YoYo Games explained

YoYo Games Ltd.
Type:Subsidiary
Industry:Video games
Location:Dundee, Scotland, UK
Key People:Russell Kay (Senior Product Director)
Products:GameMaker
Parent:Playtech (2015–2021)
Opera (2021–present)

YoYo Games is a British software development company based in Dundee, Scotland. From February 2015 to January 2021, the company was owned by Playtech; afterwards, it was sold to Opera to launch its new gaming division.

History

YoYo Games was founded in 2007 by Michel Cassius, Sandy Duncan, Spencer Hyman and James North-Hearn, former entertainment and video game industry executives. Duncan was appointed chief executive officer of the company.[1] On 26 January 2007, Mark Overmars announced his partnership with a company based in Dundee, Scotland, called YoYo Games.[2] [3]

The company established its European office in Dundee in May 2010 by opening an office within Abertay University with two team members.[4] The company currently employs more than 25 employees.[5] YoYo Games has announced plans to create an additional 25 positions, over the next 18 months, in systems development, software engineering, sales and customer service.[6] The employees will be hired to help the company keep pace with the rapid evolution of the global games market and demand for Game Maker: Studio.[7] To accommodate this expansion, in June 2013, YoYo Games moved from its old location within Abertay University[7] into new office space on Dundee’s Waterfront redevelopment.[5] On 16 February 2015 it was announced that Playtech acquired YoYo Games for £10.65 million (USD$16.4 million).[8] [9] Shortly thereafter, Duncan stepped down from his position.[10] He was later replaced by James Cox as general manager, who himself stepped down in October 2018 to be replaced by Stuart Poole in January 2019.[11]

Playtech sold YoYo Games to Opera for in January 2021. Opera announced with YoYo's acquisition, it was launching a new Opera Gaming division alongside their browser software.[12] [13]

In February 2021, Stuart Poole left the role of General Manager and Russell Kay was named Senior Product Director (Head of GameMaker)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: YoYo Games . University of California, Santa Barbara.
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20070203064832/http://forums.gamemaker.nl/index.php?showtopic=271847 Public announcement
  3. Web site: It's a Web, Web, Web 2.0 world. Schonfeld. Erick. Yen. Yi-Wyn. CNN Money. CNN. 28 April 2019.
  4. Web site: YoYo Games Expands Into Dundee Waterfront. 22 April 2013. Dundee Waterfront. Dundee City Council. https://web.archive.org/web/20140202185033/http://www.dundeewaterfront.com/News+Article/1656/YOYO+GAMES+EXPANDS+INTO+DUNDEE+WATERFRONT/?nid=1290. 2 February 2014. dead. 28 April 2019.
  5. Web site: Dundee's YoYo Games looks to next level - The Courier. Williamson. James. 23 April 2013. The Courier. DC Thomson. 28 April 2019.
  6. Web site: YoYo Games to Double its Staff to 50. 22 April 2013. Interactive Tayside. https://web.archive.org/web/20140201211059/http://interactivetayside.com/news/yoyo-games-to-double-its-staff-to-50/. 1 February 2014. dead. 28 April 2019.
  7. Web site: YoYo Games Expanding, Recruiting New Staff, Moving To New Office | Scottish Games Network. scottishgames. 23 April 2013. Scottish Games Network. https://web.archive.org/web/20150217002834/http://scottishgames.net/2013/04/23/yoyo-games-expanding-recruiting-new-staff-moving-to-new-office/. 17 February 2015. dead. 28 April 2019.
  8. Web site: YoYo Games sells to PlayTech for $16.4 million. Pearson. Dan. 16 February 2015. GamesIndustry.biz. Gamer Network. 28 April 2019.
  9. Web site: PlayTech buys GameMaker creator YoYo Games for £10m. Chapple. Craig. 16 February 2015. Develop. NewBay. https://web.archive.org/web/20161129222131/http://www.develop-online.net/opinions/playtech-buys-gamemaker-creator-yoyo-games-for-10m/0203202. 29 November 2016. dead. 28 April 2019.
  10. Web site: YoYo Games CEO steps down following $16 million Playtech deal . Alysia . Judge . 17 February 2015 . Pocket Gamer.biz.
  11. Web site: YoYo Games promotes Stuart Poole to general manager . Matthew . Handrahan . 16 January 2019 . GamesIndustry.biz.
  12. Web site: Playtech sells GameMaker Studio maker YoYo Games for $10 million . Chris . Kerr . 19 January 2021 . 19 January 2021 . .
  13. Web site: Opera acquires YoYo Games for $10 million and launches Opera Gaming division . Dean . Takahashi . January 20, 2021 . January 20, 2021 . .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "YoYo Games".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.