Shockwave (game portal) explained

Shockwave
Type:Private[1] [2]
Location City:Los Angeles, California
Location Country:U.S.[3]
Industry:Video games
Num Employees:25–100

Shockwave.com, or Shockwave, is an online and offline video games distributor and game portal. It is owned by Shockwave LLC, based in Los Angeles, California, United States.[3] It was launched by Macromedia on August 2, 1999, to promote the company's Shockwave and Flash players, both used on the website. As of 2005, the website had 22 million users. By 2010, it hosted more than 400 games in a variety of genres.

The corporate owner, also known as Shockwave.com, was based in San Francisco. Following the dot-com bubble, the company merged with Atom Corporation in 2001 to form AtomShockwave Corporation. It was renamed Atom Entertainment in 2006, and was purchased by MTV Networks for $200 million. Defy Media purchased the website in 2014, sold it to Addicting Games in 2018 which was itself sold to Enthusiast Gaming in 2021. Shockwave was resold in 2024.

History

Early history

In February 1998, Macromedia launched the website ShockRave,[4] [5] [6] featuring various interactive games and cartoons.[6] [7] [8] The website's purpose was to showcase projects that developers had created using Macromedia's animation software.[6] [9] [10]

Shockwave.com was announced on May 24, 1999,[11] as an expansion and replacement of ShockRave.[12] Shockwave.com was formed to promote Macromedia's Shockwave and Flash players, both of which the new website would require.[11] At the time, 100 million people around the world had Shockwave and Flash installed on their computers.[13] Shockwave.com was formed as a separate but wholly owned business within Macromedia, with its own finances. Its CEO was Stephen Fields, a former executive for Disney Interactive Studios.[13] [14] [15]

Shockwave.com was launched on August 2, 1999. The website included cartoons, games such as Centipede and Missile Command, an MP3 directory, and a program for creating animated greeting cards.[16] [17] The company, also known as Shockwave.com, was based in San Francisco and had 50 employees.[10]

Critics were skeptical that an entertainment-based website such as Shockwave could succeed, in part because of bandwidth limitations. However, Shockwave gained several notable investors in its first six months, including James H. Clark, Michael Moritz, and Robert A. Daly. The majority of the website's revenue would come from advertising.[13] DoubleClick provided advertising services for Shockwave during the first six months. As the website gained popularity, Shockwave began handling advertising itself.[18]

In October 1999, Macromedia announced that it had plans to spin off Shockwave as its own independent company. Macromedia chief executive Rob Burgess said about Shockwave, "It's an entertainment company and we are a software company. You need to run those two things as separate operations". One possibility was to have a public offering of the company in early 2000.[19] Burgess served as Shockwave's interim chief executive while simultaneously running Macromedia. Lawrence Levy, a former chief financial officer for Pixar, became Shockwave's chief executive of entertainment in mid-2000.[20] Shortly thereafter, the company laid off 20 of its 170 employees at offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco.[21]

During its first year, Shockwave assembled a creative team consisting of film directors – James L. Brooks, David Lynch, and Tim Burton – as well as comedian Ben Stein, comic book writer Stan Lee, and South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The team received equity stakes in the company, in exchange for providing creative content to the site.[22] [23] [24] Shockwave focused on original, interactive content rather than live-action television. The site included crude-humored material, such as Joe Cartoon, and DumbLand.[25] Fields hoped to eventually turn Shockwave.com into a specialty cable channel.[13] Stein believed that Shockwave would become "the CBS of this era".[26] Burgess hoped for it to become "the United Artists of the Web".[27]

Corporate changes

Shockwave.com lost $30 million during the last nine months of 2000,[28] a result of the dot-com bubble. To survive, the company announced in December 2000 that it would purchase Atom Corporation and merge with it. Shockwave would also acquire the short-film website Atom Films.[29] [30] [31] The purchase was finalized on January 15, 2001, and AtomShockwave Corporation was formed shortly thereafter. Macromedia owned 30 percent of the new company.[32] [33] [34] Later in 2001, AtomShockwave cut much of its workforce, part of a restructuring amid poor economic conditions.[35] [36] The company also shut down its European headquarters.[37]

