Mediatonic

Mediatonic Ltd
Private
Industry Video game industry
Founded September 2005
Founder David Bailey
Paul Croft
Headquarters London, United Kingdom
Products Video games
Number of employees
 50 - 100[1]
Website www.mediatonicgames.com

Mediatonic Games is a British independent games developer founded in September 2005[2] as Mediatonic Limited. The company operates studios in London and Brighton, United Kingdom.[3] The company was founded by two undergraduate students, David Bailey and Paul Croft during their final year of study at Brunel University.[4] A group of industry veterans including Ian Livingstone, Kelly Sumner and Geoff Heath, invested in the company in 2010 and the company subsequently raised an undisclosed amount of Venture Capital funding from Frog Capital in January 2012.[5][6] Its business model revolves around Games as a Service and digital distribution.[7]

History

Mediatonic began as a digital communications agency whilst the Founders were at University; producing online marketing materials and websites for clients such as AstraZeneca.[8] The company's first game was a viral flash game called Snowman Salvage released in the winter of 2005.[9] The game provided a case study for Mediatonic to expand into Flash conversions for the Casual game Industry. Early games customers were businesses like PopCap, Big Fish Games and PlayFirst. In the early years, the company built casual titles in Flash such as Bejeweled and Diner Dash.[10] Mediatonic expanded into creating original franchises with its partners around 2007. One of the first significant successes was Amateur Surgeon[11] which, according to the Adult Swim website was played over 56 million times; making it their most played title of all time.[12] The company expanded into smartphone development in 2008/2009 with the launch of its own title, Must.Eat.Birds.[13][14] In 2009 the company began investing in original IPs more aggressively.[15] According to its own website, the company span out its digital marketing efforts into a new business (now called Graphite Digital Ltd) so that it could focus on building games.

In 2010 the company raised funding from a group of Industry Veterans[16] and began to focus on building original games (rather than converting other people's titles to different platforms).

Since 2011 the company has been working on larger titles including Foul Play for Xbox and PC,[17][18] Amateur Hospital for Facebook (which received the company's first BAFTA Nomination[19] and Amateur Surgeon 2 and 3,[20][21] a free-to-play mobile game for iOS.

Around 2012 the company announced plans to expand with a second studio located in Brighton.[22][23]

Partnerships & IP

Partnerships Model

Mediatonic publicly advocates a co-invested publishing model for game development. The Developer argues that the conventional "work for hire" model of the industry 'makes it impossible for a developer to react to a changing market, and incentivises short-term thinking'. Instead, Mediatonic says that it co-invests in game development with large Publishers and shares the royalties and running costs of the games it produces.[24] The company's website lists many of the games industry's largest games Publishers as historical partners.

Square Enix Collaboration

Mediatonic revealed at the end of 2014 that it had been previously working with Square Enix Japan to develop an original mobile strategy game franchise[25] called Heavenstrike Rivals.

The game was designed by Mediatonic in London to appeal to a global audience whilst also building on the style of popular franchises such as Final Fantasy.[26] The game also includes character designs by Ryoma Ito [27] and music composed by Ryo Yamazaki who are known for their work on the Final Fantasy series.

Adult Swim Collaboration

Mediatonic is best known for creating the Amateur Surgeon series which was originally published online by Adult Swim in 2008.[28] The franchise was later brought to the iPhone and subsequently as Amateur Surgeon 2,[29] Amateur Surgeon Christmas Edition[30] and Amateur Surgeon 3.

Amateur Surgeon Hospital, a simulation game on the Facebook networking site, was nominated for Best Online-Browser game at the British Academy Video Games Awards in 2013.[31] Other notable collaborations between Adult Swim and Mediatonic include Robot Unicorn Attack:Evolution[32] and Gigolo Assassin.[33]

Expansion into Self-Published IP

Mediatonic releases its own internal games which are best known for their stories and sense of humour.[34] The most notable of these is "Monsters (Probably) Stole my Princess" which was first released on List of PlayStation minis and achieved critical acclaim.[35][36][37][38] Other titles include Must.Eat.Birds (2008)[39] which was the company's first mobile title. Mediatonic also published Who's That Flying!? (2010)[40] and 1000 Tiny Claws (2011) [41] amongst others.

Hatoful Boyfriend

In June 2014 Mediatonic stole headlines at the industry's annual event, E3[42] [43] announcing it would work with Devolver to remake the cult Japanese Pigeon Dating Game Hatoful Boyfriend originally created by Hato Moa.

Foul Play

The company announced that it is working on its first title for Xbox Live Arcade and Steam (software) in August 2012. The title, known as Foul Play was released in September 2013.[44]

Game Jams

Mediatonic holds regular Game Jam events in which small teams of developers compete to create the best possible game within a few hours. One outcome from these events was an application called "Inappropriate Llama Disaster" which was published for free on the iPhone and iPad.[45][46]

Televised Competition

Mediatonic took part in a challenge set by The Gadget Show Television series in October 2009. The company worked with TV presenter Suzi Perry to develop an application that would compete against her co-presenter, Jason Bradbury, who sourced an app largely by himself. Both presenters submitted their applications at the same time to the App Store (iOS) and competed for the highest number of downloads.

Mediatonic created a game called "Biker Blast-off" for the competition which generated a shock result for the show; yielding 1.2million downloads during the competition period in contrast to the 4,074 downloads of Bradbury's "Social Beacon" application.[47][48]

Development history[49]

Year Title Partner Platform Description
2014 Heavenstrike Rivals Square Enix Android, iPhone A Tactical role-playing game which includes characters designed by Ryoma Ito. Official Website
2014 Hatoful Boyfriend Devolver Digital Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita High definition remake of a Japanese visual novel created by Moa Hato.
2014 Secrets and Treasure[50] Microsoft Studios Windows 8 A Free-to-play casual puzzle game
2014 Delivery Outlaw[51] Adult Swim iOS A Free-to-play game on iPhone and iPad.
2013 Amateur Surgeon 3: Tag Team Trauma Adult Swim iOS, Android A Free-to-play game on iPhone and iPad. This edition allows players to form "Tag Teams" with characters that have special powers. The game ranked no. 2 in iPhone US Appstore free download charts in its first week and no. 1 for iPad.[52]
2013 Foul Play Devolver Digital Xbox Live Arcade, Steam A cartoon-style side-scrolling beat-em-up set in a Victorian theatre. Schedule for release in Q3 2013.[53]
2013 Qwirkle Square Enix iOS, Android, Facebook Square Enix announced a version of the Board game to operate across multiple platforms and demonstrated the game at Electronic Entertainment Expo but only publicly released the game on Facebook before Square Enix restructured its US operations[54][55][56]
2013 Moshi Monsters: Lost Islands GREE iOS Announced an original Japanese card game in 2012. Work was suspended following GREE's global restructure.[57][58]
2012 Superbia Disney Web Virtual world where children can interact with popular Disney Television brands.[59]
2012 Amateur Surgeon Hospital Adult Swim Facebook A hospital simulation game in which players also perform surgeries. Part of the Amateur Surgeon franchise.
2012 Robot Unicorn Attack: Evolution Adult Swim Facebook A sequel to the popular infinite running game, Robot Unicorn Attack[60]
2011 Thundercats: Tree of the Ancients Warner Bros. Web Upward scrolling platformer
2010 Back to the Future: Blitz Through Time Telltale Games Facebook, Online A match 3 puzzle game[61]
2011 Amateur Ninja Adult Swim Web Players learn to be a ninja
2011 1000 Tiny Claws Mediatonic PSP, PS3 Isometric combat game[62][63]
2010 Ocean Snapper Mediatonic Myspace, Facebook An animal breeding game in which players photograph fish
2010 Pirate King Mediatonic Facebook A pirate themed adventure game
2010 MicroGP Mediatonic Facebook A top down racing game
2010 Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess Mediatonic PSP, PS3, Xbox Indie An upward scrolling platform game[64]
