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Playdom Continues Acquisitions Spree With Acclaim Buy
by Leigh Alexander [PC, Console/PC]
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May 19, 2010
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Social game developer Playdom has made yet another buy, continuing a recent string of acquisitions with the purchase of Acclaim Games.
Acclaim, developer and publisher of casual, downloadable, social and online titles including the Korea-transplanted MMOs Bots and 2Moons, has been in business since 2006, but likely attracted Playdom's attention with the success of Facebook guitar game RockFree, which it says now has more than 15 million registered users since its March 2010 launch.
Playdom also gains a foothold in Los Angeles in the studio acquisition, and says it's looking forward to accessing the region's development talent pool -- making it likely that the company is set to continue growing. The companies did not disclose the amount the company paid in the acquisition
Playdom, known for Facebook titles Mobsters and Sorority Life, has been making acquisitions since it picked up $43 million in a Series A round of funding last November. It's purchased or invested in purchased and invested in at least six studios: Merscom (The Crazies), Trippert Labs (Fighter Jets), Offbeat Creations (Super Farkle), Three Melons (Bola!), Green Patch (Lil Green Patch)and Argentinian firm MetroGames (Music Challenge).
Acclaim is currently working on a new Facbook game that will launch this summer, and the company's CEO, Howard Marks, commented that "Joining forces with Playdom is a natural fit."
Marks will continue to run the studio and serve in a senior strategic role for Playdom, while colleague Neil Malhotra will transition from Acclaim CTO to senior technical officer for the studio.
"Bringing Howard and Neil into Playdom strengthens our leadership and bolsters our position as an innovative games developer for the future," says Playdom CEO John Pleasants. "Howard and Neil have worked together building and operating games for many years, and their pipeline of new games is strong."
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The more common social games will then be used as traffic feeder for these more niche/complex games. I made a quick presentation about social gaming, optimization of virality and niche games here:
http://www.slideshare.net/sriramkri/social-gaming-insights-and-findings-abridged
-4139042
Would certainly welcome your comments and feedback! :)
/sk