Big Fish Games
Encyclopedia
Big Fish Games is a provider of Internet
media
delivery software and game services based in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded in 2002 by Paul Thelen , and currently employs more than 400 people. Most of Big Fish Games' titles can be played for free in trial form, with the full version available for a fee.
Big Fish Games has several lines of business including distribution of downloadable casual games, free online browser games, game development
and game licensing, and most recently a social networking site for casual game players to share opinions and information about games.
executive Paul Thelen
in 2002 with $10,000. Thelen was the Group Product Manager that launched the RealArcade games service for RealNetworks
. In 2009, the company announced the opening of their new European headquarters in Cork, Ireland.
Games developed by Big Fish Studios include:
Just over 20 of Big Fish Games community games were ported to Big Sea Games, a sister site that was free to play with no advertising. It was announced that Big Sea Games would be closed on 1 September 2010 after just over a year. http://forums.bigseagames.com/posts/list/5675.page
Big Fish Games also operated the highly popular on-line game Faunasphere, accessible both from its own site and through Facebook. It was announced on 15th February 2011 that the Faunasphere would be shutting down on 15th March, due to high operating costs.
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
delivery software and game services based in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded in 2002 by Paul Thelen , and currently employs more than 400 people. Most of Big Fish Games' titles can be played for free in trial form, with the full version available for a fee.
Big Fish Games has several lines of business including distribution of downloadable casual games, free online browser games, game development
Game development
Game development is the software development process by which a video game is developed. Development is undertaken by a game developer, which may range from a single person to a large business. Mainstream games are normally funded by a publisher and take several years to develop. Indie games can...
and game licensing, and most recently a social networking site for casual game players to share opinions and information about games.
History
Big Fish Games was founded by ex-RealNetworksRealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. is a provider of Internet media delivery software and services based in Downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The company is the creator of RealAudio, a compressed audio format; RealVideo, a compressed video format; RealPlayer, a media player; RealDownloader, a download...
executive Paul Thelen
Paul Thelen
Paul Thelen is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer of Big Fish Games. He has an MBA from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington. Thelen has more than 20 years experience working in technology...
in 2002 with $10,000. Thelen was the Group Product Manager that launched the RealArcade games service for RealNetworks
RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. is a provider of Internet media delivery software and services based in Downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The company is the creator of RealAudio, a compressed audio format; RealVideo, a compressed video format; RealPlayer, a media player; RealDownloader, a download...
. In 2009, the company announced the opening of their new European headquarters in Cork, Ireland.
Big Fish Studios
Big Fish Studios is the internal development studio that publishes original titles every year through Big Fish Games. Many of these games are developed using its own proprietary game engine that supports both DirectX and OpenGL..Games developed by Big Fish Studios include:
- Mystery Case Files: HuntsvilleMystery Case Files: HuntsvilleMystery Case Files: Huntsville is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games. It is the first installment in the Mystery Case Files series. The game is available exclusively at Big Fish Games website. The Mystery Case Files franchise has sold...
(November 14, 2005) - Mystery Case Files: Prime SuspectsMystery Case Files: Prime SuspectsMystery Case Files: Prime Suspects is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games. It is the second installment in the Mystery Case Files series. The game is available exclusively at Big Fish Games website...
(April 6, 2006) - Mystic InnMystic InnMystic Inn is a casual game developed by the team formerly known as Funpause, now part of Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games.- Story :...
(April 12, 2006) - Hidden Expedition: TitanicHidden Expedition: TitanicHidden Expedition: Titanic is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games. It is the first installment in the Hidden Expedition series .- Story :...
(July 21, 2006) - Mystery Case Files: RavenhearstMystery Case Files: RavenhearstMystery Case Files: Ravenhearst is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games. It is the third installment in the Mystery Case Files series. The game is available exclusively at Big Fish Games website...
(December 14, 2006) - Hidden Expedition: EverestHidden Expedition: EverestHidden Expedition: Everest is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games. It is the second installment in the Hidden Expedition series .- Story :...
(June 1, 2007) - Mystery Case Files: Madame FateMystery Case Files: Madame FateMystery Case Files: Madame Fate is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games. It is the fourth installment in the Mystery Case Files series. The game is available exclusively at Big Fish Games website...
(November 6, 2007) - Mystery in LondonMystery in LondonMystery in London: On the Trail of Jack the Ripper is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games...
(December 14, 2007) - Mystery Case Files: Return to RavenhearstMystery Case Files: Return to RavenhearstMystery Case Files: Return To Ravenhearst is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games. It is the fifth installment in the Mystery Case Files series. The game is available exclusively at Big Fish Games website...
(November 27, 2008) - Hidden Expedition: AmazonHidden Expedition: AmazonHidden Expedition: Amazon is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games. It is the third installment in the Hidden Expedition series.- Story :...
(June 20, 2008) - Drawn: The Painted TowerDrawn: The Painted TowerDrawn: The Painted Tower is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games. It is the first installment in the Drawn series. The game was at first available exclusively at Big Fish Games' website, but is now also available on Steam .- Story :Drawn:...
(September 5, 2009) - Hidden Expedition: Devil's Triangle (October 24, 2009)
- Mystery Case Files: Dire GroveMystery Case Files: Dire GroveMystery Case Files: Dire Grove is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games. It is the sixth installment in the Mystery Case Files series. The game is available exclusively at Big Fish Games website...
(November 25, 2009) - Life Quest (April 29, 2010)
- Drawn: Dark FlightDrawn: Dark FlightDrawn: Dark Flight is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games. It is the second installment in the Drawn series.- Story :...
(August 31, 2010) - Mystery Case Files: 13th SkullMystery Case Files: 13th SkullMystery Case Files: 13th Skull is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios and distributed by Big Fish Games. It is the seventh installment in the Mystery Case Files series...
(November 25, 2010) - Mystery Case Files: The Malgrave IncidentMystery Case Files: The Malgrave IncidentMystery Case Files: The Malgrave Incident is an puzzle adventure video game developed by Big Fish Games together with Sanzaru Games and published by Nintendo, for the Wii video game console. It was first released in North America on June 27, 2011. It will released in Europe on September 9, 2011...
(June 29, 2011) - Mystery Case Files: Escape from Ravenhearst (November 24, 2011)
Digital distribution
Big Fish Games distributes over 2500 casual downloadable games for over 500 developers. According to Big Fish Games, the company serves over 1,500,000 downloads per day. The service offers downloadable casual games with a try-before-you-buy model where consumers can play games for free for 60 minutes, then have the option to purchase that game to keep playing.Online games
Big Fish Games used to distribute online web browser games that were free to play and advertising supported. There were over 80 games to play. The games all included chat and players earned tokens that could be used to enter lotteries to win cash prizes and free games.Just over 20 of Big Fish Games community games were ported to Big Sea Games, a sister site that was free to play with no advertising. It was announced that Big Sea Games would be closed on 1 September 2010 after just over a year. http://forums.bigseagames.com/posts/list/5675.page
Big Fish Games also operated the highly popular on-line game Faunasphere, accessible both from its own site and through Facebook. It was announced on 15th February 2011 that the Faunasphere would be shutting down on 15th March, due to high operating costs.