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HandyGames

www.handy-games.com GmbH[3] (trade name: HandyGames) is a German video game developer and publisher based in Giebelstadt. In July 2018, the company was acquired by THQ Nordic.

History

The company was founded in 2000 by brothers Christopher and Markus Kassulke along with Udo Bausewein. In 2006, HandyGames released its first free, ad-funded game and began the gradual transition to a largely ad-funded business model. Since 2010, all new HandyGames mobile titles are either free or freemium. By 2014 HandyGames had 150,000 app downloads per month and more than 100 million downloads in total.[4] They have developed all the Townsmen games.

In 2012, HandyGames expanded onto other platforms like PC or Smart TVs. In January 2014 and 2015, the company were main sponsors for the "HandyGames Charity Day" in Würzburg, which aimed to raise funds for cancer research. On both occasions the event was able to raise roughly 50000 Euros.[5][6]

HandyGames was one of the first companies to launch games for wearable technology in 2014.[7] The games are compatible with Android Wear devices, including the Moto 360 by Motorola, the Huawei Watch, the Sony SmartWatch and the LG G Watch.[8]

The company began developing VR (virtual reality) games 2015 and released titles like "Hidden Temple – VR Adventure".[9] They can be played in 360° mode or in VR using one of the supported head-mounted displays like Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, or Google Cardboard.[10] Simultaneously, HandyGames began developing games for the Eighth generation of video game consoles like the PlayStation 4, Xbox One[11] or later the Nintendo Switch. On 9 July 2018, THQ Nordic announced that it had acquired HandyGames and all of its intellectual property. THQ Nordic said that the studio management and all employees remain with the company.[12][13]

Townsmen Expeditions (working title), which will mark the most recent entry in the Townsmen IP, received €150,000 development funding from Creative Europe.[14] As of 2020, HandyGames employs 60 people.[15]

In May 2021, Embracer Group announced the acquisition of Massive Miniteam by HandyGames, which will be fully integrated within the HandyGames organization, under the operative group THQ Nordic.[16]

Awards

  • Deutscher Entwicklerpreis — Bestes Studio (Best German Studio)[17]

Games

External links

References

  1. 8th Birthday GamesIndustry.biz, 25 April 2008^
  2. Petra Fröhlich. Die größten Games-Studios in Deutschland 2024 GamesWirtschaft, 15 August 2024, retrieved 15 August 2024^
  3. Legal Notice HandyGames, retrieved 1 November 2023^
  4. Ins Spiel gebracht: Effektiv werben in Mobile Games von HandyGames finanzen.ch, February 4, 2014^
  5. Gummersbach kommt: Großer Handball-Benefiztag für Krebshilfe mainpost.de, January 17, 2014, retrieved July 9, 2014^
  6. HandyGames Charity Day 2015 – ein voller Erfolg www.b4bmainfranken.de, February 2, 2015, retrieved September 14, 2015^
  7. HandyGames' CEO on why he's looking to take a leading role in the world of wearables Pocket Gamer.biz, August 26, 2014^
  8. Handy Games on why it's backing smartwatch gaming not VR Pocket Gamer.biz, November 13, 2014^
  9. HandyGames released a VR Game on Google Play January 13, 2015, retrieved January 12, 2016^
  10. Handy Games releases Hidden Temple – VR Adventure for Google Cardboard July 30, 2015^
  11. Aces of the Luftwaffe Review – Bogeys Spotted PS4 March 5, 2015^
  12. What has 100 legs, is from Germany and has been acquired by THQ Nordic? THQ Nordic, 9 July 2018^
  13. THQ Nordic acquires the German game developer and publisher HandyGames Embracer Group, 9 July 2018, retrieved 17 September 2019^
  14. Game Play mit MEDIA – siebenstelliger Rekord für deutsche Projekte www.creative-europe-desk.de, Creative Europe MEDIA, 9 October 2018, retrieved 19 October 2018^
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  16. Sal Romano. Embracer Group acquires Appeal Studios, KAIKO, Massive Miniteam, and FRAME BREAK, establishes Gate21 Gematsu, May 11, 2021, retrieved May 13, 2021^
  17. HandyGames Deutscher Entwicklerpreis, 11 November 2019, retrieved 31 May 2019^
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  30. Keith Andrew. World of Dice Pocket Gamer, Steel Media Ltd, January 15, 2009^
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  32. Keith Andrew. Casino Crime Pocket Gamer, Steel Media Ltd, September 29, 2010^
  33. Will Wilson. Shark or Die Pocket Gamer, Steel Media Ltd, July 27, 2010^
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