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{{short description|American online gaming website}} |
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{{Infobox Website |
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{{Infobox website |
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| name = Kongregate Games |
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| name = Kongregate |
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| logo = Kongregate_Logo_2022.png |
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| screenshot = |
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| logo_size = 200px |
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| caption = Kongregate Online Games |
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| logo_caption = |
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| url = [http://www.kongregate.com Kongregate.com] |
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| |
| screenshot = |
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| caption = [[Kongregate Online Games]] |
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| type = Gaming website/Chat/Game Sharing/ |
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| url = [https://www.kongregate.com Kongregate.com] |
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| registration = Not required (however, many features are disabled) |
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| commercial = Yes |
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| owners = Jim and Emily Greer; Gamestop |
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| owner = [[GameStop]] (2010–2017)<br>[[Modern Times Group]] (2017–2024)<br>Monumental (2024–) |
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| launch date = October 10, 2006<ref>http://www.kongregate.com/accounts/Johnathon</ref> |
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| type = Online gaming website and/or social network |
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| revenue = Advertising generated<br>In game currency ("Kreds")<br>Corporate Sponsorship |
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| registration = Free, not required (however, some features are disabled); Paid membership optional |
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| launch_date = October 10, 2006<ref name="NextGen">{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2006/10/19/kongregate-a-next-generation-web-games-marketplace/ |title=Kongregate: a Next Generation Web Games Marketplace |publisher=techcrunch.com |date=2006-10-19 |access-date=2018-10-15}}</ref> |
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| revenue = Advertising<br />In-game currency ("Kreds")<br />Corporate sponsorship<br />Premium memberships (Kong+) |
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}} |
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'''Kongregate''' is an American web gaming portal and video game publisher. Its website features over 124,000 online games and 30+ mobile games available to the public. The company also publishes games for PC, mobile, and home consoles. It was purchased by [[GameStop Corporation]] in 2010<ref name=":0" /> before being acquired by [[Modern Times Group|Modern Times Group MT AB]] in 2017. |
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'''Kongregate''' is a website that allows users to upload user-created [[Adobe Flash]] or [[Adobe Director]] games. It features an [[Application programming interface|API]] that flash developers can integrate into their games which allows users to submit high scores and in some games, earn achievement badges. Badges and local score submissions are only available on games whose developers choose to use the Kongregate API.<ref name="Yahoo20070323">{{Cite news| last =Baertlein | first =Lisa | title =New site aims to be the YouTube of gaming | work =Yahoo! News | publisher =Yahoo! Inc. | date =2007-03-23 | url =http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070322/tc_nm/videogames_kongregate_dc;_ylt=ArdqXL2QVjpq6UvTdSQf7uZk24cA | accessdate = 2007-03-23 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref name="TechCrunch20061019">{{Cite news| last =Kirkpatrick | first =Marshall | title =Kongregate: a Next Generation awesome site Web Games Marketplace | work = | publisher =Tech Crunch | date =2006-10-19 | url =http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/10/19/kongregate-a-next-generation-web-games-marketplace/ | accessdate = 2007-03-23 }}</ref><ref name="SolutionWatch20061220">{{Cite news| last =Wilson| first =Matt | title =Kongregate: Your Gatorade For Flash Games | work = | publisher =Solution Watch | date =2006-12-20 | url =http://www.solutionwatch.com/536/kongregate-your-gatorade-for-flash-games/ | accessdate = 2007-03-23 }}</ref> |
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The website's portfolio of games spans a wide range of genres. Kongregate is the home for several idle/clicker games, including ''[[AdVenture Capitalist|Adventure Capitalist]]'', ''Crusaders of the Lost Idols'', and ''Anti-Idle: The Game''. |
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==History== |
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The site was created in June 2006 by sister and brother team Emily and Jim Greer. The site was initially run through a testing phase which lasted until December 2006.<ref name="Jim20060901">{{Cite web| last =Greer | first =Jim | title =Gamers asking for Kongregate! | work = | publisher =Jim on Web Games | date =2006-09-01 | url =http://jimonwebgames.com/articles/2006/08/31/gamers-asking-for-kongregate | accessdate = 2007-03-23 }}</ref> During this time, game developers and players tested the site's interface and functionality. In December of the same year, the site was formally opened to the public.<ref name="Yahoo20070323"/> The site formally entered the beta testing phase on March 22, 2007.<ref name="Mashable20070322">{{Cite news| last =Nicole | first =Kristen | title =Kongregate Announces Funding, Launches | publisher =[[Mashable]] Social Networking News | date =2007-03-22 | url =http://mashable.com/2007/03/22/kongregate/ | accessdate = 2007-03-23 }}</ref><ref name="VentureBeat20070321">{{Cite news| last =Marshall| first =Matt | title =Kongregrate, the online social game hub| publisher =Venture Beat | date =2007-03-21 | url =http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/21/kongregrate-the-online-social-game-hub/ | accessdate = 2007-03-23 }}</ref> |
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On the web portal, users could upload [[Adobe Flash]], [[HTML5]]/[[JavaScript]], [[Adobe Shockwave|Shockwave]], [[Java (programming language)|Java]], and [[Unity (game engine)|Unity]] games with integrated high scores and achievement badges.<ref name="NextGen" /><ref name="Reuters20070322">{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-videogames-kongregate/new-site-aims-to-be-the-youtube-of-gaming-idUSN3L42391720070322 |title=New site aims to be the YouTube of gaming |last=Baertlein |first=Lisa |date=2007-03-22 |work=Reuters Life! |access-date=2018-10-15 |publisher=Thomson Reuters}}</ref><ref name="SolutionWatch20061220">{{cite news |url=http://www.solutionwatch.com/536/kongregate-your-gatorade-for-flash-games/ |title=Kongregate: Your Gatorade For Flash Games |last=Wilson |first=Matt |date=2006-12-20 |publisher=Solution Watch |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015095105/http://www.solutionwatch.com/536/kongregate-your-gatorade-for-flash-games/ |archive-date=2017-10-15 |access-date=2018-10-15}}</ref> The portal was closed to new user submissions in 2020, though previously submitted games remain. |
