first sale of stock by a private company to the public. It can be used by either small or large companies to raise expansion capital and become publicly traded enterprises...

 of stock. In 1998, WMS spun off its remaining shares of Midway. Midway was ranked as the fourth largest-selling video game publisher in 2000.

After 2000, Midway continued to develop and publish video games for home and handheld video game machines, but it experienced large annual net losses and engaged in a series of stock and debt offerings and other financings and borrowings. Sumner Redstone
Sumner Redstone
Sumner Murray Redstone is an American media magnate. He is the majority owner and Chairman of the Board of the National Amusements theater chain...

, the head of Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...

/CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation is an American media conglomerate focused on commercial broadcasting, publishing, billboards and television production, with most of its operations in the United States. The President and CEO of the company is Leslie Moonves. Sumner Redstone, owner of National Amusements, is CBS's...

, increased his stake in Midway from about 15%, in 1998, to about 87% by the end of 2007. In December 2008, Redstone sold all his stock and $70 million of Midway debt to Mark Thomas, a private investor, for $100,000.

In February 2009, Midway Games filed in Delaware for bankruptcy. Warner Bros. purchased most of Midway's assets (including Mortal Kombat), and Midway settled with Mark Thomas to relinquish his Midway stock and debt. The U.S. District Court in Chicago dismissed a lawsuit alleging that former officers of Midway misled shareholders while selling their own stock. In 2010, the bankruptcy court dismissed claims against Redstone concerning his sale of the company to Thomas and approved Midway's plan of liquidation. Midway terminated the public registration of its securities in June 2010. As of 2011, a liquidating trust continues to collect and distribute any proceeds and other assets to Midway's remaining creditors and pursues avoidance actions on behalf of the creditors.

Arcade games

Midway Mfg. Co. began in 1958 as an independent manufacturer of amusement equipment. It was purchased by Bally in 1969. After some years making mechanical arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...

s such as puck bowling and simulated western shoot-out, Midway became in 1973 an early American maker of arcade video games. Throughout the 1970s, Midway formed a close alliance with Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese video game publisher Taito
Taito Corporation
The is a Japanese publisher of video game software and arcade hardware wholly owned by publisher Square Enix. Taito has their headquarters in the Shinjuku Bunka Quint Building in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo, sharing the facility with its parent company....

, with both companies regularly licensing their games to each other for distribution in their respective country. Midway entered the consumer market in 1977 by releasing the Bally Home Library Computer
Bally Astrocade
The Astrocade is an early video game console and simple computer system designed by a team at Midway, the videogame division of Bally. It was marketed only for a limited time before Bally decided to exit the market. The rights were later picked up by a third-party company, who re-released it and...

, the only home system ever to be developed by Midway.

Midway's breakthrough success came in 1978, with the licensing and distribution of the seminal arcade game Space Invaders
Space Invaders
is an arcade video game designed by Tomohiro Nishikado, and released in 1978. It was originally manufactured and sold by Taito in Japan, and was later licensed for production in the United States by the Midway division of Bally. Space Invaders is one of the earliest shooting games and the aim is to...

in America. This was followed by the hit U.S. version of Namco
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...

's Pac-Man
Pac-Man
is an arcade game developed by Namco and licensed for distribution in the United States by Midway, first released in Japan on May 22, 1980. Immensely popular from its original release to the present day, Pac-Man is considered one of the classics of the medium, virtually synonymous with video games,...

in 1980, and its unauthorized sequel, Ms. Pac-Man
Ms. Pac-Man
Ms. Pac-Man is an arcade video game produced by Midway as an unauthorized sequel to Pac-Man. It was released in North America in 1981 and became one of the most popular video games of all time, leading to its adoption by Pac-Man licensor Namco as an official title...

, in 1981. Also in 1981, Bally merged its pinball
Pinball
Pinball is a type of arcade game, usually coin-operated, where a player attempts to score points by manipulating one or more metal balls on a playfield inside a glass-covered case called a pinball machine. The primary objective of the game is to score as many points as possible...

 division with Midway to form the Bally/Midway Manufacturing division. Three games released that year, including Satan's Hollow
Satan's Hollow
Satan's Hollow is a shoot 'em up arcade game released by Bally Midway in 1982, subsequently converted to Atari 8-bit, and in 1984 to Commodore 64. The gameplay draws similarities to Galaga from Namco. The player must destroy the flying formations of gargoyles in order to pick up pieces of a bridge...

, were the first to feature the Bally/Midway brand. From the late 1970s through the late 1980s, Midway was the leading producer of arcade video games in the United States.

The Bally/Midway division of Bally was purchased and reincorporated in 1988 by the arcade and pinball game company Williams Electronics Games
Williams (gaming company)
WMS Industries, Inc. is an American electronic gaming and amusement company based in Waukegan, Illinois. The company's main operating subsidiaries are WMS Gaming and Orion Gaming. WMS traces its roots as far back as 1943, the Williams Manufacturing Company, founded by Harry E. Williams...

 through its holding company WMS Industries Inc. Midway moved its headquarters from Franklin Park, Illinois
Franklin Park, Illinois
Franklin Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 19,800 at the 2004 census.-Geography:Franklin Park is located at ....

 to Williams's then-headquarters in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...

, and WMS reincorporated Midway as a Delaware corporation
Delaware corporation
The Delaware General Corporation Law is the statute governing corporate law in the state of Delaware. Delaware is well known as a corporate haven. Over 50% of U.S...

. Although WMS retained many of Midway's R&D
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...

 employees, only two game designers were retained: Rampage
Rampage (arcade game)
Rampage is a 1986 arcade game by Bally Midway. Players take control of gigantic monsters trying to survive against onslaughts of military forces...

designers Brian Colin and Jeff Nauman. WMS obtained the right from Bally to use the "Bally" brand for its pinball games since Bally had completely left the arcade/pinball industry to concentrate on casinos and slot machines.

Under WMS ownership, Midway initially continued to produce arcade games under the Bally/Midway label while producing pinball tables under the "Bally" brand. In 1991, however, Midway absorbed Williams' video game division and started making arcade games under its own name again, without the "Bally" part (pinball tables continued to be produced under the "Bally" brand until Midway discontinued this part of the business in 1999). In 1996, WMS also purchased Time-Warner Interactive, which included Atari Games
Atari Games
Atari Games Corporation was an American producer of arcade games, and originally part of Atari, Inc..-History:When, in 1984, Warner Communications sold the Atari Consumer division of Atari Inc...

, a part of the former giant Atari Inc.
Atari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...

. Also in 1996, Midway changed its original corporate name, Midway Manufacturing, to Midway Games Inc., due to its entrance in the home console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...

 market. The original arcade division of the company became Midway Amusement Games and the newly created home division was named Midway Home Entertainment.

Spin-off and home video game focus

In 1996, WMS made a public offering of Midway stock and, in 1998, WMS spun off its remaining 86.8% interest in Midway to the WMS shareholders, making Midway an independent entity for the first time in almost 30 years. Midway kept Atari Games as a wholly owned subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...

 as part of this spin-off. Midway retained or shared some of the WMS executive staff and used some common facilities with WMS for a few more years. Over several years, Midway gradually terminated all material agreements and executive overlap with WMS and had a declining number of common members of its Board of Directors, until it shared only one with its former parent company.

By 1999, Midway left the pinball industry (it had earlier transferred most of its pinball assets to WMS in exchange for video game assets of WMS) to concentrate on video games. In January 2000, Midway changed the name of its "Atari Games" subsidiary to Midway Games West to avoid confusion with the other Atari
Atari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...

 company, then owned by Hasbro Interactive
Hasbro Interactive
Hasbro Interactive was an American video game production and publishing subsidiary of Hasbro, the large game and toy company.Hasbro Interactive was formed late in 1995 in order to compete in the computer and video game arena. Several Hasbro properties, such as Monopoly and Scrabble, had already...