In November 2005, AtomShockwave acquired the online game website Addicting Games,[38] and also launched a new video website known as Addicting Clips. At the time, AtomShockwave had 85 employees.[39] The company was renamed as Atom Entertainment Inc. on January 11, 2006.[40] MTV Networks, a division of Viacom, announced in August 2006 that it would purchase Atom Entertainment for $200 million.[41] [42] A subsidiary, Shockwave Japan, closed on January 31, 2009.[43] In June 2014, Defy Media purchased Addicting Games and Shockwave from Viacom.[44] [45] Addicting Games, Inc subsequently took over ownership.[46] In September 2021 Enthusiast Gaming purchased Addicting Games.[47] In April 2024 Shockwave was sold.[48]

Features

At the time of its launch, the website offered two user control tools: the free Shockwave Remote, and the $19.95 Shockmachine. The latter option gave consumers additional options, such as being able to download and save an unlimited amount of content from the website. Some games and cartoons could only be accessed with a purchase of Shockmachine.[17] [27]

In March 2000, Shockwave launched a new website design, compatible with slower Internet connections. It also partnered with MTVi Group, which consisted of MTV.com, VH1.com, and Sonicnet.com. MTVi would provide Internet radio services and content to Shockwave. The updated website introduced music videos, known as Shockwave Singles, which were designed to be played on the Internet. In addition, it introduced the Shockwave MixMakers feature, allowing users to remix songs.[49] [50] [27]

The website received another redesign in 2006, along with the creation of an online game development studio known as Shockwave.com Game Studios.[51] A year later, Shockwave introduced member profiles.[52]

Games

Shockwave.com offers internally developed games, as well as those created by third parties.[53] In May 2001, Shockwave began offering select games for purchase, allowing users to download them for offline play.[54] [55] [56] Three months later, the website was relaunched with new games.[57]

GameBlast, an subscription game service, was launched in late 2002. Shockwave had previously allowed users to play demo versions of games for free, while GameBlast allowed users to play the full versions for a monthly fee.[58] In 2003, the website began offering prepaid cards for Gameblast, through a partnership with AT&T.[59]

In 2005, the website introduced new games which incorporated advertising into their design.[60] [61] [62] At the time, Shockwave had more than 200 games.[61] Viacom launched a mobile version of the website in September 2006.[63] A month later, the mobile site began offering 30 subscription-based cellphone games, known as Shockwave Minis. The collection included games based on Viacom properties such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Pimp My Ride. Shockwave Minis utilized Adobe Flash Lite, and were only available on Verizon Wireless phones. New games would be introduced monthly.[64] [65]

In 2009, Shockwave launched a premium service called Club Shockwave. The service allows members to play a number of exclusive games, download titles, and enter for a chance to win cash prizes.[66] As of 2010, Shockwave hosted more than 400 games[67] in a range of genres including puzzle, action, strategy, racing, sport, jigsaw, adventure, multiplayer games, and downloadable games.[68] Some games were only available as downloads, while others were web-based only.[69] In 2010, the website introduced Shockwave Cash, a virtual currency that could be used to buy virtual goods in several games.[70] [71] Shockwave Cash was discontinued in 2012, but users were still allowed to use any earned or purchased currency.[72]

Audiences and reception

Shockwave initially targeted a demographic of 18- to 35-year-olds.[26] In April 2000, Shockwave had 15 million registered users, with an average of 80,000 new members signing up each day.[26] As of 2002, AtomShockwave's primary demographic consisted of women over the age of 30.[58] By the end of 2005, Shockwave had 22 million users.[60]

Peter Sucio, writing for PCMag, reviewed Shockwave.com in 2005. He criticized the limited number of free games, but wrote "the games that are free are simply fantastic, because they're produced using the newest version of the Shockwave player. In-game interfaces and graphics really make these titles stand out, and the animation is exceptional".[73] Later that year, the website won an OnDemandie award at the Digital Hollywood conference for best on-demand games service.[74]