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The Kongregate website itself was designed by Happy Cog Studios.<ref name="HappyCog">{{Cite web| title =Kongregate | work =Selected Works | publisher =Happy Cog Studios | date =2007 | url =http://www.happycog.com/design/kongregate/ | doi = | accessdate = 2007-03-23 }}</ref> |
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==History== |
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As of July 2008, Kongregate has raised around $9 million in capital from investments by [[Reid Hoffman]], Jeff Clavier, [[Jeff Bezos]], and [[Greylock|Greylock Partners]]. |
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Kongregate was released on October 10, 2006, by siblings Emily and Jim Greer into an alpha testing phase, which lasted until December 2006.<ref name="Jim20060901">{{cite web |last=Greer |first=Jim |title=Gamers asking for Kongregate! |publisher=Jim on Web Games |date=2006-09-01 |url=http://jimonwebgames.com/articles/2006/08/31/gamers-asking-for-kongregate |access-date=2018-10-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928102139/http://jimonwebgames.com/articles/2006/08/31/gamers-asking-for-kongregate |archive-date=2007-09-28}}</ref> During this time, game developers and players tested the site's interface and functionality. The site formally entered the beta testing phase on March 22, 2007.<ref name="Mashable20070322">{{cite news |last=Nicole |first=Kristen |title=Kongregate Announces Funding, Launches |publisher=[[Mashable]] Social Networking News |date=2007-03-22 |url=https://mashable.com/2007/03/22/kongregate/ |access-date=2018-10-15}}</ref><ref name="VentureBeat20070321">{{cite news |last=Marshall |first=Matt |title=Kongregate, the online social game hub |publisher=Venture Beat |date=2007-03-21 |url=https://venturebeat.com/2007/03/21/kongregrate-the-online-social-game-hub/ |access-date=2018-10-15}}</ref> In December of the same year, the site was formally opened to the public.<ref name="Reuters20070322"/> |
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As of July 2008, Kongregate had raised around $9 million in capital from investments by [[Reid Hoffman]], Jeff Clavier, [[Jeff Bezos]], and [[Greylock Partners]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://techcrunch.com/2008/04/30/kongregate-gets-3-million-from-bezos-growing-fast-and-about-to-unleash-its-games-on-facebook/ |title=Kongregate Gets $3 Million From Bezos: Growing Fast and About To Unleash Its Games on Facebook |first=Erick |last=Schonfeld |date=2008-04-30 |access-date=2018-10-15 |work=Tech Crunch}}</ref> |
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On July 23, 2010, [[GameStop]] announced an agreement to acquire Kongregate.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100727005389/en/GameStop-Announces-Agreement-Acquire-Kongregate |author=GameStop |publisher=BusinessWire |title=GameStop Announces Agreement to Acquire Kongregate Inc. |date=2010-07-27 |access-date=2018-10-15}}</ref> |
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In 2014, the site introduced digital creatures called Kongpanions, which act as a site-wide achievement system and [[metagame]]. These creatures often take the form of animals or [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomophized]] objects. The Kongpanions that players collect can be used in some games on the site.<ref name=jmtb02>{{cite web |url=http://www.jmtb02.com/ |title=Other Work |access-date=2018-10-15}}</ref> |
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==Features== |
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Kongregate provides free online games that everyone can play. It often adds badges to popular games with a rating of four out of five stars or higher, as decided by the users. |
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In 2024 it was announced that game development studio Monumental acquired Kongregate.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mtg.com/press-releases/mtg-combines-kongregate-with-monumental-for-a-30-stake-in-the-joined-entity/ | title=MTG combines Kongregate with Monumental for a 30 % stake in the joined entity }}</ref> |
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===Interface=== |
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The games on Kongregate all have a main game screen, and to the right, a Kongregate window. Above the window is a little "plug" icon which displays a notification when a game has contacted the Kongregate servers to submit statistics for the game. The plug will turn green when connected to the servers via [[Application programming interface|API]], yellow if connected via [[BOSH]], and red when not connected. The window also includes three of these five tabs: |
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=== Games publishing === |
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{| class="wikitable" border="1" |
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|+ |
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! Interface Tab Name !! Description of Tab Function |
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| Chat Tab || In the chat tab, players can type messages to other players playing Kongregate games in the same chat room. The chat tab has multiple chat rooms. Multiplayer games, along with a few others, have their own chat rooms only accessible while playing that game. There is also a list of people in the current room. By hovering over a registered user's name, the user can see what games that person is playing. By clicking on a name, users can also see a smaller version of that person's Kongregate profile. Beside names on the list includes the user's Kongregate level, a friends symbol if they are on the person's friend list, and if they are Kongregate staff (marked by a red "K" - for example ''greg''), a room owner (marked by an orange "R"), a chat moderator (marked by an orange "M"), a collabs curator (marked by an orange "C"), or a game developer (marked by a blue "D"). |
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|- |
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| Game Tab || Under the game tab, the user can view details of the game, and rate the game out of five stars. They may also "favorite" a game, report a bug, or flag the game for review of inappropriate material. The game window now also features a new addition to Kongregate: a tip jar. Users may exchange real money for "[[Kongregate#Kreds and Tip Jar|Kreds]]", which they can spend on Kongregate bonuses (such as cards) or tip the game's developer. |
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|- |
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| Achievements Tab || Under the achievements tab, the user can view any badges that they can earn by playing the game. There is also a high-scores link for most games. The conditions of the high-scores are pre-programmed by the game's developer. When the criteria for a new badge, challenge, high-score or achievement is met, the tab changes automatically to inform the player. |
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|- |
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| More Games Tab || If API integration has not been designed by the developer, a "More Games" tab is shown in place of the Achievements tab. This has a title "Other great games on Kongregate!" and merely displays, as the title may suggest, other games on Kongregate and their star rating. |
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|- |
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| User Content || If the game supports a level editor, then a "User Content" tab may be listed in the fourth location. The tab lists the top 3 rated levels, as well as the "Browse All" feature. This is illustrated in a few levels, such as Hexiom Connect. |