. In June 2001, Midway closed its arcade division due to financial losses. In February 2003, Midway closed Midway Games West
Atari Games
Atari Games Corporation was an American producer of arcade games, and originally part of Atari, Inc..-History:When, in 1984, Warner Communications sold the Atari Consumer division of Atari Inc...

, ending what was left of the original Atari. After losing money each year since 2000, Midway's losses accelerated in 2003, as it lost $115 million on sales of about $93 million. Despite these losses, the company was able to finance its business with stock and debt offerings and various credit arrangements. In 2003, Sumner Redstone
Sumner Redstone
Sumner Murray Redstone is an American media magnate. He is the majority owner and Chairman of the Board of the National Amusements theater chain...

, a significant minority shareholder since the company's spinoff, began to increase his stake in the company and soon owned 80% of the stock.

In 2004, in an effort to expand its market share, Midway began a purchasing spree of independent video game development studios to strengthen its product development teams In April 2004, Midway acquired Surreal Software
Surreal Software
Surreal Software is a video game developer based in Kirkland, Washington, USA, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Surreal Software, best known for The Suffering and Drakan series, employed over 130 designers, artists and programmers. Surreal was acquired by Warner Bros....

 of Seattle, Washington. In October 2004, it acquired Inevitable Entertainment of Austin, Texas (which became Midway Austin
Midway Austin
Midway Studios Austin was founded as Inevitable Entertainment on March 23, 2000 and acquired by Midway Games in 2004. Responsible for developing Area 51 and its 2007 sequel BlackSite: Area 51....

). In December 2004, it acquired Paradox Development of Moorpark, California. On August 4, 2005, Midway acquired privately-held Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

n developer Ratbag Games
Ratbag Games
Ratbag Games Pty Ltd was an Australian developer of computer games such as Powerslide, The Dukes of Hazzard: Return of the General Lee and World of Outlaws: Sprint Cars 2002.-About the company:...

. The studio was renamed Midway Studios—Australia. Four months later, on December 13, Midway announced to its employees there that it was shutting the studio down, leaving its employees based at that studio without a job. Two days later, on December 15, the studio was closed and their Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...

 premises emptied. During 2004 and 2005, Midway lost $20 million on sales of $162 million, and $112 million on sales of $150 million, respectively. Redstone voted his shares to elect his daughter Shari Redstone
Shari Redstone
Shari Ellin Redstone is an American businesswoman. She is the president of National Amusements, vice-chairman of CBS Corporation and Viacom, and on December 21, 2007 became chairman of Midway Games...

 to Midway's board of directors and later as the chair of the board.

Midway was ranked as the #4 video game publisher by sales in 2000. It was ranked as the #19 video game publisher in 2005 and had fallen to #20 in 2006, according to the magazine Game Developer.

Late 2000s and bankruptcy filing

In 2006 and 2007, Midway lost a further $77 million on sales of $166 million and $100 million on sales of $157 million. It continued to finance its business with debt offerings and other credit arrangements. As of 2007, Midway Games was engaged in a legal battle with Mindshadow Entertainment for the Psi-Ops video game rights. Mindshadow alleged that Midway copied Psi-Opss story from a screenplay written and owned by their client. On December 2, 2008 Judge Florence-Marie Cooper
Florence-Marie Cooper
Florence-Marie Cooper was a United States federal judge.-Early life and education:Cooper was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and moved to San Francisco with her family in 1952. Cooper graduated from high school in 1958 and began working as a legal secretary...

 of the United States District Court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...

 for the Central District of California issued a ruling granting summary judgment on all counts in Midway's favor. Judge Cooper found no evidence of copyright infringement.

On March 6, 2007, Midway reported that it had entered into a new $90m credit agreement with National Amusements
National Amusements
National Amusements, Inc. is a privately owned theatre company based in Dedham, Massachusetts, USA. The company was founded in 1936 as the Northeast Theatre Corporation by Michael Redstone....

, a company controlled by Sumner Redstone. Midway's CEO, David Zucker, stated that the introduction of Unreal Tournament 3, and the company's growing success in mass-market games, were setting it up for a "significant 2008". On March 21, 2008, Zucker resigned as CEO. He was the third executive to resign from the company in three months. Succeeding Zucker as CEO was former Senior Vice President Matt Booty. During the summer of 2008, in an effort to trim costs, Midway closed its Los Angeles and Austin studios. These closures left Midway with four studios, in Chicago, Seattle, San Diego and Newcastle, England. In November 2008, Midway reported that its cash and other resources "may not be adequate to fund... working capital requirements" and that it "would need to initiate cost cutting measures or seek additional liquidity sources". On November 20, 2008, Midway retained Lazard to assist it "in the evaluation of strategic and financial alternatives". The next day, Midway received a NYSE delisting notice, after its stock's price fell below one dollar.

On December 2, 2008, Sumner Redstone sold his 87 percent stake in Midway Games to Mark Thomas, a private investor, through his company MT Acquisition Holdings LLC. Thomas's company paid approximately $100,000, or $0.0012 per share. Thomas also received $70 million of Midway's debt owed to Redstone. National Amusements took a significant loss on the sale, although the loss allowed it to benefit from tax losses. In December 2008, Midway disclosed that it might default on $240 million of debt after the sale of stock to Thomas triggered clauses in two bond issues totalling $150 million of debt that allowed the bondholders to demand full repayment.

In 2008, Midway lost $191 million on sales of $220 million, and Redstone's sale of his shares to Thomas eliminated Midway's ability to take advantage of accumulated net operating losses and other tax assets potentially worth more than $700 million. On February 12, 2009, Midway and its U.S. subsidiaries filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The company began to operate as a Debtor in possession
Debtor in possession
A debtor in possession in United States bankruptcy law is a person or corporation who has filed a bankruptcy petition, but remains in possession of property upon which a creditor has a lien or similar security interest...

. A company spokesperson said, "We felt this was a logical next step for our organization, considering the change in control triggered the acceleration of the repayment options ... we're looking to reorganize and to come out on the other side stronger".

2009 sales of assets

Midway announced on May 21, 2009 that it had received a takeover bid from Warner Bros., valued at more than $33 million dollars, to acquire most of the company's assets, including Midway's Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...

 and Seattle studios and rights to the Mortal Kombat and Wheelman series. The offer did not include the San Diego and Newcastle
Pitbull Syndicate
Midway Studios - Newcastle was a video game developer based in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear in the United Kingdom.-History:...

 studios or the TNA video game series
TNA iMPACT! (video game)
TNA Impact! is the first video game released by the professional wrestling promotion, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling . The game was developed by Midway Studios in Los Angeles and published by Midway Games...

. Midway had previously worked with Warner Bros. on several games including Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is a crossover fighting game from Midway Games and Warner Bros. Games. The eighth game in the Mortal Kombat series, MK vs. DC was released on November 16, . MK vs. DC contains characters from both the Mortal Kombat franchise and the DC Universe...

. Midway announced on May 28, 2009 that it would "accept binding offers up to June 24, 2009, to acquire some or all of the Company's assets." An auction was to be held on June 29, followed by a court hearing to approve the sale to the winning bidder or bidders. However, no other bids were placed for Midway's assets, and so the auction was canceled. On July 1, 2009, the bankruptcy court approved the sale of most of the company's assets to Warner Bros.

