Category Archives:Community Submitted News
Brainz Announces Partnership with GREE share
Critically acclaimed Vampire Season-Monster Defense reloads its unholy combination of tower defense, real-time strategy, and American pop culture
Bogota, Colombia – November 29, 2012 – Latin American studio Brainz today announced that Vampire Season-Monster Defense, a deluxe supped up version of the original game that reviewers and users alike have come to love, will be launching on GREE Platform.
“I think we got ourselves on the radar with the soft launch of Vampire Season earlier this year. We were pleasantly surprised with so many positive reviews, yet we knew we had room to improve,” said Alejandro Gonzalez, CEO of Brainz. “Working very closely with GREE over the past several weeks, we overhauled the game and developed a better, more immersive experience without losing what made it special in the first place.”
Vampire Season-Monster Defense has smoking new graphics and is more challenging than the previous version. Levels have been rebuilt, there is a new economy that includes dual currencies (coins and sapphires), a new feature that enables pinch zooming the camera angles, as well as other surprises that extend game play including a Horror Roulette in survival mode.
“Brainz is an incredibly unique studio that combines amazing graphics, humor, and smart game play. We can’t wait to share our technology and best practices with them to take them to the next level,” said Eros Resmini, SVP of Developer Relations and Marketing, GREE International, Inc. “It’s a great pleasure to be working with such a talented studio and introduce their content to GREE’s global audience.”
Widely praised for its innovative approach to tower defense and use of humor, Vampire Season-Monster Defense turns traditional definitions of good and evil on its head. Players must defend Count Dracula from the forces of good through multiple levels. There are many ways to dispatch Dracula’s attackers, including an ample menagerie of monsters and items such as Werewolves with bunny slippers, Zombies, Disco Balls, “Nucular” Pumpkins, and Headless Horsemen, amongst others.
Vampire Season-Monster Defense is now available on iOS and will be launching both the Android and iOS versions on GREE Platform in the following weeks.
About Brainz
Brainz is a next-generation entertainment company focusing on developing original, story-driven IPs through mobile games with superb production values. Its first title, Vampire Season-Monster Defense was recently released to critical acclaim globally. Brainz is part of ZIO, one of Latin America’s top 3D animation and digital media studios with staff of 60+ in Bogota, Colombia. The company has received US$2.1M in angel and VC funding.
www.brainz.co
About GREE, Inc.
GREE is a global mobile social gaming company at the forefront of mobile technology. GREE is focused on building the world’s leading mobile social gaming ecosystem for users and developers, while creating and supporting unique free-to-play game content. GREE is continuing to expand globally and has offices in Tokyo, San Francisco, London, Singapore, Seoul, Beijing, Amsterdam, Dubai, Sao Paolo, and Vancouver.
http://gree-corp.com
Sava Transmedia and Zynga announce Rubber Tacos for Mobile share
Sava Transmedia and Zynga announce Rubber Tacos for mobile The hot physics-based arcade game is now available from the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
MONTREAL, Nov. 21, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Montréal-based game developer Sava Transmedia, and Zynga (NASDAQ: ZNGA), the world\’s leading provider of social game services, announced today that Rubber Tacos, the critically acclaimed free-to-play game for Facebook and Zynga.com, is now available worldwide from the App Store on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch and coming soon to Google Play.
In Rubber Tacos players help the Taco family as they set out to snag all the red peppers that have been stolen by the crazy piñata. Players need to fly over the grumpy cactus, avoid the dangerous crab claws, and grab all of the peppers in four frenzied food-filled chapters. Players can also use anything they see in Rubber Tacos to create their own levels that they can share with their friends.
With over 120 muy caliente levels and countless special moves, players are sure to develop a hankering for this hot and saucy game. “We are thrilled to offer this exciting game in partnership with Zynga on mobile and tablet platforms where people can play, challenge their friends, and create and share their own levels\” stated Alain Tascan, President and CEO of Sava Transmedia. Rubber Tacos is available today from the App Store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at http://itunes.apple.com/app/id558013961.
