Tradewest rises from Midway Europe's ashes

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpotPosted Aug 21, 2009 5:27 pm PT

Martin Spiess acquires London and Paris offices from publisher's bankruptcy, attaches name of defunct Double Dragon, Battletoads firm.

Original Double Dragon publisher Tradewest Games is back and for little more than the cost of a couple of rounds with Billy and Jimmy Lee.

Developed by Rare, Battletoads was one of Tradewest's biggest hits.

Earlier this month, Midway's European publishing and distribution head, Martin Spiess, purchased the bankrupt outfit's French and UK offices for €1 ($1.42). Today, Spiess reintroduced his acquisitions to the world as the newly formed Tradewest Games.

Originally established in 1986, Tradewest is best remembered as the publisher behind the beat-'em-up franchises Double Dragon and Battletoads, as well as the Super Off-Road series of racing games. It was acquired in 1994 by Midway parent company WMS Industries and was eventually converted into Midway Home Entertainment. Spiess recently acquired the rights to the Tradewest brand, though the cost of the purchase is unknown.

Similarly unclear is the list of Tradewest franchises--if any--the publisher now controls. Tradewest's statement announcing the move mentioned only that it would be "a European full service provider in the fields of game distribution and publishing."

32 Comments

  • Barighm

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 10:42 am PT

    @BtmnHatesRbn

    Really? Darn. I was looking forward to more beat'em up games, or brawlers if you prefer. I think now is a good time to bring them back, but if those games aren't owned by publishers who care, then...oh, well.

  • BloodMist

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 10:33 am PT

    Tradewest...NES filled days coming back...

  • TevoxZi

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 10:06 am PT

    I've only seen Battletoads been played by Angry Video Game Nerd. and I can say that it looked quite difficult. Especially in 2-player mode, as the friendly-"attack" is on.

    [Edit; That reminds me that I should re-watch that episode now.]

  • Rottenwood

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 7:37 am PT

    Man, I played Battletoads for eons as a kid. It was absurdly challenging, but I just had to beat it. When I finally did... man, did that ending SUCK. Yay, I chased away that Elvira-looking chick with the big bouffant hairdo. What a buzzkill.

    Still a great game, though. It's a shame how Rare has fallen off the top tier of developers. They went from being Nintendo's right-hand man, to making Grabbed by the Ghoulies and a bunch of nondescript portable games.

  • ThisNameIsDumb

    Posted Aug 23, 2009 3:10 pm PT

    sounds cool.

  • tmorri603

    Posted Aug 23, 2009 8:53 am PT

    I didn't know Rare owned Battletoads. I played the game but it was so hard that I could never beat it. I would like to see an update on it.

  • BtmnHatesRbn

    Posted Aug 23, 2009 7:43 am PT

    Battletoads is outright owned by Rare, ergo, Microsoft. After Tradewest became part of Midway around 1993ish, Electronic Arts bought the released rights for the Battletoads. As for Double Dragon, that's wholly owned by Atlus and Million jointly, hence the release of Double Dragon Advance a few years ago on GBA. Super Off-Road isn't a series, as only one game came out but released on every fricking console at the time over a number of years. Also, the game, too, isn't owned by Tradewest.

    Tradewest does own Magic Johnson's Fastbreak, John Elroy's Football (or whatever), and games like that which they didn't just acquire the rights to.

    Seems I know more and could've written a better article about Tradewest than the author CBS told CNET to hire.

  • solidine

    Posted Aug 23, 2009 12:42 am PT

    Dun-Dun-DUHN! Daaa-Da-Da-Da-DA DA!

    ....Right, I want a another Battletoads game, though I'd probably never finish it. I don't think I ever finished any of those.

  • Narnyfied

    Posted Aug 23, 2009 12:03 am PT

    Those BattleToads games were harder than Double Dragon ever was. Be great to have em' back.

  • ndewitt2003

    Posted Aug 22, 2009 6:25 pm PT

    If Battletoads gets re-made then what will adolescent kids be able to call GameStop about.

  • VirtualTofu

    Posted Aug 22, 2009 3:08 pm PT

    BATTLETOADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • NuKkU

    Posted Aug 22, 2009 11:48 am PT

    would love a remake or new Double Dragon great game never played battletoads thru

  • Thatsmypunk

    Posted Aug 22, 2009 8:54 am PT

    Love the Battletoads surf rock theme on the NES version. Would be great to hear it remade.

  • pszone

    Posted Aug 22, 2009 8:38 am PT

    why microsoft own it and not useing even they have to pay the rights thats playing big stupid

  • Vipa37

    Posted Aug 22, 2009 7:55 am PT

    I think microsoft owns the rights to double dragon and battletoads even though i could be wrong but i hope they bring back the battletoads arcade game and if they can just create a new game specifically for the downloadable service whichever one they choose.

  • BlueFlameBat

    Posted Aug 22, 2009 6:29 am PT

    Can this actually bring Battletoads back? I thought Rare was just sitting on the license. I'd love to play Super Battletoads online or have a whole new game provided they do it right.

  • OldStupidGeezer

    Posted Aug 22, 2009 4:47 am PT

    DOUBLE DRAGON

  • firedrakes

    Posted Aug 22, 2009 4:04 am PT

    dam what a deal

  • neutralbias

    Posted Aug 22, 2009 2:33 am PT

    3d battletoads for sure!

  • Feroz_Wolf

    Posted Aug 21, 2009 11:38 pm PT

    We need a new Battletoads. I sure miss the punishing difficulty of those old school games. Well, let me correct that--I miss everything but those damn hoverbike levels. Those things still make me cry myself to sleep at night.

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