Examine individual changes

'{{Short description|American gaming company}} {{Distinguish|Big Finish Games}} {{Infobox company | name = Big Fish Games, Inc. | logo = Big Fish Games logo.svg | logo_size = 160px | type = [[Subsidiary]] | foundation = {{Start date and age|2002}} | location = [[Seattle, Washington]], United States | industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]] | products = | num_employees = 350 (2020) | parent=[[Aristocrat Leisure]] | homepage = {{URL|bigfishgames.com}} }} '''Big Fish Games''' is a [[casual gaming]] company based in [[Seattle]], with a regional office in Sacramento, California, with a regional office in Los Angeles, California, with a regional office in San Francisco, California, with a regional office in Santa Cruz, California, with a regional office in Oakland, California, owned by [[Aristocrat Leisure]]. It is a developer and distributor of casual games for [[Personal computer|computers]] and [[mobile app|mobile devices]]. It has been accused of knowingly deceiving customers into signing up for monthly purchases without informed consent.<ref>{{cite web|last=Duryee|first=Tricia|date=August 6, 2014|title=Lawsuit accuses Big Fish of baiting customers into signing up for 'free' game memberships that really aren't|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2014/big-fish-games-accused-lawsuit-charging-customers-monthly-fee-free-memberships/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909064728/https://www.geekwire.com/2014/big-fish-games-accused-lawsuit-charging-customers-monthly-fee-free-memberships/|archive-date=September 9, 2016|work=[[GeekWire]]}}</ref> It was also the subject of a [[class action]] lawsuit over its app ''Big Fish Casino'', resulting in a settlement of $155 million after a federal appeals court ruled that it constituted illegal [[online gambling]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Soper|first=Taylor|date=August 31, 2020|title=Judge approves $155M class action settlement related to Big Fish Games and online gambling lawsuit|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2020/big-fish-games-pay-155m-tweak-games-part-class-action-settlement-gambling/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103053440/https://www.geekwire.com/2020/big-fish-games-pay-155m-tweak-games-part-class-action-settlement-gambling/|archive-date=November 3, 2020|access-date=December 18, 2020|website=[[GeekWire]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Makuch|first=Eddie|date=September 1, 2020|title=250 Jobs Lost At Big Fish Games As Company Reaches $155 Million Settlement|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/250-jobs-lost-at-big-fish-games-as-company-reaches/1100-6481724/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926110511/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/250-jobs-lost-at-big-fish-games-as-company-reaches/1100-6481724/|archive-date=September 26, 2020|access-date=December 18, 2020|website=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref> == History == The company was founded in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Big Fish|url=https://www.bigfishgames.com/daily/about/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409082032/https://www.bigfishgames.com/company/about-us.html|archive-date=April 9, 2020|access-date=June 2, 2019|publisher=Big Fish Games}}</ref> In 2009, it announced the opening of their new European headquarters in Cork, Ireland.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}} In July 2010, the company passed one billion game downloads from its online portal.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Martin|first=Matt|date=July 20, 2010|title=Big Fish passes one billion game downloads|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/big-fish-passes-one-billion-game-downloads|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218181847/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/big-fish-passes-one-billion-game-downloads|archive-date=December 18, 2020|access-date=December 18, 2020|website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]]}}</ref> In August 2013, the company announced the closing of its cloud-based games service, Vancouver studio and Cork offices.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cook|first=John|date=August 21, 2013|title=Full memo: Big Fish CEO announces job cuts, cancellation of cloud games business and closure of Ireland and BC facilities|website=[[GeekWire]]|url=http://www.geekwire.com/2013/full-memo-big-fish-ceo-announces-job-cuts-closure-ireland-bc-facilities-cancellation-cloud-games-business/|url-status=live|access-date=June 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114183714/https://www.geekwire.com/2013/full-memo-big-fish-ceo-announces-job-cuts-closure-ireland-bc-facilities-cancellation-cloud-games-business/|archive-date=January 19, 2019}}</ref> In 2014, the company was acquired by [[Churchill Downs Inc.]] in a deal valued at up to $885 million.