Visual Concepts

Visual Concepts Entertainment

Logo since 2018

Type| Subsidiary
Industry| Video games
Founded| 1988; 38 years ago (1988)
Founders|

* Scott Patterson
* Greg Thomas
* Jeff Thomas

Headquarters|

Novato, California

Key people

| Greg Thomas (president)

Number of employees

| 350+ (2018)
Parent|

* Sega (1999–2005)
* 2K (2005–present)

Divisions|

* VC Austin
* VC Blueshift
* VC Budapest
* VC China
* VC Irvine
* VC Korea
* VC Novato
* VC South
* VC WWE

Website| vcentertainment.com

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

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Games developed
* 2.1 1989–2004
* 2.2 2005–present
* 3 References
* 4 External links

## History

Logo used until 2018

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

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

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

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

## Games developed

### 1989–2004

Year  | Title  | Platform(s)

|
|

1989  | Gnarly Golf | Apple IIGS
Great Western Shootout
Sword of Sodan (unreleased)
1990  | Designasaurus II | MS-DOS
Pipe Mania | Apple IIGS
Task Force
1991  | Trog | NES
MathCopter[16] | MS-DOS
1992  | McDonaldland | Game Boy
Software:Spot: The Cool Adventure
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary
Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf | Super NES
1993  | Bill Walsh College Football
ClayFighter
Harley's Humongous Adventure
Madden NFL '94
Taz-Mania
We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story
1994  | ClayFighter: Tournament Edition
Claymates
Dominus | MS-DOS
Lester the Unlikely | Super NES
Madden NFL '95
MLBPA Baseball
NHL 95
1995  | Toughman Contest | Sega Genesis
Weaponlord | Sega Genesis, Super NES
Viewpoint | PlayStation
Madden NFL '96 | PlayStation (cancelled)[17][18][19]
1996  | NHL 97 | PlayStation, Sega Saturn
1997  | NBA Action 98 | Microsoft Windows, Sega Saturn
NBA Fastbreak '98 | PlayStation
1998  | One
1999  | NBA 2K | Dreamcast
NFL 2K
NHL 2K
2000  | NBA 2K1
NFL 2K1
2001  | Floigan Bros.
NBA 2K2 | Dreamcast, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
NCAA College Football 2K2: Road to the Rose Bowl | Dreamcast
NFL 2K2 | Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Xbox
NHL 2K2
Ooga Booga | Dreamcast
World Series Baseball 2K2 | Dreamcast, Xbox
2002  | NBA 2K3 | GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
NCAA College Basketball 2K3
NCAA College Football 2K3
NFL 2K3
NHL 2K3
Sega Soccer Slam
Software:ToeJam & Earl III: Mission to Earth | Xbox
2003  | ESPN College Hoops | PlayStation 2, Xbox
ESPN NBA Basketball
ESPN NHL Hockey
ESPN NFL Football
World Series Baseball 2K3
2004  | ESPN College Hoops 2K5
ESPN NBA 2K5
ESPN NFL 2K5
ESPN NHL 2K5
ESPN Major League Baseball