On July 8, 2009, Midway disclosed that it intended to close the San Diego studio by September. However, on August 19, 2009, THQ
THQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...

 purchased the San Diego studio for $740,000 and extinguished Midway obligations to it. On July 10, 2009, pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement that was approved by the bankruptcy court, Midway agreed to pay to affiliates of its majority owner, Mark Thomas, approximately $4.7 million in full satisfaction of all Midway debt to Thomas and his affiliates, and Thomas and his affiliates granted to Midway's Creditors' Committee an irrevocable proxy to vote his controlled shares of common stock in Midway and forever relinquished the right to vote or dispose of the shares. The settlement reduced Thomas's claims by 93 percent, and Midway continued to operate as a Debtor in Possession. Also on July 10, 2009, the sale of assets to Warner Bros. was completed. The total gross purchase price for the sale was approximately $49 million, including receivables, and Warner Bros. assumed liabilities. The sale also triggered payments under Midway's Key Employee Incentive Plan of approximately $2.4 million to company executives. The Midway Chicago studio, responsible for the Mortal Kombat series and other games, became part of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and was later rebranded NetherRealm Studios
NetherRealm Studios
NetherRealm Studios is an American video game developer based in Chicago, Illinois. The company was founded in 2010 replacing WB Games Chicago and Midway Games, which purchased assets in 2009 that were formerly owned by Midway Games Chicago after Midway filed for bankruptcy...

.

On July 14, 2009, Midway announced that it had closed the Newcastle studio and terminated 75 employees. On August 19, 2009, Midway sold its French and German subsidiaries to holding companies called Spiess Media Holding UG and F+F Publishing GmbH, respectively. Speiss also purchased Midway's London publishing subsidiary on the same day. The European sales resulted in cash proceeds of $1.7 million and the elimination of related intercompany claims. In September 2009, Midway shut down its Chicago headquarters and terminated all but a few of its remaining employees. Many of the former Midway employees at the Chicago studio acquired by Warner Bros. were retained by Warner Bros. On October 2, 2009 Midway and two of its subsidiaries, Midway Home Entertainment and Midway Studios Los-Angeles, sold intellectual property assets, including Midway's TNA video game licenses, to SouthPeak Games for $100,000 and the assumption of related liabilities. Midway was no longer selling games in October 2009 and had disposed of all fixed assets by that time.

Lawsuits and plan of liquidation

In October 2009, the U.S. District Court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...

 in Chicago dismissed a lawsuit against former officers of Midway alleging that they had misled shareholders while selling their own stock. The judge ruled that Midway's shareholders had not shown that the executives "said or did anything more than publicly adopt a hopeful posture that its strategic plans would pay off". On January 29, 2010, the bankruptcy court dismissed claims brought by Midway creditors for fraud and breach of duty against Sumner Redstone, Shari Redstone and Midway's other directors, concerning his 2008 loans to the company and his subsequent sale of his 87% stake in the company to Mark Thomas, which increased Midway's net debt and wiped out the company's net operating losses and other tax assets. Judge Kevin Gross wrote that his decision was "not an endorsement of any of the defendants' actions. ... The defendants oversaw the ruin of a once highly successful company, only to hide behind the protective skirt of Delaware law, which the court is bound to apply." The court permitted other creditor claims to continue.

In February 2010, Midway filed its proposed plan of liquidation with the bankruptcy court. Under the plan, intercompany claims would be extinguished and a partial recovery would be allowed to the unsecured creditors of Midway Games (who held $155 million of claims) to the extent of about 16.5%, and to the unsecured creditors of Midway's subsidiaries (who held $36.7 million of claims) of about 25%. Any settlement amound under the lawsuit against National Amusements was to be paid to the two groups of unsecured creditors in the same ratio. Holders of secured and priority claims were to be paid in full, National Amusements would not receive any payment under its Subordinated Loan Agreement, and the equity holders would not receive any payment. On May 21, 2010, the bankruptcy court approved the plan of liquidation. Unsecured creditors of Midway shared approximately $25.5 million, and unsecured creditors of the company's subsidiaries shared about $9.2 million. A liquidating trust, administered by Buchwald Capital Advisors LLC as the Trustee, was created to pursue any remaining rights of Midway's bankruptcy estate and distribute any proceeds to Midway's remaining creditors.

On June 9, 2010, the company filed a Form 15 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, terminating the public registration of its securities. The creditors' settlement of their lawsuit against Redstone's company, National Amusements, in the total amount of $1 million, was approved by the bankruptcy court on June 21, 2010. This ended the outstanding claims against Redstone and his companies. Since December 2010, the trustee for the liquidating trust of the company, Buchwald Capital Advisors LLC, has filed 57 avoidance actions seeking to recover a total of $2,936,736 in transfers made by Midway to creditors prior to its bankruptcy filing.

Publishing and distribution

Sold
  • Midway Games Ltd in London, England, published and distributed Midway's video games in the UK and other markets in Europe. Midway Games Ltd should not be confused with Midway Games Inc., the corporate name of the parent Midway entity. On August 19, 2009, Midway Games Ltd. was sold to a company owned by Martin Spiess (who was previously an executive officer of Midway) and, together with Midway Games SAS, it was formed into a holding company called Spiess Media Holding UG. It was combined with the Paris office and re-branded Tradewest Games
    Tradewest
    Tradewest is a now-defunct American video game company based in Corsicana, Texas that produced numerous games in the 1980s and early 1990s. The company is best known as the publisher of the Battletoads and Double Dragon series in North America and the PAL region.The Tradewest name was revived in...

     .
  • Midway Games SAS in Paris, France, published and distributed Midway video games in France. On August 19, 2009, Midway Games SAS was sold off to Spiess, along with Midway Games Ltd., and they were formed into Spiess Media Holding UG. It was combined with the London office and re-branded Tradewest Games.
  • Midway Germany GmbH in Munich, Germany, published and distributed Midway video games in Germany. The subsidiary was formed in February 2005 by Midway Games Ltd. In August 2009, Midway Germany GmbH was sold to former manager Uwe Fürstenberg's company F+F Publishing GmbH.


Defunct
  • Midway Amusement Games, L.L.C. in Chicago, Illinois. Its assets were acquired by Happ Controls on October 1, 2001. This was the original arcade division of the company (founded as Midway Manufacturing Company) and maintained to own intellectual property, specifically the Midway, Bally/Midway and Williams arcade game libraries.
  • Midway Home Entertainment in San Diego, California
    San Diego, California
    San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...

    , founded in 1986 as Tradewest
    Tradewest
    Tradewest is a now-defunct American video game company based in Corsicana, Texas that produced numerous games in the 1980s and early 1990s. The company is best known as the publisher of the Battletoads and Double Dragon series in North America and the PAL region.The Tradewest name was revived in...

    , was acquired by WMS Industries
    Williams (gaming company)
    WMS Industries, Inc. is an American electronic gaming and amusement company based in Waukegan, Illinois. The company's main operating subsidiaries are WMS Gaming and Orion Gaming. WMS traces its roots as far back as 1943, the Williams Manufacturing Company, founded by Harry E. Williams...

     in 1994 and was renamed Williams Entertainment, Inc., which in turn became Midway Home Entertainment in 1996. Midway Home Entertainment published and markets all Midway video games made for home consoles
    Video game console
    A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...

     and operated with a good degree of independence from its Chicago parent. Midway Home Entertainment was also largely in charge of the relationship between Midway and the console manufacturers of its games (Nintendo
    Nintendo
    is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....

    , Sony
    Sony Computer Entertainment
    Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...

    , Microsoft
    Microsoft
    Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...

     and former manufacturers like Sega
    Sega
    , usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...

    ). The subsidiary was used by Midway to enter the video game console
    Video game console
    A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...

     market in the 1990s, and at that time all console video games were developed by Midway Home Entertainment while all arcade games were by the Chicago studio. For several years, Midway Home Entertainment operated in both Corsicana (Tradewest's original site) and San Diego until 2002 when the Corsicana location was shut down.

Studios

Sold
  • Midway Studios – Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, was the original Midway Studio. Eventually the studio focused solely on titles for home and portable consoles. It had developed Blitz: The League
    Blitz: The League
    Blitz: The League is an American football game by Midway as an unlicensed extension of their NFL Blitz series. Released after the NFL signed an exclusive licensing deal with Electronic Arts, it was released in October 2005 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Lawrence Taylor, who provides voice acting...

    for the PlayStation 2
    PlayStation 2
    The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...

     and Xbox
    Xbox
    The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...

     and Stranglehold for the PlayStation 3
    PlayStation 3
    The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...

    , Xbox 360
    Xbox 360
    The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...

     and PC
    Personal computer
    A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...

    , and was responsible for the Mortal Kombat series. The studio was housed within the same facility as Midway Amusement Games, across the street from Midway's head office. Following its acquisition by Warner Bros., the studio became part of WB Games Chicago. In June 2010, Warner rebranded it as NetherRealm Studios
    NetherRealm Studios
    NetherRealm Studios is an American video game developer based in Chicago, Illinois. The company was founded in 2010 replacing WB Games Chicago and Midway Games, which purchased assets in 2009 that were formerly owned by Midway Games Chicago after Midway filed for bankruptcy...

    .
  • Midway Studios – San Diego
    THQ
    THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...

    , located in the same building as Midway Home Entertainment, was the first studio to develop video games by Midway for home consoles
    Video game console
    A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...

    . Midway Studios – San Diego developed Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows
    Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows
    Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows is the follow-up to Gauntlet Legends and Gauntlet Dark Legacy. Industry veterans John Romero and Josh Sawyer initially spearheaded Midway's San Diego studio, intent on reviving the Gauntlet action role-playing game franchise...

    and was given the task of completing the game Rise and Fall: Civilizations at War
    Rise and Fall: Civilizations at War
    Rise and Fall: Civilizations at War is a real-time strategy game developed by both Stainless Steel Studios and Midway Games; it was released on June 12, 2006. The game incorporates segments of both third-person and first-person shooter gameplay, by allowing the player to temporarily control a "hero"...

    , which had been started by Stainless Steel Studios
    Stainless Steel Studios
    Stainless Steel Studios was a computer game development company, started in 1997 by Rick Goodman and Dara-Lynn Pelechatz. The company was based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and focused on the development of real-time strategy software titles.-History:...

    . Midway announced on July 8, 2009 that it intended to close the San Diego studio by the beginning of September. However, in early August 2009, THQ
    THQ
    THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...

     bought the studio and all of is assets except for the TNA iMPACT! video game license, and about 40% of its employees have been offered positions.
  • Surreal Software
    Surreal Software
    Surreal Software is a video game developer based in Kirkland, Washington, USA, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Surreal Software, best known for The Suffering and Drakan series, employed over 130 designers, artists and programmers. Surreal was acquired by Warner Bros....

     in Seattle, Washington
    Seattle, Washington
    Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...

    , founded in 1995, was acquired by Midway in 2004 and sold to Warner Bros.
    Warner Bros.
    Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...

     in July 2009.


Defunct
  • Midway Studios – Austin
    Midway Austin
    Midway Studios Austin was founded as Inevitable Entertainment on March 23, 2000 and acquired by Midway Games in 2004. Responsible for developing Area 51 and its 2007 sequel BlackSite: Area 51....

    , founded as Inevitable Entertainment, Inc. on March 23, 2000, was acquired in 2004 and closed in December 2008.
  • Midway Studios – Australia
    Ratbag Games
    Ratbag Games Pty Ltd was an Australian developer of computer games such as Powerslide, The Dukes of Hazzard: Return of the General Lee and World of Outlaws: Sprint Cars 2002.-About the company:...

     in Adelaide, South Australia, was founded as Ratbag Games in 1993. It was acquired by Midway on August 4, 2005 and was closed four months later in December 2005.
  • Midway Studios – Los Angeles in Moorpark, California
    Moorpark, California
    Moorpark is a city in Southern California. It was founded in 1900 by Robert Poindexter, presumably named after the moorpark apricots that grew in the area. The city has experienced a great amount of growth since the late 1970s...

    , founded in 1994 as Paradox Development, was acquired by Midway in 2004. It was closed in 2008 and merged with the San Diego studio.
  • Midway Studios – Newcastle
    Pitbull Syndicate
    Midway Studios - Newcastle was a video game developer based in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear in the United Kingdom.-History:...

     in Newcastle upon Tyne
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...

    , England, was founded in December 1996 as Pitbull Syndicate and acquired by Midway in October 2005. It was closed on July 14, 2009, following Midway's sale of assets to Warner Bros., because Midway failed to find a buyer for the studio. In 2009, some former employees of the studio formed a new company called Atomhawk Design. In 2010, game designer Robert Troughton, a founder of Pitbull Syndicate
    Pitbull Syndicate
    Midway Studios - Newcastle was a video game developer based in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear in the United Kingdom.-History:...

    , formed another new company, Pitbull Studio, in Newcastle.

Video games

  • Arch Rivals
    Arch Rivals
    Arch Rivals is a basketball arcade game created by Midway in 1989. The game billed itself as "A Basket Brawl." It was also included on Midway Arcade Treasures 2 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube and Midway Arcade Treasures Deluxe Edition for the PC...

  • Area 51
    Area 51 (arcade game)
    Area 51 is a light gun arcade game released by Atari Games in 1995. It takes its name from the Area 51 military facility.-Overview:The plot of the game involves the player taking part in a STAAR military incursion to prevent aliens, known as the Kronn, and alien-created zombies from taking over...

    2
  • Bio F.R.E.A.K.S
  • Blaster
    Blaster (arcade game)
    Blaster is an arcade game developed by Eugene Jarvis and released by Williams in 1983. The game is a 3d shooter set in outer space and is a quasi-sequel to Robotron: 2084. The objective is to shoot enemies and avoid obstacles in twenty differently-goaled levels in order to reach paradise...

    1
  • Blasted
    Blasted (arcade game)
    Blasted is a shoot 'em up arcade game released by Bally Midway in 1988. Using your high-powered scope rifle, shoot cyborgs who have invaded an apartment complex, but be careful not to shoot the tenants or get hit by return fire. In 2-player mode, you shoot at your opponent's building and he shoots...

  • Bubbles
    Bubbles (video game)
    Bubbles is an arcade video game developed by Williams Electronics and released in 1982. It is an action game that features two-dimensional graphics. The player uses a joystick to control a bubble in a kitchen sink. The object is to progress through levels by cleaning the sink while avoiding...

    1
  • Crater Raider
  • CarnEvil
    CarnEvil
    CarnEvil is a rail shooter arcade game using a light gun. Released by Midway Games on October 31 , 1998, the game focuses on the protagonist fighting their way through a supernatural carnival that features horror-themed twists on many familiar amusement park elements.- Plot :CarnEvil is set in the...

  • Cruis'n Exotica 3
  • Cruis'n USA
    Cruis'n USA
    Cruis'n USA is an arcade racing game originally released in 1994. It was developed by Midway Games and published and distributed by Nintendo...

