Playfish
Encyclopedia
Playfish, currently a property of Electronic Arts
, is a developer of free-to-play social network game
s. Playfish was founded in 2007 by Kristian Segerstråle, Sebastien de Halleux, Sami Lababidi and Shukri Shammas. In October 2008, they secured USD$
17 million in venture capital
funding from Accel Partners
and Index Ventures
.
Who has the Biggest Brain? was the company's first hit. It was one of the first Facebook
games to attract millions of daily players, and allowed the company to raise funding necessary to produce other hits.
The company makes money by selling virtual goods inside its games.
On Monday, November 9, 2009, Electronic Arts
announced their acquisition of Playfish for USD$400 million.
The acquisition was initially for $275 million cash and $25 million in equity—with a further $100 million in performance-based bonuses available if the company hits targets set by EA executives.
Playfish games currently attract roughly 55 million users a month, with over 37 million users solely coming from Facebook members.
, mobile phone and offers
At Tuesday, April 19, 2011, Playfish announced that Playfish Cash of all games (except Crazy Planets in that time) changed to individual cash and users can trade for the new cash.
Playfish new currency
Pet Society
In Pet Society
, players own virtual pets in a "neighborhood." Players can dress up their pets, decorate their homes, go fishing, cook dishes, and dig for treasures. Gaining "paw points" allows players to eventually level up to Level 100.
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
, is a developer of free-to-play social network game
Social network game
A social network game is a type of online game that is played through social networks, and typically features multiplayer and asynchronous gameplay mechanics. Social network games are most often implemented as browser games, but can also be implemented on other platforms such as mobile devices...
s. Playfish was founded in 2007 by Kristian Segerstråle, Sebastien de Halleux, Sami Lababidi and Shukri Shammas. In October 2008, they secured USD$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
17 million in venture capital
Venture capital
Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...
funding from Accel Partners
Accel Partners
Accel Partners is a global venture and growth equity firm funding companies from inception through the growth stage.The firm is based in Palo Alto, California with major offices in Bangalore, Beijing, London, and Shanghai....
and Index Ventures
Index Ventures
Index Ventures is a venture capital investment firm based in Geneva, Switzerland, with offices in London, Jersey, and starting in 2011, Silcon Valley. The firm was founded in 1996 by Neil Rimer and Giuseppe Zocco. Since its inception, the firm has raised four main venture funds and a growth...
.
Who has the Biggest Brain? was the company's first hit. It was one of the first Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
games to attract millions of daily players, and allowed the company to raise funding necessary to produce other hits.
The company makes money by selling virtual goods inside its games.
On Monday, November 9, 2009, Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
announced their acquisition of Playfish for USD$400 million.
The acquisition was initially for $275 million cash and $25 million in equity—with a further $100 million in performance-based bonuses available if the company hits targets set by EA executives.
Playfish games currently attract roughly 55 million users a month, with over 37 million users solely coming from Facebook members.
Playfish Cash
Players are eligible to buy "Playfish Cards" at Walmart, Walgreens, and Toys 'R' Us stores. Once redeemed on the Playfish website, players earn "Playfish Cash" (PFC) to spend on virtual goods in games.It is the cash that shared across the Playfish games, the cash available from credit card, PayPalPayPal
PayPal is an American-based global e-commerce business allowing payments and money transfers to be made through the Internet. Online money transfers serve as electronic alternatives to paying with traditional paper methods, such as checks and money orders....
, mobile phone and offers
At Tuesday, April 19, 2011, Playfish announced that Playfish Cash of all games (except Crazy Planets in that time) changed to individual cash and users can trade for the new cash.
Playfish new currency
| Games | New currency |
|---|---|
| Pet Society Pet Society Pet Society is an internet social game developed by Playfish. The game, which is launched within Facebook, has been ranked as one of the most popular Facebook applications... |
Pet Society Cash |
| Restaurant City | Cooking Cash |
| EA Sports FIFA Superstars EA SPORTS FIFA Superstars EA Sports FIFA Superstars is a football managing game developed by Playfish and Electronic Arts. It is available for play via Facebook, its mobile application is available viaApple iOS. In the game, the users take on the role of a football manager, managing their own teams... |
Superstars Cash |
| Madden NFL Superstars | Football Cash |
| Country Story | Country Cash |
Playfish's Blog
Although each individual game has its own blog, the Playfish company has an overall one, "Life at Playfish." Major updates and contests are usually posted there.Pet SocietyPet SocietyPet Society is an internet social game developed by Playfish. The game, which is launched within Facebook, has been ranked as one of the most popular Facebook applications...