2010 Who’s That Flying!? Mediatonic PSP, PS3, Steam, iOS Shootem' Up with tower defence elements[65]
2010 Boom Bandits Spil Games Web A game similar to Angry Birds
2010 Moshling Boshling Mind Candy Web A Moshi Monsters game similar to Angry Birds
2010 Vancouver 2010, Snowboarding SEGA Web Snowboarding simulation for official Vancouver Olympics
2010 Vancouver 2010, Speed Skating SEGA Web Speed skating simulation for official Vancouver Olympics
2010 Vancouver 2010, Ski Jump SEGA Web Ski Jumping simulation for official Vancouver Olympics
2010 Vancouver 2010, Slalom SEGA Web Slalom simulation for official Vancouver Olympics
2010 Amateur Surgeon 2 Adult Swim Web, iOS, Android A sequel to the Amateur Surgeon franchise. Ranked in 10 paid apps on the AppStore[66]
2009 Must.Eat.Birds Mediatonic iOS, Android A game in which Players must defend their picnic from a bird invasion.[67]
2009 Extreme Lawn Bowls Mediatonic Web A humorous game based on the English pursuit of Bowls[68]
2009 Meowcenaries Adult Swim Web, iOS A spin on the famous Cannon Fodder (video game) game featuring the Lolcat internet meme
2009 Biker Blast-Off! The Gadget Show / Mediatonic iOS A trial bike racing game featuring Suzi Perry in The Gadget Show competition[69]
2009 Kid Vs. Kat: Katapult Katastrophe Disney Web Two online games featuring the TV show Kid vs. Kat
2009 Suite Life on Deck: Smoothie Service Disney Web A game featuring the TV show The Suite Life on Deck
2009 Toy Story: Woody’s Great Escape PIXAR Web An escape the room game featuring the Toy Story film
2009 Steamweavers Mediatonic Myspace Tower defence game[70]
2009 Sonic Level Creator (You tube game play video) SEGA Web An online version of the classic Sonic game in which player could build their own levels
2009 SpongeBob SquarePants: Hooked on You Nickelodeon Web Port: A platform game
2009 Fast & Furious (Youtube Demo) Sierra Entertainment Facebook, Myspace A game in which players customise their cars and race on social networks
2009 Amateur Surgeon Christmas Adult Swim Web, iOS A special edition of the franchise
2009 Travelogue 360 Paris Big Fish Games Web A hidden object game
2009 Travelogue 360 London Big Fish Games Web A hidden object game
2009 Hidden Expedition Everest Big Fish Games Web A hidden object game
2009 Hidden Expedition Everest MSN Search Special Big Fish Games Web A hidden object game involving MSN Search
2009 Hidden Expedition Titanic, MSN Search Special Big Fish Games Web A hidden object game involving MSN Search
2009 Hidden Expedition Titanic Big Fish Games Web A hidden object game
2009 Dr Kawashimas Brain Exercise, Predominant Number Namco Bandai Games Web An arithmetical challenge game
2009 Dr Kawashimas Brain Exercise, Follow the Pencil Namco Bandai Games Web Port: A motor-skills game
2009 Dr Kawashimas Brain Exercise, Reverse Dice Namco Bandai Games Web An arithmetical challenge game
2009 Dr Kawashimas Brain Exercise, Line Up Namco Bandai Games Web A spatial awareness game
2009 Dr Kawashimas Brain Training 2 Namco Bandai Games Feature Phones A series of 'brain training' games
2009 Diego’s Underwater Adventures Nickelodeon Web A point and click adventure based on the popular children's cartoon
2009 Commanders Sierra Entertainment Web Tower defence game
2008 SEGA Pool SEGA Web Pool simulation game
2008 Columns SEGA Web A casual matching game
2008 Three Reel Slots SEGA Web A casual game
2008 Hollywood Adventure Quiz SEGA Web An online quiz game
2008 Back to the 80’s Quiz SEGA Web An online quiz game
2008 The Quiz of Culinary Delights SEGA Web An online quiz game
2008 Music, Melodies and Rockstars SEGA Web An online quiz game
2008 Sonic at the Olympics SEGA Web A guessing game for two players