    3
  • Cruis'n World
    Cruis'n World
    Cruis'n World is the 1996 sequel to the 1994 arcade racer Cruis'n USA. As the title implies, Cruis'n World allows players to race on various tracks around the world. The game also features more cars than Cruis'n USA. This game introduced stunts to the Cruis'n series. They served to dodge obstacles,...

    3
  • Cyberball 2072
  • Defender
    Defender (game)
    Defender is an arcade video game developed released by Williams Electronics in 1980. A shooting game featuring two-dimensional graphics, the game is set on a fictional planet where the player must defeat waves of invading aliens while protecting astronauts...

    1
  • Defender II
  • Discs of Tron
    Discs of Tron
    Discs of Tron is the second arcade game based on 1982 Disney film Tron.-Description:While the first Tron arcade game had several mini-games , Discs of Tron is inspired by the Jai alai sequence in the original 1982 film in which Kevin Flynn is forced to play against Crom, leading to Crom being...

  • Domino Man
    Domino Man
    Domino Man is a 1983 arcade video game released by Bally Midway. It is one of the few video games that features the ragtime piece, Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin as the game background music.- Gameplay :...

  • Extra Bases
  • Gauntlet
    Gauntlet (arcade game)
    Gauntlet is a fantasy-themed hack and slash 1985 arcade game by Atari Games. It is noted as the first class-based multiplayer game. Released during the emergence of popularity of other role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, the game was a sensation, being one of the first true dungeon crawl...

    2
  • Gauntlet Dark Legacy 2
  • Galaxian
    Galaxian
    is an arcade game developed by Namco in 1979. It was published by Namco in Japan and was imported to North America by Midway in 1980. A fixed shooter-style game in which the player controls a spaceship at the bottom of the screen and shoots enemies descending in various directions, it was designed...

    4
  • Galaga
    Galaga
    is a fixed shooter arcade game developed and published by Namco in Japan and published by Midway in North America in 1981. It is the sequel to Galaxian, released in 1979. The gameplay of Galaga puts the player in control of a space ship which is situated on the bottom of the screen...

    4
  • Galaga 3 4


  • Gorf
    Gorf
    Gorf is an arcade game released in 1981 by Midway Mfg., whose name was advertised as an acronym for "Galactic Orbiting Robot Force". It is a multiple-mission fixed shooter with five distinct modes of play, essentially making it five games in one...

  • The Grid
    The Grid (arcade game)
    The Grid is a 2001 arcade game by Midway. It is a third person shooter in the form of a super-violent television game show hosted by a Smash TV-like host. It was created by the developers behind the Mortal Kombat series of games. It also has cameos from the Mortal Kombat characters Sub-Zero,...

  • Hydro Thunder
    Hydro Thunder
    Hydro Thunder is a powerboat racing sub-series game, originally an arcade game and later released for the Sega Dreamcast as a launch title in 1999. It was also released for PlayStation and Nintendo 64 in early 2000. This game is part of Midway's 'Thunder' series of racing games, which includes...

  • High Impact Football 1
  • Joust 1
  • Joust 2: Survival of the Fittest 1
  • Journey
    Journey (arcade game)
    Journey is an arcade game released by Bally Midway in 1983, following the success of the albums Escape and Frontiers by the rock band Journey. Bally/Midway decided to ride this wave of popularity and created an arcade game based on the band...

  • Killer Instinct
    Killer Instinct
    Killer Instinct is a fighting game developed by Rare and published by Midway and Nintendo. Initially released in arcades in 1994, and rumored to use an "Ultra 64" hardware engine, in reality the proprietary arcade hardware was co-developed by Rare and Midway. The game received a high profile launch...

    3
  • KI2
    Killer Instinct 2
    Killer Instinct 2 is a 1996 arcade-only fighting game developed by Rare, licensed by Nintendo, and manufactured by Midway.KI2 is the sequel to Killer Instinct , an arcade game which was also ported to the SNES...

    3
  • Kozmik Krooz'r
  • Mace: The Dark Age
    Mace: The Dark Age
    Mace: The Dark Age is a fighting video game released by Atari for arcade machines in 1996 and later ported by Midway to the Nintendo 64 in 1997. A PlayStation version of the game was planned but never released.-Story:...

     2
  • Mortal Kombat
    Mortal Kombat (video game)
    Mortal Kombat is a 1992 fighting-game developed and published by Midway for arcades. In 1993, home versions were released by Acclaim Entertainment. Released in the Fall of 1994, the Microsoft Windows 3.1x version was released by Activision Interactive. It is the first title in the Mortal Kombat...

  • Mortal Kombat II
    Mortal Kombat II
    Mortal Kombat II is a competitive fighting game originally produced by Midway Games for the arcades in . It is the second game in the Mortal Kombat series. Like its predecessor, various home versions were produced...

  • Mortal Kombat 3
    Mortal Kombat 3
    Mortal Kombat 3 is a fighting game developed by Midway and released in 1995, first as an arcade game. It is the third game in the Mortal Kombat series...

  • Mortal Kombat 4
    Mortal Kombat 4
    Mortal Kombat 4 is the fourth main game in the Mortal Kombat series of fighting video games developed by Midway Games. Released to arcades in 1997, Mortal Kombat 4 is the first title from the series to use 3D computer graphics as well as one of the first games that Midway made in 3D. Eurocom later...

  • Mortal Kombat Trilogy
    Mortal Kombat Trilogy
    Mortal Kombat Trilogy is a fighting game developed and published by Midway in 1996. It is a compilation of content from the previous Mortal Kombat titles, based primarily upon the gameplay mechanics of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3...

    (Console only)
  • NARC
    NARC (video game)
    NARC is originally a 1988 arcade game designed by Eugene Jarvis for Williams Electronics and programmed by George Petro. It was one of the first ultra-violent video games and a frequent target of parental criticism of the arcade game industry. The object is to arrest and kill drug offenders,...

    1
  • NBA Jam
    NBA Jam
    NBA Jam is a basketball arcade game developed by Midway in 1993. It is the first entry in the NBA Jam series, and was written entirely in assembly language. The main designer and programmer for this game was Mark Turmell...

  • NBA Jam Tournament Edition
  • NBA Hangtime
    NBA Hangtime
    NBA Hangtime is a basketball video game developed by Midway and released in arcades in 1996. Home versions followed for Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Mega Drive/Genesis, Super NES, and Windows. A version for Game.com was cancelled....

  • NBA Maximum Hangtime
  • NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC
    NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC
    NBA Showtime is a basketball video game by Midway. A descendant of NBA Jam and NBA Hangtime, Showtime is modeled after the NBA presentations on NBC. The original arcade version features team rosters from the beginning of the 1998-99 NBA season, while the console versions features team rosters that...



  • NFL Blitz
    NFL Blitz
    NFL Blitz is a series of American football themed video games by Midway featuring the teams of the National Football League. It began as a 1997 arcade game but was eventually ported to home consoles and spawned several sequels...

  • NHL Hitz
    NHL Hitz
    NHL Hitz is a series of ice hockey video games published by Midway Games, for the PlayStation 2 , Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube. The series is known and popular for its unique gameplay style: it focuses on fast-paced hockey with an arcade feeling to deliver entertaining hockey to gamers, but features...

  • NHL 2 On 2 Open Ice Challenge
    2 On 2 Open Ice Challenge
    2 On 2 Open Ice Challenge is an ice hockey arcade game released by Midway in 1995. It was ported to PlayStation in 1996. The game would be similar to its arcade counterpart with exception to the fact that the Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix after the conclusion of the 1995-96 season, thus the...

