Arush Entertainment

Arush Entertainment was an American video game publisher and developer based in Scottsdale, Arizona. The company focused on interactive entertainment software for personal computers and sixth-generation consoles, distributing games through retail channels and the Internet. Its catalog included original games, licensed properties, and titles developed or published in partnership with outside studios. The business began in 1999 under the name World Entertainment Broadcast Corp., commonly abbreviated as WEB Corp. It was founded by Jim Perkins, a former FormGen executive and former vice president of GT Interactive. When the company was publicly revealed in March 2000, its initial strategy centered on Internet-distributed games released in installments. Arush described this approach as “Webisodic,” with individual portions of a game made available separately over time rather than delivered only as a complete boxed product. On the same day as its public introduction, the company announced a partnership with Sunstorm Interactive, the developer associated with the Deer Hunter series. During 2000, WEB Corp. expanded its publishing and licensing plans. It obtained a license from 3D Realms to produce a Duke Nukem game and entered additional agreements involving ImaginEngine and Yoboro Productions. These arrangements positioned the company as a publisher able to assemble a portfolio from internally managed projects, external developers, and licensed entertainment properties. On January 22, 2001, WEB Corp. announced that it would operate under the Arush Entertainment name. Soon afterward, the renamed company released its first Webisodic games through Real.com Games. The company subsequently adjusted its distribution model. In August 2001, it reached an agreement with ValuSoft for physical distribution, and in January 2002 it announced that future titles would be released physically rather than primarily through its earlier episodic online model. Arush’s releases covered several genres and platforms. Its published catalog included action games such as Devastation and Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project; hunting titles including Hunting Unlimited, Hunting Unlimited 2, Hunting Unlimited 3, and Primal Prey; licensed products such as Fear Factor: Unleashed and Playboy: The Mansion; and other games including Emergency 2, Feeding Chloe, Monkey Brains, and RC Daredevil. Arush also developed Devastation and Real Pool 2 for personal computers. Some of its console releases appeared on PlayStation 2 and Xbox, reflecting the company’s stated interest in both PC and advanced-console entertainment. In August 2004, Canadian publisher HIP Interactive announced that it had acquired Arush for an undisclosed amount. Arush became a HIP subsidiary, and the transaction included the company’s licenses and forthcoming titles. HIP later encountered serious financial problems after a series of acquisitions, including Arush, combined with weak sales and significant debt obligations. After an attempted investment arrangement failed, HIP announced on July 12, 2005, that it had filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations, including those of its subsidiaries. Arush therefore stopped operating as an independent publishing and development business. The subsequent ownership and availability of several Arush-related licenses, including the rights connected with Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project, are not established in the available reference material.

Arush Entertainment originated in 1999 as World Entertainment Broadcast Corp., or WEB Corp. The business was established by Jim Perkins, whose previous experience included FormGen and GT Interactive. Its public launch in March 2000 emphasized a then-emerging Internet distribution concept: games would be divided into installments, described by the company as a “Webisodic” model. The initial rollout was accompanied by a partnership with Sunstorm Interactive, known for the Deer Hunter franchise. WEB Corp. pursued a mixture of original development, external publishing, and licensed properties. In August 2000 it secured a license from 3D Realms for a Duke Nukem project and also made publishing arrangements with ImaginEngine and Yoboro Productions. The company’s first Webisodic games were later distributed through Real.com Games after the business adopted the Arush Entertainment name in January 2001. The company’s commercial model changed relatively quickly. In August 2001 Arush signed a physical distribution agreement with ValuSoft. By January 2002 it stated that its titles would be released physically from then on. Its output consequently included conventional PC and console products rather than being limited to online episodic releases. Arush published and, in some cases, developed titles across action, hunting, simulation, and licensed-entertainment categories. Its catalog included Devastation, Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project, Emergency 2, Fear Factor: Unleashed, Feeding Chloe, the Hunting Unlimited series, Monkey Brains, Playboy: The Mansion, Primal Prey, and RC Daredevil. Development credits included Devastation and Real Pool 2 for PC. Several published products were also released for PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Arush was acquired by HIP Interactive in August 2004 for an undisclosed amount. The transaction made Arush a HIP subsidiary and transferred or included its licenses and announced future projects. HIP subsequently experienced substantial financial pressure. The available account attributes its difficulties to debt, multiple acquisitions, and disappointing sales, and records that the company defaulted on a second loan. An attempted last-minute investment did not succeed. On July 12, 2005, HIP announced bankruptcy and stopped operating, including through its subsidiaries. This ended Arush’s operating life as a publishing and development studio. Later ownership of the company’s individual intellectual-property rights is not established in the available sources. An effort by 3D Realms executive Scott Miller to obtain the rights to Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project was reported as unsuccessful.