The game will be coming soon to Google Play. For more information on Rubber Tacos, contact Sava Transmedia at www.sava.com. Don\’t miss out! Join the spicy adventure now. Track game updates and company news by following @savatransmedia on Twitter.
About SAVA Transmedia
SAVA Transmedia is an independent company specialized in developing and publishing games for social and mobile platforms. Based in the heart of Montréal, one of the most dynamic and creative cities in the world, the company is committed to connecting players on all screens.
For more information, visit www.sava.com.
SOURCE: SAVA Transmedia For further information: Lauren Tascan lauren@sava.com 514/867-5050
Akamon wins two awards at EGR Operator Awards 2012: ‘Rising Star’ and best ‘Social Bingo Product of the Year’ share
London 27 November 2012 – Akamon Entertainment Ltd, the leading international online social gaming company specialising in traditional games in southern Europe and Latin America, has been awarded best recently created company and best Social Bingo product, winning the categories ‘Rising Star’ and ‘Social Bingo Product of the Year’ at the EGR Operator Awards 2012, the most recognised in the online gaming industry.
Besides the recognition obtained with these awards, Akamon was also finalist in two other categories: ‘Social Casino Product of the Year’ and ‘Social Operator of the Year’, achieving the recognition of a judging panel that comprised foremost figures in the industry including John Anderson, Director of 888 Holdings, Joel Keeble, Director of Mobile, Poker and Special Products at H2 Gambling Capital, and Bryan Bailey, Founder and Director of Casinomeister.
‘Rising Star’ is one of eight headline categories in a total of 25 in these awards which reward online social gaming operators, sports betting and casino gambling, as well as innovation in new platforms and outstanding marketing campaigns. ‘Social Bingo Product of the Year’ awards innovation and social functions that improve the Akamon Bingo users’ experience. The key to Akamon’s success lies in three areas of growth: the international expansion of business (opening portals in Italy, France, Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela), the creation of new games platforms such as Facebook and the increase in its user community, which now exceeds 8 million players worldwide. Thanks to such development, the company expects to close 2012 with a turnover of 6 million Euros for its first full year since starting up in July 2011.
Vicenç Martí, Akamon’s CEO, highlights ‘the honour for a newly created company to win two of the most recognised awards in the industry, and to do it next to prestigious companies such as William Hill, Paddy Power and Gamesys’.
Martí took the opportunity at the ceremony to recognise ‘the great work on the part of all the team at Akamon, for who the awards are an incentive to go on improving in all areas of business’, and announced that ‘the next step for the company is to launch games for mobile platforms, to complement the company’s multiplatform model, before the end of 2012’. Right now, Akamon’s business ratios, under a Freemium business model, are leaders in the social gaming industry worldwide, especially in monetization and efficiency.
Throughout 2012, the company has achieved an increase in daily active users (DAUs), which has multiplied fourfold, and in average revenue per paying user (ARPPU), which has grown by 110%. The awards took place on the evening of 26 November in London, in a ceremony that was attended by more than 700 online gaming professionals.
Other winners that stood out on the night were companies such as 888poker.com, Winamax and Bet365, all international leaders in the egaming industry.
Vostu Launches Shaking Vegas Mobile for GREE Platform share
An Exciting, Match-3 Collapse-Style Casual Game Now Available for Facebook, IOS and Android
São Paulo, November 27, 2012 - Vostu (www.vostu.com), the largest social gaming company in Latin America, has just launched the mobile version of Shaking Vegas exclusively on GREE Platform. The game, which simulates a casino machine in Match-3 style, invites users to destroy as many blocks of three or more pieces of the same color in less than 60 seconds. In addition to the Facebook version, launched earlier this year, the game is now also available for free on Android and iOS, in Portuguese, English and Spanish versions.
Players will be riveted by the art style, animations and sounds of a typical Las Vegas casino. Casino fans will also enjoy meeting Jessy Vegas, the host that accompanies the player during the game, and Hugo the gecko, Jessy’s best friend.