  • Omega Race
    Omega Race
    Omega Race is an arcade game programmed by Ron Haliburton and released in 1981 by Midway. It was the only arcade game with vector graphics Midway created.-Description:...

  • Pac-Man
    Pac-Man
    is an arcade game developed by Namco and licensed for distribution in the United States by Midway, first released in Japan on May 22, 1980. Immensely popular from its original release to the present day, Pac-Man is considered one of the classics of the medium, virtually synonymous with video games,...

    4
  • Pigskin 621 A.D.
    Pigskin 621 A.D.
    Pigskin 621 A.D. is an arcade game released in 1990 by Bally Midway. One player can battle the computer, or two players can battle head-to-head...

  • Primal Rage
    Primal Rage
    Primal Rage is a versus fighting game developed and published by Atari Games in 1994 as an arcade video game. Toys, comics, a novel and other merchandise tie-ins were also produced.-Storyline:...

    2
  • Psi-Ops
  • Rampage
    Rampage (arcade game)
    Rampage is a 1986 arcade game by Bally Midway. Players take control of gigantic monsters trying to survive against onslaughts of military forces...

  • Rampage World Tour
    Rampage World Tour
    Rampage World Tour is a video game released in 1997 and is the second game in the Rampage series.Up to three simultaneous players control the monsters George , Lizzie , or Ralph , created from humans who were mutated by experiments conducted at Scumlabs...

  • RedCard 20-03
    RedCard 20-03
    RedCard 20-03, known as RedCard in Europe, is a video game based on association football, released in 2002 by Point of View. The game follows most of the rules of football, but allows for heavy tackles and special moves once the player has charged up a special meter.The game, released on the...

  • Revolution X
    Revolution X
    Revolution X is a arcade rail shooter game developed and published by Midway, featuring the rock band Aerosmith. The game features gameplay similar to Midway's earlier Terminator 2: Judgment Day...

    (1994)
  • RoadKill
    RoadKill
    RoadKill is a video game of the action genre released in 2003 by Midway Games. The game has been described by Midway as “the only mission-based combat driving game set in a post-apocalyptic world.” Indeed, RoadKill’s gameplay features many characteristics of famous automotive combat franchises such...

  • Robotron 2084 1
  • Root Beer Tapper
  • San Francisco Rush 2
  • San Francisco Rush The Rock: Alcatraz Edition 2
  • San Francisco Rush 2049
    San Francisco Rush 2049
    San Francisco Rush 2049 is a racing video game developed by Atari Games and published by Midway Games for the Arcade, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, and Dreamcast. It was released on September 7, 2000 in North America, and November 17, 2000 in Europe....

    2
  • Sarge
    Sarge (arcade game)
    Sarge is an arcade game released by Bally Midway in 1985. Two players play at once, switching between tanks and helicopters. Players can fight each other. The game has two sets of joysticks.-External links:* at the KLOV...

  • Satan's Hollow
    Satan's Hollow
    Satan's Hollow is a shoot 'em up arcade game released by Bally Midway in 1982, subsequently converted to Atari 8-bit, and in 1984 to Commodore 64. The gameplay draws similarities to Galaga from Namco. The player must destroy the flying formations of gargoyles in order to pick up pieces of a bridge...

  • Smash TV
    Smash TV
    Smash TV is a 1990 arcade game created by Eugene Jarvis and Mark Turmell for Williams. Home versions were developed for various platforms and most were published by Acclaim Entertainment.-Description:...

    1


  • Space Encounters
  • Space Zap
  • Splat! 1
  • Spy Hunter
    Spy Hunter
    Spy Hunter is a 1983 arcade game developed and released by Bally Midway. It has also been ported to various home computers and video game systems....

  • Spy Hunter II
    Spy Hunter II
    Spy Hunter II is an arcade game released by Bally Midway in 1987 as a sequel to Spy Hunter....

  • Stargate
    Stargate (video game)
    Stargate is an arcade game released in 1981 by Williams Electronics. Created by Eugene Jarvis, it is a sequel to the 1980 game Defender, and was the first of only three productions from Vid Kidz, an independent development house formed by Jarvis and Larry DeMar...

    1
  • Strike Force
    Strike Force (video game)
    Strike Force is an arcade game released by Midway in 1991.The game shares many features with the earlier Defender and Stargate in that play takes place in a horizontally-scrolling play field above a planet's surface on which humans are under attack from alien invaders...

  • Super High Impact Football
  • Tapper
    Tapper
    Tapper, also known as Root Beer Tapper, is a 1983 arcade game released by Bally Midway. The goal of the game is to serve beer and collect empty mugs and tips.-Overview:...

  • The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (video game)
    The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (video game)
    The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy is a fighting game based on the television series of the same name. It was developed by High Voltage Software and published by Midway. The PlayStation 2 version's DVD compatibility feature came with behind the scenes footage and the season one episode "Little...

  • Timber
    Timber (arcade game)
    Timber is an arcade game that was manufactured by Midway Games in 1984. The object of the game is to amass points by chopping down trees or by balancing atop a floating, rotating log....

  • Total Carnage
    Total Carnage
    Total Carnage is an arcade shooter, developed by Mark Turmell for Midway in 1991. The game was released for the SNES in 1993 and the Amiga CD32, Amiga, and DOS in 1994. Later the game was re-released in 2004, as part of Midway Arcade Treasures 2 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Nintendo GameCube...

  • Tri-Sports
  • Tron
  • Trog!
    Trog!
    Trog! is an arcade game developed by Midway Games for the arcade, and later ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System and DOS by Acclaim Entertainment, Inc....

  • Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
    Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
    Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 is a fighting game in the Mortal Kombat series, released in arcades in 1995. It is an update of Mortal Kombat 3 and was later updated again into Mortal Kombat Trilogy...


    (Enhanced version of Mortal Kombat 3
    Mortal Kombat 3
    Mortal Kombat 3 is a fighting game developed by Midway and released in 1995, first as an arcade game. It is the third game in the Mortal Kombat series...

    )
  • Unreal Tournament 3
  • Wacko
    Wacko
    Wacko is a 1983 arcade game by Bally Midway. It debuted during the "Golden Age of Arcade Games". It featured a unique angled, or "sloped" cabinet design and a combination of trackball and joystick controls.-Description:...

  • War Gods
    War Gods (video game)
    War Gods is a 1996 fighting arcade game. It was created by Midway Games and was eventually ported to the Nintendo 64, PlayStation and Windows in 1997.-Background:...

  • Wizard of Wor
    Wizard Of Wor
    Wizard of Wor is an arcade game from 1981 , developed by Midway. Other systems it was ported to include the Atari 800, Commodore 64, the Atari 2600, Atari 5200 and the Bally Astrocade as "The Incredible Wizard". The title of the game is often misspelled as "Wizard of War"...

  • WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game
    WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game
    WWF WrestleMania is a professional wrestling arcade game released by Midway Manufacturing Co. in 1995...

  • Xenophobe
    Xenophobe (video game)
    Xenophobe is a 1987 arcade game published by Bally Midway. Starbases, moons, ships, and space cities are infested with aliens, and the players have to kill the aliens before each is completely overrun.-Description:...



  • 1 Originally developed by Williams
  • 2 Originally developed by Atari Games
  • 3 Co-owned by Nintendo
  • 4 Owned by Namco

Pinball

(all games under the Bally brand, except as noted)

  • The Addams Family
    The Addams Family (pinball)
    The Addams Family is the best selling pinball machine since the 1930's, having sold 20,270 units. Manufactured by Midway , it is a solid state electronic game...

