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Undid revision 1320638506 by Attention Spa 92 (talk) unsourced

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{{Short description|American video game company (2003–2014)}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Digital Chocolate, Inc.
| logo = Digital Chocolate logo.svg
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| foundation = {{start date|2003|10|18}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whois.domaintools.com/digitalchocolate.com |title=DigitalChocolate.com WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info - DomainTools|work=[[WHOIS]]|date= |access-date=2021-09-13}}</ref>
| fate = Games sold to [[RockYou]]
| predecessor = [[The 3DO Company]]
| successor = RockYou
| dissolved = {{end date|2014}}
| founder = [[Trip Hawkins]]
| location_city = [[San Mateo, California|San Mateo]], [[California]]
| location_country = {{nowrap|[[United States|U.S.]]}}
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Marc Metis (President)<ref name="linkedin1">{{cite web| url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-chocolate/about/| title=Digital Chocolate On Linkedin| access-date=2021-09-13}}</ref> Edmond Chui (VP of Engineering)<ref name="linkedin1"/>
| industry = [[Video games]]
| products =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
| equity =
| subsid =
| num_employees = 129<ref name="linkedin1"/>
| homepage = {{URL|digitalchocolate.com}} (offline)
| intl =
}}

'''Digital Chocolate, Inc.''' was a [[video game developer]] and [[video game publisher|publisher]] headquartered in [[San Mateo, California]]. It was founded in 2003 by [[Trip Hawkins]], the founder of video game companies [[Electronic Arts]] and [[The 3DO Company]]. The company focused on developing games for [[Java ME]]-based [[mobile phone]]s, [[iOS (Apple)|iOS]], and [[Microsoft Windows]], and made some non-entertainment titles. Its marketing motto was ''Seize the minute''.

The developer was officially closed in 2014. It has sold its games to [[RockYou]], and its website was shut down.

==History==

Digital Chocolate was founded in 2003 by Hawkins after the failure of The 3DO Company. It had operations in San Mateo, Seattle, St. Petersburg, Bangalore, Helsinki, and Mexicali.

In 2004, Digital Chocolate acquired European developer Sumea,<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040624005032/en/Digital-Chocolate-Acquires-Sumea-Leading-European-Mobile|title=News|access-date=2021-09-13}}</ref> which then became its [[Helsinki]] studio.

On August 15, 2011, Digital Chocolate agreed to acquire Sandlot Games, a leading casual game developer and publisher.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110815006676/en/Digital-Chocolate-Acquires-Highly-Respected-Sandlot-Games |title=Digital Chocolate Acquires Highly-Respected Sandlot Games |date=August 15, 2011 |publisher=[[Business Wire]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405052322/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110815006676/en/Digital-Chocolate-Acquires-Highly-Respected-Sandlot-Games |archive-date=April 5, 2016 |url-status=dead |access-date=2021-09-13}}</ref>

In May 2012, Trip Hawkins stepped down as CEO to move to a "consulting and advisory relationship" with the company. The company also announced plans to lay off 180 employees.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vg247.com/digital-chocolate-lays-off-180-people-hawkins-stands-down-as-ceo |title=Digital Chocolate lays off 180 people, Hawkins stands down as CEO |publisher=VG247 |date=2012-05-28 |access-date=2021-09-13}}</ref>

''Galaxy Life'' is its most successful title on [[Facebook]] to date, ranking at 284th bucket of MAU (Monthly Active Users) as of September 13, 2013.
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.appdata.com/devs/32826-digital-chocolate|title=AppData - App Metrics and Research|publisher=|access-date=2013-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005075601/http://appdata.com/devs/32826-digital-chocolate|archive-date=2013-10-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2013, Digital Chocolate's Barcelona studio was sold to [[Ubisoft]] with the ''Galaxy Life'' [[intellectual property|IP]] and the Helsinki studio was closed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/09/23/digital-chocolate-barcelona/|title=Digital Chocolate, Which Nurtured Some Of Gaming's Best Talent, Sells Its Barcelona Studio To Ubisoft|publisher=AOL|work=TechCrunch|date=23 September 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://forums.ubi.com/showthread.php/798913-PC-MOBILE-Galaxy-Life-joins-the-Ubisoft-family!-Forums|title=[PC][MOBILE] Galaxy Life joins the Ubisoft family! - Forums|publisher=|url-status=dead|access-date=2014-04-10|archive-date=2016-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220101627/http://forums.ubi.com/showthread.php/798913-PC-MOBILE-Galaxy-Life-joins-the-Ubisoft-family!-Forums}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arcticstartup.com/2013/06/26/digital-chocolate-to-close-helsinki-office|title=Digital Chocolate to Close Helsinki Office|url-status=dead|access-date=2014-04-10|archive-date=2015-01-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102173200/http://www.arcticstartup.com/2013/06/26/digital-chocolate-to-close-helsinki-office}}</ref>