“The mobile entertainment market has grown exponentially in Brazil. This trend is evident not only by the numbers of smartphone sales, but also in the way Brazilian people now look at mobile – smartphones and tablets – as a viable form of entertainment,” said Matias Recchia, CEO of Vostu. “The mobile version of Shaking Vegas is the result of the efforts of our developers and the partnership with GREE, and our desire to bring players a new exciting way to experience a casino game.”
Using GREE Platform, Shaking Vegas offers a suite of social features, including inviting friends to play, bragging about achievements, and checking weekly leaderboards. GREE Platform is a mobile games platform offering players the ability to discover, connect and compete with their friends worldwide through their favorite games.
About Vostu
Founded in 2007, Vostu is the largest social gaming company in Latin America and has among its main gaming titles MegaCity, Mini Fazenda, Café Mania, Candy Dash, Elemental and GolMania. The company recently launched Magic Valley, in which the player must rebuild an enchanted valley, and RiddlePic, application that allows user to take and share pictures and riddles. Business Insider magazine included Vostu in the list of 100 world’s most valuable startups in 2011. In October of the same year, Forbes magazine considered it as one of the Top 10 Startups in Brazil. With over 50 million registered users, Vostu has over 20 million people playing its titles every month on Facebook, Orkut and Google+.
About GREE, Inc.
GREE is focused on building the world’s leading gaming ecosystem for users and developers, while creating and supporting unique free-to-play game content. GREE is continuing to expand globally and has offices in Tokyo, San Francisco, London, Singapore, Seoul, Beijing, Amsterdam, Dubai, Sao Paolo, and Vancouver.
GREE and the GREE logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of GREE, Inc., in Japan and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
For further information contact:
Vostu
Jalil Deguer
Communication Manager
Vostu
Pretty Simple Games Announces Release of New Hidden Object Title Criminal Case share
PARIS – November 20, 2012
Paris-based social gaming company Pretty Simple Games today announced the release of Criminal Case, their brand new title on Facebook. The game features a series of enticing murder cases, breathtaking concept art-like hidden object stages and several mind-breaking mini-games, among other features, making it a one-of-a-kind must-play in the genre.
As key elements of the Grimsborough Police Department, players will get acquainted with engaging plots, scour intriguing crime scenes, question suspects ranging from mafia leaders to inconspicuous city dwellers and analyze evidence crucial to solving all cases.
This announcement follows the recent worldwide launch of Pretty Simple’s action title Magical Ride, which placed itself as the No. 1 emerging Facebook game shortly after release.
Name of the game: Criminal Case
Description:
Criminal Case is a hidden object / adventure game, in which players join the Grimsborough Police Department to solve a series of crimes throughout the city’s districts. Players will get acquainted with engaging plots, scour intriguing crime scenes, question suspects and witnesses to finally arrest the killers. The game features captivating concept art-like hidden object stages and plenty of mind-breaking mini-games
You can play our game here: http://apps.facebook.com/criminalcase/
About Pretty Simple Games
Pretty Simple Games is a top European social gaming company headquartered in Paris, France, which develops and publishes renowned free-to-play (FTP) games on Facebook, including global success My Shops and recently unveiled action game Magical Ride. Founded in 2010 with funds from European private equity leading group Idinvest Partners, Pretty Simple Games has consolidated its position as a fast-growing SME in the social gaming industry and counts approximately one million monthly active users (MAU) as of today.
Media Contacts:
corentin@prettysimplegames.com
gamesGRABR Opens For Online Registration share
Sign up to the innovative social network for gamers
London, UK – 19th November 2012 – TeePee Games, is pleased to unveil details of its latest games venture gamesGRABR (www.gamesgrabr.com), an innovative social network for gamers. gamesGRABR is a “pinboard-style” website and smartphone app specifically tailored for gaming culture, planned for launch Q1 2013, that will allow users to create, discover and manage game based collections.