    (1992)
  • Attack From Mars
    Attack From Mars
    Attack from Mars is a 1995 pinball game designed by Brian Eddy, and released by Midway .In this game, Martians began to invade the Earth, and it's up to the player to destroy the Martian fleet, save all the major cities, and then head off to Mars to destroy the Martian empire and conquer Mars.Among...

    (1995)
  • Black Rose
    Black Rose (pinball)
    Black Rose is a pinball machine produced by Midway .Black Rose was released around the same time as The Addams Family pinball machine, whose production ran long, making Black Rose a rare game with few units. Black Rose seems to have some controversy on the rec.games.pinball group, with mixed...

    (1992)
  • Cirqus Voltaire
    Cirqus Voltaire
    Cirqus Voltaire is a 1997 pinball game, designed by John Popadiuk and released by Midway Games . The theme involves the player performing many different marvels in order to join the circus...

    (1997)
  • Corvette
    Corvette (pinball)
    Corvette is a pinball machine produced by Midway . It is based on the sports car line of the same name.-External links:**...

    (1994)
  • Creature From the Black Lagoon
    Creature from the Black Lagoon (pinball)
    Creature from the Black Lagoon is a pinball machine designed by John Trudeau and released by Midway . It is loosely based on the movie of the same name.The game's theme is 1950's drive-in theater...

    (1992)


  • Doctor Who
    Doctor Who (pinball)
    Doctor Who is a pinball machine designed by Bill Pfutzenreuter and Barry Oursler, and released by Midway in September 1992. It is based on the television series of the same name...

    (1992)
  • Elvira and the Party Monsters (1989)
  • Escape from the Lost World (1987 - Bally/Midway)
  • Judge Dredd (1993)
  • Lady Luck (1986 – Bally/Midway)
  • Motordome (1986 - Bally/Midway)
  • NBA Fastbreak
    NBA Fastbreak (pinball)
    NBA Fastbreak is a 1997 pinball machine released by Midway . It is also the only pinball machine in existence that featured the possibility to directly link two machines together and having two players play against each other in realtime NBA Fastbreak is a 1997 pinball machine released by Midway...

    (1997)


  • The Party Zone
    The Party Zone
    The Party Zone is a pinball machine created by the Bally Company in 1991.-Back Glass:The back glass as well as the playfield contain characters from previous games :...

     (1991)
  • Popeye Saves the Earth
    Popeye Saves the Earth
    Popeye Saves The Earth is a 1994 widebody pinball game designed by Python Anghelo and Barry Oursler and released by Midway . It is based on the Popeye comic/cartoon characters licensed from King Features Syndicate....

    (1994)
  • Scared Stiff
    Scared Stiff (pinball)
    Scared Stiff is a 1996 pinball game designed by Dennis Nordman and released by Midway , featuring horrorshow-hostess Elvira. It is the follow-up to 1989's Elvira and the Party Monsters, also designed by Nordman.-External links:*...

    (1996)
  • The Shadow
    The Shadow (pinball)
    The Shadow is a 1994 pinball game designed by Brian Eddy and released by Midway . It is based on the 1994 movie of the same name....

    (1994)
  • 10 Pin Deluxe
    10 Pin Deluxe
    10 Pin Deluxe is a 1984 arcade game by Bally Midway. It was a 2-player bowling arcade game. It used a puck as a ball, position of which was monitored by the game until the puck reached a screen with bowling pins displayed on it. When the puck reached the screen, the game estimated which pins would...

    (1984 – Bally/Midway)
  • Theatre of Magic
    Theatre of Magic
    Theatre of Magic is a pinball machine produced by Midway .-Gameplay:Main mission is to get to the "Grand Finale" by finishing:...

    (1995)
  • The Twilight Zone (1993)


Selected console games developed or licensed by Midway

  • The Ant Bully
    The Ant Bully (video game)
    The Ant Bully is a video game based on the animated movie of the same name. It was first released on July 24, 2006 alongside the theatrical release of the movie. The story and actions of the game correspond to that of the movie.-Plot:...

  • Area 51
    Area 51 (first-person shooter)
    Area 51 is a first-person shooter survival horror video game that was released in 2005 and it was developed by Midway Studios Austin and published by Midway for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Microsoft Windows, and is a loose remake of the 1995 light gun video game of the same name...

    (2005 first-person shooter)
  • Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am
    Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am
    Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am is a PlayStation 2 game based on the Adult Swim animated television series, Aqua Teen Hunger Force. It is a hybrid kart racing/fighting/golf game that takes place on some of New Jersey's golf courses....

  • BlackSite: Area 51
    BlackSite: Area 51
    BlackSite: Area 51 is a horror science fiction first-person shooter video game, released for Xbox 360 and Windows on November 12, 2007 in North America, with a PlayStation 3 version coming a few weeks later. The game is mostly unrelated to the 2005 Multi-platform game Area 51. The game was...

  • Blitz: The League
    Blitz: The League
    Blitz: The League is an American football game by Midway as an unlicensed extension of their NFL Blitz series. Released after the NFL signed an exclusive licensing deal with Electronic Arts, it was released in October 2005 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Lawrence Taylor, who provides voice acting...

  • Chopper Attack
    Chopper Attack
    Chopper Attack is a helicopter-based third-person shooter game for the Nintendo 64 released in 1997....

  • Cruis'n
  • Dr. Muto
    Dr. Muto
    Dr. Muto is a 2002 video game by Midway Games for the Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation 2, and Game Boy Advance.-Plot:Dr. Muto, a scientist, had built a machine that would provide free, renewable energy for his home planet of Midway. However, the machine was sabotaged by Muto's rival, Dr...

  • Doom 64
    Doom 64
    Doom 64 is a video game for the Nintendo 64 released by Midway Games in April 4, 1997. It is part of the Doom first-person shooter video game series.-Features:Key differences from the computer games in the series include:*32 exclusive new levels....

  • Ed, Edd n Eddy: The Mis-Edventures
    Ed, Edd n Eddy: The Mis-Edventures
    Ed, Edd n Eddy: The Mis-Edventures is a 3D platforming video game based on the animated television series Ed, Edd n Eddy. It was originally developed by A2M and Cartoon Network Interactive, published by Midway Home Entertainment and released on October 31, for the Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2,...

  • Freaky Flyers
    Freaky Flyers
    Freaky Flyers is a video game developed internally by Midway San Diego for Xbox and PS2 while the GameCube version was developed by Point of View, Inc. and published by Midway Games. Freaky Flyers is a comical, plane racing game which incorporates other modes which make the game more open to larger...

  • Game Party
    Game Party
    Game Party is a video game developed by FarSight Studios and published by Midway Games. Game Party was retailed as a budget title exclusively for the Wii. It's the first game in the Game Party series...

  • Game Party 2
  • Gauntlet: Dark Legacy
    Gauntlet: Dark Legacy
    Gauntlet Dark Legacy, released in arcades in 2000 and in 2001 for PlayStation 2 and in 2002 for Game Boy Advance, GameCube and Xbox, is an expansion of the previous title in the series, Gauntlet Legends...

  • Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows
    Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows
    Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows is the follow-up to Gauntlet Legends and Gauntlet Dark Legacy. Industry veterans John Romero and Josh Sawyer initially spearheaded Midway's San Diego studio, intent on reviving the Gauntlet action role-playing game franchise...

  • Gravity Games Bike: Street Vert Dirt
    Gravity Games Bike: Street Vert Dirt
    Gravity Games Bike: Street Vert Dirt is a BMX video game developed and published by Midway for the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox. It was released in North America on June 27, 2002 for the PlayStation 2, and on September 4, 2002 for the Xbox. It was the first game released under the Gravity Games...

