PlayJam

PlayJam is an interactive casual games network, available across digital TV, mobile and online platforms.[1]

PlayJam emerged during dawn of the digital TV era as a side project of London-based visual media company Static 2358. Static's artists, designers and programmers started producing casual games to work on set top boxes and PlayJam launched in 1999 on CanalSat in France and Sky Digital in the UK as one of the first ever interactive television broadcast channels. PlayJam soon became one of the most highly rated brands on digital TV, with its owner delivering interactive television services for clients such as the BBC,[2] Glaxo SmithKline,[3] pop band Gorillaz,[4] ITV[5] and Channel 4.

Static and PlayJam were sold to Open TV for $68 million in 2001. The interactive games platform has since appeared on millions of digital TV homes throughout the US,[6] Europe, Asia and Africa.

Founder Jasper Smith re-acquired Static from Open TV in 2008,[7] believing the quantum shift to internet connected TVs would allow PlayJam to become one of the world's pre-eminent games networks.[8] The company has recently secured distribution deals with Apple, Sony, Samsung, LG, Panasonic, Western Digital and online gaming platforms to add to its network of digital TV homes around the world and online,.[9][10] PlayJam aims to create a 'connected' games network over the next few years, delivering a more integrated and accessible user experience alongside a cross-platform reward scheme to fuel further frequent and loyal usage.[11] During the last 5 years, PlayJam has generated over 8 billion downloads from its library of 550 free, play-to-play and skill-based titles.[1] PlayJam's SDK enables other games developers to publish titles to this platform, most recently Relentless[12] and Puzzler Media[13]

In January 2010, PlayJam became a founder member of the Connected TV Game Forum, alongside Accedo Broadband, Betfair, Rallypoint and Two Way Media.[14] Aiming to galvanise a common approach to gaming requirements for connected TV devices including functionality, features and open standards, the forum's members view online games as a major driver in the multiplatform digital entertainment arena, attracting 38% of Internet users and generating billions of downloads via mobile and digital TV platforms. The Forum believes such games will act as '"a prime motivator for consumers to connect their TV's to the Internet."

In October 2011, PlayJam secured $5 million investment from GameStop Digital Ventures, Adobe Ventures, Endeavour Ventures and the Angel CoFund to fuel further growth and capitalise on the smart TV market.[15][16][17] The company has recently partnered with a number of games developers including GameHouse, First Star Software, Relentless Software, Slingo and Puzzler to distribute popular titles across its network.,.[18][19]

References
  1. iStockAnalyst, 8 January 2010 Could PlayJam be the Biggest Thing in Gaming?
  2. BBC, 3 March 2003, Static 2358 invites Viewers to Challenge the Experts of Radio Times
  3. Campaign, 4 May 2001 Glaxo SmithKline to place Aquafresh ad in PlayJam TV game
  4. Guardian, 19 February 2003 Gorillaz take to TV with interactive show
  5. New Media Age, 22 June 2006 ITV launches World Cup interactive quiz tie-in
  6. TMCnews, 15 January 2004 PlayJam launches on Echostar's Dish Network to over 7 Million Homes in US
  7. Rapid TV News, 7 May 2008 BSkyB a quarter of Open TV revenues Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Digital Spy, Andrew Laughlin, 26 January 2010 PlayJam targets the rebirth of interactive TV
  9. itvt, 11 January 2010 PlayJam announces multiple distribution partners for Connected TV Games Service
  10. "PlayJam launches games on LG's smart TVs". 12 April 2011.
  11. "PlayJam games portal now on all LG IP-connectable TVs – IHS Technology". screendigest.com.
  12. Cifaldi, Frank. "Buzz! Developer Relentless Signed For PlayJam TV Games".
  13. Digital Spy 1 June 2010 PlayJam offers free games on Sky
  14. Digital TV Europe, 7 January 2010, PlayJam launches connected games network
  15. Digital Spy, 25 October 2011, PlayJam secures $5M funding for global expansion
  16. Venturebeat, 25 October 2011, Smart TV gaming startup PlayJam raise $5M round
  17. TechCrunch, 6 September 2013 Now UK Nationwide, The £100M Angel CoFund Is Able To Super-Charge Angel Syndicates
  18. paidContent:UK 6 January 2012, PlayJam adds Games
  19. itvt, 4 October 2011 PlayJam, Relentless, Slingo
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