Bigpoint GmbH is a German

video game developer A video game developer is a broad term for a software developer specializing in video game development – the process and related disciplines of creating video games. A game developer can range from one person who undertakes all tasks to a large ...

. The company develops stand-alone browser-based games as well as social network games. Bigpoint has over 200 million registered users (announced in June 2011). Bigpoint.com states that 337,104,419 players are registered in the top right corner, as of 10/10/13. NBCU has featured some of Bigpoint's games on the websites of some of its cable channels. In addition to its headquarters in Hamburg, Germany, Bigpoint maintains offices in Berlin, San Francisco, Malta and São Paulo. Some of the company's games include Battlestar Galactica Online, Farmerama, Drakensang Online, DarkOrbit and Seafight. The studio was acquired by Youzu Interactive in 2016 and continues to operate as an independent subsidiary.

History

In 2002, the company was founded by Heiko Hubertz as m.wire GmbH in Hamburg, Germany's second largest city. Heiko Hubertz started this company with a football management game in which every player transfer would cost a small amount for famous football players. Bigpoint's first game was ''Icefighter'', an ice hockey management simulation. Till the end of 2004 there were further games launched, "F1Manager" and "Fussballmanager" (Football Manager in German). In 2005 the company was renamed to e-sport GmbH. In 2006 Samwer brothers with

European Founders Fund European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe a ...

and beginning of 2007 United Internet invested in the company. The company quickly expanded, having one million registered users in 2006. By 2007, Bigpoint was running 22 browser games. In June 2008, General Electric and NBC Universal, along with European private-equity group

GMT Communications Partners Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, counted from midnight. At different times in the past, it has been calculated in different ways, including being calculated from noon; as a ...

, bought out a 70 percent share of Bigpoint, leaving the remaining 30 percent share under Heiko Hubertz's control. By 2009, Bigpoint reached more than 100 million users and had a revenue of more than 50 million Euros. On April 26, 2011, TA Associates and

Summit Partners Summit Partners is an American private equity firm based in Boston, Massachusetts. The firm focuses on investing in technology, healthcare, life sciences and other growth industries. Background Summit Partners was founded in 1984 by Roe St ...

invested $350 million into Bigpoint to become the majority shareholders. On May 16, 2011, Bigpointdotcom posted a video on YouTube.com announcing their new office building. Previous shareholders Comcast Interactive Capital's Peacock Equity Fund sold their holdings in this transaction. GMT Communications Partners and GE sold a majority of their stakes. Hubertz retained his existing ownership stake in the company. In May 2011, Bigpoint had more than 800 employees worldwide. On October 23, 2012, Bigpoint laid off 120 staff members. At the same time Heiko Hubertz stepped down as CEO. In March 2016, the developer was acquired by Youzu Interactive ( GTArcade) in an €80 million ($89.68 million) stock buyout.

Used technology

Games are developed using PHP, Adobe Flash, Java and the Unity engine.

List of games developed by Bigpoint

* Icefighter * Fussballmanager *

Gangs of Crime A gang is a group or society of associates, friends or members of a family with a defined leadership and internal organization that identifies with or claims control over territory in a community and engages, either individually or collectivel ...

(formerly known as

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) * Gladiatoren * Managergames Hockey * Managergames Soccer * Seafight * Land of Destruction * DarkOrbit * Chaoscars * SpeedCars * SpeedSpace *

The Pimps ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in E ...

* ActionLeague * Damoria *

K.O. Champs A knockout (abbreviated to KO or K.O.) is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, muay thai, mixed martial arts, karate, some forms of taekwondo and other sports involving striking ...

* Gladius II * SpaceInvasion * War of Titans * BeBees * Parsec * Deepolis * XBlaster * Hellblades *

ZooMumba ''ZooMumba'' was a free-to-play zoo simulator developed and published by Bigpoint where players took up the responsibility of creating and maintaining a zoo. Players started with an empty piece of land to transform into a successful zoo. Players ...

* Battlestar Galactica Online * SkyRama * PonyRama * RamaCity * AquaRama * FantasyRama * Drakensang Online * Kultan - The World Beyond * The Mummy Online *

Universal Monsters Online Universal is the adjective for universe. Universal may also refer to: Companies * NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment company ** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of NBCUniversal ** Universal TV, a t ...

* Supremacy 1914 *

Rising Cities Rising may refer to: * Rising, a stage in baking - see Proofing (baking technique) *Elevation * Short for Uprising, a rebellion Film and TV * "Rising" (''Stargate Atlantis''), the series premiere of the science fiction television program ''Starg ...

* PirateStorm

List of games published by Bigpoint

WonderKing Online ''WonderKing Online'' ( Korean: 원더킹 Japanese: ワンダーキング) was a free-of-charge, 2D, side-scrolling massively multiplayer online role-playing game created by the South Korean company ToWinGames. Gameplay ''WonderKing'' was ...

* Drift City *

War Machines War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...

* Terminator Salvation * Rise of Gods * Case White * SpaceConquer * Skaph (by Wadim Kapinos, a promotion from 2009 August) * Rangersland International * Pirates 1709 International * Wanted * 11 Manager * Arenas of Glory * Castle Fight International * Puzzle Pirates * Xhodon * Anophis * Dolumar * Generated Affixation: the Nexus Lancinate * Gameglobe

References

External links

Online Gaming Outfit Bigpoint Points To Some Big Numbers
TechCrunch June 20, 2011
The Next Wave of Free-to-Play: Licensing
Gamasutra June 16, 2011
Battlestar Galactica Online Surpasses 2 Million Players
Jostiq May 26, 2011
Investors buy majority stake in online game maker Bigpoint for $350M
VentureBeat April 25, 2011
Bigpoint Talks Drakensang Online
Massively, March 21, 2011
Bigpoint expands to US with Electronic Arts digital distribution deal
VentureBeat February 28, 2011
Bigpoint saves Planet Moon game studio with hiring binge
VentureBeat January 1, 2011
Bigpoint in €70 million buy-out
at www.growthbusiness.co.uk, June 9, 2008.

Online gaming company fetches $110 million, signifying continued interest in the space from major media companies and ongoing consumer interest., By JONATHAN MARINO, Mergers & Acquisitions Report via mergersunleashed.com, June 9, 2008.

siliconindia news bureau, June 12, 2008.

Galaxynews.com June 9, 2008. {{Authority control Browser-based game websites Browser-based multiplayer online games Video game development companies German companies established in 2002 Video game companies established in 2002 Video game companies of Germany Companies based in Hamburg