Game Changers: Online Games Match Social and Streaming Media Platforms as Outlet for Friendship and Connection
New Survey from FlowPlay Illustrates Growing Popularity of Games as a Social Activity, Reveals One-Third of Respondents Have Taken In-Game Relationships into the Real World
New Survey from FlowPlay Illustrates Growing Popularity of Games as a Social Activity, Reveals One-Third of Respondents Have Taken In-Game Relationships into the Real World
SEATTLE, Dec. 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- FlowPlay, creator of one of the most powerful connected gaming platforms, today released findings from its report, The 2020 Social Network: Online Gaming. The survey of more than 1,000 U.S.-based respondents examined the surge in game play and social media consumption amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact virtual games have on the real-world lives of many.
With millions of Americans largely spending their time at home this year, many have turned to online games and social media for much-needed connection. One quarter of respondents stated they rely on online games for social interaction, putting games at the same level as more traditional social media, like LinkedIn (27 percent), TikTok (25 percent) and streaming media (23 percent). Generation Z is the most active when it comes to gaming, with 70 percent playing more games now than they did pre-pandemic. Online games have also become more appealing to new audiences, with 20 percent of non-gamers starting to play online games during COVID-19.
"The games industry at large has experienced incredible growth this year, and at FlowPlay, we've seen an uptick in player numbers, longer session times and overall increased demand," said Derrick Morton, CEO and co-founder, FlowPlay. "Games have always provided a place of connection for people who need a social outlet, and the pandemic has really brought the community aspect of games into the mainstream, across generational divides. Despite being online, games offer players a meaningful way to have fun, meet friends and socialize beyond their social media feeds. This survey reinforced much of what we already suspected: that connected games are exactly what people have needed during this challenging year."
FlowPlay's report, The 2020 Social Network: Online Gaming identified many player benefits that extend into the physical world, including building and strengthening new and existing relationships. One-third of respondents reported making in-game friends that became real world friends, with more than half of Generation Z turning online friends into real-world ones. Notably, it is this social connection that is most appealing to many gamers, with 36 percent of overall respondents and almost half of Generation Z and Millennials most interested in the social community aspect of online games.
The draw of connecting via online games extended into the remote workplace for some as well. One quarter of respondents identified playing online games as a way to connect with their coworkers, with almost half playing these games on a weekly basis.
"We've seen the first-hand impact online games can have in the lives of many: decades-long friendships born out of Vegas World parties and Casino World chats turning into real-life romances," Morton said. "Now, social outlets like online games are needed more than ever, and I'm excited to see the impact gaming will have on building relationships in new areas, like between coworkers."
The survey also revealed new opportunities for the games industry to explore as it works to expand social experiences, especially as many people return to isolation and lockdown restrictions. Almost 20 percent of respondents identified live video as the feature that would make them most interested in playing online games or enticed to choose a new game, while 36% of respondents would consider playing online games with their coworkers if live video was integrated.
To view the full The 2020 Social Network: Online Gaming report and infographic, please visit here.
Survey Methodology
FlowPlay's The 2020 Social Network: Online Gaming survey was administered in November 2020 using an online survey. The survey received 1,047 responses from nationally representative Americans ages 18-65.
About FlowPlay
FlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful connected gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino, and Casino World, the company's most grandiose, interactive and community-driven free-to-play social casino with tycoon gameplay. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
Record-Breaking Fundraiser Shows FlowPlay Players Going for Gold in the Fight to Cure Childhood Cancer
FlowPlay's Vegas World Community Raises $65,000 in Support of Research and Patient Care.
SEATTLE, Nov. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- FlowPlay, creator of one of the most powerful connected gaming platforms, today announced that its Vegas World in-game October fundraising campaign for the American Cancer Society (ACS) broke its individual campaign record for giving, garnering $65,000 raised. This follows FlowPlay's major fundraising milestone with the ACS over the summer, lifting its total raised for the organization to $315,000. In direct support of funding critical research and patient care for childhood cancer, players within Vegas World purchased virtual ACS-branded charms throughout the month of October.
This fundraiser is part of FlowPlay's broader corporate giving program and ongoing support for the ACS. The causes supported by the company's campaigns are primarily chosen via feedback and requests from the Vegas World player community. One Vegas World player recently shared a candid, personal story of how childhood cancer has affected her family, and why FlowPlay's fundraisers mean so much to her. This player tragically lost her younger sister to cancer when they were both very young. In her adulthood, she was impacted again when her four-year-old daughter was diagnosed with cancer. Through the support of her community and the unwavering commitment of her daughter's pediatricians, they prevailed, and her daughter has remained cancer-free for more than six years. Her story is a testament to the importance of adequately funding pediatric cancer research and care.
After accidents, cancer is the leading cause of death in children ages one to 14 years old. In 2020, an estimated 11,050 children under the age of 15 in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer. Cancers that develop in children often differ from the types that develop in adults, and are not strongly linked to lifestyle or environmental risk factors. Because of this, research and patient care can vary greatly in childhood cancers compared to adult cancers. The funds raised from FlowPlay's in-game fundraiser will directly support the ACS in its comprehensive approach in funding research, improving patient care and providing trusted information, guidance and support for all patients and their families.
"For many in our Vegas World community, the devastating, life-altering effects of cancer are personal. It is a huge reason why we are so dedicated to supporting the ACS," said Derrick Morton, CEO, FlowPlay. "I am always humbled by the stories our players share with us, and the generous support our community continues to show in the fight against cancer. Their participation in these fundraisers gives me hope that our donations will continue to make a meaningful impact for patients and families in need."
"The American Cancer Society is so grateful to FlowPlay and Vegas World players for helping fund our lifesaving mission. It is a critical time when cancer research funding is at risk which could mean delays in the next cancer breakthrough discovering new and better treatments and cures. Thank you for the tremendous support and helping to ensure this doesn't happen," said Daniel Widner, ACS vice president of Regional Distinguished Partners.
Due to the economic effects of COVID-19, the ACS is facing a significant funding shortage, threatening the organization's ability to invest in vital cancer research. Without additional relief, the ACS could see its cancer research funding cut in half. The ACS needs widespread support as it works around the clock to prioritize cancer patient care and extend support to vulnerable populations.
To learn more about the American Cancer Society and how to donate, please visit: http://www.cancer.org.
About FlowPlay
FlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful connected gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino, and Casino World, the company's most grandiose, interactive and community-driven free-to-play social casino with tycoon gameplay. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
About American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 1.5 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the Society is the only organization attacking cancer from every angle. For more information go to www.cancer.org.
FlowPlay In-Game Fundraiser Encourages Players to "Go Gold" in Honor of the Fight to Cure Childhood Cancer
Proceeds from October Campaign to Support American Cancer Society in Funding Pediatric Research and Patient Care.