Gamers will be able to create collections of their favourite games and products by GRABing games, images and videos from across the web using gamesGRABR’s unique GRABit button. The gamesGRABR smartphone application will include features such as the ability to use the camera as a barcode scanner, allowing gamers to scan boxed video-game products and upload them to their game collections on gamesGRABR, where their friends will be able to see, comment or buy the item with just one click.
gamesGRABR has been created to connect casual and hardcore gamers to everything they love about games in a social environment. Gamers will be able to follow, share, rate and play everything they GRAB and be part of the ultimate gaming community. They will also be able to browse game collections created by their friends or find and follow other gamers with similar gaming interests. GRABing provides users with access to reviews, blogs and merchandise, and will allow them to discover and play great games.
Thanks to established affiliate deals with games publishers and developers, gamesGRABR users will have instant access to thousands of games across mobile, online and Facebook from day one. Upcoming partnerships with online retailers will allow users to discover and buy console games, hardware, accessories and other gaming goods.
Tony Pearce, CEO of TeePee Games and GamesGRABR, comments; “gamesGRABR aims to connect users with the same gaming interests and make it easier to find great games and gaming stuff. There are lots of online publications that discuss gamer culture, but none have enabled gamers to share, curate and discover new games and gaming products in one place.”
gamesGRABR is due to launch in Q1 2013 and will be available online and as an Android and iOS app. TeePee Games is currently inviting gamers to sign up for gamesGRABR at http://www.gamesgrabr.com/. Those who do sign up will be entered into a draw for a chance to win an iPad mini or Wii U games console.
Connect with gamesGRABR by visiting:
Web: www.gamesgrabr.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/gamesGRABR
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gamesGRABR
For more information, please contact:
COMMERCIAL ENQUIRIES
Tony Pearce, CEO
Tel: +44 (0)7775 500847
Email: tony.pearce@teepeegames.com
MEDIA
Quoc Truong, Peppermint P
Tel: +44 (0)207 240 2645
Email: teepeegames@peppermintp.com
About GamesGRABR
GamesGRABR ‘Where your games live! The social network for gamers’
GamesGRABR is a new “pinboard-style” website and mobile app specifically tailored for gaming culture that allows users to create, discover and manage game based collections.
Create favourite game collections by GRABing games, images and videos from across the web using our unique GRABit button. Follow, share, rate and play everything you GRAB and be part of the ultimate gaming community. GamesGRABR can be located at www.gamesgrabr.com.
GamesGRABR is owned by TeePee Games Ltd, the company was founded in 2010 and is funded by private equity.
TeePeeGames and GamesGrabr logo and “where your games live, the social network for gamers” are trademarks of TeePee Games Ltd. All rights reserved
Realore Releases Hot New Deals For Black Friday! share
Join Millions of Players Around the World
WHAT: HOTTEST BLACK FRIDAY DEALS!
Roads of Rome – $.99
Roads of Rome 2- $.99
All My Gods- $.99
WHEN:November 23 – November 26
WHERE:Realore.com or iTunes (iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch)
MORE INFO:
Black Friday is here! For a limited time, Realore is offering you 3 hot titles at a discounted price. Join millions of players around the world and begin your journey in Roads of Rome, Roads of Rome 2, and All my Gods. These titles can be yours for only $.99 each.
Roads of Rome:
The mission: To expand the Roman Empire. Rise to the top and overcome challenges to prove that you are the best the Roman legion has to offer.
http://www.realore.com/games-iphone/roadsofrome/
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/roads-of-rome/id479503309
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/roads-of-rome-hd/id439834249
Roads of Rome 2:
The sequel to the hit game, Roads of Rome. Your mission is to save the life of Ceasar. Take on tricky new tasks and overcome dangerous challenges to prove your worth to the Roman Empire!
http://www.realore.com/games-iphone/roadsofrome2/
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/roads-of-rome-2/id517188169
All My Gods:
Who doesn’t want to be a powerful Roman god with divine powers that can control the lives of people around them? We sure do! Create miracles, make people worship you, and build the greatest empire ever known to man.
http://www.realore.com/games-ipad/allmygods/
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/all-my-gods-hd/id540314767
Join Us on Facebook for other exclusive offers, news, and prizes!