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|} |
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In early 2013, Kongregate announced a $10 million fund devoted to mobile gaming,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weber |first1=Rachel |title=Kongregate launches $10m fund for mobile developers |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-02-04-kongregate-launches-USD10m-for-mobile-developers |website=GamesIndustry.biz |date=4 February 2013 |access-date=9 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref> and as part of this new program, the former [[Zynga]] executive Pany Haritatos was hired to oversee it.<ref name=zynga>{{cite web |url=https://www.mobileworldlive.com/kongregate-launches-10m-mobile-games-fund |first=Steve |last=Costello |title=Kongregate launches $10M mobile games fund |date=2013-02-14 |access-date=2018-10-15 |archive-date=2019-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506105236/https://www.mobileworldlive.com/kongregate-launches-10m-mobile-games-fund |url-status=dead }}</ref> The money was used to financially support free-to-play mobile game developers by helping them test and market their games.<ref name="games10M">{{cite web |last1=Weber |first1=Rachel |title=Kongregate names $10m mobile fund developers |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-07-02-kongregate-names-USD10m-mobile-fund-developers |website=GamesIndustry.biz |date=2 July 2013 |access-date=9 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Some of the developers benefited by this fund included Synapse Games, RedPoint Labs, and Making Fun.<ref name="games10M" /> |
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===Profiles=== |
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Kongregate profiles are similar to other social networking site profiles in several ways. The profile shows a user's location, age, and gender, unless the user chooses to have these details hidden. The profiles also allow for a website link to be entered by the user, a small "about me" section which shows their favorite games on Kongregate, their friends on Kongregate, their interest, and what they have done on Kongregate. The profile also displays any games marked as a favorite by the user, all the games that the user had created, and all the badges and cards the user has earned. Some of the newer features include Level Sharing, a system by which users can share levels that they have created in games with a built-in level editor, and a new [[#Rewards|Badge]] layout which shows all recent badges earned by the user. |
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Kongregate announced plans in October 2016 to help developers bring their games to the [[Steam (service)|Steam]] distribution platform with an updated [[software development kit]] to make it easy to port games between Kongregate's web and mobile platforms as well as the Steam platforms (Windows, macOS, and Linux). It also simplified for players data sharing between these platforms. This enabled games to take advantage of [[microtransaction]]s through the Steam store for titles otherwise normally free-to-play.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-10-28-kongregate-expands-to-steam-exploring-opportunities-in-premium |title=Kongregate expands to Steam, "exploring opportunities" in premium |first=James |last=Brightman |date=2016-10-28 |access-date=2018-10-15|work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]]}}</ref> |
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Any user who adds another as a Friend becomes one of that user's ; If you add another user, and they don't add you back, to you they are your friend, to them you are their fan. Two people who add each other are both friends and fans. A user's profile shows both people they have added as friends and people that have added that user as a friend. Also displayed are comments, consisting of shouts, whispers visible only to the owner of the profile (which are similar to comments on [[MySpace]]), and the comments a user has left on games. |
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In 2016, Kongregate received Apple Editors' Choice for ''BattleHand'' and ''The Trail'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://appadvice.com/post/best-apps-and-games-of-2016/730901 |title=Here are Apple's Best Apps and Games of 2016 |work=AppAdvice |first=Aldrin |last=Calimlim |date=2016-12-07 |access-date=2018-10-15}}</ref> and the company received Google Play Editors' Choice for ''Animation Throwdown'' and ''AdVenture Capitalist''. ''BattleHand'' and ''The Trail'' also were voted as Best of 2016 by Apple, and ''Animation Throwdown'' and ''The Trail'' were voted Best of 2016 by Google Play.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} |
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===Forums=== |
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As with other websites Kongregate has an [[Internet forum]] section in which users may post their comments on any unlocked topics created by other users. |
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On June 20, 2017, Kongregate announced it had closed a deal to be acquired by Swedish entertainment company [[Modern Times Group]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/06/20/mtg-buys-gamestops-mobile-game-publisher-kongregate-for-55-million/ |first=Dean |last=Takahashi |title=MTG buys GameStop's mobile game publisher Kongregate for $55 million |date=2017-06-20 |website=VentureBeat |access-date=2018-10-15}}</ref> for $55 million. This followed MTG's recent purchase of 51% of Hamburg-based online game developer [[InnoGames]] in 2016 and 2017. Planned as part of the deal was a change in focus from hosting third-party games to driving game development as well. "[...]we'll be deepening our investment in several areas, from marketing/marketing tech to platform engineering. We're also going to be investing in first-party development and potential acquisitions of our own within the games space," said CEO Emily Greer.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/interview/66039/kongregate-on-its-post-acquisition-strategy/ |first=Matt |last=Suckley |date=2017-06-21 |title="More growth, more platforms, broader presence": Kongregate on its post-acquisition strategy |work=pocketgamer.biz |access-date=2018-10-15}}</ref> |
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There are also several Game-Specific Forums for the more popular games on Kongregate<ref>http://www.kongregate.com/forums/games</ref> such as [[#Kongai|Kongai]], Remnants of Skystone, Seafight and Steambirds. |
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On October 5, 2017, Kongregate acquired Chicago-based Synapse Games, the developer of ''Animation Throwdown''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/66740/kongregate-acquires-synpase-games/ |title=Kongregate acquires Animation Throwdown and Spellstone developer Synpase Games |first=Ric |last=Cowley |date=2017-10-05 |website=pocketgamer.biz |access-date=2018-10-15}}</ref> |
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===Rewards=== |
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Kongregate has a system of points, which are prizes awarded for performing certain on-site actions. There are many ways to gain points on Kongregate, such as rating games, rating artwork, rating user-created levels, earning achievements, creating games, completing quests, and completing challenges. The site has stated plans to make points redeemable for certain prizes, but the feature is not yet available. Gathering points increases the user's level. The maximum level possible is 65 although the level cap increases when the administrators see fit. Any new player starts out at level 1, and the points required to level up increase with every level. Currently, points are only used for advancing in levels on the site, however certain games in [[Beta Testing]] allow all users over a certain level to play the game. Levels can be used to identify the user's activity on the site. |
