Welp, it looks like the rumors were true; social game maker Playdom has been bought by Disney. The news first came across our desk via a tweet from Playdom programmer David Carlton, and has since been confirmed by other Playdom employees and a Business Wire announcement.
Disney will reportedly pay $563.2 million for the company behind games like Wild Ones, Sorority Life and Social City, with an extra $200 million coming if the company meets performance goals. "We see strong growth potential in bringing together Playdom's talented team and capabilities with our great creative properties, people and world-renowned brands like Disney, ABC, ESPN and Marvel," Disney President and CEO Robert Iger said in the statement.
More on this huge acquisition as we get it.
Update: See the CNBC report below on Disney's purchase of Playdom.
Earn Money online -Paid since 2008
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Opinion: What does Disney buying Playdom mean?
I just read 15 tweets that told the world that Disney bought Playdom. Ok - I get it! But, what does it all mean? As an games industry veteran and social media maven, I'll take a stab at what's coming next:
1. The Facebook gaming phenomenon is about to get even hotter.
Big companies (Viacom, Sony, Activision) are going to look to make their presence felt or feel like they are being left behind. No one wants the music to stop and be left without a seat to the dance. Or worse, stretch and make a purchase like AOL did with Bebo. More money will be poured in and CEOs of companies will be asked by their boards "We pay you big bucks to know what's going on? Where is your FarmVille?"
2. Look for the next acquisition to be CrowdStar.
Not because it's the next largest games company but because they have the best quality games with the highest engagement. CrowdStar has the best relationship with Facebook of the remaining game developers. They have been the guinea pig for Facebook credits, have not been spending wildly on acquisitions and continue to just make good, solid Facebook games. (See Happy Aquarium and Happy Pets) While I haven't heard any rumors they are available, it stands to reason that they are going to get offered huge money and may not be able to resist the buy out.
3. Big branded Intellectual Properties (IP) will make their way on to Facebook.
Big brands on Facebook has been a trend predicted by Kristian Segerstråle of Playfish in March at GDC and John Pleasants of Playdom just last week at Casual Connect. Disney with it's stable of classic characters from Mickey Mouse to Hannah Montana or Jack Sparrow on through Wolverine will be able to unleash a parade of branded games if they so chose. Think about it, would you play a superhero game that is like Mobsters by Playdom but set in the Marvel Universe? I can already hear comic book nerds drooling in anticipation.
4. Facebook will have to acknowledge that it is a gaming platform at some level.
Facebook lucked into the gaming just like the iPhone. They had no idea gaming would be within the top two or three things people do on Facebook. Since the app platform opened up in 2007 Facebook has made concerted efforts to deal with the gaming explosion. Most of the changes negatively affected game developers. Finally it may be time for Facebook to learn to stop worrying and embrace the gaming bomb. Gaming is a an integral part of Facebook and the viral channels Facebook provides are integral to game developers, the relationship is going to have to be repaired for both to move forward. If Facebook turns its back on the game developers, the developers will find new avenues of distribution. (As many companies are betting on see Hi5 and Oberon) Without the games, one could argue, Facebook would not be half the size it is today and certainly would not have the revenue.
1. The Facebook gaming phenomenon is about to get even hotter.
Big companies (Viacom, Sony, Activision) are going to look to make their presence felt or feel like they are being left behind. No one wants the music to stop and be left without a seat to the dance. Or worse, stretch and make a purchase like AOL did with Bebo. More money will be poured in and CEOs of companies will be asked by their boards "We pay you big bucks to know what's going on? Where is your FarmVille?"
2. Look for the next acquisition to be CrowdStar.
Not because it's the next largest games company but because they have the best quality games with the highest engagement. CrowdStar has the best relationship with Facebook of the remaining game developers. They have been the guinea pig for Facebook credits, have not been spending wildly on acquisitions and continue to just make good, solid Facebook games. (See Happy Aquarium and Happy Pets) While I haven't heard any rumors they are available, it stands to reason that they are going to get offered huge money and may not be able to resist the buy out.
3. Big branded Intellectual Properties (IP) will make their way on to Facebook.
Big brands on Facebook has been a trend predicted by Kristian Segerstråle of Playfish in March at GDC and John Pleasants of Playdom just last week at Casual Connect. Disney with it's stable of classic characters from Mickey Mouse to Hannah Montana or Jack Sparrow on through Wolverine will be able to unleash a parade of branded games if they so chose. Think about it, would you play a superhero game that is like Mobsters by Playdom but set in the Marvel Universe? I can already hear comic book nerds drooling in anticipation.