In April 2014, Digital Chocolate's four remaining Facebook games — ''[[Army Attack]]'', ''Crazy Penguin Wars'', ''Millionaire City'', and ''Zombie Lane'' — were licensed to [[RockYou]], along with the hiring of its developers to continue work on the games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/215827/RockYous_new_strategy_Rescue_games_that_other_publishers_dont_want.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421235308/http://gamasutra.com/view/news/215827/RockYous_new_strategy_Rescue_games_that_other_publishers_dont_want.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 21, 2014|title=Gamasutra - RockYou's new strategy: Rescue games that other publishers don't want|author=Christian Nutt|date=18 April 2014|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rockyou.com/players-of-army-attack-crazy-penguin-wars-millionaire-city-and-zombie-lane-welcome-to-rockyous-growing-community-of-worldwide-gamers/|title=Players of Army Attack, Crazy Penguin Wars, Millionaire City, and Zombie Lane: Welcome to RockYou's Growing Community of Worldwide Gamers!|publisher=|access-date=2014-07-29|archive-date=2018-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910062230/http://rockyou.com/players-of-army-attack-crazy-penguin-wars-millionaire-city-and-zombie-lane-welcome-to-rockyous-growing-community-of-worldwide-gamers/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/04/18/rockyou-buys-three-playdom-games-from-disney-to-keep-them-running-for-players/|title=RockYou buys three Playdom games from Disney to keep them running|work=VentureBeat|date=18 April 2014}}</ref>

==Games==
{{Expand section|date=March 2018}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
* ''20Q: Celebrity Quiz''
* ''20Q: Mind Reader''
* ''20Q: Sports Quiz''
* ''2D Brick Breaker Revolution''
* ''[[3D Brick Breaker Revolution]]''
* ''[[3D Rollercoaster Rush]]''
* ''3D Mini Golf Challenge''
* ''[[Army Attack]]''
* ''Bubble Popper Deluxe''
* ''Bumper Car City''
* ''California Gold Rush'' (2009)
* ''California Gold Rush: Bonaza'' (2009-2010)
* ''Chocolate Shop Frenzy''
* ''Crazy Monkey Spin''
* ''[[Crazy Penguin Catapult]]'' (2007)
* ''Crazy Penguin Catapult 2'' (2007-2009)
* ''Crazy Penguin Wars''
* ''Crazy Penguin Assault'' (2011)
* ''Crazy Penguin Party'' (2009)
* ''Crazy Penguin Freezeway'' (2011)
* ''DChoc Cafe Hangman''
* ''DChoc Cafe Solitaire''
* ''DChoc Cafe Sudoku''<ref>{{cite web |title=PocketGamer review of DChoc Cafe Sudoku |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/cafe-sudoku/cafe-sudoku-mobile-review/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=DChoc Cafe Sudoku trailer |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUlQtvvoISc}}</ref>
* ''Extreme Air Snowboarding''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sony Ericsson W595 Pre-installed Games| website=[[YouTube]] | date=22 March 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSaGrO--Elo}}</ref>
* ''Foto Quest Fishing''
* ''Galaxy Life''
* ''Island God Beta''
* ''Johnny Crash''
* ''Johnny Crash Stuntman Does Texas''
{{col-break}}
* ''Kamikaze Robots''
* ''Kings & Warlords''
* ''Mafia Wars''
* ''Mafia Wars 2: Scarlottis''
* ''Mafia Wars 3: Yakuza''
* ''Millionaire City''
* ''Minigolf Castles''
* ''Mini Golf 99 Holes Theme Park''
* ''MMA Pro Fighter''
* ''New in Town''
* ''Nightclub Empire''
* ''Party Island Bowling''
* ''Party Island Pool''
* ''Party Island: Sexy Trivia''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andrew |first1=Keith |title=Party Island: Sexy Trivia |url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Mobile/Party+Island:+Sexy+Trivia/review.asp?c=10305 |website=[[Pocket Gamer]] |publisher=Steel Media Ltd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206233653/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk:80/r/Mobile/Party+Island%3A+Sexy+Trivia/review.asp?c=10305 |archive-date=December 6, 2008 |date=December 5, 2008 |url-status=unfit}}</ref>
* ''Petanque: World Tour''
* ''Pyramid Bloxx'' (2007)
* ''Redbull X Fighters''
* ''Rollercoaster Rush'' (2006)
* ''Rollercoaster Rush 3D'' (2007)
* ''Rollercoaster Rush New York'' (2008-2010)
* ''Rollercoaster Rush 99 Tracks'' (2008)
* ''Rollercoaster Rush Underground 3D'' (2010-2011)
* ''Racing Fever GT''
* ''Super Water Bomber''
* ''Strip Club Manager''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Andrew |title=Strip Club Manager |url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Mobile/Strip+Club+Manager/review.asp?c=6210 |website=[[Pocket Gamer]] |publisher=Steel Media Ltd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080330050523/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk:80/r/Mobile/Strip+Club+Manager/review.asp?c=6210 |archive-date=March 30, 2008 |date=March 27, 2008 |url-status=unfit}}</ref>
* ''[[Tornado Mania!]]'' (2007)
* ''Tower Bloxx'' (2005)
* ''Tower Bloxx Deluxe '' (2008)
* ''Tower Bloxx: New York'' (2009)
* ''Tower Bloxx: My City'' (2010)
* ''Tower Bloxx: Revolution'' (2011-2012)
* ''Santa's Tower Bloxx'' (2006)
*''Super Water Bomber''
* ''[[Zombie Lane]]''
{{col-end}}