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On May 2, 2019, Kongregate announced that co-founder and CEO Emily Greer was leaving the company. She was replaced by COO Pany Haritatos as interim CEO.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/05/02/kongregate-ceo-and-cofounder-emily-greer-is-leaving-the-company/ |title=Kongregate CEO and cofounder Emily Greer is leaving the company |first=Mike |last=Minotti |date=2019-05-02 |website=venturebeat.com |access-date=2019-05-30}}</ref> |
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As part of Kongregate's points system, there is a badge system similar to that found on [[Microsoft]]'s [[Xbox Live]] gaming hub. Registered users have the opportunity to win badges upon reaching particular requirements (called achievements), for example killing a designated number of enemies, reaching a certain level, or building a certain number of turrets in certain games.<ref name="Joystiq20070629">{{Cite news| last =Bardinelli | first =John | title =Kongregate rolls out achievements for Flash games | work =Online | publisher =Joystiq | date =2007-06-29 | url =http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/29/kongregate-rolls-out-achievements-for-flash-games/ | accessdate = 2007-07-21 }}</ref> For each badge, a user is awarded a specific amount of points based on the difficulty of the achievement. The "Easy" badges are worth 5 points, the "Medium" badges are worth 15 points, the "Hard" badges are worth 30 points and the "Impossible" badges are worth 60 points. Greg McClanahan, the community manager of the site, is in charge of creating badges.<ref name="badgecreator">{{Cite news| last =McClanahan | first =Greg | title =Create your own badge graphics! | work =Online | publisher =Kongregate | date =2007-10-17 | url =http://www.kongregate.com/forums/1/topics/2762/ | accessdate = 2008-08-24 }}</ref> Every rating earns 1 point, and every quest completion earns 50 points. Occasionally there are challenges which, instead of giving points, members are given [[Kongai]] cards instead. A maximum of 50 games can be rated each day, as well as 10 media files (art/sound) a week. People can also earn points by uploading games and the ratings they get on those uploaded games. |
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In December 2019, Kongregate acquired ''[[Surviv.io]]'', a free-to-play online game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/355234/Kongregate_acquires_mobile_and_browser_battle_royale_shooter_Survivio.php|title=Kongregate acquires mobile and browser battle royale shooter Surviv.io|last=Kerr|first=Chris|website=www.gamasutra.com|date=5 December 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.kongregate.com/kongregate-acquires-popular-battle-royale-game-surviv-io/|title=Kongregate Acquires Popular Battle Royale Game 'Surviv.io'|date=2019-12-05|website=Kongregate Developers|language=en|access-date=2020-01-14}}</ref> |
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Also, Kongregate often offer a sweepstakes, giving out prizes such as games, game consoles, and movies. Although these challenges are particularly random, players who complete a certain criteria, usually equivalent to the difficulty of a medium badge, will receive a ticket, and when the sweepstakes is over, whoever received a ticket will be entered, and drawn at random to receive a prize. A list of winners win things, ranging from a grand prize of a game console and a game or movie, to a few other lucky people to just receive a copy of a movie or game that was listed. |
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On July 1, 2020, Kongregate announced the discontinuation of submissions as it prepared for the end-of-life for Adobe Flash Player by December 31, 2020, during which time the software required to run most of its games would be disabled in some browsers. Other features of the site such as the forums were also halted at the time as the Kongregate team worked on transitioning their internal titles to [[HTML5]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/2020/7/2/21311227/kongregate-flash-gaming-2020-changes-development | title= Kongregate is shifting away from Flash gaming | first = Nicole | last = Carpenter | date = July 2, 2020 | access-date = July 2, 2020 | work = [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] }}</ref> |
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In addition, Kongregate offers cards used in the game [[#Kongai|Kongai]] as special prizes for accomplishing weekly challenges. The cards were originally designed by [[UDON|UDON Entertainment]] only, but now Massive Black is designing them too.<ref name="UdonMB">{{Cite news| last=McClanahan | first=Greg | title=Witches in Kongai! | work=online | language=Gibberish | publisher=Kongregate | date=2008-08-19 | url=http://www.kongregate.com/forums/1/topics/17537?page=4#posts-319151 | accessdate=2008-08-24 }}</ref> |
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=== Kartridge === |
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A new type of reward, called a quest, was added early November 2009 which links several badges into a collection, that when completed collectively, award the user another 30 points and a medal displayed in the tickets section of the user's profile. Currently, there are five quests, named 'Beginner', which links 6 easy badges in various games, 'Best of 2007', 'Best of 2008' and 'Best of 2009', each linking ten badges of about medium difficulty, and the "Pixel Pack", which links 10 badges from games with "old school" pixel graphics. There has also been a Valentines Day quest. There have been two promotional quests in the past, however: One for [[Mass Effect 2]], and another for [[Dragon Age: Origins]]. |
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In November 2018 Kongregate opened Kartridge, a digital [[storefront]] focusing on [[Indie game|independent games]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tarason |first1=Dominic |title=Kongregate's new games store Kartridge is open for business |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/01/kongregate-kartridge-store-opening/ |website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun|date=November 2018 }}</ref> The storefront was available via browser or desktop app and features both premium paid games and free browser-based titles.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chalk |first1=Andy |title=Kongregate's digital storefront Kartridge is now open for everyone |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/kongregates-digital-storefront-kartridge-is-now-open-for-everyone/ |website=PC Gamer|date=November 2018 }}</ref> Unlike other storefronts such as [[Steam (service)|Steam]], Kartridge is a heavily curated store. Kongregate hopes this curation will help spotlight quality games and address [[discoverability]] issues indie games commonly face.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Conditt |first1=Jessica |title=Kartridge is a curated game store, now with more Indie Megabooth |url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/12/13/indie-megabooth-kartridge-kongregate-game-store/ |website=Engadget|date=13 December 2018 }}</ref> Another incentive offered to developers by the store is an increased revenue share for all games until they reach $10,000 in sales,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chan |first1=Stephanie |title=Kongregate announces revenue share details for its PC gaming platform Kartridge |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/04/24/kongregate-announces-revenue-share-details-for-its-pc-gaming-platform-kartridge/ |website=VentureBeat |access-date=9 September 2020 |date=24 April 2018}}</ref> with games that are exclusive to it having a higher threshold of $40,000.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Handrahan |first1=Matthew |title=Kartridge offers developers 100% of revenue up to $10,000 |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-04-25-kartridge-offers-developers-100-percent-of-revenue-up-to-usd10k |website=GamesIndustry.biz |date=25 April 2018 |access-date=9 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref> |