4. Facebook will have to acknowledge that it is a gaming platform at some level.
Facebook lucked into the gaming just like the iPhone. They had no idea gaming would be within the top two or three things people do on Facebook. Since the app platform opened up in 2007 Facebook has made concerted efforts to deal with the gaming explosion. Most of the changes negatively affected game developers. Finally it may be time for Facebook to learn to stop worrying and embrace the gaming bomb. Gaming is a an integral part of Facebook and the viral channels Facebook provides are integral to game developers, the relationship is going to have to be repaired for both to move forward. If Facebook turns its back on the game developers, the developers will find new avenues of distribution. (As many companies are betting on see Hi5 and Oberon) Without the games, one could argue, Facebook would not be half the size it is today and certainly would not have the revenue.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Madden 11 Football finally arrives on Facebook as Madden NFL Superstars
The inevitable has happened, Madden 11 football has come to Facebook as Madden NFL Superstars. From the moment Electronic Arts, the owner and publisher of the Madden Football series, purchased Playfish, creators of hugely popular Facebook games Pet Society and My Empire, we wondered if Madden Footbal arrive on Facebook anytime soon. That day has come.
Gallery: Madden NFL Superstars
Gallery: Madden NFL Superstars
Happy Aquarium: Flight to Cloud 9 and two new Wizard of Oz tankmates
Rounding out the cast of last week's Happy Aquarium set, two new animated Wizard of Oz characters have arrived -- Toto ("Sticks his tongue out when you tap the glass") in scuba gear, and the blue Flying Monkey ("Smiles big when you tap the glass") of the Wicked Witch of the West.
Toto is being sold at a pricey 76 Pearls or 63 Facebook Credits ($6.30 USD), while the monkey is going for 47 Pearls or 39 FB Credits ($3.90 USD). Both are Limited Edition items.
Happy Aquarium Cloud 9 items
Toto is being sold at a pricey 76 Pearls or 63 Facebook Credits ($6.30 USD), while the monkey is going for 47 Pearls or 39 FB Credits ($3.90 USD). Both are Limited Edition items.
Happy Aquarium Cloud 9 items
Madden NFL Superstars Getting Started Guide [Video]
Madden NFL Superstars is hours old and the The Games.com Blog already has the first video footage! Check out the opening moments of the latest and greatest - Madden on Facebook!
--- > Click here to play Madden NFL Superstars
--- > Click here to play Madden NFL Superstars
FishVille takes tanks deep into the Phosphorus Forest
FishVille Phosphorus items
FishVille's newest theme came out just before the weekend. Right now, it's a small release comprised of six items, but they're richly detailed and give off a spectacular effect when used together. That magical nighttime glow is a beautiful sight.
The only thing that'd improve the view is if Zynga hired itself a spellchecker, because "Phosphorus" has been misspelled as "Phosphorous" throughout the game. Only two of the items in the store got it right.
FishVille Phosphorus Forest
Anyway, the six items are: Luminous Reeds (7 Sand Dollars), Plasma Orb (250,000 Coins), Treehouse (14 SD), Phosphorus Jungle Wallpaper (10 SD), Phosphorus Gravel (5 SD), and the Limited Edition Chimaera (18 SD) which will only be available for the next 6 days.
FishVille action shot of Phosphorus Forest items
Above is an action shot of three decor pieces and one fish used together -- Chimaera, Luminous Reed, and the two tank papers. It almost looks like someone's work of art, doesn't it?
FishVille's newest theme came out just before the weekend. Right now, it's a small release comprised of six items, but they're richly detailed and give off a spectacular effect when used together. That magical nighttime glow is a beautiful sight.
The only thing that'd improve the view is if Zynga hired itself a spellchecker, because "Phosphorus" has been misspelled as "Phosphorous" throughout the game. Only two of the items in the store got it right.
FishVille Phosphorus Forest
Anyway, the six items are: Luminous Reeds (7 Sand Dollars), Plasma Orb (250,000 Coins), Treehouse (14 SD), Phosphorus Jungle Wallpaper (10 SD), Phosphorus Gravel (5 SD), and the Limited Edition Chimaera (18 SD) which will only be available for the next 6 days.
FishVille action shot of Phosphorus Forest items
Above is an action shot of three decor pieces and one fish used together -- Chimaera, Luminous Reed, and the two tank papers. It almost looks like someone's work of art, doesn't it?
Yee-haw! FarmVille releases more Wild West limited edition items
FarmVille brings more of the Wild West to the farm with a slew of new limited edition items. The following are now available in the in-game Market:
Animal
Cottontail Rabbit
Buildings
Wild West Home
Wild West Hotel
Decorations
Ironwood Tree
Stagecoach
Wagon Wheel Bench
Red Tailed Hawk
farmville wild west hawk
What do you think of the new Wild West items? Which ones are you planning to buy?
Animal
Cottontail Rabbit
Buildings
Wild West Home
Wild West Hotel
Decorations
Ironwood Tree
Stagecoach
Wagon Wheel Bench
Red Tailed Hawk
farmville wild west hawk
What do you think of the new Wild West items? Which ones are you planning to buy?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)