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Mad Catz

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Mad Catz Interactive
Company typePublic
TSX: MCZ
AMEX: MCZ
IndustryVideo game industry
Founded1989
Headquarters
San Diego, California
Key people
Karen McGinnis (CEO)
David McKeon (CFO)
Andrew Young (CTO)
Websitewww.madcatz.com
Mad Catz's Rock Band 3 controllers: Keyboard, Rock Band 3 Drumkit, and Mustang Pro (102-button) Guitar.
File:Street Fighter IV TE stick.jpg
Mad Catz's Street Fighter IV FightStick Tournament Edition Arcade Controller
Mad Catz's M.O.J.O. Android-OS microconsole and controller

Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. is a company providing interactive entertainment products marketed under its Mad Catz and GameShark (gaming products), TRITTON (audio products) and Saitek (simulation) brands. Mad Catz develops flight simulation software through its internal ThunderHawk Studios, develops flight simulation and chess hardware under its Saitek brand, publishes games under its Mad Catz brand, and distributes games and video game products for third-party partners. The company is incorporated in Canada and headquartered in San Diego, California.[1] Mad Catz has offices in North America, Europe and Asia.[1]

History

1989–2000

Mad Catz was founded in 1989. It focused on accessories such as control pads, memory cards, connection cables, headphones and other human interface devices for the PC and various video game consoles. Mad Catz also published original software titles, such as Real World Golf 1 and 2, MC Groovz Dance Craze, and Pump It Up.

Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. was incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act on August 25, 1993. The company was acquired in 2000 by the Toronto-based GTR Group, Inc. for a purchase cost of US$33.3 million, along with Games Trader (which collected and sold previously played and republished games) and ZapYou.com (which focused on e-commerce solutions).[2]

2000–2009

In 2000, Mad Catz released the MC2 Racing Wheel for the Sony PlayStation, which was awarded the Golden Award by Incite Video Gaming Magazine, and the Mario Andretti Racing Wheel, which GameSpy judged as the best peripheral of the 2000 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). The company produced 12 licensed controllers for the launch of the Sega Dreamcast and also released Internet-related accessories such as the Panther DC and keyboard adapter.

In September 2001, GTR Group decided to capitalize on the strength of the Mad Catz brand and changed its corporate name to Mad Catz Interactive, Inc., closing its GamesTrader and ZapYou.com business units.[3] The year 2001 saw the release of Microsoft’s Xbox and Nintendo's GameCube and Game Boy Advance. Mad Catz offered products for these launches, such as the Control Pad Pro for GameCube, the Lynx Control Pad and the BeatPad (dancepad) controller for the PlayStation 2, the Game Boy FlipLight, and memory cards for the Xbox.[3]

In January 2003, Mad Catz acquired the GameShark brand, described as "the industry leader in video game enhancement software, [enabling] players to take full advantage of the secret codes, short cuts, hints and cheats incorporated by video game publishers into their game offerings,"[4] and associated intellectual properties from InterAct for USD$5 million.[5]

In September 2007, Mad Catz acquired UK-based company Joytech for USD$3.7 million.[6] In November 2007, Mad Catz further diversified into the videogame accessory market by acquiring European-based manufacturer Saitek for USD$30 million.[7]

In 2008, Capcom commissioned Mad Catz to produce a limited number of ArcadeSticks and six-button controllers, branded as “FightSticks” and “FightPads,” to coincide with the launch of their Street Fighter IV fighting game.[8] Due to the unanticipated demand for these products, production on these controllers was ramped up from their originally limited numbers. The FightStick remains a mainstay of the Mad Catz product line. In 2008, the FightStick's popularity spurred Mad Catz' involvement in the pro-gaming community, and Mad Catz has a strong presence at shows such as EVO, PAX, and San Diego Comic-Con. In 2009, Mad Catz released licensed controllers for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops.

Since 2010

In 2010, Mad Catz released officially licensed controllers for Rock Band 3, including a keyboard controller, a microphone controller, drum kits, and two guitar controllers (both the familiar five-button and the Fender Mustang “Pro” 102-button guitar).[9] That same year, Mad Catz acquired TRITTON Technologies, a San Diego-based gaming audio headset firm, in May 2010 for USD$1 million at closing.[10] In June 2010, Mad Catz announced an agreement with Major League Gaming (MLG) to produce the MLG Pro Circuit Controller for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Mad Catz sponsored MLG Pro Circuit Competitions.[11]

In 2011, Mad Catz’ Cyborg-branded R.A.T.7 Gaming Mouse was named “Best PC Accessory of 2010” by IGN.[12] The company returned to software distribution by publishing Jonah Lomu Rugby Challenge, Damage Inc. Pacific Squadron WWII (a WWII flight simulation game with a custom joystick), and Rock Band 3. Mad Catz acquired certain assets of V Max Simulation Corporation, which designs, constructs, integrates and operates flight simulation equipment and develops flight simulation software.[13]