==Awards==
In 2009, the company's game ''Brick Breaker Revolution'' won an [[IGN]] award for Best Artistic Design.<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.gamershell.com/companies/digital_chocolate/571562.html | title=3D Brick Breaker Revolution Makes Its Debut on Apple App Store | publisher=Business Wire | date=2009-03-16 | access-date=2013-09-05}}</ref>

''[[Mobile Entertainment]]'' named the company "best mobile games developer" in 2006 and 2007.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.develop-online.net/news/28488/Digital-Chocolate-wins-ME-award-again | title=Digital Chocolate wins ME award again | date=2007-08-17 | access-date=2013-09-05 | author=Michael French | archive-date=2010-04-28 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428034902/http://www.develop-online.net/news/28488/Digital-Chocolate-wins-ME-award-again | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2006, Digital Chocolate received nine IGN Game of the Year awards. Its game ''[[Tornado Mania!]]'' was awarded Wireless Game of the Year with a "perfect 10" score,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://bestof.ign.com/2006/wireless/38.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070115000404/http://bestof.ign.com/2006/wireless/38.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 15, 2007 | title=IGN.com presents The Best of 2006 | publisher=IGN | access-date=2013-09-05}}</ref> and the company was named Best Developer.<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Digital+Chocolate+Sweeps+IGN.com+2006+Game+of+the+Year+Awards.-a0157656685 | title=Digital Chocolate Sweeps IGN.com 2006 Game of the Year Awards. | publisher=Business Wire | date=2007-01-16 | access-date=2013-09-05 | archive-date=2016-03-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305100239/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Digital+Chocolate+Sweeps+IGN.com+2006+Game+of+the+Year+Awards.-a0157656685 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2012, the company's game ''[[Army Attack]]'' was nominated for the "Social Networking Game of the Year" in the Academy of Interactive Arts & Science's 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards.<ref>http://www.interactive.org/images/pdfs/15th-Annual-IAA-Finalists-Only.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>

The company has been included in The Red Herring Global 100.<ref>http://www.monitise.com/americas/downloads/awards/RedHerringGlobal100_ClairMail.pdf{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040902122710/http://digitalchocolate.com/ Official Website (archived via Wayback Machine)]
*[http://www.dchoccafe.com/ DChoc Café Games Official Website]
*[https://www.mobygames.com/company/digital-chocolate-inc Digital Chocolate] at [[MobyGames]]

[[Category:Companies based in San Mateo, California]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 2003]]
[[Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2014]]
[[Category:Mobile game companies]]
[[Category:Video game development companies]]

Digital Chocolate - Revision history

imported>Waxworker: Undid revision 1320638506 by Attention Spa 92 (talk) unsourced