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wingfield|first=Nick|date=November 12, 2014|title=Churchill Downs to buy Big Fish Games for up to $885 million|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/business/churchill-downs-to-buy-big-fish-games-for-up-to-dollar885-million.html|url-status=live|url-access=limited|access-date=January 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126130015/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/business/churchill-downs-to-buy-big-fish-games-for-up-to-dollar885-million.html|archive-date=January 26, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=December 16, 2014|title=Churchill finishes purchase of Big Fish Games|newspaper=[[The Blood-Horse]]|url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/110115/churchill-finishes-purchase-of-big-fish-games|url-status=live|access-date=January 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726223318/https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/110115/churchill-finishes-purchase-of-big-fish-games|archive-date=July 26, 2020}}</ref> In 2018, Churchill Downs sold Big Fish to Australian [[gambling machine]] manufacturer [[Aristocrat Leisure]] for $990 million.<ref>{{cite news|date=November 29, 2017|title=Seattle-based Big Fish Games being sold for $990M to Australian firm|newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/seattle-based-big-fish-games-being-sold-for-990m-to-australian-firm/|url-status=live|access-date=January 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726230819/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/seattle-based-big-fish-games-being-sold-for-990m-to-australian-firm/|archive-date=July 26, 2020}}</ref> In September 2018, Big Fish cut 15% of its workforce,<ref>{{cite web|last=Levy|first=Nat|date=September 25, 2018|title=Internal memo: Big Fish Games cutting 15% of its workforce, including key executives|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/internal-memo-big-fish-games-cutting-15-workforce-including-key-executives/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109023747/https://www.geekwire.com/2018/internal-memo-big-fish-games-cutting-15-workforce-including-key-executives/|archive-date=November 9, 2020|website=[[GeekWire]]}}</ref> and September 2020, it cut nearly 50% of its workforce.<ref>{{cite web|last=Soper|first=Taylor|date=September 1, 2020|title=Seattle-based Big Fish Games lays off 250 people|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2020/seattle-based-big-fish-games-lays-off-250-people-read-memo-sent-staff/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901230246/https://www.geekwire.com/2020/seattle-based-big-fish-games-lays-off-250-people-read-memo-sent-staff/|archive-date=September 1, 2020|website=[[GeekWire]]}}</ref> == Big Fish Studios == Big Fish Games has a number of studios split between the Seattle office and Oakland office that develop games: Self Aware Games, Triton Studios, Epic Ventures and ARC Studios. Games developed by the various Big Fish studios include: *[[Drawn (series)|''Drawn'' series]]: ''Dark Flight'', ''The Painted Tower'', ''Trail of Shadows'' *''[[Fairway Solitaire|Fairway Solitaire HD]]'' *''[[Hidden Expedition]]'' series *''[[Mystery Case Files]]'' series == Online games == The company entered [[Browser-based games|browser gaming]] with its acquisition of the game website Ion Thunder in 2007; the service was re-branded as Atlantis following the acquisition.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} The service, which was later revamped as Big Sea Games in 2009, was shut down in 2010 as part of the company's shift from traditional online games to [[Social network game|social games]] on [[Facebook]] and [[mobile app]]s.<ref name="gamezebo-bigseadown">{{cite web|last=Bell|first=Erin|date=August 9, 2010|title=Big Sea Games fans swim to other ponds|url=http://www.gamezebo.com/2010/08/09/big-sea-games-fans-swim-other-ponds/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729065142/https://www.gamezebo.com/2010/08/09/big-sea-games-fans-swim-other-ponds/|archive-date=July 29, 2020|access-date=December 8, 2014|website=[[GameZebo]]}}</ref> == References == {{Reflist}} == External links == * {{Official website| 1=http://www.BigFishGames.Com }} {{Software digital distribution platforms}} {{Seattle Corporations}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|47.620941|N|122.361906|W|display=title}} [[Category:2002 establishments in Washington (state)]] [[Category:American companies established in 2002]] [[Category:Casual games]] [[Category:Companies based in Seattle]] [[Category:Mobile game companies]] [[Category:Video game companies established in 2002]] [[Category:Video game companies of the United States]] [[Category:Video game development companies]] [[Category:2014 mergers and acquisitions]] [[Category:2018 mergers and acquisitions]] [[Category:American subsidiaries of foreign companies]]'