• 2005

  Operations end following HIP Interactive bankruptcy

  [1]Arush Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  HIP Interactive ceased operations after filing for bankruptcy, bringing Arush’s operating period to an end.

• 2004

  Acquired by HIP Interactive

  [1]Arush Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  HIP Interactive purchased Arush and made it a subsidiary.

• 2002

  Retail-first release policy announced

  [1]Arush Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Arush announced that all subsequent titles would be released physically.

• 2001

  Company renamed Arush Entertainment

  [1]Arush Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  WEB Corp. announced its corporate name change on January 22.

• 2001

  Physical distribution begins

  [1]Arush Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Arush signed with ValuSoft to distribute its games through physical channels.

• 2000

  WEB Corp. publicly launches

  [1]Arush Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The company was revealed in March with an Internet-based Webisodic publishing strategy and a Sunstorm Interactive partnership.

• 2000

  Duke Nukem license obtained

  [1]Arush Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  WEB Corp. entered an agreement with 3D Realms to produce a Duke Nukem title.

• 1999

  Company formed as World Entertainment Broadcast Corp.

  [1]Arush Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The business that later became Arush Entertainment was established under the WEB Corp. name.

A small, multi-platform publisher and developer focused on licensed games, action titles, hunting software, and other PC and console releases. Its early identity was associated with Internet-based episodic distribution, while its later business increasingly emphasized conventional physical retail publishing.

• PC action game

  Devastation

  An action-oriented PC title associated with Arush as both publisher and developer. It represents the company’s role in managing original game development alongside licensed publishing and external studio relationships.

• PC licensed action game

  Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project

  A Duke Nukem title published by Arush under a license from 3D Realms. It was one of the company’s most prominent licensed properties and was associated with Arush’s early effort to build a recognizable PC publishing portfolio.

• PC hunting games

  Hunting Unlimited series

  A group of hunting-focused releases published by Arush, including Hunting Unlimited, Hunting Unlimited 2, and Hunting Unlimited 3. The series formed part of the company’s recurring PC catalog and its emphasis on accessible genre software.

• Licensed entertainment game

  Fear Factor: Unleashed

  A licensed game based on the Fear Factor entertainment property. Arush published versions for PC, PlayStation 2, and Xbox, demonstrating its multi-platform approach and reliance on recognizable media licenses.

• Licensed simulation and strategy game

  Playboy: The Mansion

  A licensed title published by Arush for PC, PlayStation 2, and Xbox. It expanded the company’s portfolio beyond action and hunting products into a property-driven management and simulation game.

• PC sports and simulation game

  Real Pool 2

  A PC pool game listed among Arush’s development credits. It reflects the studio’s involvement in smaller-scale genre and sports simulation projects in addition to its publishing activities.

• PC strategy and simulation game

  Emergency 2

  A PC title included in Arush Entertainment’s published catalog. The available reference identifies the game as a published release but does not provide additional development, sales, or marketing detail.

• PC hunting game

  Primal Prey

  A hunting-oriented PC game published by Arush. It sits alongside the Hunting Unlimited titles and other genre products in the company’s retail-focused catalog.

• 2004

  Accept acquisition by HIP InteractiveM&A

  Background

  HIP Interactive sought to expand through acquisitions and announced the purchase of Arush Entertainment.

  Action taken

  Arush became a HIP subsidiary, with its licenses and upcoming titles included in the acquired business.

  Aftermath

  HIP later entered financial distress and ceased operating in 2005, ending Arush’s active operations. The purchase price was not disclosed.

  Source

• 2001

  Move from Webisodic distribution toward physical releasesStrategy

  Background

  Arush initially promoted Internet-distributed games released in installments, but later established a physical distribution relationship with ValuSoft.

  Action taken

  The company announced in January 2002 that it would release all of its titles physically from then on.

  Aftermath

  The announcement marked a shift toward conventional retail publishing, although the available sources do not quantify its commercial effect.

  Source

1. 1Arush Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org
2. 2Arush Entertainment company profilemobygames.com