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Kartridge shut down in September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-13 |title=Sunsetting Kartridge & Kartridge.com - Kongregate |url=https://kong.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/16394691968660-Sunsetting-Kartridge-Kartridge-com }}</ref> |
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===Collabs=== |
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The Collabs are a feature that allows registered users to upload art and songs they have created to share with the Kongregate community. The collabs were designed for the purpose of allowing users to share their creations as well as connecting game developers with artists and musicians to collaborate and work together in the developing of a game. Also, users may Vote on the selections in the art and songs/sounds. When voting on the selection, they are awarded one point (per vote), which is used to contribute to their overall level, a maximum of 10 points available to earn per week by rating in this way. |
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=== |
===Kongregate.io=== |
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In July 2021 Kongregate announced plans for Kongregate.io, a web gaming portal featuring games that use [[non-fungible tokens]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Takahashi | first1=Dean |title=Kongregate.io will hit open beta later this year with NFT games| date=29 July 2021 |url=https://venturebeat.com/2021/07/29/kongregate-io-will-hit-open-beta-later-this-year-with-nft-games/}}</ref> |
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Kreds are virtual coins that can be spent on extras for Kongregate and games. Once an account is funded ($5 for 50 Kreds), the user can purchase power-ups, virtual items and is able to donate funds to the developer of a game via the tip jar feature. Games on Kongregate will always be available to play free of charge, however Kreds allow players to purchase bonuses that may not otherwise be available. |
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===Immutable X=== |
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Recently, Kongregate increased the amount of ways you can attain Kreds. Aside from paying with credit cards and PayPal<sup>®</sup>, you can now pay for Kreds using your mobile phone, pre-paid cards, and third-party offers. |
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In May 2022 Kongregate announced a team-up with blockchain game tech company Immutable X with a $40 million grant fund for developers who make blockchain games for Kongregate.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Takahashi | first1=Dean |title=Kongregate and Immutable X launch $40M blockchain game dev fund| date=25 May 2022 |url=https://venturebeat.com/2022/05/25/kongregate-and-immutable-x-launch-40m-blockchain-game-dev-fund/}}</ref> |
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== |
== Mobile apps == |
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Kongregate has released 25 games for mobile devices that are available on the [[Google Play Store]] and the [[App Store (iOS)|Apple App Store]]. Their most downloaded apps include ''[[AdVenture Capitalist]]'', ''Pocket Politics'', and ''Star Trek Trexels''. |
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Kongregate has occasional sponsored events. The first of which was the Shootorial event sponsored by Scion. Another one is the Infected Fury Event (promotional event for [[Left 4 Dead 2]]). There were three types of users in this event: Zombies, Survivors, or Neutrals. Users, originally Neutral until Infected as a Zombie or Trained as a Survivor could Opt Out of the event entirely or choose to be a Zombie/Survivor. Users could train or infect up to three people daily, earning them one point toward their total points each time. Ironically, the username "Survivor" became a Zombie, and the username "Zombie" survived the event. The most recent event (for Game Developers) which ran from November 5 to December 1 was the Longest Lasting Game Contest in which Developers had to make a game based around the endurance theme. It was sponsored by [[Stride (gum)]]. Next event was the Dragon Age event - users could forge weapons and give them to other players. Players with all weapons got a points bonus. Sponsored by Dragon Age. Another event - team up event. Users had to complete 6 games with special challenges. After completing all challenges players would get medal. |
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{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" |
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|+ |
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==Exclusive games== |
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!Kongregate mobile games released to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store |
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===Kongai=== |
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|- |
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[[Kongai]], designed by [[David Sirlin]], was the first premium multiplayer game released by Kongregate. Kongregate members can earn collectible cards for use in this turn-based card game. The game was available through a limited beta which started in early 2007. It was released to the general public on July 10, 2008. Since then it has gone through various patches and updates and as of April 1, 2010 it is in V2.4. |
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|[[AdVenture Capitalist]] |
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|- |
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Kongai is a multiplayer [[collectible card game]] featuring 50+ different cards which are obtainable through [[#Rewards|challenges]]. There are weekly challenges for cards, along with new badges for that game. When first entering the game, registered Kongregate members are given the opportunity to choose any three of those cards; these are called Starter Decks and are identical to their counterparts, with the exception that they have the label "STARTER" on them and their colors are darker and less saturated. |
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|[[AdVenture Communist]] |
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|- |
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====Gameplay==== |
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|Realm Grinder |
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In Kongai, two players fight with pre-arranged decks or a randomized deck. Each player's deck consists of a number of character cards (either three or five, depending on the chosen game mode). Each character can be equipped with an "Item" card, which gives a passive benefit to the character it is equipped to (or a negative effect toward the enemy). Cards are not randomly drawn as they are in many other collectible card games; the 3 or 5 cards are initially available for use by the player, though only one character can fight at a time. |