About Realore
Realore (http://realore.com/) is a software company that has been creating and publishing casual, social games, games for mobile phones and other platforms (flash, Mac, Pocket PC, Nintendo DS, iPhone, iPad) since 2002. The company has published more than 60 titles and won fans all over the world. Today Realore is known as a successful developer and publisher that provides a full range of services including games’ production, distribution and marketing. Its ultimate mission is to create high quality entertainment software that will bring fun and relaxation to players of all ages.
PR Contact:
pr@realore.com
GREE Hires JIM YING as new VP of Developer Relations and Publishing share
- Ying to Bring Over 10 Years Experience To the Team -
San Francisco, CA — November 20, 2012 – GREE today announces that Jim Ying has joined the San Francisco studio as their new Vice-President of Developer Relations & Business Development, effective November 5th. In his role, Mr. Ying will be responsible for overseeing the entire Developer Relations team including business development, account management, and a consulting service offered to developers joining the GREE Platform. Mr.Ying brings over 10 years of experience in gaming having worked in the console, social and mobile industries.
We’re very excited to bring Jim’s wealth of expertise and passion to the GREE team,” says Eros Resmini, SVP of Developer Relations and Marketing, GREE International, Inc. “GREE continues to develop the ways in which we partner with game makers in this rapidly changing space and Jim will be a critical leader in our global expansion.”
Mr. Ying has an extensive background in marketing, development, and publishing having worked with leading companies in the gaming market both in the US and Asia. He is well-versed in the process of building games for social and mobile platforms and has expertise in the post-launch process allowing mobile games to maximize their lifetime reach and revenue. His experience includes working on multi-million dollar developer partnerships as well as global franchise management.
“GREE and I have a shared vision – to support developers by giving them the tools and know-how to reach gamers worldwide – and I look forward to working with them to continue to build this industry, “ says Ying. “I am excited about all the potential in the mobile games market – both as a gamer and part of the industry – and helping to drive that growth and support is one of my true passions.”
GREE strives to build the world’s leading global mobile gaming ecosystem. In addition to its high-quality games, GREE Platform will deliver unique social gaming experiences, as well as offer developers access to a growing, engaged global audience.
For more information about GREE, visit www.gree-corp.com.
About GREE, Inc.
GREE is a global mobile social gaming company at the forefront of mobile technology. GREE is focused on building the world’s leading gaming ecosystem for users and developers, while creating and supporting unique free-to-play game content. GREE is continuing to expand globally and has offices in Tokyo, San Francisco, London, Singapore, Seoul, Beijing, Amsterdam, Dubai, Sao Paolo, and Vancouver.
GREE and the GREE logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of GREE, Inc., in Japan and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
For more information, please contact:
Tali Fischer
Director, Communications and Events
GREE International, Inc.
King.com’s Top 10 Facebook Game Candy Crush Saga Now Available on Mobile share
The mobile game allows players to experience the excitement of Candy Crush Saga whenever and wherever they wish, with synchronized progress across devices.
San Francisco, CA & London, UK – November 15, 2012 – Leading casual social games company King.com today announced the launch of its most popular Facebook.com game, Candy Crush Saga, for all iOS devices – iPhone, iPad, iPad Mini and iPod Touch. The match-3 game’s over 5 million daily players and the hundreds of millions of Apple mobile device users will now be able to play the game anywhere, anytime – ensuring their leaderboards, scores, progress and virtual goods are fully synchronized regardless of where they play. Candy Crush Saga follows King.com’s highly successful launch of its popular Bubble Witch Saga game on mobile earlier this year.
“There were over 100 million mobile gameplays within only a few days of launching Bubble Witch Saga on iOS. And, we have been experiencing two times the engagement from players on both Facebook and iOS since its launch,” said Riccardo Zacconi, CEO and co-founder of King.com. “Candy Crush Saga becomes the second Facebook game to launch on mobile with fully synced capabilities to allow players to access their game when and where it’s most convenient for them without losing their progress and virtual goods.”
