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'{{distinguish|Big Finish Games}} {{short description|American gaming company}} {{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 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 |title=Lawsuit accuses Big Fish of baiting customers into signing up for ‘free’ game memberships that really aren’t |first=Tricia |last=Duryee |date=August 6, 2014 |work=GeekWire |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2014/big-fish-games-accused-lawsuit-charging-customers-monthly-fee-free-memberships/ }}</ref> == History == The company was founded in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Big Fish|url=https://www.bigfishgames.com/daily/about/|website=Big Fish Games|accessdate=2 June 2019|language=en}}</ref> In 2009, it announced the opening of their new European headquarters in Cork, Ireland. In August 2013, the company announced the closing of its cloud-based games service, Vancouver studio and Cork offices.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.geekwire.com/2013/full-memo-big-fish-ceo-announces-job-cuts-closure-ireland-bc-facilities-cancellation-cloud-games-business/|title=Full memo: Big Fish CEO announces job cuts, cancellation of cloud games business and closure of Ireland and BC facilities|accessdate=June 18, 2014|publisher=GeekWire|first=John|last=Cook|date=August 21, 2013}}</ref> In 2014, the company was acquired by [[Churchill Downs Inc.]] in a deal valued at up to $885 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=Churchill Downs to buy Big Fish Games for up to $885 million|newspaper=New York Times|first=Nick|last=Wingfield|date=November 12, 2014|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/business/churchill-downs-to-buy-big-fish-games-for-up-to-dollar885-million.html|accessdate=January 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Churchill finishes purchase of Big Fish Games|newspaper=The Blood-Horse|date=December 16, 2014|url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/110115/churchill-finishes-purchase-of-big-fish-games|accessdate=January 25, 2018}}</ref> In 2018, Churchill Downs sold Big Fish to Australian slots manufacturer [[Aristocrat Leisure]] for $990 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=Seattle-based Big Fish Games being sold for $990M to Australian firm|newspaper=Seattle Times|date=November 29, 2017|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/seattle-based-big-fish-games-being-sold-for-990m-to-australian-firm/|accessdate=January 25, 2018}}</ref> In September of 2018, Big Fish cut 15% of its workforce<ref>{{cite news|title=Internal memo: Big Fish Games cutting 15% of its workforce, including key executives|newspaper=Geekwire|date=September 25, 2018|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/internal-memo-big-fish-games-cutting-15-workforce-including-key-executives/}}</ref> In September of 2020, Big Fish cut nearly 50% of its workforce<ref>{{cite news|title=Seattle-based Big Fish Games lays off 250 people|newspaper=Geekwire|date=September 1, 2020|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2020/seattle-based-big-fish-games-lays-off-250-people-read-memo-sent-staff/}}</ref> '''''Bold text'''''Bold text''''''== 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|title=Big Sea Games fans swim to other ponds|url=http://www.gamezebo.com/2010/08/09/big-sea-games-fans-swim-other-ponds/|website=Gamezebo|accessdate=8 December 2014}}</ref> It has also spawned an independent online community to discuss all things Big Fish related <ref name="bigfish-pcgaming">{{cite web|title=Big Fish PC Gaming Community|url=https://www.bigfish-gaming.com/community/index.php|website=big fish gaming|accessdate=2 June 2020}}</ref> == References == {{reflist}} == External links == * {{Official website| 1=http://www.BigFishGames.Com }} {{Software digital distribution platforms}} {{Seattle Corporations}} {{Coord|47.620941|N|122.361906|W|display=t}} [[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]]'