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|- |
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|Pocket Politics |
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|- |
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|Pocket Politics 2 |
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|- |
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|Where's My Water 2 |
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|- |
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|Super Fancypants Adventure |
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|- |
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|Crossword Safari Word Hunt |
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|- |
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|Cosmo Quest |
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|- |
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|Hero's of Ring: Dragon War |
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|- |
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|Idle Payday: Fast Money |
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|- |
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|Office Space: Idle Profits |
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|- |
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|Lionheart Tactics |
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|- |
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|Endless Boss Fight |
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|- |
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|Tyrant: Unleashed |
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|- |
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|Dragon Idle Adventure |
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|- |
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|BattleHand |
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|- |
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|Spellstone |
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|- |
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|Little Alchemist |
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|- |
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|Royal Idle: Medieval Quest |
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|- |
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|Maleficent: Free Fall |
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|- |
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|Inside Out: Thought Bubbles |
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|- |
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|The Trail |
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|- |
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|The PowerPuff Girls: Monkey Mania |
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|- |
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|Idle Frontier: Tap Town Tycoon |
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|- |
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|[[Surviv.io]] ([[Sunset (computing)|Sunset]] on March 2, 2023) |
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|- |
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|Zen Idle |
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|- |
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|Bit Heroes |
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|- |
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|Animation Throwdown: The Collectible Card Game |
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|- |
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|Burrito Bison: Launcha Libre |
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|- |
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|Run |
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|- |
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|ro |
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|- |
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|TMNT: Mutant Madness |
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|} |
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== References == |
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There are 4 modes of play in Kongai: Practice, Ranked 3-card, Unranked 3-card and Unranked 5-card. Practice allows players to challenge the in-game AI bot with 3-card decks. Challenging the AI will not let players earn anything except a Kongregate achievement; however, it can be used to try out different tactics and increase understanding of the game. Registered players can play a Ranked 3-card game against another registered member, for which wins and losses are recorded. After winning a certain number of games, a player will increase in "level." At present, there are no benefits for an increase in level, it is simply a reminder of how many games you have won. The game result will also affect your "Skill Rank" which may fluctuate throughout the course of time, this is seen to be a better measure of a player's skill since it accounts for your win:loss ratio and also the skill rank of the opponents you have faced. One can also challenge other players to an unranked 3 or 5-card game, where wins and losses are not added to a player's overall record. Winning a ranked or unranked game may earn the player a random "K" edition card, though it is noted that the probability of earning cards is higher for ranked games. |
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Kongai uses a simultaneous-movement turn-based model. Each turn is divided into two phases, the Range phase and the Action phase. During the Range phase, players can choose to move their characters in an attempt to change the current "Range" from which their characters are fighting. The range is always either Close or Far, and since certain attacks require a specific range, controlling the active range is an essential part of the game. However changing range uses energy. During the Action phase, players have four options: attack, switch out the active character for another character, "intercept" to block the opposing player's attempt of switching out (which does nothing if the opposing player doesn't actually choose to switch out, giving this game a style comparable to [[rock, paper, scissors]]), or rest to recover energy for attacks. A player wins by defeating all his opponent's characters. |
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===Remnants of Skystone=== |
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Kongregate's second exclusive multiplayer game. Members of Kongregate play as a character that lives in a huge platform in the sky called Nidaria. The plot of the game is to combat the Mimics which have taken over the world. Nidarian soldiers called Rooks guide the character through the game into defeating the Mimic army. Characters earn currency called Spores while defeating Mimics. |
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Remnants of Skystone also offers a exclusive membership called the "Nidarian Guard". This allows players to earn another kind of currency in the game called brass and allows the purchase of special equipment. |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* {{official website}} |
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*[http://www.kongregate.com/ Kongregate Official Website] |
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* [https://www.kartridge.com Kartridge website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112013225/https://www.kartridge.com/ |date=2020-11-12 }} |