Candy Crush Saga’s iOS features include:
• Fully synced with Facebook: players can continue their progress, unlock new levels and access virtual goods in both the Facebook and mobile versions
• Ability to unlock delicious charms and boosters to sweeten player’s journey through the Saga
• 125 exciting levels and several modes for players to test their skills against time, limited moves, collecting objects and removing jellies
• Sharp, vivid retina display visuals
• Connect to Game Center to unlock achievements and challenge friends
• Built-in online connectivity to see friends who are also playing
The Android version is expected to launch early next year along with additional mobile versions from the company’s popular Saga series. Candy Crush Saga for iOS is free to play and available now. To play, please visit (https://itunes.apple.com/app/candy-crush-saga/id553834731).
About King.com:
King.com is a worldwide leader in casual social games with over 40 million monthly players and more than 3 billion games played per month globally. King.com offers over 150 exclusive games in 12 languages through its premier destination, King.com (www.king.com), mobile devices, Google+, and Facebook, where it is a top 10 Facebook developer. The company is the exclusive provider of online games for leading global portals, websites and media companies. King.com has offices in London, Stockholm, Barcelona, Bucharest, Hamburg, Malta and San Francisco. For more information, please visit http://about.king.com.
Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.
Media Contacts:
For King.com:
Paul Brady
Consort Partners
Tel: +1 646 491 2777
King.com advances social games advertising to the next level with innovative suite of ad solutions share
The company’s high-impact, high-engagement campaigns, attract the likes of such major brands as T-Mobile and Samsung
San Francisco, CA & London, UK – November 15, 2012 – King.com, the world’s leading casual social games company, today announced that its advertising revenue from its social games has increased tenfold in 2012 and that its top advertising solutions, such as incentivized video, have averaged a click-through rate of more than 5 percent. Leveraging the rapid rise of the company in the last year to become the second largest games developer on Facebook – with over 12 million daily active players – King.com’s growth in advertising revenue has been driven by its ability to craft solutions that are less intrusive and enhance player experience, leading to higher-than-industry-average user engagement and positive brand perception.
On the strength of such hit casual social games as Bubble Witch Saga and Candy Crush Saga, King.com has established itself as a gaming destination of choice for women aged 25-55 – a key demographic for advertisers who recognize these players are often the household decision-makers. King.com is seeing the results, having successfully run campaigns over the last few months for major brands such as T-Mobile, Samsung, Procter & Gamble, Macy’s and Nestle, with more coming on board on a daily basis. King.com’s overall advertising revenue now accounts for nearly 15 percent of the company’s total revenues.
“We have continued to appeal to our highly dedicated female user base in large part because they turn to King.com games for fun, relaxation and to indulge in a bit of ‘me’ time,” said Mark Charkin, executive vice president of business development and advertising for King.com. “But that success is rooted in the seamless way the ads are worked into a game, building on more than 3 billion game plays per month.”
Advertising solutions such as King.com’s incentivized video ad unit, where a user opts into watching a 15-30-second video ad in exchange for an additional life in the game, averages a click-through rate of more than 5 percent and a video completion rate of 85 percent. Other advertising opportunities such as King.com’s “Brand as a Friend” solution allows advertisers to include themselves as an in-game “friend” to players, helping users unlock new content to advance in the game. Not only does this significantly enhance the player’s gameplay experience, but it firmly drives positive brand sentiment for the advertiser.
In response to the growing advertiser demand for the company’s ad solutions, King.com has named Charity Sabater as its senior director of ad sales. With a focus on brand sales solutions in the U.S., Sabater is leading King.com’s East Coast expansion and will operate out of New York City. Sabater, a seasoned ad professional, has extensive experience in driving creative ad solutions across all media platforms and verticals including TV, web, mobile, games and second-screen interactivity. Prior to joining King.com, Sabater was the VP of East Coast sales for Gaia Online and the national digital sales manager for Telemundo, an NBC Universal network property.