Mad Catz has continued its focus on peripherals and accessories, such as the range of R.A.T. gaming mice and TRITTON-branded gaming headsets. In January 2013, Mad Catz announced its "GameSmart" initiative, a range of products using the Bluetooth Smart stack featuring game and hardware independence, simplified setup, longer battery life and universal compatibility. Announced products include the R.A.T.M Wireless Mobile Gaming Mouse, the F.R.E.Q.M Mobile Stereo Headset, M.O.U.S.9 Wireless Mouse, and the C.T.R.L.R Mobile Gamepad.[14] The "GameSmart" initiative is intended to introduce an industry standardization to the mobile world.[15]

In June 2013, Mad Catz announced the M.O.J.O. Android Micro Console, described as "a supercharged smart phone with no screen that plugs into your flat screen TV to bring the living room experience to mobile gaming."[16] M.O.J.O. is designed to interact seamlessly with Mad Catz's GameSmart controllers, mice, keyboards, headsets, and the rest of its gaming peripherals.[16] In 2013, Mad Catz produced the Killer Instinct Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition 2, the first fighting game controller available for the Xbox One, the latest Microsoft gaming console, that started shipping in late November 2013.[17]

Mad Catz helped spur interest in the burgeoning field of eSports by sponsoring the inaugural ESL One at Madison Square Garden in October 2014, as well as sponsoring the Capcom Pro Tour featuring Street Fighter IV.[18]

In April 2015, Mad Catz announced that it would co-publish Rock Band 4 along with Harmonix, in addition to making the controllers for the game. Under the terms of the agreement, Mad Catz will be responsible for worldwide retail sales, promotion, and distribution for the Rock Band 4 game and its hardware bundles. Harmonix will handle Rock Band 4 digital sales and content. [19] Rock Band 4 was launched on October 6, 2015.

In August 2015, Mad Catz announced that it will work with Cloud Imperium Games to create licensed simulation products for its space simulation game Star Citizen.[20] These products, produced under Mad Catz's Saitek brand, were first unveiled at Gamescom 2015.[21]

On February 9 2016, Mad Catz announced that it would layoff 37 percent of its workforce also stating that "Rock Band sell-through was lower than originally forecast resulting in higher inventory balances as well as lower margins due to increased promotional activity with retailers."[22] This followed the resignations of company president and CEO Darren Richardson, senior VP of business affairs Whitney Peterson, and company chairman Thomas Brown the day prior.[23]

References

  1. ^ a b [1]
  2. ^ "Mad Catz, Inc - Press Release Page". Media.corporate-ir.net. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  3. ^ a b [2]
  4. ^ "Mad Catz Acquires GameShark Brand From Interact". Nintendoworldreport.com. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  5. ^ "Mad Catz 2003 Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  6. ^ "Take-Two sells unit to Canada's Mad Catz". Reuters. 2007-09-07. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  7. ^ Sinclair, Brendan (2007-11-14). "Mad Catz buys Saitek". GameSpot. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  8. ^ 2/27/09 6:00pm 2/27/09 6:00pm. "Mad Catz Street Fighter IV FightSticks Review". Gizmodo.com. Retrieved 2013-10-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Murph, Darren (2008-06-19). "Mad Catz apt to release Rock Band instruments next week". Engadget.com. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  10. ^ "Mad Catz Acquires Gaming Headset Company Tritton". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  11. ^ "Mad Catz | All About the Game | Press Release". Phx.corporate-ir.net. 2010-06-02. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  12. ^ "Best PC Accessory 2010 - Cyborg R.A.T. 7 Gaming Mouse - Gear - IGN". Bestof.ign.com. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  13. ^ "Mad Catz | All About the Game | Press Release". Phx.corporate-ir.net. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  14. ^ [3]
  15. ^ "The MadCatz MOJO: Is There Room For Another Android Gaming Console?". Forbes. 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  16. ^ a b "Mad Catz | All About the Game | Press Release". Phx.corporate-ir.net. 2013-06-11. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  17. ^ "Mad Catz | All About the Game | Press Release". Phx.corporate-ir.net. 2013-07-16. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  18. ^ "How This Tech Company Benefits From eSports". fortune.com. 2015-11-05. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  19. ^ Eddie Makuch (2015-04-21). "Rock Band 4 Will Be Co-Published By Peripheral Company Mad Catz". Gamespot.com. Retrieved 2015-04-21.
  20. ^ "Mad Catz(R) Teams Up With Cloud Imperium(R) Games to Create Dedicated Saitek(R) Branded Star Citizen(R) Hardware". globenewswire.com. 2015-08-03. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
  21. ^ "Saitek HOTAS & Peripherals Analysis + Saitek Q&A". imperialnews.network. 2015-08-19. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
  22. ^ Christian Nutt (2016-02-09). "Mad Catz lays off 37% of staff in restructuring plan". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2015-02-10.
  23. ^ Alex Wawro (2016-02-08). "Top brass resign amid MadCatz executive shuffle". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2015-02-10.
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