  • Hour of Victory
    Hour of Victory
    The game received substantially negative reviews from critics. On the review aggregator Game Rankings, the game had an average score of 37% based on 37 reviews...

  • The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
    The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (video game)
    The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy is a fighting game based on the television series of the same name. It was developed by High Voltage Software and published by Midway. The PlayStation 2 version's DVD compatibility feature came with behind the scenes footage and the season one episode "Little...


  • Jackie Chan Stuntmaster
    Jackie Chan Stuntmaster
    Jackie Chan Stuntmaster is a PlayStation game based on the actor and martial artist Jackie ChanMade by Radical Entertainment, the game sees the player in the shoes of Jackie Chan who must fight his way past numerous villains in different locations across the city of New York.-Plot:Jackie's...

  • LA Rush
  • The Lord of the Rings Online
  • Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits
    Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits
    Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits is an arcade game compilation released for the Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, and Game Boy Advance.- Volumes and Games included :Two volumes have been released so far....

  • MLB Slugfest Series
    MLB Slugfest Series
    MLB Slugfest is a series of baseball games developed by Sports Mogul, Gratuitous Games and Midway Games, and released by Midway Games for major console systems such as PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, and Xbox...

  • Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
    Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
    Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, originally known as Mortal Kombat V: Vengeance or simply Mortal Kombat 5, is a fighting game developed and published by Midway for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo GameCube, and Game Boy Advance...

  • Mortal Kombat: Deception
    Mortal Kombat: Deception
    Mortal Kombat: Deception is a fighting game developed and published by Midway as the sixth installment for the Mortal Kombat series. It was released for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in October 2004, while a Nintendo GameCube version was published in March 2005. Mortal Kombat: Deception follows the...

  • Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
    Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
    Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is an action/beat-em-up video game based on the Mortal Kombat series of fighting games. Shaolin Monks was developed by Midway LA and published by Midway for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox...

  • Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
    Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
    Mortal Kombat: Armageddon is the seventh game in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. The PlayStation 2 version was released in stores on October 11, 2006 while the Xbox version was released on the October 16, with a Wii version released on May 29, 2007 in North America.The game was not released...

  • Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
    Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
    Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is a crossover fighting game from Midway Games and Warner Bros. Games. The eighth game in the Mortal Kombat series, MK vs. DC was released on November 16, . MK vs. DC contains characters from both the Mortal Kombat franchise and the DC Universe...

  • NBA Ballers Rebound
  • NHL Hitz 20-02
    NHL Hitz 20-02
    NHL Hitz 2002, also known as NHL Hitz 20-02, is an arcade-style ice hockey video game released by Midway Games. Midway launched this game along with NFL Blitz.-Summary:...

  • NHL Hitz 20-03
    NHL Hitz 20-03
    NHL Hitz 2003, also known as NHL Hitz 20-03, is a hockey video game developed by Black Box Games and Exient Entertainment, and published by Midway Games. The game was released on the Xbox, PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, as well as Game Boy Advance...

  • NHL Hitz Pro
    NHL Hitz Pro
    NHL Hitz Pro is an ice hockey video game developed by Next Level Games and published by Midway Games. It was released on September 25, 2003, for the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, and Xbox. Unlike the previous titles in the series, this game has 5-on-5 gameplay instead of the usual 3-on-3 game...

  • Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
    Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
    Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy is a video game developed by Midway Games for the Xbox, PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Windows PC platforms. It was also being developed for the Nintendo GameCube titled ESPionage but later cancelled. The game was released in North America on June 14, 2004; the...

  • Quake (N64 version)
  • Rampage: Total Destruction
    Rampage: Total Destruction
    Rampage: Total Destruction is the latest sequel to the Rampage arcade game produced by Midway Games. The game was released on April 24, 2006 in North America for the GameCube and PlayStation 2 . It has also been released on the Wii .-Gameplay:Rampage: Total Destruction is rendered in 3D but has 2D...

  • Ready 2 Rumble Boxing
    Ready 2 Rumble Boxing
    Ready 2 Rumble Boxing is a boxing game for the Dreamcast, PlayStation, Game Boy Color, and Nintendo 64 and it was released in 1999 by Midway. The success of the Dreamcast version led to it becoming one of the few Sega All Stars titles....



  • Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2
    Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2
    Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2 is a boxing game for the Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and Game Boy Advance and it is also the sequel to Ready 2 Rumble Boxing.-Gameplay:...

  • RedCard 20-03
    RedCard 20-03
    RedCard 20-03, known as RedCard in Europe, is a video game based on association football, released in 2002 by Point of View. The game follows most of the rules of football, but allows for heavy tackles and special moves once the player has charged up a special meter.The game, released on the...

  • RoadKill
    RoadKill
    RoadKill is a video game of the action genre released in 2003 by Midway Games. The game has been described by Midway as “the only mission-based combat driving game set in a post-apocalyptic world.” Indeed, RoadKill’s gameplay features many characteristics of famous automotive combat franchises such...

  • Rush 2: Extreme Racing
  • Shadow Hearts
    Shadow Hearts
    is a series of role playing games for the PlayStation 2. The original Shadow Hearts was developed by Sacnoth and released by Midway in the United States on December 11, 2001. The sequel, Shadow Hearts: Covenant , was also made by the same group, although Sacnoth reformed itself into a company...

  • Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run
    Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run (video game)
    Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run is a racing video game for Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation 2 released on September 5, 2006. A PC version was released in 2009. It is the first installment in the Spy Hunter series to allow the player to play as the character and not only the vehicle.Nowhere to Run was...

  • Stranglehold
    Stranglehold (video game)
    Stranglehold, or John Woo Presents Stranglehold, is a third-person shooter developed by Midway Games' Chicago studio, released in late for Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 3...

  • The Suffering (Xbox, PS2, PC)
  • The Suffering: Ties That Bind
    The Suffering: Ties That Bind
    The Suffering: Ties That Bind is a video game developed by Surreal Software and published by Midway Games, released in 2005 for the Xbox and PlayStation 2 game consoles as well as the PC. The Xbox version of the game is not supported by the Xbox 360's backwards compatibility feature.It is the...

    (Xbox, PS2, PC)
  • Team Buddies
    Team Buddies
    Team Buddies is a game released for the PlayStation on September 18, 2000. It was published by Midway Games and developed by Psygnosis Camden Studio .-Story:...

  • This is Vegas
    This is Vegas
    This is Vegas is a video game which was developed by Surreal Software and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and was intended for release on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows.-Development:...

  • TNA iMPACT!
    TNA iMPACT! (video game)
    TNA Impact! is the first video game released by the professional wrestling promotion, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling . The game was developed by Midway Studios in Los Angeles and published by Midway Games...

  • Transformers (unpublished Windows version)
  • Twisted Edge Snowboarding
    Twisted Edge Snowboarding
    Twisted Edge Extreme Snowboarding is the third snowboarding game released for the Nintendo 64 after Snowboard Kids then 1080° Snowboarding. It is known in Japan as King Hill 64: Extreme Snowboarding...

  • Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict
    Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict
    Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict is a first-/third-person shooter video game in the Unreal series of games. It was developed by Epic Games and published by Midway Games for release on the Xbox game console as a direct sequel to the 2002 game Unreal Championship, which itself is an Xbox...

  • The Wheelman
    The Wheelman
    Wheelman is a driving game developed by Midway Studios - Newcastle and published by Ubisoft and Midway Games for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows.-Gameplay:...

  • World Driver Championship
    World Driver Championship
    World Driver Championship is an automobile racing video game. It was developed by Boss Game Studios and published for the Nintendo 64 by Midway Games....



External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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