### 2005–present

Year  | Title  | Platform(s)  | Notes

|
|
|

2005  | College Hoops 2K6 | PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360  |
Major League Baseball 2K5 | PlayStation 2, Xbox  | Assisted Kush Games
Major League Baseball 2K5: World Series Edition
NBA 2K6 | PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360  |
NHL 2K6 | Assisted Kush Games
2006  | College Hoops 2K7 | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360 |
Major League Baseball 2K6 | GameCube, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Xbox, Xbox 360  | Assisted Kush Games
NBA 2K7 | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360  |
NHL 2K7 | Assisted Kush Games
2007  | All-Pro Football 2K8 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360  |
College Hoops 2K8 | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Major League Baseball 2K7 | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox, Xbox 360  | Assisted Kush Games
NBA 2K8 | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360  |
NHL 2K8 | Assisted 2K Los Angeles
The Bigs | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360  | Assisted Blue Castle Games
2008  | Major League Baseball 2K8 | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360  | Assisted 2K Los Angeles
NBA 2K9 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360  |
NHL 2K9 | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
2009  | Major League Baseball 2K9 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
NBA 2K10 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
NBA 2K10: Draft Combine | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
NHL 2K10 | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
2010  | Major League Baseball 2K10 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
NBA 2K11 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
NHL 2K11 | Wii
2011  | Major League Baseball 2K11 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
NBA 2K12
2012  | Major League Baseball 2K12 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
MyNBA 2K | Android, iOS
NBA 2K13 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Xbox 360
NBA 2K MyLife | Facebook Platform
2013  | Major League Baseball 2K13 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
NBA 2K14 | Android, Fire OS, iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One |
WWE 2K14 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360  | Assisted Yuke's
2014  | NBA 2K15 | Android, Fire OS, iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One  |
NHL 2K | Android, iOS  | Assisted Virtuos
WWE 2K15 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One  | Assisted Yuke's
2015  | NBA 2K16 | Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One  |
WWE 2K16 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One  | Assisted Yuke's
2016  | NBA 2K17 | Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One  |
NBA 2K17: The Prelude | PlayStation 4, Xbox One
NBA 2KVR Experience | Android, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4  | Assisted Specular Interactive
WWE 2K17 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One  | Assisted Yuke's
2017  | NBA 2K18 | Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One  |
NBA 2K18: The Prelude | PlayStation 4, Xbox One
WWE 2K18 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One  | Assisted Yuke's
2018  | NBA 2K19 | Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One  |
NBA 2K19: The Prelude | PlayStation 4, Xbox One
WWE 2K19 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One  | Assisted Yuke's
2019  | NBA 2K20 | Stadia, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One  |
WWE 2K20 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2020  | NBA 2K21 | Stadia, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
2021  | NBA 2K22 | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
2022  | WWE 2K22 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
NBA 2K23 | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
2023  | WWE 2K23 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Lego 2K Drive | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
NBA 2K24
2024  | WWE 2K24 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
NBA 2K25[20] | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
2025  | WWE 2K25 | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Android, iOS
NBA 2K26 | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
2026  | WWE 2K26 | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Game Awards (December 6, 2018). "Greg Thomas Wins Industry Icon | The Game Awards 2018". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdJZspTm_wA.
2. ↑ Hruby, Patrick (September 18, 2018). "Inside NBA 2K's Journey to the Top of Sports Gaming". https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2796233-inside-nba2ks-journey-to-the-top-of-sports-gaming.
3. ↑ "Electronic Arts takes equity stake in leading software developer, Visual Concepts Entertainment" (Press release). The Free Library. Business Wire. January 25, 1995. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
4. ↑ Kennedy, Sam (May 15, 1999). "Sega to Acquire Visual Concepts". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-to-acquire-visual-concepts/1100-2451359/.
5. ↑ Adams, David (June 8, 2004). "Take-Two Takes SEGA Sports". http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/06/08/take-two-takes-sega-sports.
6. ↑ Thorsen, Tor (December 23, 2004). "Take-Two taking over Visual Concepts?". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-taking-over-visual-concepts/1100-6115592/.
7. ↑ Orry, Tom (December 24, 2004). "Take-Two to purchase Visual Concepts?". https://www.videogamer.com/news/take-two-to-purchase-visual-concepts.
8. ↑ Feldman, Curt (January 24, 2005). "Sega officially out of the sports game". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-officially-out-of-the-sports-game/1100-6117016/.
9. ↑ Adams, David (January 24, 2005). "Take Two Buys Visual Concepts". http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/01/25/take-two-buys-visual-concepts.
10. ↑ Sinclair, Brendan (January 31, 2006). "Take-Two reveals acquisition prices, hints at future lawsuits". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-reveals-acquisition-prices-hints-at-future-lawsuits/1100-6143447/.
11. ↑ Jenkins, David (January 25, 2005). "Take-Two Acquires Visual Concepts, Announces 2K Games Brand". https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/take-two-acquires-visual-concepts-announces-2k-games-brand.
12. ↑ Elliott, Phil (March 17, 2009). "Visual Concepts 'most consistent' developer". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/visual-concepts-most-consistent-developer.
13. ↑ Bennett, Colette (August 16, 2010). "NBA 2K11 Developer Visual Concepts Lays Off 30 Employees". https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/120742/NBA_2K11_Developer_Visual_Concepts_Lays_Off_30_Employees.php.
14. ↑ Sinclair, Brendan (March 23, 2021). "2K acquires HookBang games business". GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-03-23-2k-acquires-hookbang-games-business. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
15. ↑ Kennedy, Victoria (2024-02-07). "Layoffs hit WWE, Lego 2K Drive studio Visual Concepts Austin" (in en). Eurogamer.net. https://www.eurogamer.net/layoffs-hit-wwe-lego-2k-drive-studio-visual-concepts-austin.
16. ↑ "MathCopter (1991)". 1991. https://archive.org/details/mathcopter-1991.
17. ↑ "IGN Presents the History of Madden". August 8, 2008. http://retro.ign.com/articles/896/896893p3.html.
18. ↑ "PlayStationMuseum.com - Madden 96". http://www.playstationmuseum.com/Games/GRAVEYARD/BTA-018.htm.
19. ↑ David Short (March 1996). "Madden '96 in '97?". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (80): 121.
20. ↑ Dinsdale, Ryan (July 10, 2024). "NBA 2K25 Puts NBA Champ Jayson Tatum and WNBA Champ A'ja Wilson on Cover, Launches September". https://www.ign.com/articles/nba-2k25-cover-star-jayson-tatum-aja-wilson-release-date.

