RealNetworks, the global leader in downloadable PC-based casual games, today announced it has acquired Helsinki-based Mr.Goodliving Ltd, an innovative developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games throughout Europe. The acquisition establishes Real in the mobile games market, provides new market opportunities for its existing library of game titles, and will expand the reach of Mr.Goodliving’s titles into the US and Asia.
“Four years ago, we entered the casual games market with RealArcade. In that time, we have established a strong leadership position on the PC,” said Rob Glaser, chairman and CEO of RealNetworks, Inc. “Mr.Goodliving has a proven record of developing and delivering innovative mobile games content throughout Europe, where mass market adoption of advanced mobile services is firmly established. By joining forces with Mr.Goodliving, we are now expanding our casual games business onto mobile handsets worldwide.”
“Joining with Real enables our team to continue creating more of the top selling mobile games and provide those games to a wider global audience through Real’s mobile distribution network.” said Juha Ruskola, CEO of Mr. Goodliving. “We are very pleased to apply our creativity and technology skills to help Real become a leader in this rapidly expanding and ever changing mobile games industry.”
Based in Helsinki, Finland and founded in 1999, Mr.Goodliving has created exceptional, high-quality casual mobile games available throughout Europe. The company’s library of popular games includes the Playman Sports series and the European-distribution rights for the mobile edition of Trivial Pursuit. Mr.Goodliving’s games are available today through more than 100 distributors and carriers including, Vodafone Global Content Services, MMO2 Group, Telefonica, H3G, T-Mobile International, and Orange Group.
In addition to its games, Mr.Goodliving has developed EMERGE, a proprietary development platform which enables rapid and scalable publishing of games to more than 200 handsets in 20 languages. By combining the mobile games titles of Mr.Goodliving with Real’s existing library of casual games, and using the innovative EMERGE deployment technology, Real can now provide robust and flexible mobile game solutions for wireless carriers looking to differentiate in today’s hyper-competitive marketplace.
Real’s games business, through RealArcade and GameHouse Studios, is one of its fastest growing segments. For the first quarter of 2005, Real’s PC-based casual games business generated more than $12 million in revenue representing an 80% increase over the first quarter of 2004. Real currently has relationships with more than 70 wireless operators around the globe, and intends to build upon those relationships for mobile games distribution.