In August 2007, Shockwave had 4.8 million unique visitors, according to ComScore Media Metrix.[75] The website's target market was parents and moms,[76] with its customers mostly women from age 18 to 49 years old.[75]

As of September 2010, it ranked # 2,245 on Alexa and # 1,023 in U.S web traffic.[1]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/shockwave.com Shockwave.com Site Info
  2. http://www.jigsaw.com/id15939/atomshockwave_corporation_company.xhtml AtomShockwave, San Francisco, CA, Employee Directory, Company Information & Locations
  3. http://www.shockwave.com/about/contact.jsp Contact Us
  4. News: Macromedia adds entertainment site . January 23, 2020 . San Francisco Examiner . February 18, 1998 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  5. News: Allen . Jules . Site Seeing . January 23, 2020 . Tampa Bay Times . March 2, 1998 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  6. News: Evenson . Laura . A New Dimension in Music Videos / MTV gets a run for its money with interactive videos . January 23, 2020 . SFGate . July 20, 1998.
  7. News: Internet Hour . January 23, 2020 . Hartford Courant . March 12, 1998 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  8. News: Glaser . Mark . Technology Brings Snoopy, Dilbert and More Into Animated Cyberspace . January 23, 2020 . Los Angeles Times . September 17, 1998.
  9. News: Evangelista . Benny . Macromedia Will Unveil a Shocker / Online entertainment firm to be launched . January 23, 2020 . SFGate . May 24, 1999.
  10. News: Crawford . Kate . Star power to drive new multimedia game site . The Sydney Morning Herald . August 3, 1999 . January 21, 2020 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  11. News: Shockwave.com announces online entertainment center . January 22, 2020 . Associated Press . May 24, 1999.
  12. News: Georgianis . Maria V. . Macromedia Sees Shockwave.com Posting $15 Million in Sales for Year . January 23, 2020 . The Wall Street Journal . May 26, 1999.
  13. News: Akin . David . Shockwave is ready to roll on Internet . . June 4, 1999 . January 21, 2020 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  14. Spinning Off Shockwave . Wired . January 21, 2020 . May 24, 1999.
  15. Web site: Graser . Marc . Disney vet plugs in at Macromedia . Variety . January 23, 2020 . May 25, 1999.
  16. Web site: Shockwave Opens Its Virtual Doors . San Jose Mercury News . January 21, 2020 . August 2, 1999 . subscription . NewsLibrary . Shockwave.com, a new online entertainment center, is opening for business today. […] Highlights include an MP3 music directory, animated greeting cards, episodic comics, popular cartoons such as South Park and Dilbert and games such as Missile Command and Centipede..
  17. News: Crouch . Cameron . Remote control the Net on Shockwave.com . January 23, 2020 . CNN . August 4, 1999.
  18. News: Cheng . Kipp . IQ News: Shockwave Shows Off Revamped Site . Adweek . October 16, 2021 . March 20, 2000.
  19. News: Stein . Tom . Macromedia Picks Up Andromedia, Sets Shockwave Loose . October 16, 2021 . SFGate . October 8, 1999.
  20. News: Grover . Ronald . Electrifying Shockwave . January 23, 2020 . Bloomberg . November 5, 2000.
  21. News: Shockwave.com Announces Layoffs . October 16, 2021 . Los Angeles Times . September 7, 2000.
  22. News: Miller . Greg . Shockwave.com in Deal With James L. Brooks . October 16, 2021 . Los Angeles Times . March 20, 2000.
  23. News: South Park soon to be found on Web . Associated Press . December 13, 1999 . October 16, 2021 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  24. News: Zito . Kelly . Macromedia Signs 'South Park' Duo for Web / Multiyear agreement is for 39 episodes of Web cartoon series . October 16, 2021 . SFGate . December 8, 1999.
