704Games Company (formerly known as Dusenberry Martin Racing) is an American video game developer and publisher based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company acquired the license to be the exclusive developer of NASCAR video games in January 2015 and has since released six console games and a mobile game.
 Current logo, in use since 2017 | |
| Formerly | Dusenberry Martin Racing |
|---|---|
| Company type | Incorporation |
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | January 2015 |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Key people | Tom Dusenberry (co-founder) Ed Martin (co-founder) Colin Smith (President) Paul Brooks |
| Parent | Motorsport Network |
| Website | nascarheat |
The company has a long-standing relationship with the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) and has the exclusive rights to develop and publish video games featuring the NASCAR brand.
History
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704Games was formed as Dusenberry Martin Racing in January 2015, a subsidiary of HC2 Holdings, who acquired the license to develop NASCAR video games from Eutechnyx that month.[1][2] As a result of the acquisition, DMR received NASCAR '15, a video game that Eutechnyx had been developing.[3] Dusenberry Martin Racing secured $8,000,000 in equity capital in April.[4]
NASCAR '15 was published and released by DMR on May 22, 2015.[3][5] The company was also beginning the development of its first video game, NASCAR Heat Evolution while collaborating with Monster Games.[2] The game was released on September 13, 2016.[6][7][8] In 2017, NASCAR Heat Mobile was released as a soft launch exclusive to Canada on March 8 and was released in the US on April 24. In the same year, a sequel to NASCAR Heat Evolution, NASCAR Heat 2, was released on September 12, and was followed by NASCAR Heat 3 in the following year on September 7.[9]
In 2017, DMR rebranded to 704Games (taken from Charlotte's area code (704)) and hired former NASCAR Media Group President, NASCAR Senior Vice President, and DMR chairman Paul Brooks as CEO.[10]
By August 2018, Motorsport Network began to invest in 704Games,[11] and in the following years Motorsport Network made a majority investment in 704Games.[12][13] Additionally, Colin Smith, former CEO of Motorsport Network, replaced Ed Martin as President of 704Games while Martin began to direct 704Games' esports initiatives. Paul Brooks moved into a non-executive chairman role. As part of the Motorsport Network deal (which had now created and spun-off its games division called 'Motorsport Games'), NASCAR extended its video game and esports license with 704Games through 2029.[14][15] Subsequent NASCAR games published by the company listed Motorsport Games as the developer following its complete takeover.[citation needed]
Games
editReferences
edit- ^ "HC2's Subsidiary DMi, Inc. Acquires Exclusive NASCAR Gaming Rights With Multi-Year Agreement". HC2 Holdings, Inc. January 15, 2015. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ a b Makuch, Eddie (May 20, 2016). "First NASCAR Game for PS4, Xbox One Announced". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ a b Good, Owen S. (May 20, 2016). "NASCAR makes current-gen console debut this fall with NASCAR Heat Evolution". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ "Dusenberry Martin Racing Secures $8,000,000 in Equity Capital - EconoTimes". 13 April 2016. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
- ^ Sturbin, John (April 10, 2015). "NASCAR '15 GAME to launch May 22 at Gamestop". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports and Entertainment Network. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ "Dusenberry Martin Racing announces NASCAR Heat Evolution - NASCAR.com". Archived from the original on 2017-08-11. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
- ^ Jensen, Tom. "Dusenberry Martin Racing to unveil new NASCAR video game". Archived from the original on 2018-09-10. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
- ^ "Dusenberry Martin Racing Announces NASCAR Heat Evolution". NASCAR.com. Turner Sports and Entertainment Network. May 20, 2016. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ "NASCAR Heat 3 Wiki – Everything You Need To Know About The Game". Archived from the original on 2020-09-15. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
- ^ "Dusenberry Martin Racing Combines with Industry Leader to Create 704Games". American City Business Journals. March 21, 2017. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
- ^ "704Games Announces New Investment from Motorsport Network - Business Insider". 2018-08-21.
- ^ "Motorsport Games Reaches Agreement to Acquire All Remaining Shares of 704Games Company". GlobeNewswire News Room. 2021-03-15. Archived from the original on 2021-06-09. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ^ "Motorsport Games to Acquire All Remaining Shares of 704Games – The Esports Observer". 2021-03-15. Archived from the original on 2021-06-09. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ^ "704Games sees change in leadership structure". Archived from the original on 2019-03-31. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
- ^ "Motorsport Games to Increase its Ownership Interest in 704 Games". GlobeNewswire News Room. 2021-03-12. Archived from the original on 2021-06-09. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ^ "Local NASCAR racing, trailer bash set to heat up All American Speedway this Saturday". goldcountrymedia.com. Archived from the original on 2021-06-09. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ^ "La edición física de NASCAR Heat 5 ya se puede reservar en GAME". Vandal (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 2021-06-09. Retrieved 2021-06-09.