3 Million Mobile Acquisition For Skilljam
Published: Friday, January 20, 2006 Online-Casinos.com
$3 MILLION MOBILE ACQUISITION FOR SKILLJAM
Skill games provider takes over mobile games specialist
Mobile games developer Octopi has been taken over by FUN Technologies
skill-gaming subsidiary, SkillJam for a total consideration of US$ 3
million.
The acquisition of Octopi, an Arizona-based developer of single and multiplayer
mobile games that has worked with big names like Nokia and Sony-Eriksson, is
a move to develop initiatives and increase mobile applications and online gaming
content.
Octopi’s game development engine, Octoplex, supports multiple languages,
more than 100 top mobile handsets, PDSs, web browsers and has secured clients
such as Nokia for the company. In 2005, Octopi recorded a US$ 800 000 profit,
before tax and audits.
Lorne Abony, CEO of FUN Technologies, said: “The Octopi team has
extensive experience in all forms of mobile game development, and its groundbreaking
cross-platform games are a true complement to our existing suite of casual games.”
FUN Technologies’ move into mobile gaming is another step forward in the
firm’s plans to grow by consolidation and Octopi’s acquisition will
also help it develop its other subsidiaries; fantasy league provider Fanball
and data supplier Don Best. Clients of the company include AOL, MSN’s Zone.com
and Virgin Games.
Daniel Kopycienski, founder and president of Octopi, said the firm looks
forward to being able “...to offer our existing games to an expansive new
user base through FUN’s distribution of channels”.
Octopi has been at the forefront of interactive media & entertainment for
the last 12 years, claims Kopycienski: "We have been pushing the envelope
with our mobile game development and online advergaming promotions. The next
step in our evolution is the launch of our new game service in 2006."
Located in Tucson, Arizona, Octopi has been building innovative and colourful
games for clients like Nokia, Paramount, SBC, Sony Ericsson and T-Mobile. The
company plans a website where users can play a multiplayer game for free on
a browser, and also be able to download the same game for a mobile phone, pda
or laptop. The company boasts an inventory of over 30 games - each with Web,
Deluxe, PDA and Mobile Phone versions.