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*[http://www.kongregate.com/games/Kongregate/kongai Kongai] |
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*[http://www.kongregate.com/pages/help Kongregate Help Pages] |
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{{Kongregate|state=expanded}} |
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[[Category:Browser-based game websites]] |
[[Category:Browser-based game websites]] |
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[[Category:Internet properties established in 2006]] |
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2006]] |
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[[Category:Webby Award winners]] |
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[[ |
[[Category:GameStop]] |
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[[Category:Modern Times Group]] |
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[[fr:Kongregate]] |
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[[Category:2010 mergers and acquisitions]] |
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[[pl:Kongregate]] |
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[[Category:2017 mergers and acquisitions]] |
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[[pt:Kongregate]] |
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[[Category:Video game companies established in 2006]] |
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Latest revision as of 12:15, 8 October 2024
 | |
Type of site | Online gaming website and/or social network |
|---|---|
| Owner | GameStop (2010–2017) Modern Times Group (2017–2024) Monumental (2024–) |
| Revenue | Advertising In-game currency ("Kreds") Corporate sponsorship Premium memberships (Kong+) |
| URL | Kongregate.com |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Free, not required (however, some features are disabled); Paid membership optional |
| Launched | October 10, 2006[1] |
Kongregate is an American web gaming portal and video game publisher. Its website features over 124,000 online games and 30+ mobile games available to the public. The company also publishes games for PC, mobile, and home consoles. It was purchased by GameStop Corporation in 2010[2] before being acquired by Modern Times Group MT AB in 2017.
The website's portfolio of games spans a wide range of genres. Kongregate is the home for several idle/clicker games, including Adventure Capitalist, Crusaders of the Lost Idols, and Anti-Idle: The Game.
On the web portal, users could upload Adobe Flash, HTML5/JavaScript, Shockwave, Java, and Unity games with integrated high scores and achievement badges.[1][3][4] The portal was closed to new user submissions in 2020, though previously submitted games remain.
History
[edit]Kongregate was released on October 10, 2006, by siblings Emily and Jim Greer into an alpha testing phase, which lasted until December 2006.[5] During this time, game developers and players tested the site's interface and functionality. The site formally entered the beta testing phase on March 22, 2007.[6][7] In December of the same year, the site was formally opened to the public.[3] As of July 2008, Kongregate had raised around $9 million in capital from investments by Reid Hoffman, Jeff Clavier, Jeff Bezos, and Greylock Partners.[8]
On July 23, 2010, GameStop announced an agreement to acquire Kongregate.[2]
In 2014, the site introduced digital creatures called Kongpanions, which act as a site-wide achievement system and metagame. These creatures often take the form of animals or anthropomophized objects. The Kongpanions that players collect can be used in some games on the site.[9]
In 2024 it was announced that game development studio Monumental acquired Kongregate.[10]
Games publishing
[edit]In early 2013, Kongregate announced a $10 million fund devoted to mobile gaming,[11] and as part of this new program, the former Zynga executive Pany Haritatos was hired to oversee it.[12] The money was used to financially support free-to-play mobile game developers by helping them test and market their games.[13] Some of the developers benefited by this fund included Synapse Games, RedPoint Labs, and Making Fun.[13]
Kongregate announced plans in October 2016 to help developers bring their games to the Steam distribution platform with an updated software development kit to make it easy to port games between Kongregate's web and mobile platforms as well as the Steam platforms (Windows, macOS, and Linux). It also simplified for players data sharing between these platforms. This enabled games to take advantage of microtransactions through the Steam store for titles otherwise normally free-to-play.[14]
In 2016, Kongregate received Apple Editors' Choice for BattleHand and The Trail,[15] and the company received Google Play Editors' Choice for Animation Throwdown and AdVenture Capitalist. BattleHand and The Trail also were voted as Best of 2016 by Apple, and Animation Throwdown and The Trail were voted Best of 2016 by Google Play.[citation needed]
On June 20, 2017, Kongregate announced it had closed a deal to be acquired by Swedish entertainment company Modern Times Group[16] for $55 million. This followed MTG's recent purchase of 51% of Hamburg-based online game developer InnoGames in 2016 and 2017. Planned as part of the deal was a change in focus from hosting third-party games to driving game development as well. "[...]we'll be deepening our investment in several areas, from marketing/marketing tech to platform engineering. We're also going to be investing in first-party development and potential acquisitions of our own within the games space," said CEO Emily Greer.[17]
On October 5, 2017, Kongregate acquired Chicago-based Synapse Games, the developer of Animation Throwdown.[18]
On May 2, 2019, Kongregate announced that co-founder and CEO Emily Greer was leaving the company. She was replaced by COO Pany Haritatos as interim CEO.[19]
In December 2019, Kongregate acquired Surviv.io, a free-to-play online game.[20][21]
On July 1, 2020, Kongregate announced the discontinuation of submissions as it prepared for the end-of-life for Adobe Flash Player by December 31, 2020, during which time the software required to run most of its games would be disabled in some browsers. Other features of the site such as the forums were also halted at the time as the Kongregate team worked on transitioning their internal titles to HTML5.[22]
Kartridge
[edit]In November 2018 Kongregate opened Kartridge, a digital storefront focusing on independent games.[23] The storefront was available via browser or desktop app and features both premium paid games and free browser-based titles.[24] Unlike other storefronts such as Steam, Kartridge is a heavily curated store. Kongregate hopes this curation will help spotlight quality games and address discoverability issues indie games commonly face.[25] Another incentive offered to developers by the store is an increased revenue share for all games until they reach $10,000 in sales,[26] with games that are exclusive to it having a higher threshold of $40,000.[27]
Kartridge shut down in September 2023.[28]
Kongregate.io
[edit]In July 2021 Kongregate announced plans for Kongregate.io, a web gaming portal featuring games that use non-fungible tokens.[29]
Immutable X
[edit]In May 2022 Kongregate announced a team-up with blockchain game tech company Immutable X with a $40 million grant fund for developers who make blockchain games for Kongregate.[30]
Mobile apps
[edit]Kongregate has released 25 games for mobile devices that are available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Their most downloaded apps include AdVenture Capitalist, Pocket Politics, and Star Trek Trexels.