SEATTLE, Oct. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- FlowPlay, creator of one of the most powerful connected gaming platforms, today announced the upcoming launch of a new in-game fundraising campaign on behalf of the American Cancer Society (ACS). On the heels of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, FlowPlay will kick-off a fundraiser to continue the momentum for the ACS's work to fund research, patient care and support for those affected. Through October, players within FlowPlay's flagship social casino, Vegas World, can contribute directly to this cause and join in the "go gold" fight against childhood cancer.
About 11,050 children in the United States under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2020. Childhood cancer rates have been rising slightly for the past few decades, and after accidents, cancer is the second leading cause of death in children ages one to 14 years old. The effects of a childhood cancer diagnosis radiate beyond the patient, with family members of a child with cancer suffering various forms of psychological illness, but despite these far-reaching implications, research for finding treatments and cures for childhood cancer continue to be underfunded when compared to adult cancers. All funds from FlowPlay's campaign will directly support the ACS's comprehensive approach, which includes funding research, advocating for government policies that improve access to quality care for all children, and providing trusted information, guidance and support for patients and their families.
"Facing a diagnosis of childhood cancer is unimaginable. Beyond the initial devastation, parents are overwhelmed by an onslaught of information and unanswered questions," said Daniel Widner, Distinguished Partners vice president, American Cancer Society West Region. "We aim to bring a little light to an incredibly difficult situation, but remaining at the forefront of childhood cancer research and treatment is costly. The ACS is facing an uphill battle in securing adequate research funding due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so we are grateful to FlowPlay and the Vegas World community for their steadfast support."
On the heels of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September, FlowPlay will offer a virtual in-game ACS-branded charm throughout the month of October for players to purchase to support the cause. FlowPlay recently crossed a major fundraising milestone with the ACS, raising a total of $250,000 to date.
"Having a child with cancer is every parent's worst nightmare. Childhood cancer is rare, but I've been taken aback by the number of FlowPlay players who have been personally affected by this disease," said Derrick Morton, CEO, FlowPlay. "While I'm always blown away by the generosity and support of our community - and I know this campaign will be no exception - I want to encourage contributions beyond the individual level, and empower other companies to expand their corporate giving programs to include the ACS."
Due to the economic effects of COVID-19, the ACS is facing a significant funding shortage, threatening the organization's ability to invest in vital cancer research. Without additional relief, the ACS could see its cancer research funding cut in half. The ACS needs widespread support as it works around the clock to prioritize cancer patient care, and extend care and support to other vulnerable populations like health care workers.
To learn more about the American Cancer Society and how to donate, please visit: http://www.cancer.org.
About FlowPlay
FlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful connected gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino, and Casino World, the company's most grandiose, interactive and community-driven free-to-play social casino with tycoon gameplay. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
About American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of more than 2.5 million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society's efforts have contributed to a 20 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates. Thanks in part to our progress nearly 14 million Americans who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will celebrate more birthdays this year. We're determined to finish the fight against cancer. We're finding cures as the nation's largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air, and more. For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
FlowPlay Crosses $250,000 Milestone in Funds Raised for American Cancer Society
With Generous Contributions from its Vegas World Community, FlowPlay Extends Support to Hope Lodge COVID-19 Efforts
SEATTLE, July 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- FlowPlay, creator of one of the most powerful immersive gaming platforms, today announced that its Vegas World in-game fundraisers have surpassed $250,000 raised for the American Cancer Society (ACS). This news comes on the heels of FlowPlay's most recent campaign, which generated $55,000 for ACS Hope Lodge facilities. This year's momentum has built upon FlowPlay's record fundraising year in 2019, when its players helped raise upwards of $100,000 for ACS's Road To Recovery and Reach To Recovery programs and also extended support to local organizations Crooked Trails and the Seattle Theatre Group.
During the month of May, 2020, FlowPlay offered a virtual ACS Hope Lodge-branded charm in the company's flagship connected game, Vegas World, which was available for players to purchase. The funds raised helped ACS open the doors of Hope Lodge facilities which had been temporarily closed due to COVID-19 to frontline health care workers. As Hope Lodge communities prepare for reopening to cancer patients and caregivers, additional safety precautions must be instituted. Building modifications, increased cleaning processes, and new necessary supplies such as PPE are adding one-time costs of approximately $350,000 making funding for these facilities especially critical during this unprecedented time.
"I'm always blown away by the ongoing generosity and support our Vegas World community has for the American Cancer Society," said Derrick Morton, CEO, FlowPlay. "Today marks a major milestone for FlowPlay and ACS, but the needs continue to grow. As our players keep showing up to help those who need it most, I'm hopeful we can continue to make a major impact both in our own backyard and beyond."
"We are extremely grateful to Vegas World players and FlowPlay for their generosity helping the American Cancer Society to continue to save lives," said Howard Heino, American Cancer Society Vice President, Hope Lodge Operations & Facilities Management. "Like many organizations, the Society is facing unimaginable challenges to its fundraising. Without companies and individuals stepping forward to help, more lives will be lost to this disease that one in three people will face throughout their lives. Thank you for your critical support."
To donate to the American Cancer Society, please visit: http://cancer.org/donatelocal.
About FlowPlay
FlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful immersive gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino, and Casino World, the company's most grandiose, interactive and community-driven free-to-play social casino with tycoon gameplay. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
About American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of more than 2.5 million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society's efforts have contributed to a 20 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates. Thanks in part to our progress nearly 14 million Americans who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will celebrate more birthdays this year. We're determined to finish the fight against cancer. We're finding cures as the nation's largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air, and more. For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
Poker Night Returns! FlowPlay's Live Game Night Launches with America's Favorite Social Game
Secure, Invite-Only Social Game Incorporates Live Video for Poker and More
SEATTLE, May 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- FlowPlay, creator of one of the most powerful immersive gaming platforms, today announced the launch of Live Game Night, a new online game providing one-of-a-kind, invite-only social play with live video chat. The first title in the Live Game Night collection, Live Poker Night, marks the return of poker night, allowing up to five of a host's friends and family to play together in a face-to-face virtual matchup.
As more than 65 percent of Americans continue to live life under lockdown, and many are seeking new ways of connecting with others while at home, interest in online communities and social games is spiking. FlowPlay's flagship social casino, Vegas World, recorded a 25 percent increase in players over the last 90 days. Live Game Night leverages state-of-the-art technology to provide as close to an in-person connection as possible - without the awkward small talk at your in-law's. Initially launching on desktop, Live Game Night will soon be also available to play on mobile devices.
"Online games are so much more than entertainment. They are an escape from today's uncertain times, a means for keeping in touch with old friends and a place to create new ones," said Derrick Morton, CEO, FlowPlay. "Everyone misses poker night, and trivia night with their friends, family and neighbors. With Live Game Night, we wanted to mirror real life as much as possible to start giving people back some of their favorite social experiences. We're confident our technology will help our players feel like they're staring at a poker face across the table - not across a screen."
To host a poker game, players simply visit the Live Game Night website to sign up and download Live Poker Night to their desktop. From there, the host creates an invite link they can use to invite up to five friends to play alongside them. Live Poker Night is the first of many planned social games under the Live Game Night banner, with FlowPlay planning to launch Bunco and Mahjong over the next 90 days.
While Live Game Night offers housebound players a social outlet, FlowPlay is also working to support those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the month of May, players within Vegas World can donate directly to the American Cancer Society (ACS)'s Hope Lodge program, which has responded to the COVID-19 crisis by providing rooms for health care providers to rest between shifts or stay overnight. FlowPlay has raised more than $100,000 for the ACS in the past year, and encourages contributions here.
Start playing at: https://livegamenight.com/.
About FlowPlay
FlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful immersive gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino, and Casino World, the company's most grandiose, interactive and community-driven free-to-play social casino with tycoon gameplay. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
FlowPlay Launches In-Game Fundraiser with American Cancer Society to Offer Relief to Front Lines of COVID-19 Pandemic
Proceeds from Month Long Fundraiser to Support Hope Lodge for Health Care Providers and Cancer Patients in Need.
SEATTLE, May 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- FlowPlay, creator of one of the most powerful immersive gaming platforms, today announced the start of a new in-game fundraising campaign for the year on behalf of the American Cancer Society (ACS). During the month of May, players within FlowPlay's flagship social casino, Vegas World, can contribute directly to the ACS's Hope Lodge program, which has responded to the COVID-19 crisis by providing rooms for health care providers to rest between shifts or stay overnight.
On the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are often working grueling 24-hour shifts in high stress, high-risk environments. Many are also spending the night in their cars or in hotel rooms, fearful of spreading the virus to their loved ones at home. All funds from FlowPlay's campaign will directly support the ACS Hope Lodge program which provides thousands of free rooms for cancer patients who must travel away from home for treatment. During the pandemic, ACS has repurposed its lodging facilities to support health care providers.
"Because our Hope Lodge facilities are located near medical centers, we have a unique opportunity to support front line healthcare workers," said Howard Heino, Vice President of Hope Lodge Operations for the American Cancer Society. "We've always been about saving lives and we're humbled to step forward during this unprecedented time in this special way. We also look forward to once again serving cancer patients as soon as it's safe to do so. We're extremely grateful to FlowPlay and the Vegas World community for their support in these critical efforts."
Today until June 1, FlowPlay will offer a virtual in-game ACS Hope Lodge-branded charm for players to purchase to support the cause. In 2019, FlowPlay celebrated its biggest fundraising year to-date, raising over $100,000 for the ACS's Road To Recovery and Reach To Recovery programs which provide transportation for patients and breast cancer support.
"While many Americans are embracing social distancing, tight-knit communities are popping up in unconventional places like online games," said Derrick Morton, CEO, FlowPlay. "Our Vegas World community never ceases to amaze me with their kindness and generosity as they continue to support the ACS time after time."
While the ACS continues to make progress in its fight against cancer, people dealing with a cancer diagnosis are among the most vulnerable during today's global health crisis. The ACS urgently needs financial support. Nearly one in four cancer patients reported delays in their care because of the pandemic, including access to in-person appointments, imaging, surgery and other services. The ACS is working around the clock to not only prioritize cancer patient care, but also extend this care and support to other vulnerable populations like health care workers.
To donate to the American Cancer Society, please visit: http://cancer.org/donatelocal.
About FlowPlay
FlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful immersive gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino, and Casino World, the company's most grandiose, interactive and community-driven free-to-play social casino with tycoon gameplay. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
About American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 1.5 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the Society is the only organization attacking cancer from every angle. For more information go to www.cancer.org.
FlowPlay and American Icon Willie Nelson Launch In-Game Partnership Within Casino World
Interactive Social Casino Offers Players Customized Country Music-Themed Avatars and Buildings
SEATTLE, March 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- FlowPlay, creator of one of the most powerful immersive gaming platforms, today announced the launch of an in-game partnership between the multi Grammy winning, legendary Willie Nelson and Casino World, the most grandiose, interactive and community-driven free-to-play social casino with tycoon gameplay. Players can now select from country music-themed avatars to customize their in-game persona, and build cities with new features like tour buses and structures from Willie's Luck Texas ranch.
Casino World's immersive, customizable universe offers over 40 casual casino-style games, including nearly 30 slots, and the ability to create and customize immersive cities complete with buildings, luxury hotels, dance clubs and slot halls. Casino World will provide new avatars to players, complete with cowboy hats, Western shirts, bandanas and Willie Nelson-themed clothing. Players will also be able to add country music venues to their cities, including a tour bus, Willie inspired dance hall, Luck Opry House and Luck Headquarters, from Willie's Texas ranch.
Using winnings earned from casino gameplay, players can personalize their Casino World cities and build "Party Rooms" to chat, share Casino World Charms and interact more intimately with their avatars. In addition to the new Willie Nelson avatar, Casino World features 180 newly designed player avatar graphics that have unique personality characteristics, including movement-based expressions and soundbites.
"All of our games, features, partnerships and campaigns are built with the intention of fostering community in and outside our worlds," said Derrick Morton, CEO, FlowPlay. "Our partnership with Willie Nelson is no exception. Few things bring people together better than music, and Willie has long stood as one of the most iconic figures in the industry. His involvement in Casino World will bring a new level of relatability, personality and excitement to our game, and we're eager to share this initiative with our passionate community of players."
FlowPlay's partnership with Willie comes on the heels of another successful year for the company. In October, FlowPlay announced the initial launch of Casino World exclusively for desktop play, foregoing crowded app marketplaces to offer the most immerse, ultra-realistic FlowPlay title with unmatched gameplay capabilities and interactivity. FlowPlay also tapped its community of Vegas World gamers to raise more than $100,000 for the American Cancer Society through in-game fundraisers.
Casino World is available at: http://www.casinoworld.com.
About FlowPlayFlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful immersive gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino, and Casino World, the company's most grandiose, interactive and community-driven free-to-play social casino with tycoon gameplay. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
About Willie NelsonWith a six-decade career and 200 plus albums, this iconic Texan is the creative genius behind the historic recordings of Crazy, Red Headed Stranger, and Stardust. Willie Nelson has earned every conceivable award as a musician and amassed reputable credentials as an author, actor, and activist. He continues to thrive as a relevant and progressive musical and cultural force. In recent years, he has delivered more than a dozen new album releases, released a Top 10 New York Times' bestsellers book, again headlined Farm Aid, an event he co-founded in 1985, received his 5th degree black belt in Gong Kwon Yu Sul, headlined the annual Luck Reunion food and music festival at his ranch in Luck, TX during SXSW, launched his cannabis companies Willie's Reserve and Willie's Remedy, and graced the covers of Rolling Stone and AARP The Magazine. In 2015, Nelson published "It's A Long Story: My Life," the unvarnished and complete story of his life that landed him on the New York Times' bestsellers list. He also released a new studio album with Merle Haggard titled Django And Jimmie, which debuted at #1 on Billboard's Country album chart and #7 on Billboard's Top 200 album chart. In November 2015, the Library of Congress honored him with their Gershwin Prize for Popular Song for his contributions to popular music. He is the first country artist to receive the distinguished award. The following year began with the release of Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin, a collection of 11 newly recorded Gershwin classics. The album debuted at #1 on both the Top Current Jazz chart and the Top Traditional Jazz chart, as well as earned him a Grammy Award for the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. In September 2016, came For the Good Times: A Tribute to Ray Price, an album of newly recorded interpretations of 12 Ray Price songs. In 2017, he released two albums of newly recorded performances: God's Problem Child, with 13 new songs that debuted at #1 on Billboard's Country album chart and #10 on the Billboard 200, and Willie Nelson and The Boys (Willie's Stash, Vol. 2), that includes 11 country classics and one brand-new song performed by Nelson and his sons Lukas and Micah. For 2018, he released Last Man Standing in April to celebrate his 85th birthday. It is comprised entirely of songs newly-penned by Nelson (and longtime collaborator and producer Buddy Cannon). In September he released the album My Way, a collection of newly recorded standards and classic originally made famous by Nelson's close friend and musical colleague Frank Sinatra. It went on to win the GRAMMY Award for Best Traditional Pop Album. For 2019, he released Ride Me Back Home, a new studio album with 11 recordings that are a reflective upbeat journey through life, love, and time's inescapable rhythms viewed from Willie's inimitable perspective. The title song is currently nominated for a GRAMMY Award for Best Country Solo Performance. In January 2020, the title song received the GRAMMY Award for Best Country Solo Performance, making it his 10th GRAMMY win. In April 2020, Willie's next set of 11 newly recorded songs will release on his album First Rose of Spring - an atmospheric soulful showcase of beautifully-written songs and poignant performances. These new songs and performances add to his classic catalog, and finds Willie Nelson rolling at a creative peak, writing and singing and playing with the seasoned wit and wisdom that comes from the road, which he still travels along performing for fans.
FlowPlay CEO Derrick Morton Named Chair of CEOs Against Cancer Washington Chapter
Leadership Role Builds on FlowPlay's Yearslong Fundraising Efforts to Support the American Cancer Society
SEATTLE, Feb. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Cancer Society (ACS) announced today that it has appointed Derrick Morton, CEO and co-founder of FlowPlay, creator of one of the most powerful immersive gaming platforms, as chair to the Society's CEOs Against Cancer Washington chapter. In his first meeting as chair today, Morton will address the Washington chapter and share his vision and new ideas for 2020. In his new role, Morton will drive chapter recruitment and work to unite fellow CEOs to change the course of cancer by leveraging the collective knowledge, power and resources of the ACS.
Morton's appointment comes on the heels of FlowPlay's biggest fundraising year to date, in which the company raised more than $100,000 for the ACS. A leader of in-game fundraising, FlowPlay is a member of the ACS' Gamers vs. Cancer program, which brings together gamers, industry partners and individual content creators to position gaming as a new way to solve important societal issues. Through the sale of virtual ACS-branded charms in the company's flagship social casino, Vegas World, FlowPlay raised more than $50,000 and $40,000 for the Road To Recovery and Reach to Recovery programs respectively. The funds provided patients with thousands of rides to cancer treatment and recovery assistance to hundreds of women battling breast cancer.
"As a member of CEOs Against Cancer for the past year, I have seen its impact first hand," Morton said. "From groundbreaking research and early detection advocacy, to funding new treatment options and access for patients, the ACS and this segment of the organization are instrumental in the ongoing fight against cancer. I am honored to have the opportunity to serve our community as chair and hope to make a real difference by recruiting new members and building upon the momentum from last year."
The CEOs Against Cancer Washington chapter is making steady progress in the fight against cancer. In 2019, the Washington chapter welcomed five new members and raised $580,656 to invest in groundbreaking research and cancer control projects. CEOs from any industry are encouraged to learn more about their local CEOs Against Cancer chapter here or by reaching out to [email protected]. Fellow gaming industry organizations can learn how to partner alongside Gamers vs. Cancer, and launch an in-game fundraising event here.
"I am pleased to announce that Derrick Morton, CEO of FlowPlay, will be assuming the role of chair in 2020," said Tim Lieb, outgoing chair, CEOs Against Cancer Washington chapter and president at Regence BlueShield. "I have enjoyed seeing Derrick's passion and energy for the ACS and look forward to continue serving on the chapter under his leadership."
To build awareness for the CEOs Against Cancer and Gamers vs. Cancer initiatives, Morton will join Daniel Widner, vice president, regional distinguished partners, West Region, American Cancer Society, in a session at the upcoming Game Developers Conference. Their discussion will share how game developers can use philanthropic giving as a business strategy and to evoke social change. More detail on the session and registration information can be found here.
To learn more about the American Cancer Society and to donate, please visit: cancer.org/donatelocal.
About FlowPlayFlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful immersive gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino, and Casino World, the company's most grandiose, interactive and community-driven free-to-play social casino with tycoon gameplay. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
About American Cancer SocietyThe American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 1.5 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the Society is the only organization attacking cancer from every angle. For more information go to www.cancer.org.
FlowPlay Marks Biggest Fundraising Year to-Date Raising Over $100,000 for American Cancer Society
With the Support of Its Vegas World Community, FlowPlay Has Provided Rides to Cancer Treatment and Recovery Assistance to Breast Cancer Patients
SEATTLE, Dec. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- FlowPlay, creator of the most powerful immersive gaming platform, today announced that its Vegas World in-game fundraisers have generated more than $100,000 for the American Cancer Society in 2019. FlowPlay and its community of gamers continue to grow their support for the American Cancer Society and have raised more than $200,000 for the organization since 2016.
During two in-game fundraising campaigns, FlowPlay offered a virtual American Cancer Society-branded charm in the company's flagship social casino, Vegas World, which was available for players to purchase in support of dedicated causes. In April, players raised $50,000 for the Road To Recovery program, which equates to more than 6,500 free rides to treatment for cancer patients in Washington state. In FlowPlay's most recent campaign, Vegas World players raised $40,000 during Breast Cancer Awareness Month for American Cancer Society's Reach To Recovery program, where donations will be able to provide 400 breast cancer patients with one-on-one peer support from a breast cancer survivor, and 300 wigs for patients suffering from treatment side effects.
FlowPlay CEO, Derrick Morton, also donated more than $11,000 on behalf of the company during the Society's Fit2Be Cancer Free Campaign, an employee wellness campaign, and their Seattle Hope Gala, which will support patient transportation and cancer research.
"FlowPlay and Vegas World players have made a tremendous impact thanks to their generous donations in recent years," said Daniel Widner, Distinguished Partners vice president, American Cancer Society West Region. "Through the commitment and support from FlowPlay and the Vegas World community, the American Cancer Society is able to help so many – those facing cancer today, and those who may avoid a diagnosis altogether thanks to education, prevention, early detection and patient programs."
The American Cancer Society is making remarkable progress in the fight against cancer. In fact, the cancer death rate has declined by 27 percent since 1991, translating to nearly 15.5 million cancer survivors alive today and 2.6 million cancer deaths avoided in the U.S.
"FlowPlay and our amazing player community will continue to support the American Cancer Society as it pushes forward in its mission to eliminate cancer," said Derrick Morton, CEO of FlowPlay. "The Vegas World community continues to amaze the FlowPlay team with their charitable giving, and FlowPlay plans to create even more opportunities to make an impact in the lives of cancer patients in King County, Washington and across the globe."
To learn more about the American Cancer Society and to donate, please visit: cancer.org/donatelocal.
About FlowPlayFlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful immersive gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino, and Casino World, the company's most grandiose, interactive and community-driven free-to-play social casino with tycoon gameplay. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
About American Cancer SocietyThe American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 1.5 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the Society is the only organization attacking cancer from every angle. For more information go to www.cancer.org.
FlowPlay Releases Casino World, a New Free-to-Play, Social Casino Tycoon Game
Groundbreaking Title from the Developer Behind Hit Social Casino Vegas World Expands Upon Traditional Casino Gameplay with Milestone Rewards System and More Perks than Ever Before
SEATTLE, Oct. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- FlowPlay, creator of the most powerful immersive gaming platform, today announced the launch of Casino World, the company's most grandiose, interactive and community-driven free-to-play game. A social casino with tycoon gameplay, Casino World offers over 40 casual casino-style games, including nearly 30 slots, and the ability for players to create their very own Vegas-like cities. No matter their level in the game, Casino World tycoons can play their favorite games, chat with friends, share virtual goods, host parties and build their empire alongside thousands of online players.
Launched exclusively for desktop browser play, FlowPlay's newest game allows for the creation and customization of an immersive city with interactive, social elements that allow players to beat the house. Players can personalize their Casino World city by constructing and moving new buildings, from luxury hotels, to fun dance clubs to glamorous slot halls. As they grow their empire, players will be rewarded with additional coins to flaunt their Casino World mogul status. Players can also construct "Party Rooms" that serve as interactive chat rooms, where users can invite friends to chat, share Casino World Charms, which increase casino gameplay winnings, and interact more intimately with their better ultra-realistic avatars.
"FlowPlay isn't just developing the best free-to-play online casino games, we're fostering social and real-world relationships through the communities that we construct for our players," said Derrick Morton, CEO of FlowPlay. "With Casino World, we wanted players to experience a new way to interact with the casino landscape, allowing players to build their own slot and bingo halls that reward them with additional coins. Now, players can create the city of their dreams all while sharing the experience with their Casino World friends."
Casino World features over 200 newly designed, ultra-realistic player avatars that have unique personality characteristics, including movement-based expressions and soundbites. As players acquire Avatar Tokens, they can access new avatar characters with more exclusive personality traits, clothes and styles.
Casino World is also introducing Milestone Rewards, a new level-based reward system that pays players in exclusive Charms, additional coins, buildings for the player's Casino World city and Party Passes, which allow free entrance into user-run parties. As players acquire wealth within the game, they unlock new reward levels that tell an interactive story of the creation of the Casino World universe.
As an opponent to the crowded mobile app marketplaces, FlowPlay has launched Casino World exclusively for desktop play. Casino World players can access and enjoy the full featured, PC-style universe without the loss of ambience that is required to accommodate a mobile device. Casino World is the most immersive, ultra-realistic FlowPlay title with unmatched gameplay capabilities and interactivity.
FlowPlay has also partnered with Publishers Clearing House, a digital entertainment and commerce destination for millions of US consumers, for a Casino World "$25,000 Charmed Life Sweepstakes." Participants who register for the sweepstakes by October 27 at 11:59 p.m. ET will have the free chance to win a $25,000 guaranteed cash prize. Participants who click through to Casino World using the sweepstakes link will automatically receive a bonus entry. About two weeks after the lucky winner is chosen, the famous Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol, along with FlowPlay CEO Derrick Morton, will travel to the winner's home to surprise him or her with the winning check.
Casino World is now available at: https://www.casinoworld.com/.
About FlowPlay
FlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful immersive gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, and Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
FlowPlay and American Cancer Society Kick Off "Gamers vs. Cancer" In-Game Fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Vegas World Players, Who Have Helped Raise More Than $175,000 For Cancer Causes to Date, Can Contribute to Breast Cancer Fight Through Early November
SEATTLE, Oct. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- FlowPlay, creator of the most powerful immersive gaming platform, today announced the launch of the company's second in-game fundraising campaign of the year. In partnership with the American Cancer Society, and in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the campaign will raise money in FlowPlay's flagship social casino, Vegas World. Funds will support future breast cancer research, support patients and further promote awareness about prevention through the American Cancer Society.
Approximately one in eight U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. Experts project that in 2019, over 268,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in U.S. women. The American Cancer Society has helped drive down breast cancer's mortality rate since 1989. Breast cancer death rates have dropped 40 percent in the U.S., and more than 375,000 lives have been saved. All funds from FlowPlay's campaign will directly support the many patients who are living with breast cancer today, along with future research for preventative care. FlowPlay will also be donating additional funds following the in-game campaign.
"FlowPlay and its community of millions of gamers have championed our causes since 2016, donating more than $175,000 through in-game fundraisers," said Daniel Widner, Distinguished Partners vice president, American Cancer Society West Region. "The FlowPlay community has continued to make cancer awareness and patient support a priority, which is why we are now offering exclusive "Gamers vs. Cancer" charms, which are part of our initiative to expand our digital fundraising footprint within the gaming community."
Between October 7 and November 4, FlowPlay will offer a virtual, in-game American Cancer Society-branded charm for players to purchase in support of the cause. During a similar campaign earlier this year, the FlowPlay community raised more than $50,000 to support the American Cancer Society's patient lodging and Road To Recovery programs in King County, Washington.
"Sadly, nearly every person today has been impacted by cancer in some way, and it has become a cause near and dear to our player community," said Derrick Morton, CEO of FlowPlay. "The American Cancer Society truly makes a difference in cancer research, prevention and patient support, which is why we urge our players to give generously to its programs, as will FlowPlay in our contribution. As a member of the ACS Washington CEOs Against Cancer chapter, I'm so proud of the continued support from our player community, which exceeds our expectations every year."
Since 2015, FlowPlay has raised over $235,000 for charity causes, with $60,000 being donated to other organizations through similar in-game campaigns, including GirlStart and earthquake relief in Nepal.
