GameHouse
Encyclopedia
GameHouse is a casual game
developer
, publisher
, digital video game distributor
, and portal
, based in Seattle, Washington
, United States
, a game somewhat similar to Tetris. In 2003, company revenues topped $10 million ($5.5 million net). In 2004, GameHouse was acquired by RealNetworks
for $14.6 million cash and about 3.3 million RNWK shares, then estimated at $21 million.
After acquisition, the GameHouse studio continued operations as a developer, while its games were distributed via RealNetworks, and the GameHouse game portal continued to operate alongside the RealArcade game service.
On November 3, 2009 RealArcade had announced they are merging with GameHouse to create a large distribution platform. Such plans include migrating the accounts of users from RealArcade, offering discounts and special offers to GamePass members and new social community opportunities. The merging is expected to complete by the end of this year.
RealArcade formerly is a casual gaming service run by RealNetworks
that sells casual style computer games to individual users. Its purpose is to let users download demo versions of games, and optionally buy the full versions.
On November 13, 2009 GameHouse and RealArcade successfully merged their websites into one portal. As a result, all customers visiting the RealArcade website are redirected to Gamehouse.com
.
Casual game
A casual game is a video game targeted at or used by a mass audience of casual gamers. Casual games can have any type of gameplay, and fit in any genre. They are typically distinguished by their simple rules and lack of commitment required in contrast to more complex hardcore games...
developer
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
, publisher
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....
, digital video game distributor
Digital distribution
Online distribution, digital distribution, or electronic software distribution is the practice of delivering content without the use of physical media, typically by downloading via the internet directly to a consumer's device. Online distribution bypasses conventional physical distribution media,...
, and portal
Game portals
A game portal is a distribution channel for games. People can play or download games from a portal and/or buy it through a game portal. One reason for using game portals is publicity: the top listings of games in game portals receive millions of downloads and/or gamers that want to play online -...
, based in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
History
The first downloadable game developed by the company was CollapseCollapse (game)
Collapse! generally refers to a series of award-winning puzzle games by GameHouse, a software company in Seattle, Washington. In 2007, Super Collapse! 3 became the first game to win the Game of the Year at the inaugural Zeebys....
, a game somewhat similar to Tetris. In 2003, company revenues topped $10 million ($5.5 million net). In 2004, GameHouse was acquired by RealNetworks
RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. is a provider of Internet media delivery software and services based in Downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The company is the creator of RealAudio, a compressed audio format; RealVideo, a compressed video format; RealPlayer, a media player; RealDownloader, a download...
for $14.6 million cash and about 3.3 million RNWK shares, then estimated at $21 million.
After acquisition, the GameHouse studio continued operations as a developer, while its games were distributed via RealNetworks, and the GameHouse game portal continued to operate alongside the RealArcade game service.
On November 3, 2009 RealArcade had announced they are merging with GameHouse to create a large distribution platform. Such plans include migrating the accounts of users from RealArcade, offering discounts and special offers to GamePass members and new social community opportunities. The merging is expected to complete by the end of this year.
RealArcade formerly is a casual gaming service run by RealNetworks
RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. is a provider of Internet media delivery software and services based in Downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The company is the creator of RealAudio, a compressed audio format; RealVideo, a compressed video format; RealPlayer, a media player; RealDownloader, a download...
that sells casual style computer games to individual users. Its purpose is to let users download demo versions of games, and optionally buy the full versions.
On November 13, 2009 GameHouse and RealArcade successfully merged their websites into one portal. As a result, all customers visiting the RealArcade website are redirected to Gamehouse.com
Sales model
RealArcade distributes games on a time-limited demo basis. Each game downloaded has a trial time of 60 minutes unless differently specified by each publisher. Once the trial time expires, users are required either to uninstall the game from their computer or to purchase the full version of the game. Users can also subscribe to a RealNetworks service called GamePass. For a monthly fee, it offers them ownership of 1 game of their choice per month at no additional fee and $5.00 off each game purchase. As of November 2009 GameHouse, a subsidiary of RealArcade, offers full versions of some of its games, supported by in-game advertisingIn-game advertising
In-game advertising refers to advertising in computer and video games. IGA differs from advergaming, which refers to a game specifically made to advertise a product.The IGA industry is large and growing...
.
Developed games
- Ancient Secrets
- Adventure Inlay
- Bounce Out Blitz
- Collapse!, the series
- Delicious, the series
- Diamond Detective
- EcoRescue: Project Rainforest
- Feeding Frenzy
- GameHouse Gem Drop
- Gold Rush Treasure Hunt
- Hamsterball
- Jewel Match
- Super JigSaw
- Super Jigsaw Medley
- Little Shop of Treasures
- Magic Vines
- Marooned (game)
- Pastry Passion
- Rainforest Adventure
- Rainforest Cascade
- Shape Shifter
- SolitaireSolitaireSolitaire is any tabletop game which one can play by oneself or with other people. The solitaire card game Klondike is often known as simply Solitaire....
- Splash
- GameHouse Sudoku!Sudokuis a logic-based, combinatorial number-placement puzzle. The objective is to fill a 9×9 grid with digits so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 sub-grids that compose the grid contains all of the digits from 1 to 9...
- Sunset Studio
- Sunset Studio 2: Love on the High Seas
- Super Glinx!
- Super Nisqually
- Super PileUp!
- Tap a Jam
- TextTwist
- Tiki Towers
- Tiki Towers 2: Monkey Republic
- Word Slinger
- SCRABBLEScrabbleScrabble is a word game in which two to four players score points by forming words from individual lettered tiles on a game board marked with a 15-by-15 grid. The words are formed across and down in crossword fashion and must appear in a standard dictionary. Official reference works provide a list...
- SCRABBLE Journey
- Neptune's Secret
- Snapshot Adventures
- Fashion Fits
- Vogue Tales
- Varmintz
- HangARoo
- NCBuy