GameWorks

**GameWorks** is a chain of location-based entertainment venues featuring a wide array of video game arcades, in addition to full-service bars and restaurants. There are currently seven GameWorks venues throughout the U.S, with the re-opening of the chains' flagship store in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Las Vegas store is the first store in the chain with a dedicated esports arena, a devoted space for multi-player online computer gaming. Esports has now become an integral part of all new and developing locations in the chain.

## History

GameWorks began as a joint venture between the video game developer Sega and the film studios Universal Studios and DreamWorks, with filmmaker Steven Spielberg providing creative input. Its first location opened in Seattle in March 1997. DreamWorks sold its portion in 2001.

GameWorks filed its first bankruptcy in 2004. On November 3, 2005, Sega Sammy Holdings, formed following the 2004 merger of Sega and Sammy, bought the controlling interests of GameWorks. GameWorks filed its second bankruptcy in 2010; as a result, Sega Entertainment USA, the parent company at that time, closed seven GameWorks venues on March 29, in an attempt to focus on profitability and future growth. Two locations that closed, one in Circle Centre at Indianapolis, Indiana, and another in Irvine Spectrum Center at Irvine, California, originally opened as Sega City.

In 2011, GameWorks was sold to an investment group, HNR Capital. In October 2011, GameWorks acquired the assets of several Jillian's Billiards Clubs in California, Washington, and Virginia.

In May 2017, Oomba agreed to acquire GameWorks. In May 2018, ExWorks Capital took ownership of its parent company, and as a result, GameWorks is now owned by ExWorks Capital, with the rights to build more locations acquired by Princess Parks.

## Locations

Locations opened by Princess Parks are marked with (\*).

### USA locations

* Austin, Texas - Barton Creek Square\*
* Bloomington, Minnesota - Mall of America (Opened in 2017)
* Chesapeake, Virginia - Greenbrier Mall (Opened on August 1, 2014) (formerly Jillian's)
* Dallas, Texas - Galleria Dallas\*
* Denver, Colorado - Northfield Stapleton (Opened in March 2016)
* East Rutherford, New Jersey - American Dream Meadowlands\*
* Houston, Texas - The Galleria\*
* Las Vegas, Nevada - Town Square (Las Vegas) (Opened on July 28, 2014)
* Milpitas, California - Great Mall of the Bay Area\*
* New York City, New York - Times Square\*
* Newport, Kentucky (near Cincinnati, Ohio) - Newport on the Levee (Opened in October 2001)
* Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Fashion District Philadelphia\*
* Phoenix, Arizona - Paradise Valley Mall\*
* San Antonio, Texas - Shops at Rivercenter\*
* San Diego, California - Horton Plaza Mall\*
* Schaumburg, Illinois - The Streets of Woodfield (Opened on June 3, 1999) (with *Street Fighter IV* arcade machines and new Stern pinball games on test)
* Seattle, Washington - Downtown Seattle (Opened on March 15, 1997)
* Universal City, California - Universal CityWalk\*

### Former locations

* Austin, Texas - Lakeline Mall (as Gameworks Studio)
* Auburn Hills, Michigan - Great Lakes Crossing Outlets (closed on March 29, 2010, now Sea Life Michigan Aquarium)
* Baltimore, Maryland - Golden Ring Mall (as Sega City. Closed in 1999)
* City of Industry, California - Puente Hills Mall (Changed to Tilt Arcade until it ultimately also closed. The mall is now anchored by Round One Corporation.)
* Columbus, Ohio - Easton Town Center (closed March 29, 2010, reopened as Kitchen Den Bar, now a Legoland Discovery Centre)
* Grapevine, Texas - Grapevine Mills (closed June 27, 2010, now Sea Life Grapevine Aquarium)
* Indianapolis, Indiana - Circle Centre Mall (First opened as Sega City, then became GameWorks Studio) (closed March 29, 2010, now Tilt Studio)
* Irvine, California - Irvine Spectrum Center (opened as Sega City, later became Fox Sports Grill, now Paul Martin's)
* Lone Tree, Colorado - Park Meadows Mall (as GameWorks Studio)
* Long Beach, California - Downtown Long Beach - Waterfront - The Pike at Rainbow Harbor (closed on March 29, 2010, reopened as Kitchen Den Bar until The Pike was ultimately closed and remodeled.)
* Minneapolis, Minnesota - Downtown Minneapolis (closed on March 29, 2010)
* Ontario, California - Ontario Mills (closed on July 5, 2017, now Under Armour Factory Store)
* Orange, California - The Outlets at Orange (replaced with The Power House Arcade until its closure. The mall is now anchored by Dave & Busters.)
* Las Vegas, Nevada - Showcase Mall on the Las Vegas Strip (closed on March 11, 2012)
* Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Downtown Philadelphia - Riverview Plaza (as GameWorks Studio)
* Salt Lake City, Utah - The Gateway Mall (closed in 2015)
* San Antonio, Texas - Alamo Quarry Market (as GameWorks Studio closed in April 2009)
* South Miami, Florida - The Shops at Sunset Place (now GameTime)
* Sunrise, Florida - Sawgrass Mills (then GameRoom, now In the Game)
* Tampa, Florida - Centro Ybor (closed on March 29, 2010 now GameTime)
* Tempe, Arizona - Arizona Mills (closed on January 29, 2016 now, Tilt Studio)
* Tucson, Arizona - Foothills Mall (as GameWorks Studio, reopened as World Sports Grille. But now World Sports Grille is also closed down.)

### International locations

#### Former locations

* Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Opened in 1999. Despite being a very successful location, constantly full, it was closed in 2003 due to disagreements with the local representative. They wanted to remove the restaurant, and only keep the 2 bars. The Brazilian company created its own arcade brand, called HotZone.)
* Tumon, Guam (closed in 2006)
* Vienna, Austria (opened in 2001, filed for bankruptcy around 2003)
* Kuwait City, Kuwait (opened in 2003, later called Gamewizz, closed in 2013)
* Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (at Mega Centro Mall, opened in a former McDonald's fast food, closed in 2015)

## See also

* Round One Corporation
* Dave & Buster's
* Chuck E. Cheese
* Boomers!