  25. News: Healey . Jon . Director will bring offbeat eye to the Net; Cartoon: Shockwave.com adds David Lynch to the roster of big-name artists developing animated content for its site . The Baltimore Sun . March 27, 2000 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624020937/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2000-03-27-0003270274-story.html . June 24, 2021.
  26. News: The Shockwave.com Of The Future . October 16, 2021 . Forbes . April 25, 2000.
  27. Web site: Dannacher . Lee . Shockwave.Com: Fun and Games on a High-Flying Hub . Animation World Network . October 16, 2021 . April 1, 2000.
  28. Web site: AtomShockwave issues pinkslips . Variety . October 21, 2021 . June 2, 2001.
  29. News: Borzo . Jeanette . Macromedia's Shockwave.com To Buy AtomFilms in Stock Deal . October 16, 2021 . The Wall Street Journal . December 16, 2000.
  30. News: Wilde Mathews . Anna . Shockwave.com, AtomFilms to Combine Resources for Online Films, Animations . October 16, 2021 . The Wall Street Journal . December 16, 2000.
  31. News: Harmon . Amy . Company News; Shockwave.com sets AtomFilms Takeover . October 16, 2021 . The New York Times . December 16, 2000.
  32. News: Hernandez . Eugene . Brooks . Brian . Daily News: AtomShockwave Plans; Code Red's Latest; and HIQI's Rock Doc . October 19, 2021 . IndieWire . March 20, 2001.
  33. News: Healey . Jon . AtomShockwave Gets Investment of $22.9 Million . October 21, 2021 . Los Angeles Times . March 21, 2001.
  34. Web site: Forde . Leon . AtomShockwave Corp launched with $22.9m funding . Screen . October 21, 2021 . March 21, 2001.
  35. News: Vickers . Amy . AtomShockwave cuts back . October 21, 2021 . The Guardian . June 4, 2001.
  36. Web site: AtomShockwave slashes most of staff . CNET . October 21, 2021 . January 2, 2002.
  37. Web site: Kemp . Stuart . AtomShockwave To Leave London . Adweek . October 21, 2021 . June 5, 2001.
  38. AtomShockwave Boosts Profile With Gaming Acquisition . Billboard . October 21, 2021 . November 8, 2005.
  39. News: Gaither . Chris . Web film pioneer considers next act . October 21, 2021 . Chicago Tribune . December 31, 2005.
  40. News: AtomShockwave changes name . October 21, 2021 . San Francisco Business Journal . January 11, 2006.
  41. Web site: Jenkins . David . MTV Networks Acquires Atom Entertainment . Game Developer . October 21, 2021 . August 10, 2006.
  42. News: Lee . Ellen . MTV to buy another Atom of the Web / Youth-oriented TV company is increasing its online presence . October 21, 2021 . San Francisco Chronicle . August 10, 2006.
  43. http://asiajin.com/blog/2009/02/13/shockwave-closes-japan-loses-one-of-its-biggest-casual-gaming-sites/ Shockwave Closes, Japan Loses One of Its Biggest Casual Gaming Sites
  44. Web site: Farokhmanesh . Megan . GameTrailers, Addicting Games and Shockwave acquired by Defy Media . Polygon . October 21, 2021 . June 9, 2014.
  45. Web site: Takahashi . Dean . Defy Media buys GameTrailers, Addicting Games, and Shockwave from Viacom . VentureBeat . October 21, 2021 . June 10, 2014.
  46. Web site: Takahashi . Dean . Enthusiast Gaming acquires Addicting Games for $35M . VentureBeat . October 21, 2021 . September 7, 2021.
  47. Web site: Gaming . Enthusiast . 2021-09-07 . Enthusiast Gaming Acquires Addicting Games, Enters Casual Gaming Market . 2024-05-30 . Enthusiast Gaming . en-US.
  48. Web site: Gaming . Enthusiast . 2024-04-01 . Enthusiast Gaming Advances Strategic Objectives with C$4.1 Million Sale of Select Non-Core Assets . 2024-05-30 . Enthusiast Gaming . en-US.
  49. News: MTVi To Provide Shockwave.com With Internet Radio Services, Content . October 16, 2021 . CMJ New Music Report . April 3, 2000 . 6.
  50. News: Shockwave.com Signs Hollywood Heavyweight . October 16, 2021 . Forbes . March 20, 2000.
  51. Web site: Dobson . Jason . Shockwave Site Redesigned, Development Studio Launched . Game Developer . October 21, 2021 . April 3, 2006.
