42 Entertainment

American video game development company

42 Entertainment is an American company which makes alternate reality games (ARGs).

The company was founded in 2003 under the name 4orty 2wo Entertainment.[1] It was positioned as an independent, creative content and interactive agency.

The company started with a nine-person management team and was originally based in Emeryville, California.

It produces alternate reality games, including campaigns for Xbox and PS3 titles, the movie The Dark Knight, and the Nine Inch Nails Year Zero album.

The head office based in Burbank.

History change

The company did not officially launch until 2003.

The future management team were included to team that created "The Beast" for Warner Brothers to promote the Steven Spielberg film A.I. The project was developed by Microsoft.[2]

The company founded in 2003 and was launched by a management team which included Bob Fagan, Elan Lee, Sean Stewart and Jordan Weisman from the team which created "The Beast". Susan Bonds, Joe DiNunzio, Jane McGonigal, Jim Stewartson and John Ziffren were other notable coworkers of the company.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

In 2006, 42 Entertainment merged with 3 Pin Media. Michael Borys, Alex Lieu and Johnny Rodriquez also joined the company.

In 2007, Jordan Weisman left the company to found Smith & Tinker. That same year, Elan Lee, Sean Stewart and Jim Stewartson left the company to found Fourth Wall Studios.[11]

Creatives Steve Peters, Maureen McHugh and Behnam Karbassi left the company in late 2008, and founded No Mimes Media in March 2009.[12]

Projects change

In 2004 42 Entertainment made I Love Bees. This is the prequel to the Xbox game Halo 2. The company also made Hex 168 (Microsoft Gaming Studios/Xbox 360), MSN Found (Windows Live Search) and Last Call Poker (Activision’s GUN).

In 2006, the company created Dead Man’s Tale and Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean.

References change

  1. "~4 o r t y 2 w o~ . . . Capabilities & Approach". 2005-01-31. Archived from the original on 2005-01-31. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  2. "USATODAY.com - The intricate plot behind 'A.I.' Web mystery". usatoday30.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  3. "Video Game News & Reviews". Engadget. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  4. "Elan Lee's Alternate Reality". www.gamasutra.com. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  5. Borland, John. "A novelist turned gaming innovator". CNET. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  6. Rose, Frank. "Secret Websites, Coded Messages: The New World of Immersive Games". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  7. "42 Entertainment creates alternate reality game for new film, The International". VentureBeat. 2009-01-30. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  8. "Technology News". CNET. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  9. "~4 o r t y 2 w o~ . . . Management Team". 2005-04-03. Archived from the original on 2005-04-03. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  10. Weiss, Joanna (2005-10-23). "Who's running the show?". Boston.com. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  11. "42 Entertainment Names New Management Team | Reuters". archive.ph. 2013-02-01. Archived from the original on 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2021-10-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. March 13, King Pastis; Pm, 2009 at 9:59. "No Mimes Media: New company, familiar faces | ARGNet: Alternate Reality Gaming Network". ARGNet: Alternate Reality Gaming Network | Your first choice for ARG news. Retrieved 2021-10-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)