Big Fish Games Explained

Big Fish Games, Inc.
Type:Subsidiary
Location:Seattle, Washington, United States
Industry:Video games
Num Employees:350 (2020)
Parent:Aristocrat Leisure

Big Fish Games is a casual game company based in Seattle, with a regional office in Oakland, California, owned by Aristocrat Leisure. It is a developer and distributor of casual games for computers and mobile devices.

In 2016, the company was accused of knowingly deceiving customers into signing up for monthly purchases without informed consent.[1] It was also the subject of a class action lawsuit over its app Big Fish Casino, resulting in a settlement of $155 million after a federal appeals court ruled that it constituted illegal online gambling.[2] [3]

History

The company was founded in 2002.[4] In 2009, it announced the opening of its European headquarters in Cork, Ireland.[5]

In July 2010, the company passed one billion game downloads from its online portal.[6]

In August 2013, the company announced the closing of its cloud-based games service, Vancouver studio and Cork offices.[7]

In 2014, the company was acquired by Churchill Downs Inc. in a deal valued at up to $885 million.[8] [9]

In 2018, Churchill Downs sold Big Fish to Australian gambling machine manufacturer Aristocrat Leisure for $990 million.[10]

In September 2018, Big Fish cut 15% of its workforce,[11] and in September 2020, it cut nearly 50% of its workforce.[12]

Big Fish Studios

Big Fish Games has a number of studios split between the Seattle office and Oakland office that develop games: Self Aware Games, Triton Studios, Epic Ventures and ARC Studios.

Games developed by the various Big Fish studios include:

Dark Flight, The Painted Tower, Trail of Shadows

Online games

The company entered browser gaming with its acquisition of the game website Ion Thunder in 2007; the service was re-branded as Atlantis following the acquisition. The service, which was later revamped as Big Sea Games in 2009, was shut down in 2010 as part of the company's shift from traditional online games to social games on Facebook and mobile apps.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Duryee. Tricia. August 6, 2014. Lawsuit accuses Big Fish of baiting customers into signing up for 'free' game memberships that really aren't. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160909064728/https://www.geekwire.com/2014/big-fish-games-accused-lawsuit-charging-customers-monthly-fee-free-memberships/. September 9, 2016. GeekWire.
  2. Web site: Soper. Taylor. August 31, 2020. Judge approves $155M class action settlement related to Big Fish Games and online gambling lawsuit. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201103053440/https://www.geekwire.com/2020/big-fish-games-pay-155m-tweak-games-part-class-action-settlement-gambling/. November 3, 2020. December 18, 2020. GeekWire.
  3. Web site: Makuch. Eddie. September 1, 2020. 250 Jobs Lost At Big Fish Games As Company Reaches $155 Million Settlement. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200926110511/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/250-jobs-lost-at-big-fish-games-as-company-reaches/1100-6481724/. September 26, 2020. December 18, 2020. GameSpot.
  4. Web site: About Big Fish. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200409082032/https://www.bigfishgames.com/company/about-us.html. April 9, 2020. June 2, 2019. Big Fish Games.
  5. Web site: Cook . John . April 9, 2009 . Big Fish picks Ireland for European expansion . 2024-04-25 . www.bizjournals.com.
  6. Web site: Martin. Matt. July 20, 2010. Big Fish passes one billion game downloads. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201218181847/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/big-fish-passes-one-billion-game-downloads. December 18, 2020. December 18, 2020. GamesIndustry.biz.
  7. Web site: Cook. John. August 21, 2013. Full memo: Big Fish CEO announces job cuts, cancellation of cloud games business and closure of Ireland and BC facilities. GeekWire. live. June 18, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20190114183714/https://www.geekwire.com/2013/full-memo-big-fish-ceo-announces-job-cuts-closure-ireland-bc-facilities-cancellation-cloud-games-business/. January 14, 2019.
  8. News: Wingfield. Nick. November 12, 2014. Churchill Downs to buy Big Fish Games for up to $885 million. The New York Times. live. limited. January 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180126130015/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/business/churchill-downs-to-buy-big-fish-games-for-up-to-dollar885-million.html. January 26, 2018.
  9. News: December 16, 2014. Churchill finishes purchase of Big Fish Games. The Blood-Horse. live. January 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20200726223318/https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/110115/churchill-finishes-purchase-of-big-fish-games. July 26, 2020.
  10. News: November 29, 2017. Seattle-based Big Fish Games being sold for $990M to Australian firm. The Seattle Times. Associated Press. live. January 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20200726230819/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/seattle-based-big-fish-games-being-sold-for-990m-to-australian-firm/. July 26, 2020.
  11. Web site: Levy. Nat. September 25, 2018. Internal memo: Big Fish Games cutting 15% of its workforce, including key executives. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201109023747/https://www.geekwire.com/2018/internal-memo-big-fish-games-cutting-15-workforce-including-key-executives/. November 9, 2020. GeekWire.
  12. Web site: Soper. Taylor. September 1, 2020. Seattle-based Big Fish Games lays off 250 people. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200901230246/https://www.geekwire.com/2020/seattle-based-big-fish-games-lays-off-250-people-read-memo-sent-staff/. September 1, 2020. GeekWire.
  13. Web site: Bell. Erin. August 9, 2010. Big Sea Games fans swim to other ponds. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200729065142/https://www.gamezebo.com/2010/08/09/big-sea-games-fans-swim-other-ponds/. July 29, 2020. December 8, 2014. GameZebo.

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