  52. Web site: Olsen . Stefanie . AddictingGames makes social-network play . CNET . October 21, 2021 . July 17, 2008.
  53. Web site: Dubin . Jayson . AtomShockwave Brings Back the Days of Classic Arcade Gaming . GameZone . 4 May 2012 . October 21, 2021.
  54. News: Patterson Grenier . Melinda . AtomShockwave Announces Plans To Offer For-Fee Computer Games . October 21, 2021 . The Wall Street Journal . May 10, 2001.
  55. News: Li . Kenneth . AtomShockwave hopes gamers will pay to play . October 21, 2021 . CNN . May 10, 2001.
  56. Web site: AtomShockwave to go Subscriber Based . IGN . October 21, 2021 . May 10, 2001.
  57. Web site: DeMott . Rick . AtomShockwave Relaunches Sites With New Content . Animation World Network . October 21, 2021 . August 24, 2001.
  58. Web site: Hu . Jim . Shockwave surfs into online gaming . CNET . October 21, 2021 . November 7, 2002.
  59. Web site: AT&T to offer prepaid Web surfing cards . CNET . October 21, 2021 . April 2, 2003.
  60. News: Shields . Mike . Shockwave.com Lets the Ad Games Begin . October 16, 2021 . Adweek . November 7, 2005.
  61. News: Ads become part of online game landscape . Associated Press . November 21, 2005 . October 16, 2021 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  62. Web site: Graser . Marc . AtomShockwave Launches Gamevertising Network . Ad Age . October 21, 2021 . November 21, 2005.
  63. News: Gaming: Shockwave, Viacom Make Their Play . Wireless Business Forecast . October 21, 2021 . September 7, 2006 . subscription . NewsLibrary.
  64. Web site: Mobile: Shockwave Minis Launch on Verizon Wireless . Game Developer . October 21, 2021 . October 25, 2006.
  65. Web site: Mobile Q&A: Atom Entertainment SVP on Shockwave Minis . Game Developer . October 21, 2021 . November 10, 2006.
  66. Web site: Bell . Erin . Club Shockwave online gaming service launches . Gamezebo . October 21, 2021 . March 24, 2009.
  67. http://www.casualconnect.org/newscontent/03-2009/clubshockwave.html/Shockwave.com Introduces New Premium Online Gaming Service – Club Shockwave
  68. http://www.casualgaming.biz/news/28383/Nickelodeon-reveals-new-look-Shockwave-portal Nickelodeon reveals new-look Shockwave portal | Casual games | News by
  69. Web site: Beyond Downloads – Exploring Advertising Options with Real, MSN, Shockwave . Casual Connect Magazine . https://web.archive.org/web/20120302172837/http://www.casualconnect.org/content/business/cga-beyond-downloads.html/ . March 2, 2012 . Winter 2007.
  70. https://venturebeat.com/2010/07/21/shockwave-catches-the-virtual-goods-wave-with-newest-games/ Shockwave Catches the Virtual Goods Wave with Newest Games
  71. Web site: Takahashi . Dean . Shockwave catches the virtual goods wave with newest games . VentureBeat . October 21, 2021 . July 21, 2010.
  72. Web site: Shockwave - Shockwave Cash Help. Shockwave.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20121222032252/http://www.shockwave.com/help/faq_shockwave_cash.jsp . December 22, 2012.
  73. News: Sucio . Peter . Shockwave.com . PCMag . March 16, 2005 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170307000630/https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1775425,00.asp . March 7, 2017.
  74. Web site: Olsen . Stefanie . Awards show spotlights on-demand winners . CNET . October 21, 2021 . April 1, 2005.
  75. Web site: Nickelodeon Kids and Family Group's Shockwave.com Sets Site Record With Near 1 Million Game Plays of Self-Published 'Carrie the Caregiver 2: Preschool' . Viacom . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927023708/http://www.viacom.com/news/pages/newstext.aspx?rid=1054734 . September 27, 2011 . September 24, 2007.
  76. News: Viacom Gets Vertical . October 21, 2021 . Forbes . March 28, 2008.

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