2008 Azada Big Fish Games Web A puzzle game
2008 Travelogue 360 Rome Big Fish Games Web A hidden object game
2008 Crestor Challenge Astrazeneca Web An educational game for the healthcare industry
2008 Trivial Pursuit Quiz Electronic Arts / Hasbro Web A web version of the board game
2008 Amateur Surgeon Adult Swim Web, iOS Pizza boy 'Alan Probe' turns his hand to Surgery with a Pizza Cutter
2008 Bureaucracy Buster AstraZeneca Web Port: An educational game
2008 Hidden Expedition Titanic Big Fish Games Web Hidden object game
2008 Beijing 2008, Weightlifting SEGA Web Weightlifting simulation for official Beijing Olympics
2008 Beijing 2008, Archery SEGA Web Archery simulation for official Beijing Olympics
2008 Beijing 2008, High Dive SEGA Web High Dive simulation for official Beijing Olympics
2008 Greek Island Solitaire SEGA Web Classic [[Patience (game)] Solitaire] style game
2008 Ice Shuffle SEGA Web A sport game
2008 Aquatic Word Burst SEGA Web Casual word game
2008 Gigolo Assassin Adult Swim Web A point and click adventure game featuring a Gigolo Assassin
2008 Manor Mystery Boonty Web Hidden object game
2008 Talismania Popcap / EA Web Port: A casual puzzle game
2008 Inca Quest iWin Web A match 3 casual game
2008 Bejeweled 2 Popcap Web Port: A match 3 casual game
2008 Diner Dash PlayFirst Web Port: A restaurant simulation game
2008 Bejeweled 2 Popcap / EA Web Port: a popular match 3 casual game
2008 Bookworm Popcap / EA Web Port: A casual word game
2008 Poppit! Stressbuster Pogo.com / EA Web A viral game involving matching balloons
2008 Poppit! Mini Stressbuster Pogo.com / EA Web Port: A viral game involving matching balloons
2008 Word Whomp Mini Pogo.com / EA Web Port: A word game
2008 Penguin Panic Mediatonic Web A puzzle based platform game involving building ice structures
2008 Portal Peril Nickelodeon Web Infinite running game
2008 Greedy Gang Mediatonic Web A climate change educational game
2008 Sudoku SEGA Web Classic maths game
2008 Text Twist SEGA Web Word game
2008 Turbo Solitaire SEGA Web A twist on the classic solitaire game
2007 Little Shop of Treasures Gamehouse Web Port: Hidden object game
2007 Super Collapse! Gamehouse Web Port: a casual matching game
2007 Bubble Bubble SEGA Web Casual match 3 game
2007 Meat Match Boonty Web A match 3 puzzle game involving meat.
2007 Battleships! SEGA Web A guessing game for two players
2007 Diamond Detective Gamehouse Web Port: A casual match 3 game
2007 SiteAdvisor Challenge McAfee Web Port: An advergame for the security software in which players navigate the web.
2007 Horizon AstraZeneca Web Port: An educational game for the healthcare industry
2007 Homerun Hero Shockwave Web Port: Sports game
2007 Mole Hunt Pogo.com / EA Web Port: A guessing game for two players
2007 Tequila Trouble William Grant & Sons Web Advergame involving running a cocktail bar
2007 Addiction Solitaire Shockwave (game portal) Web Port: A guessing game for two players
2007 Letter Linker SEGA Web Port: A guessing game for two players
2007 Brain Assist! SEGA Web A 'brain training' puzzle game
2007 Mah Jong Amazon Adventure SEGA Web A classic mahjong style game
2007 PlaySEGA Blackjack SEGA Web A guessing game for two players
2007 Mystery Case Files: Millionheir Nintendo Web A hidden object game
2007 Operation Challenge Electronic Arts / Pogo.com Web A web version of the board game
2007 Lego Pirates: Quest for Brickbeards Bounty LEGO Web An children's hidden object game
2006 Air Control Lufthansa Web Viral game in which the player flies a paper plane across an office.
2005 Beetle Bomp iWin Web Port: A colour matching casual game
2005 Snowman Salvage Mediatonic Web A viral game involving building snowmen against the clock

