 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | Marc Ullrich, Thomas Meiertoberens |
| Defunct | 1999 |
| Fate | Merged |
| Successor | THQ Deutschland |
| Headquarters | , Germany |
| Products | Turrican series |
| Parent | Rushware (1986–1999) |
Rainbow Arts Software GmbH was a German video game publisher based in Gütersloh. The company was founded in 1984 by Marc Ullrich and Thomas Meiertoberens and acquired by Rushware in 1986.[1] The company's decline began in the early 1990s: The distributor did not manage to cover the costs of selling the titles worldwide, while development costs were constantly rising. The Rainbow Arts name lost its notoriety since then. The parent companies Rushware and Softgold were in turn bought up by the American games manufacturer THQ in 1999.[2] In 1999, Funsoft Holding, which acquired Rushware and sister company Softgold in 1992, sold Rushware to THQ, which was incorporated into THQ Deutschland, THQ's German operations arm.[3][4][5] Rainbow Arts also led one of the first lawsuits in 1993 on the question whether competition exists between a software company and a bulletin board system of similar name ("Rainbow BBS") operated by a student, so that claims under trademark law are enforceable. This was confirmed by the Munich District Court.[6]
In January 2022, Ziggurat Interactive acquired more than 80 titles from Rainbow Arts.[7]
- ^ Gamer-Redaktion, Retro (30 March 2017). Retro Gamer Spezial 2/2017 – C64: Alles über den legendären Brotkasten C64. ISBN 9783957881656.
- ^ "Telecompaper". www.telecompaper.com. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ Gamer-Redaktion, Retro (27 November 2015). Retro Gamer Spezial 1/2016: DAS ERSTE JAHRBUCH. ISBN 9783957880680.
- ^ "THQ Acquires Leading Game Publisher/Distributor in Germany". Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. 2 December 1998. Archived from the original on 24 February 1999. Retrieved 16 June 2019 – via Yahoo.com.
- ^ Drews, Alexander (March–April 2020). "Interview with Thomas Meiertoberens - The return of Magic Bytes". Amiga Future Magazine. 143: 10–14.
- ^ "AG München: Mailbox Rainbow BBS - Terhaag & Partner Rechtsanwälte: Markenrecht, Wettbewerbsrecht, Internetrecht, Medien, Presserecht, Urheberrecht, Datenschutz - Fachanwalt". www.aufrecht.de. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ "Ziggurat Interactive Finishes Deal to Acquire Select Titles of Innovative Studio Rainbow Arts". 14 January 2022.