| Kongregate mobile games released to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store |
|---|
| AdVenture Capitalist |
| AdVenture Communist |
| Realm Grinder |
| Pocket Politics |
| Pocket Politics 2 |
| Where's My Water 2 |
| Super Fancypants Adventure |
| Crossword Safari Word Hunt |
| Cosmo Quest |
| Hero's of Ring: Dragon War |
| Idle Payday: Fast Money |
| Office Space: Idle Profits |
| Lionheart Tactics |
| Endless Boss Fight |
| Tyrant: Unleashed |
| Dragon Idle Adventure |
| BattleHand |
| Spellstone |
| Little Alchemist |
| Royal Idle: Medieval Quest |
| Maleficent: Free Fall |
| Inside Out: Thought Bubbles |
| The Trail |
| The PowerPuff Girls: Monkey Mania |
| Idle Frontier: Tap Town Tycoon |
| Surviv.io (Sunset on March 2, 2023) |
| Zen Idle |
| Bit Heroes |
| Animation Throwdown: The Collectible Card Game |
| Burrito Bison: Launcha Libre |
| Run |
| ro |
| TMNT: Mutant Madness |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Kongregate: a Next Generation Web Games Marketplace". techcrunch.com. 2006-10-19. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ a b GameStop (2010-07-27). "GameStop Announces Agreement to Acquire Kongregate Inc". BusinessWire. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ a b Baertlein, Lisa (2007-03-22). "New site aims to be the YouTube of gaming". Reuters Life!. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ Wilson, Matt (2006-12-20). "Kongregate: Your Gatorade For Flash Games". Solution Watch. Archived from the original on 2017-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ Greer, Jim (2006-09-01). "Gamers asking for Kongregate!". Jim on Web Games. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ Nicole, Kristen (2007-03-22). "Kongregate Announces Funding, Launches". Mashable Social Networking News. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ Marshall, Matt (2007-03-21). "Kongregate, the online social game hub". Venture Beat. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ Schonfeld, Erick (2008-04-30). "Kongregate Gets $3 Million From Bezos: Growing Fast and About To Unleash Its Games on Facebook". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ "Other Work". Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ "MTG combines Kongregate with Monumental for a 30 % stake in the joined entity".
- ^ Weber, Rachel (4 February 2013). "Kongregate launches $10m fund for mobile developers". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- ^ Costello, Steve (2013-02-14). "Kongregate launches $10M mobile games fund". Archived from the original on 2019-05-06. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ a b Weber, Rachel (2 July 2013). "Kongregate names $10m mobile fund developers". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- ^ Brightman, James (2016-10-28). "Kongregate expands to Steam, "exploring opportunities" in premium". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ Calimlim, Aldrin (2016-12-07). "Here are Apple's Best Apps and Games of 2016". AppAdvice. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ Takahashi, Dean (2017-06-20). "MTG buys GameStop's mobile game publisher Kongregate for $55 million". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ Suckley, Matt (2017-06-21). ""More growth, more platforms, broader presence": Kongregate on its post-acquisition strategy". pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ Cowley, Ric (2017-10-05). "Kongregate acquires Animation Throwdown and Spellstone developer Synpase Games". pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ Minotti, Mike (2019-05-02). "Kongregate CEO and cofounder Emily Greer is leaving the company". venturebeat.com. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
- ^ Kerr, Chris (5 December 2019). "Kongregate acquires mobile and browser battle royale shooter Surviv.io". www.gamasutra.com. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
- ^ "Kongregate Acquires Popular Battle Royale Game 'Surviv.io'". Kongregate Developers. 2019-12-05. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
- ^ Carpenter, Nicole (July 2, 2020). "Kongregate is shifting away from Flash gaming". Polygon. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- ^ Tarason, Dominic (November 2018). "Kongregate's new games store Kartridge is open for business". Rock, Paper, Shotgun.
- ^ Chalk, Andy (November 2018). "Kongregate's digital storefront Kartridge is now open for everyone". PC Gamer.
- ^ Conditt, Jessica (13 December 2018). "Kartridge is a curated game store, now with more Indie Megabooth". Engadget.
- ^ Chan, Stephanie (24 April 2018). "Kongregate announces revenue share details for its PC gaming platform Kartridge". VentureBeat. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- ^ Handrahan, Matthew (25 April 2018). "Kartridge offers developers 100% of revenue up to $10,000". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- ^ "Sunsetting Kartridge & Kartridge.com - Kongregate". 2023-09-13.
- ^ Takahashi, Dean (29 July 2021). "Kongregate.io will hit open beta later this year with NFT games".
- ^ Takahashi, Dean (25 May 2022). "Kongregate and Immutable X launch $40M blockchain game dev fund".
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Kartridge website Archived 2020-11-12 at the Wayback Machine