References

  1. ↑ "Develop 100: UK Studio Hotlist 2013". Develop (magazine). 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
  2. ↑ "Mediatonic delight at Tech Track 100 nod". Develop (magazine). Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "GamesIndustry.biz - New Brighton Studio for Mediatonic". Eurogamer. 2010-09-30. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
  4. ↑ "Mediatonic's Rise". Edge (magazine). 2010-09-30. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
  5. ↑ "Crunchbase Profile: Mediatonic". Techcrunch. 2013-07-23. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
  6. ↑ "Frog Capital Porfolio". Frog Capital. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  7. ↑ "Just the tonic". Tech City Insider. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  8. ↑ "Brunel University: Placement & Employment". Brunel University. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  9. ↑ "Snowman Salvage". JayIsGames. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  10. ↑ "Mediatonic's Rise". Edge. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  11. ↑ "Alan Probe: Amateur Surgeon". Jay Is Games. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  12. ↑ "Adult Swim: All Games". Adult Swim. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  13. ↑ "Must Eat Birds: Maximum Bake". Touch Arcade. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  14. ↑ "Must.Eat.Birds Review". IGN. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  15. ↑ "Mediatonic plans". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  16. ↑ "Investors". Mediatonic. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  17. ↑ "Vaudevillian beat-em-up Foul Play raises XBLA, PC curtains next month". JoyStiq. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  18. ↑ "Mediatonic Highlights the Dramatics in Foul Play". Digital Noob. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  19. ↑ "BAFTA Video Games Awards Nominations". BAFTA. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  20. ↑ "Amateur Surgeon iPhone Review". IGN. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  21. ↑ "Amateur Surgeon 3: Review". Gamezebo. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  22. ↑ "Mediatonic planning to double headcount". GamesIndustry.Biz. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  23. ↑ "Mediatonic to double headcount with new office". Develop (magazine). Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  24. ↑ "Work for hire is broken, argues Mediatonic CEO Dave Bailey". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  25. ↑ Dotson, Carter. "'Heavenstrike Rivals' is Square Enix and Mediatonic's Upcoming Take on 'Hero Academy'-Style Multiplayer Turn-Based Strategy". Touch Arcade. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  26. ↑ Vincent, Brittany. "Heavenstrike Rivals Review: Intuitive Combat, Adorable Fighters". Gamezebo. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  27. ↑ "Metacritic Profile -". Metacritic. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  28. ↑ Jay Is Games - Alan Probe: Amateur Surgeon
  29. ↑ "Amateur Surgeon 2 HD Brings Risky Surgery To The iPad". AppAdvice. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  30. ↑ "Preview: Amateur Surgeon: Christmas". Destructoid. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  31. ↑ "Bafta Video Game Awards 2013". Guardian. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  32. ↑ "Robot Unicorn Attack Evolution Review". Gamezebo. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  33. ↑ "Gigolo Assassin Walkthrough". JayIsGames. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  34. ↑ "Mediatonic Ask "WTF!?" With Their Latest PlayStation Mini". Push Square. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  35. ↑ "Review: Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess". Destructoid. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  36. ↑ "Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess Review This game is (totally) awesome.". IGN. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  37. ↑ "Review: Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess! Ascend to excellence.". TheSixthAxis. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  38. ↑ "Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess defines the Playstation Minis service in a way that no release before it has managed". PushSquare. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  39. ↑ "'Must.Eat.Birds.' - MAXIMUM BAKE!!!". Touch Arcade. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  40. ↑ "Review: Who's That Flying!?". Destructoid. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  41. ↑ "Review: 1000 Tiny Claws (mini)". TheSixthAxis. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  42. ↑ Nye Griffiths, Daniel. "Bird Time Lucky: Devolver To Remake Glorified Visual Novel 'Hatoful Boyfriend' With 60FPS, 1080p". http://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnyegriffiths/2014/06/06/bird-time-lucky-devolver-to-remake-glorified-visual-novel-hatoful-boyfriend-with-60fps-1080p/. Forbes. Retrieved 18 June 2014. External link in |website= (help)
  43. ↑ "Hatoful Boyfriend Hands On - Flap Your Wings for Dove". Escapist. Escapist. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  44. ↑ "Foul Play: All the Game’s a Stage". IGN. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  45. ↑ "Place A Llama In An Inappropriate Situation". 148apps. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  46. ↑ "Free Games: DC Universe Online & Inappropriate Llama Disaster". G4TV. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  47. ↑ "Mediatonic victorious in Gadget Show-down". Develop (Magazine). Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  48. ↑ "Episode 11 - Apps". Channel Five. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  49. ↑ "List of Mediatonic Games". IGN. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  50. ↑ "Secrets and Treasures". Microsoft. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  51. ↑ "Delivery Outlaw Review". 148apps. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  52. ↑ "Amateur Surgeon 3 Joins the Top Free iPhone Apps List". Media Bistro. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  53. ↑ "eToo features Foul Play". IndieHaven. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  54. ↑ "E3 2012: Square Enix gets award-winning board game to Facebook, mobile". Games.com. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  55. ↑ "Square Enix Los Angeles layoff details, CEO rumored to be out by May". JoyStiq. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  56. ↑ "Square-Enix of America President and CEO Mike Fischer Resigns". IGN. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  57. ↑ Plant, Michael (14 August 2012). "Two new Moshi Monsters mobile games announced". London: Independent. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  58. ↑ "Japans Gaming Giant GREE Retrenches in Europe". Techcrunch. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  59. ↑ "New online game based on Disney Channel’s shows". Fun Kids Live. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  60. ↑ "Robot Unicorn Attack Evolution – Review". The Play Vault. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  61. ↑ "Back to the Future: Blitz Through Time: About this game". IGN. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  62. ↑ "1000 Tiny Claws [Reviews summary]". Metacritic. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  63. ↑ "1000 Tiny Claws Review—Yar, Thar Be Lots of Insects". PSPMinis.com. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  64. ↑ "Review: Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess". Destructoid. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  65. ↑ "Review: Who's That Flying?". Destructoid. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  66. ↑ "Top iPhone Game Apps: Amateur Surgeon 2 Enters Top Ten". Gamasutra. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  67. ↑ "Must.Eat.Birds. Review". SlideToPlay. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  68. ↑ "Extreme Lawn Bowls review". Touch Gen. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  69. ↑ "Biker Blastoff!". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  70. ↑ "Steamweavers: about this game". IGN.

External links

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