China's The9 Acquires Majority of Red 5 Studios for $20M

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Shanghai – The9 (NASD: NCTY), a developer and operator of multiplayer
online games in China,
announced on Monday that it has acquired a majority stake in U.S.-based
developer Red 5 Studios for $20 million.

Founded in 2006 by former Blizzard
Entertainment executives, Red 5 Studios has yet to release any titles but has
reportedly been at work on a first-person shooter online multiplayer game.

The
developer, which maintains studios in Irvine, Calif. and Shanghai,
laid off an undisclosed number of staff recently.

The9 operates online games including
"FIFA Online," "Atlantica" and "Soul of the Ultimate
Nation" in China.

 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/v05o9

http://snipurl.com/v05o4
(Gamasutra)

http://www.red5studios.com

http://corp.the9.com

Meckler's WebMediaBrands Acquires Rotorblog

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

New York
– WebMediaBrands (NASD: WEBM), a blog network that provides content, education, jobs and
events for business, media and creative professionals, announced on Monday that
it has acquired the assets of Rotorblog.com, which covers the social media
space.

Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Founded in 2006,
Rotorblog currently attracts some 200,000 unique monthly visitors.

"Rotorblog
will be a terrific addition to our stable of blogs covering the social media
space," said Alan Meckler, chairman and CEO of WebMediaBrands.

"In
recent months we also acquired the blogs All Facebook and Social Times along
with a variety of trade shows dealing with social gaming and media
topics."

WebMediaBrands’ other assets include MediaBistro.com,
Graphics.com and Freelance Connect.

 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/v05eb

http://www.rotorblog.com

Skype Founders' Venture Fund Atomico Raises $165 Million

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

London
– Atomico, the venture capital fund launched in 2006 by Kazaa and Skype
creators Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, announced on Monday that it has $165
million for its second fund.

The duo were the largest investors in this new
fund, and were joined by "several top-tier institutions."

Atomico
said the fund will focus primarily in Europe,
and seek to invest in early-stage, high-growth technology companies. Previous
investments have included Playfire and Jolicloud.

"We will seek to invest
in exceptional entrepreneurs who are building exceptional businesses. We will
target companies that we believe have the potential to generate significant
growth, transform their industries, and deliver strong returns," said
Zennstrom.

 

Related Links:
http://www.atomico.com/pressreleases.php?pr_id=1

In-Game Ad Network Double Fusion Gets Funding, Replaces CEO

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

San Francisco
– Double Fusion, the provider of an in-game advertising network, has raised an
undisclosed amount of new funding from Jerusalem Venture Partners, and also
replaced its CEO, VentureBeat reported.

Jonathan Epstein, the chief executive
of San Francisco-based Double Fusion since 2006, has stepped down.

Epstein will
be replaced by Alex Sood, who previously ran the company’s unit in Asia.

 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/v04zz
(VentureBeat)

http://www.doublefusion.com

Plastic Jungle Raises $7.4M for Online Gift Card Exchange

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Mountain View,
Calif. – Plastic Jungle, the developer
of an online gift card exchange, said on Friday that it has raised $7.4 million
in its second round of funding, led by new investor Redpoint Ventures.

Previous
backers Shasta Ventures, First Round Capital and Bay Partners also
participated.

The Mountain View, Calif.-based company, which also raised $6
million in March 2009, plans to use the latest funding to grow its business,
which aims to liquidate the estimated $30 billion in unused gift cards.

The
service allows users to get cash for unwanted gift cards for up to 92% of the
unused balance, as well as buy gift cards at up to a 30% discount.

Plastic
Jungle said that it saw 450% year-over-year revenue growth this past holiday
season.

"Our growth this past year proves that we are filling a
significant gap in the retail economy allowing retailers to drive enormous
incremental value from their already successful gift card programs," said
CEO Gary Briggs.

"With this new investment we’ll be able to execute our
vision more quickly."

 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/v04is

http://www.plasticjungle.com

Apple Begins Accepting Submissions for iPad Applications

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
2

Cupertino,
Calif. – Apple (NASD: AAPL) on Friday began
accepting submissions for review from developers creating applications for its
iPad tablet computer, All Things D reported. "iPad will begin shipping
soon and your opportunity to be part of the grand opening of the iPad App Store
starts today," reads the note Apple posted for developers.


 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/uxvbd
(All Things D)

Nintendo Pushing DS as Educational Tool in Schools

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

London
– Nintendo plans to market its Nintendo DS handheld game system as an educational
and teaching tool in Japanese schools this year, legendary game designer
Shigeru Miyamoto ("Mario," "Donkey Kong,"
"Zelda") told the Associated Press. The company will offer the DS "in
junior high and elementary schools in Japan starting in the new school
year," Miyamoto told AP. The DS is already a feature in some Japanese
museums, art galleries and aquariums, he added.


 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/uxthq
(AP)

MobiTV DRM Tweak to Allow Caching of Mobile TV Programs

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Las Vegas
– MobiTV, a provider of mobile TV programming and delivery services, this week
introduced a change to its digital rights management (DRM) scheme that will
allow viewers to cache content on their mobile devices and watch it offline
whenever they want. Commercial availability is planned for the second quarter,
the company told PaidContent. "It was imperative for us, as multi-screen
distribution becomes core to our business, to create a solution that allows for
consumption of content on multiple screens and platforms, whether someone is on
a plane or sitting in front of their home television," said Cedric Fernandes,
vice president of technology at MobiTV.


 

Related Links:
http://www.mobitv.com/news-and-events/press-releases/articles/031810/

http://snipurl.com/uxunt
(PaidContent)

http://www.mobitv.com

President of Chinese Games Firm The9 to Step Down

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Shanghai – Chinese online game developer and operator The9
announced on Friday that company president Xiaowei Chen will not renew her
contract, which expires on May 16. The company, which operates titles like
"FIFA Online" and "Soul of the Ultimate Nation," said
chairman and CEO Jun Zhu will additionally assume Chen’s duties.


 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/uxukr

http://www.corp.the9.com

eMusic Debuts Rewards Program to Boost Subscriber Value

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Austin
– Digital music service eMusic this week introduced a new A+R Access + Rewards
program, which it says will provide subscribers to its service with more value
for their money. The program offers special access to selected music clubs and
festivals; a number of sweepstakes with chances to meet artists; discounted
admission to some museums and other events; and discounts on music gear.


 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/uxv1f

http://www.emusic.com

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