In Pet SocietyPet Society
Pet Society is an internet social game developed by Playfish. The game, which is launched within Facebook, has been ranked as one of the most popular Facebook applications...
, players own virtual pets in a "neighborhood." Players can dress up their pets, decorate their homes, go fishing, cook dishes, and dig for treasures. Gaining "paw points" allows players to eventually level up to Level 100.
Madden Superstars
A spin off of the popular console video game, players create a team out of current NFL players and compete in 3 different types of games: league games against computer generated teams, scrimmage games against friends, and real NFL teams. All the teams are made up of real players. As players progress they collect coins to purchase upgrades to their stadiums, collect fans, hire NFL coaches, Game Changer plays, and tiered rating level card packs of NFL players to add to their rosters.Current Games
- Pet SocietyPet SocietyPet Society is an internet social game developed by Playfish. The game, which is launched within Facebook, has been ranked as one of the most popular Facebook applications...
(released on August 8, 2008., retiring February, 2012.) - Restaurant City (released on April 28, 2009.,retiring February, 2012.)
- EA Sports FIFA SuperstarsEA SPORTS FIFA SuperstarsEA Sports FIFA Superstars is a football managing game developed by Playfish and Electronic Arts. It is available for play via Facebook, its mobile application is available viaApple iOS. In the game, the users take on the role of a football manager, managing their own teams...
(released on June 10, 2010.) - Madden NFL Superstars (released on August 31, 2010.)
- Monopoly Millionaires (released on January 31, 2011.)
- World Series Superstars (released on March 30, 2011.)
- The Sims SocialThe Sims SocialThe Sims Social is a Facebook addition to the Sims series of videogames. It was announced during EA's 2011 E3 press conference. As with the original Sims games, this addition lets users create their own customizable characters. In this version, though, players use their characters to interact...
(released on August 09, 2011., retiring June, 2012.) - NHL Superstars (released on October 05, 2011.)
- RISK: FactionsRisk: FactionsRisk: Factions is a downloadable video game for Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade service, PlayStation 3's PlayStation Network, and Windows computers through Steam. The game was announced on January 12, 2010 for Xbox 360, December 21, 2010 for PlayStation 3, and March 8, 2011 for Windows...
(currently in closed beta testing, expected release date: Autumn, 2011)
Retired Games
- Who Has The Biggest Brain? (released on December 18, 2007., retired on 30 September, 2011.)
- Word Challenge (released on May 1, 2008., retired on 30 September, 2011.)
- Bowling Buddies (released on May 8, 2008., retired on 30 September, 2011.)
- Geo Challenge (released on September 22, 2008., retired on 30 September, 2011.)
- Minigolf Party (released on January 27, 2009., retired on January 27, 2010.)
- Crazy PlanetsCrazy Planets-Business model:Crazy Planets uses a micropayments model, in which players can purchase Playfish Cash to buy virtual goods in the game.-Gameplay:...
(released on July 1, 2009., retired on 30 September, 2011.) - Country Story (released on July 29, 2009., retired on December 1, 2011.)
- Quiztastic! (released on August 14, 2009., retired on March 04, 2010.)
- Poker Rivals (released on December 7, 2009., retired on June 07, 2011.)
- Gangster City (released on January 26, 2010., retired on June 07, 2011.)
- Hotel City (released on March 26, 2010., retired on 30 September, 2011.)
- My EmpireMy EmpireMy Empire is a city building game with an ancient Greco-Roman theme. The game is developed and published by Playfish and was released via Facebook in May 2010. In 2011 My Empire became the inaugural winner of the Social Network Game category at the 2011 BAFTA Video Game Awards...
(released on June 1, 2010., retired on 30 September, 2011.) - Pirates Ahoy! (released on August 10, 2010., retired on June 07, 2011.)