To learn more about the American Cancer Society and how to donate, please visit: cancer.org/donate.
About FlowPlayFlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful immersive gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, and Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
About American Cancer SocietyThe American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 1.5 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the Society is the only organization attacking cancer from every angle. For more information go to www.cancer.org.
FlowPlay’s Commitment to Employee Happiness and Success Recognized by Prestigious Local and National Awards
Company's Excellent Culture Earns Placement Among Inc.'s Top Workplaces and Seattle Business Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For
SEATTLE, June 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- FlowPlay, creator of the most powerful immersive gaming platform, is adding to its growing list of corporate awards and recognition of its company culture. In Inc.'s Top Workplaces, an award program for the best national workplace environments, FlowPlay's strong benefits package and unique perks stood out among thousands of companies around the country. The company was also named to Seattle Business Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For, an award that salutes Washington companies setting the ideal standard for executive leadership, benefits, rewards and recognition, corporate culture and training. These awards underscore FlowPlay's continued dedication to its employees, ensuring their happiness in an industry often known for its challenging work environments.
"When we started the company, our goal was to create the kind of organization that we'd want to work for. It was our belief that if we could achieve this goal, everything else would fall into place," said Derrick Morton, co-founder and CEO of FlowPlay. "As the company matured, we held true to this value, so that even during periods of rapid company growth, employees' success and happiness remained a priority. Because of this approach, we've been able to scale and create great products, while retaining much of the same staff we had on the day we opened our doors in 2007."
Only 346 U.S.-based companies received recognition as one of Inc.'s Top Workplaces in 2019. Of more than 2,000 national companies that vied for the award, FlowPlay rightfully earned its ranking by showcasing dedication to its employees by offering:
The full spectrum of insurance benefits, including health savings accounts;
The full spectrum of financial benefits, including stock ownership, tuition reimbursement, profit sharing and financial planning services;
Paid maternity leave longer than 8 weeks, paid paternity leave and paid time off for community service;
Wellness benefits like stress-relief breaks, an onsite fitness center and company support groups;
And workplace experience benefits that include work from home options, flexible hours, onsite and offsite happy hours and social events, casual dress code, gaming rooms, free daily lunch and ride-sharing to and from work.
FlowPlay's agile, innovative company culture also stood out on Seattle Business Magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For – an award the company has won previously. Driven by a flat management system that promotes shared responsibility for the success of any given product and the organization as a whole, FlowPlay maintains an autonomous yet collaborative workforce. This has resulted in nearly zero employee turnover even amid significant employee growth, with an average of one employee per quarter added to the team for the last five years.
Recognition as an Inc. Top Workplace and Seattle Business Magazine 100 Best Company to Work For in 2019 comes in addition to many other company culture awards FlowPlay has won since 2007. This is the second year FlowPlay has landed on Seattle Business Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For list. FlowPlay has been named among Entrepreneur's 360 Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America in 2016 and has made the Puget Sound Business Journal's Corporate Philanthropy List three years in a row since 2016. FlowPlay has also been included on Deloitte's Fast 500 list in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
FlowPlay's generous donations to local and national organizations have also supported the company's culture of giving. On top of FlowPlay's commitment to its employees, the company has donated over $400,000 to charities including the American Cancer Institute, Homes for Our Troops, Technology Access Foundation, Girlstart and the Butterfly Foundation.
To learn more about FlowPlay, the company's employees and the work environment that's been created to fuel the gaming industry's most engaging multiplayer social games, visit: https://www.flowplay.com/company.
About FlowPlay
FlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful immersive gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, and Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
About Inc. MediaFounded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures, Inc. is the only major brand dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, with the aim to deliver real solutions for today's innovative company builders. Winner of Advertising Age's "A-List" in January 2015, and a National Magazine Award for General Excellence in both 2014 and 2012, Inc. has a monthly audience reach that's grown from two million in 2010 to more than 20 million today. For more information, visit Inc.com.
About Seattle BusinessSeattle Business is an award-winning monthly magazine read by thousands of business executives across the state. It delivers insight into the key people, enterprises and trends that drive business in the Pacific Northwest, providing perspective on the region's ever-changing economic environment.
FlowPlay Co-Founders Named Finalists for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2019 Award in the Pacific Northwest Region
CEO Derrick Morton and CTO Doug Pearson Join Ranks of Unstoppable Entrepreneurs in the Pacific Northwest Region
CEO Derrick Morton and CTO Doug Pearson Join Ranks of Unstoppable Entrepreneurs in the Pacific Northwest Region
SEATTLE, April 19, 2019 -- EY today announced that FlowPlay co-founders Derrick Morton and Doug Pearson are finalists for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2019 Award in the Pacific Northwest region. Widely considered one of the most prestigious business awards programs in the U.S., the program recognizes entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities, while also transforming our world. Morton and Pearson were selected as finalists by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a special black-tie gala event on Friday, June 14 at the King Street Ballroom & Perch in Seattle, Washington.
For more than 12 years, FlowPlay has consistently grown and evolved under Morton and Pearson's shared leadership. As CEO, Morton guides the business strategy, growth and long-term direction while Pearson leads technology and platform innovation as CTO. Together, the co-founders have established FlowPlay as a stalwart in the online games industry – guiding the business through countless changes in technology and shifts in the market landscape. This finalist nomination cements the entrepreneurs as one of the most enduring and inspiring co-founder duos in the Pacific Northwest, and as true visionaries in the local games industry.
"Working alongside Doug to build this business and build this team has been the honor of my lifetime," Morton said. "Without his technology vision and friendship, this entrepreneurship journey would not have been this successful, rewarding or nearly as fun. It's been an amazing 12 years so far and I can't wait for 12 more."
"This nomination is a validation that we have truly realized our early vision for FlowPlay, which was to create a company and a culture that makes each employee excited to come to work every day," Pearson added. "That vision has grown to include a commitment to the communities around us – the community built within our own office walls, the communities that are fostered within our games, and within the community at large. It has been incredible to witness the impact this vision has had on so many different groups of people throughout the years."
Now in its 33rd year, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries throughout the world.
To learn more about the Pacific Northwest program, please visit www.ey.com/us/eoy/pnw. Join the conversation on social media by following us @EY_EOYUS and using #EOYPNW.
Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National competition. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 16, 2019. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum®, the nation's most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.
About FlowPlay
FlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful immersive gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, and Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
About Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Entrepreneur Of The Year®, founded by EY, is the world's most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global awards program of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries. ey.com/eoy
About EY's Growth Markets Network
EY's worldwide Growth Markets Network is dedicated to serving the changing needs of high-growth companies. For more than 30 years, we've helped many of the world's most dynamic and ambitious companies grow into market leaders. Whether working with international mid-cap companies or early stage, venture-backed businesses, our professionals draw upon their extensive experience, insight and global resources to help your business succeed. For more information, please visit us at ey.com/gm or follow news on Twitter @EY_Growth.
