Matthews Simmons Marketing, publisher of Games Quarterly Catalog and Games Quarterly Magazine, and producer of the Games Expo trade show and National Games Week, announced on Friday that it had sold Games Quarterly Catalog and was shutting down. The shutdown was attributed to losses from bad accounts receivable and from launching Games Expo, which while it had a great exhibit floor, attracted few retailers or other trade buyers (see 'Games Expo -- Lots of Exhibitors').
GQC was purchased by two former employees of MSM, Richard Hartnett and Richard Martin Leep. Games Quarterly Magazine has ceased publication. The future of National Games Week was less clear. Simmons said it was 'likely to continue, with our without management,' but also added, 'Who knows what the future will bring?'
MSM had been in business for sixteen years. Simmons also served as executive director of the GAMA trade association for a number of years. Although he denied it, bad feelings associated with his departure from his position at GAMA may have been a contributing reason for the ill-fated launch of Games Expo (see 'New Game Trade Show Goes Head to Head with GAMA in '07') in direct competition with GAMA's annual show.
Simmons has taken two new positions: as North American agent for MeiJia International, the top board and card game manufacturer in
Jonathan Albin, formerly a sales rep for MSM, has announced a marketing and advertising consultancy servicing the games industry.
