Company:YoYo Games

From HandWiki
YoYo Games Ltd.
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
Founded2007; 19 years ago (2007)
Founders
  • Michel Cassius
  • Sandy Duncan
  • Spencer Hyman
  • James North-Hearn
HeadquartersDundee, Scotland, UK
Key people
Russell Kay (Senior Product Director)
ProductsGameMaker
ParentPlaytech (2015–2021)
Opera (2021–present)
Websitegamemaker.io

YoYo Games is a Scottish 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 US$10 million 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).[14]

References

  1. ↑ "YoYo Games". https://www.cdgr.ucsb.edu/database/organization/1764. 
  2. ↑ Public announcement from Mark Overmars, Game Maker Community
  3. ↑ Schonfeld, Erick; Yen, Yi-Wyn. "It's a Web, Web, Web 2.0 world". CNN Money. CNN. https://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/biz2/0707/gallery.web_world.biz2/16.html. 
  4. ↑ "YoYo Games Expands Into Dundee Waterfront". Dundee City Council. 22 April 2013. http://www.dundeewaterfront.com/News+Article/1656/YOYO+GAMES+EXPANDS+INTO+DUNDEE+WATERFRONT/?nid=1290. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Williamson, James (23 April 2013). "Dundee's YoYo Games looks to next level - The Courier". DC Thomson. https://www.thecourier.co.uk/business/business-news/77422/dundees-yoyo-games-looks-to-next-level/. 
  6. ↑ "YoYo Games to Double its Staff to 50". 22 April 2013. http://interactivetayside.com/news/yoyo-games-to-double-its-staff-to-50/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 scottishgames (23 April 2013). "YoYo Games Expanding, Recruiting New Staff, Moving To New Office | Scottish Games Network". http://scottishgames.net/2013/04/23/yoyo-games-expanding-recruiting-new-staff-moving-to-new-office/. 
  8. ↑ Pearson, Dan (16 February 2015). "YoYo Games sells to PlayTech for $16.4 million". GamesIndustry.biz. Gamer Network. http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2015-02-16-yoyo-games-sells-to-playtech-for-USD16-4-million. 
  9. ↑ Chapple, Craig (16 February 2015). "PlayTech buys GameMaker creator YoYo Games for £10m". Develop. NewBay. http://www.develop-online.net/opinions/playtech-buys-gamemaker-creator-yoyo-games-for-10m/0203202. 
  10. ↑ Judge, Alysia (17 February 2015). "YoYo Games CEO steps down following $16 million Playtech deal". https://www.pocketgamer.biz/job-news/60829/yoyo-games-ceo-sandy-duncan-steps-down/. 
  11. ↑ Handrahan, Matthew (16 January 2019). "YoYo Games promotes Stuart Poole to general manager". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-01-16-yoyo-games-promotes-stuart-poole-to-general-manager. 
  12. ↑ Kerr, Chris (19 January 2021). "Playtech sells GameMaker Studio maker YoYo Games for $10 million". Gamasutra. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/376373/Playtech_sells_GameMaker_Studio_maker_YoYo_Games_for_10_million.php. 
  13. ↑ Takahashi, Dean (January 20, 2021). "Opera acquires YoYo Games for $10 million and launches Opera Gaming division". Venture Beat. https://venturebeat.com/2021/01/20/opera-acquires-yoyo-games-for-10-million-and-launches-opera-gaming-division/. 
  14. ↑ (in en) GameMaker Update 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMYGAiHAyuI, retrieved 2022-04-22 

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