Gamecock Media Group
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | February 12, 2007 |
| Founder | Mike Wilson, Harry Miller, Rick Stults |
| Defunct | October 14, 2008 |
| Fate | Acquired by SouthPeak Games and shut down |
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas , United States |
Key people | Mike Wilson (CEO) |
| Products | Video game publishing |
Gamecock Media Group was a United States-based video game publisher headquartered in Austin, Texas. It was founded in February 2007 by Mike Wilson, Harry Miller, and Rick Stults, who had previously established and managed Gathering of Developers. In October 2008, the company was purchased by SouthPeak Games and subsequently ceased operations.
Establishment
The inception of Gamecock Media Group came from Mike Wilson, Harry Miller, and Rick Stults, all of whom had earlier co-founded Gathering of Developers in 1998, where they held the roles of CEO, president, and CFO respectively. The official launch occurred on February 12, 2007, when the company revealed its initial lineup of five games: Fury developed by Auran, Insecticide by Crackpot Entertainment, Mushroom Men from Red Fly Studio, Hail to the Chimp created by Wideload Games, and Hero by Firefly Studios.
Gamecock implemented a developer-centric business model that prioritized creative autonomy and permitted developers to maintain ownership of their intellectual properties. Mike Wilson took on the role of CEO.
Controversy at the 2007 Spike Video Game Awards
During the 2007 Spike Video Game Awards held in Las Vegas, as Ken Levine was about to accept the Game of the Year honor for BioShock, employees from Gamecock interrupted the proceedings by storming the stage dressed in capes and rooster hats. They commandeered the microphone to promote their company, which prevented Levine from delivering his acceptance speech before security removed him. An apology was later issued by Gamecock's CEO Wilson regarding this incident.
Acquisition and shutdown
On October 14, 2008, SouthPeak Games acquired Gamecock. Following this transaction, the Austin office was shut down and all ongoing game development projects were absorbed into SouthPeak’s operations. The Gamecock brand name was ultimately discontinued.