## External links

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Take-Two Interactive

2K|

| Current studios|

* 31st Union
* Cat Daddy Games
* Cloud Chamber
* Firaxis Games
* games
* Hangar 13
* Visual Concepts

|

Former studios|

* 2K Australia
* 2K China
* 2K Czech
* 2K Los Angeles
* 2K Marin
* Frog City Software
* Indie Built
* Irrational Games
* PopTop Software
* Venom Games

Notable games|

* Battleborn
* BioShock series
* Borderlands series
* Civilization series
* Duke Nukem series
* Evolve
* Mafia series
* MLB 2K series
* NBA 2K series
* NBA 2K League
* NHL 2K series
* Prey
* Spec Ops
* The Darkness series
* WWE 2K series
* XCOM series

Rockstar Games|

| Current studios|

* Rockstar India
* Rockstar Leeds
* Rockstar Lincoln
* Rockstar London
* Rockstar New England
* Rockstar North
* Rockstar San Diego
* Rockstar Toronto

|

Former studios|

* Dhruva Interactive
* Rockstar Vancouver
* Rockstar Vienna

Notable games|

* Agent
* Bully
* Grand Theft Auto series
* L.A. Noire
* Manhunt series
* Max Payne series
* Midnight Club series
* Red Dead series
* The Warriors

Technology|

* Rockstar Advanced Game Engine
* Rockstar Games Social Club

Other|

* Ghost Story Games
* Private Division
* Socialpoint
* List of games

Former labels|

* Double Take Comics
* Gathering of Developers
* Global Star Software
* Gotham Games
* Take-Two Licensing
* TalonSoft

* v
* t
* e

Sega Sammy Holdings

Sega ᐧ Sammy Corporation

Video game development|

* Amplitude Studios
* Atlus
* Atlus USA
* Creative Assembly
* Creative Assembly Sofia
* Hardlight
* Relic Entertainment
* Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
* Sega AM2
* Sports Interactive
* Sega Sports R&D
* Sonic Team
* Two Point Studios

Animation|

* ENGI
* TMS Entertainment
* Marza Animation Planet

Other industries|

* Sega Toys

Former subsidiaries|

* CA Sega Joypolis
* Demiurge Studios
* Index Corporation
* Sammy Studios
* Sega Ozisoft
* SIMS Co., Ltd.
* Sonic! Software Planning
* Visual Concepts

Key people|

* Hajime Satomi
* Hisao Oguchi
* Toshihiro Nagoshi

Defunct|

* Amusement Vision
* Career Soft
* Sega AM1
* Sega AM3
* Sega Racing Studio
* SegaSoft
* Sega Studios San Francisco
* Smilebit
* Technosoft
* Three Rings Design

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