About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.
EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.
FlowPlay Invests in Future of Blockchain Games with Alto.io Partnership
Flowplay, creator of the most powerful immersive gaming platform, announced a strategic partnership and investment in Alto.io, a decentralized platform empowering the entire games ecosystem to mint, use, and sell cryptoitems on the blockchain.
Strategic Investment from Established Free-to-Play Game Developer Supports Alto.io in Tackling Biggest Challenge of Connecting Games to the Blockchain: Interoperability
SEATTLE, Aug. 15, 2018 -- FlowPlay, creator of the most powerful immersive gaming platform, today announced a strategic partnership and investment in Alto.io, a decentralized platform empowering the entire games ecosystem to mint, use, and sell cryptoitems on the blockchain. As part of the partnership, FlowPlay will advise Alto.io on market challenges and opportunities while exploring the use of Alto.io's blockchain-based game items within its suite of current and future games. With more than a decade spent growing FlowPlay into an established, mid-sized developer of free-to-play games and technology, the company is well suited to support Alto.io in its mission to level the playing field for smaller developers and disrupt the free-to-play model.
In today's saturated games industry dominated by major publishers with significant marketing budgets, very few free-to-play titles ever become financially viable. This is especially poignant in the mobile games market, where just 1 percent of App Store game publishers make 94 percent of the profits, according to Sensor Tower. With the rise of blockchain, a new opportunity for indie game developers and small studios has emerged to decentralize distribution, ownership, and ultimately marketing and user acquisition costs. Alto.io is one of the first to tackle the challenge of connecting games to the blockchain by introducing an item-first ecosystem, which enables the creation of interoperable virtual game items – such as characters and equipment – that players can use within any game that is part of the ecosystem.
"Mounting player acquisition costs and a centralization of casual games distribution channels has made the free-to-play market extremely challenging for small developers to break into," said Derrick Morton, CEO of FlowPlay. "Through this partnership in Alto.io, we are investing in not only the company and the future of blockchain game technology, but also the future potential of many yet-to-be-developed games that could not exist without a solution like Alto.io."
The Alto.io platform and ecosystem is currently under development and is expected to launch in early 2019. The Alto.io model is designed for the benefit of the entire games ecosystem – while game developers will get free customer acquisition, players will be able use their cryptoitems across multiple games, and item creators will receive a commission each time a cryptoitem exchanges hands. The model will be enabled by a software suite including the Alto Forge, a tool allowing developers to mint non-fungible, fully tradable cryptoitems and integrate the items games. Serving as Alto.io's mobile wallet, the Alto Backpack will allow consumers to store and trade cryptoitems as well as discover new Alto-powered blockchain games. Additionally, the Alto Wizard will allow for the creation of storefronts, enabling the pre-sale of cryptoitems in an Initial Item Offering (IIO) which will assist developers in securing funding, engaging an early user base, and creating value beyond a game's economy from day one.
"FlowPlay's long history and deep expertise in the casual games space makes the company's insights invaluable to the mission of Alto.io," said Chase Freo, CEO of Alto.io. "We look forward to working alongside the FlowPlay team to continue refining the model, evolving the technology, and advancing the use of blockchain in games."
To help support indie game developers interested in becoming early entrants into the blockchain space, Alto.io also recently launched the Alto Cryptogame Challenge. Following the conclusion of an initial pitch stage, five of the most creative cryptogame concepts were selected to move into the demo development stage. The five teams are currently building live demos of their cryptogames and FlowPlay CEO Derrick Morton will participate in the final judging phase, which takes place in early September. Winners will be announced on September 12 in Helsinki during the Blockchain Gamer Connects conference where Alto.io will award $150,000 in cash and prizes for the most unique and innovative blockchain game demos.
About FlowPlay
FlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful immersive gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, and Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
About Alto.io
Alto.io is a self-sustaining ecosystem for game developers, item creators and players, built around the blockchain's item-first economy. Through the Alto.io platform, interoperable cryptoitems (blockchain-based game items) are minted, used, and sold across multiple games and users. Headquartered in Singapore and Toronto, Alto.io was established in February 2018 by game development veterans in China and Southeast Asia. To learn more about Alto, please visit https://alto.io.
FlowPlay to Bring Inaugural U.S. Haxe Summit to Seattle
Conference Will Promote Education and Exploration of Haxe Platform for Software and Game Developers this Spring
Conference Will Promote Education and Exploration of Haxe Platform for Software and Game Developers this Spring
SEATTLE, Feb. 5, 2018 -- FlowPlay, creator of the most powerful immersive gaming platform, today announced the company will host the inaugural U.S. Haxe Summit in partnership with the Haxe Foundation. The three-day event will take place in Seattle May 3-5, and offers developers a deep dive into Haxe, an open source, cross-platform toolkit that provides access to all mainstream platforms natively. The technology is growing in adoption worldwide and is currently used by thousands of developers across several industries. This conference provides the first official opportunity for Haxe developers to network with other industry professionals in the U.S., and will cater to all audience levels with beginner, intermediate and advanced sessions.
Through a combination of sessions, workshops and panel discussions, attendees will hear how to build games, applications and frameworks across several industries including gaming and entertainment. The lineup of speakers and industry experts will give attendees a sneak peek into new and interesting Haxe projects, deliver hands-on learning experiences and provide introductory sessions to those new to the technology.
"Since releasing Haxe, we have developed a dedicated, open-source community and ecosystem that continues to further the development of the core technology, toolkit and libraries," said Nicolas Cannasse, creator of Haxe. "We are looking forward to promoting the power of Haxe in the United States for the first time, among new and existing connections. This event will help raise awareness and further expand the Haxe community, and engage developers from multiple industries in discussions about how they are leveraging and growing the technology."
Full details about the US Haxe Summit 2018 include:
- Date: May 3-5, 2018.
- Location: The Hilton Seattle Downtown, 1301 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101.
- Tickets: Early bird attendee pass pricing will be available until March 1. All tickets can be purchased on the website.
- Call for Speakers: The call for speakers is open until the end of February and proposals can be submitted on the website.
"Our company truly believes in the power of the Haxe codebase, and we recently invested in it directly with a transition of 1.4 million lines of our core platform to the language," said Derrick Morton, CEO of FlowPlay. "As a sponsor and host of the event, we hope to help educate U.S. developers about Haxe's state-of-the-art cross-platform capabilities, expand its open-source community and support the Haxe Foundation and its long-term development."
For more information about sponsoring the conference, please reach out to [email protected] or visit https://summit.haxe.org/us/2018/#partners.
