Strategy First, Inc.

Moby ID: 1773

Overview edit · view history

Strategy First Inc. is a developer and publisher of video games, founded in 1990 in Montréal, Canada. Its founders were Don McFatridge, Steve Wall and Dave Hill, shortly thereafter joined by Richard Therrien. The company's long-standing logo contains four people as a reference to its founding members.

The company is most noted for publishing franchises such as the Disciples series, select Jagged Alliance titles, the original Europa Universalis, Gun Metal, the Space Empires series, Galactic Civilizations (2003), O.R.B.: Off-World Resource Base and others.

In 2003, the company opened the short-lived budget game division/label Big City Games.

On 18 August 2004, the company filed for bankruptcy due to its debt rising to US$ 5 million by May of that year. Hence, they were unable to pay royalties to Paradox Interactive, i-Deal Games Studios, Techland and Stardock Entertainment.

On 22 April 2005, Strategy First was acquired by Silverstar Holdings, an American publicly trading company, which helped resolve debt. As Silverstar Holdings had also acquired Empire Interactive in December 2006, Strategy First would inherit at least part of their intellectual properties like FlatOut and Enemy Engaged following Empire Interactive's closure in 2009.

On 5 April 2006, the company acquired and absorbed Malfador Machinations. Also in 2006, Strategy First became the publisher of games by Sonalysts, slightly edited to remove their previous association with the Jane's Combat Simulations license during their contract with Electronic Arts.

In 2008, the company signed a deal with the struggling ASCARON Entertainment for publishing a selection of their titles on digital stores like Steam, GameTap and the newly opened GOG.com (Darkstar One, Patrician III, Pirate Hunter: Seize & Destroy, Port Royale 2, Sacred: Gold), which were kept despite the subsequent IP ownership changes, with the exception of Sacred: Gold being transferred to THQ Nordic in February 2022.

Their post-acquisition intellectual properties would additionally include Shadow Vault, Cuban Missile Crisis, Ankh, Bad Rats, Ironclads, Clad in Iron and Tank Warfare, among others.

Credited on 290 Games from 1995 to 2023

Displaying most recent · View all

The Secret of a Dream (2023 on Windows)
Clad In Iron: War of The Pacific 1879 (2023 on Windows)
Clad in Iron: Chincha Islands 1866 (2022 on Windows)
Space Empires: Complete Pack (2021 on Windows)
Space Empires I (2020 on Windows)
Commander Keen: Keen Dreams - Definitive Edition (2020 on Windows, Wii U, Xbox One...)
Clad in Iron: Sakhalin 1904 (2018 on Windows)
Forgotten Sound 1: Revelation (2018 on Windows)
Forgotten Sound 2: Destiny (2018 on Windows)
Tank Warfare: Tunisia 1943 - Complete Edition (2017 on Windows)
Clad in Iron: Philippines 1898 (2017 on Windows)
Qajary Cat (2017 on Windows)
The Flight of Dowran (2017 on Windows)
The Way of Love: Sub Zero (2017 on Windows)
Dead by Murder (2017 on Windows)
Clad in Iron: Gulf of Mexico 1864 (2017 on Windows)
Alimardan Meets Merlin (2017 on Windows)
Ironclads II: Caroline Islands War (2017 on Windows)
Squadron: Sky Guardians (2017 on Windows)
Devil in the Capital (2017 on Windows)

[ view all ]

History +

April 4, 2006

The company acquires all of the intellectual property assets of Malfador Machinations.

June 23, 2005

The company opens an online store for digital downloads, with new titles as well as older ones. New products will still be shipped physically.

April 22, 2005

Company acquired by Silverstar Holdings, Ltd.

August 18, 2004

The company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

1990

Company founded in Montreal.

Trivia +

Company location and contact information (2009):

Strategy First

147 St. Paul West

Suite 210

Montreal, Quebec

Canada

H2Y 1Z5

Related Web Sites +

Contribute

Add your expertise to help preserve video game history! You can submit a correction or add the following: