8 posts and columns on Digital Chocolate

News Byte

Digital Chocolate Continues Games Consolidation With Acquisition of Sandlot

in Commerce on August 15, 2011 at 4:37 pm PT

San Mateo, Calif.-based Digital Chocolate has agreed to acquire Sandlot Games, known for developing titles such as Cake Mania, Super Granny, Tradewinds and Westward, across online, PC, mobile phones and consoles. Sandlot Games, which is based in Bothell, Wash., outside of Seattle, is the fourth recent acquisition in the area, following PopCap by EA, Sucker Punch by Sony’s PlayStation and Griptonite Games by Glu Mobile. Sandlot’s Founder and CEO Dan Bernstein will become VP of Digital Chocolate and manage its studios in and manage its studios in St. Petersburg, Russia, and in Bothell. Terms were not disclosed.

Mobile Games Generate More Revenue if Given Away for Free

in Commerce on July 7, 2011 at 11:27 am PT

Freemium is one of those made-up terms that might be here to stay.
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Game Companies Deploy Facebook Credits at the Final Hour

in Commerce on July 1, 2011 at 4:45 am PT

Starting today, Facebook is requiring all social game developers on its network to process payments through Facebook Credits — and consequently share 30 percent of the revenues with Facebook. Despite some early complaining and a few slackers that were rushing to get in compliance this week, the deadline appears to be passing without much of a fuss.
monopoly_supertax

Digital Chocolate Dips Into Investors' Pockets, Raises $12 Million for Social Games

in Commerce on February 22, 2011 at 3:33 pm PT

Mobile-game turned social-games developer Digital Chocolate, led by Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins, has raised $12 million in additional venture capital.

WildTangent Not Playing Around When It Comes to Advertising in Social Games (Video)

in Commerce on February 9, 2011 at 12:02 pm PT

WildTangent believes it has found the winning formula for advertising in social games, and surprise, surprise, it goes against what others are already doing in the space, like social gaming leader Zynga.

Facebook Credits Will Be Mandatory Payment Platform Starting July 1

in Commerce on January 24, 2011 at 1:27 pm PT

Facebook has officially announced today that starting July 1 it will require all social-game developers on Facebook to process payments through Facebook Credits –and consequently share 30 percent of the revenues with them.

News Byte

Call the Consigliere: Digital Chocolate Sues Zynga Over Mafia Wars Name

in News on August 25, 2010 at 1:33 pm PT

One of the hits that has propelled Zynga to the top of the social-gaming heap is Mafia Wars, which gives users the chance to participate in the warm embrace of an extended crime family. But before there was Mafia Wars, there was, well, Mafia Wars, a similar game made by Digital Chocolate. Now DC is suing Zynga, alleging trademark infringement. Zynga–which in 2009 paid several million dollars to settle a lawsuit with David Maestri, creator of the game Mob Wars–pronounced itself “surprised and disappointed” at the suit and said it planned a vigorous defense.

Web 2.0 Summit: Gaming

in News on October 18, 2007 at 2:38 pm PT

Trip Hawkins, Founder & CEO of Digital Chocolate, and Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision, take the stage to discuss “core gaming” with Webb Alert host Morgan Webb. A bit slow getting started here, but Hawkins soon gets things moving by claiming traditional content is dead. We’re headed toward a world of immersive, social content, says [...]