About FlowPlay
FlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful immersive gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, and Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
About The Haxe Foundation
The Haxe Foundation was created in 2012 to fund Haxe's long-term development and provide assistance to developers and companies using the toolkit. The organization supports Haxe's entire open source programming ecosystem and core technologies to enable growth of its source code and programming library. Backed by strategic partners, supporters and contributors, the Haxe Foundation organizes events and user groups to bolster the open source community and provide guidance for companies looking to evaluate Haxe as a potential solution. For more information, visit www.haxe.org/foundation/ or reach out to [email protected].
FlowPlay Completes Major Cross-Platform Overhaul, Transitions 1.4 Million Lines of Code to Haxe for Vegas World Relaunch
Use of Open-Source Development Technology Serves as Case Study for Thousands of Games Facing Flash's Impending Shuttering
Use of Open-Source Development Technology Serves as Case Study for Thousands of Games Facing Flash's Impending Shuttering
SEATTLE, Dec. 12, 2017 -- FlowPlay, creator of the most powerful immersive gaming platform, today announced the completion of an extensive overhaul of the company's flagship social casino game, Vegas World. The relaunch follows nearly eighteen months of engineering work focused on improving key elements of the user interface including the conversion of all graphics from vector to bitmaps and rebuilding the client-side application to transform the front-end technology. The effort included the transition of 1.4 million lines of code from a Flash-based codebase to Haxe, in the largest ever project to leverage the open-source, cross-platform development technology.
After years of speculation, Adobe officially announced in July that it will no longer support Flash technology by the end of 2020. Once considered the foremost development solution for the casual games industry, Flash has fallen out of favor in recent years, particularly as mobile use has grown. Today, the thousands of casual games that remain on Flash are in danger of vanishing alongside the sunsetting browser plugin. As new platforms launch, development technologies evolve, and the rapid shift to mobile continues, FlowPlay's approach to relaunching Vegas World provides a case study for other Flash developers looking for a long-term, cross-platform solution to ensure the future viability of their games.
"FlowPlay embarked on a tremendous undertaking with the complete transition of 1.4 million lines of code. The official relaunch of Vegas World not only marks years of work by FlowPlay's engineering team, but also a major milestone for Haxe given the scale of the project and broad utilization of the toolkit," said Nicolas Cannasse, creator of Haxe. "FlowPlay's contributions to the Haxe community based on the Vegas World project are invaluable and can pave the way for other developers that will use Haxe to make the leap away from Flash over the next two years."
Prior to selecting Haxe, FlowPlay completed a rigorous evaluation process where the company assessed many of today's most popular game development solutions including Unity and JavaScript/HTML5. In addition to the unique value proposition of being open-source, Haxe's robust cross-platform capabilities – allowing the use of a single codebase to natively target web, mobile, and other platforms – were unmatched. Most critically, however, was the capability to maintain the infrastructure while retaining the ability to serve FlowPlay's community of millions of Vegas World players that largely prefer to engage through the desktop experience but welcome on-the-go access via mobile.
"What differentiates Vegas World from other social casinos, and other casual games more broadly, is our focus on a community experience. An essential element of that is the ability to have seamless, platform-agnostic access for players to connect with friends in Vegas World in real-time, regardless from which platform either player enters," said Doug Pearson, CTO at FlowPlay. "Haxe is the only solution available today that allowed us to stay true to the mission to put the needs of our community first, and the years of engineering energy culminating in this relaunch were well worth the effort."
While FlowPlay maintains a PC-first strategy for Vegas World, the company continues to expand further into mobile to maintain a cross-platform presence, bring a diverse set of offerings to market, and reach new audiences. The Haxe codebase has allowed for the launch of new mobile titles including Vegas World Slots, available now for iOS and Android devices, with Vegas World Casino coming in January.
"Creating a truly cross-platform experience for a massively multiplayer online game is a huge endeavor. Thousands of people are playing Vegas World at any given time, to connect, chat, and gift in-game goods, and they ultimately do not care about the client technology, just the experience and ability to play how, when, and where they want to," said Craig Robinson, VP of Mobile at FlowPlay. "While this transition was certainly critical to the sustainability of Vegas World in terms of Flash no longer being a viable technology, our approach and use of Haxe has set FlowPlay up for success as a social casino, casual games, and mobile developer for years to come, ready to take on whatever the industry brings."
Following significant contributions to the Haxe open-source community, FlowPlay also recently became a strategic partner of the Haxe Foundation which aims to fund the long-term development of the toolkit. Through this partnership, the company will support game developers looking to evaluate the technology as a potential solution and contribute to the evolution of the open-source platform.
As an extension of the partnership, FlowPlay will host the inaugural US Haxe Summit from May 3-5, 2018 at the Seattle Hilton. More details will be announced in the coming months.
About FlowPlay
FlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful immersive gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, and Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
About The Haxe Foundation
The Haxe Foundation was created in 2012 to fund Haxe's long-term development and provide assistance to developers and companies using the toolkit. The organization supports Haxe's entire open source programming ecosystem and core technologies to enable growth of its source code and programming library. Backed by strategic partners, supporters and contributors, the Haxe Foundation organizes events and user groups to bolster the open source community and provide guidance for companies looking to evaluate Haxe as a potential solution. For more information, visit www.haxe.org/foundation/ or reach out to [email protected].
FlowPlay Joins Forces with Dragonchain™ to Bring Blockchain to Social Games Industry
Company Invests in Disney Spinout, Explores Cryptocurrency Offerings for Current and Future Games
Company Invests in Disney Spinout, Explores Cryptocurrency Offerings for Current and Future Games
SEATTLE, Nov. 15, 2017 -- FlowPlay, creator of the most powerful immersive gaming platform, today announced its strategic alliance with Dragonchain, the open-source blockchain platform originally developed at Disney. On the heels of its investment in Dragonchain's Initial Coin Offering (ICO), FlowPlay plans to license and leverage the company's blockchain technology to develop an in-game monetization platform for casual social games. In addition to integrating blockchain into its current game suite, FlowPlay is exploring further opportunities to create and power games with cryptocurrency.
Blockchain has quickly become one of the most promising technological breakthroughs in secure item transfers across many industries and is poised to revolutionize the $109 billion gaming space (Newzoo). Blockchain and cryptocurrencies are a natural fit for the games industry, which is often fueled by early adoption of emerging technologies, and the need to enhance player experiences to remain competitive. Through the addition of a blockchain platform, game developers can increase security and transparency for their players, and eventually promote the universal exchange of in-game digital goods across the entire gaming ecosystem.
"Dragonchain and its technologies have the potential to make a huge impact in the games industry by introducing a simple and secure way for players to earn and trade cryptocurrency through a decentralized blockchain system," said Derrick Morton, CEO of FlowPlay. "With the technology's roots in loyalty and rewards programs, we see several key areas of our business that can be enhanced and expanded through the Dragonchain platform."
"Dragonchain was developed to provide companies with an easy-to-use blockchain platform that allows users to retain complete control of their data, providing a level of security not available in any other platform on the market," said Eileen Quenin, President of the Dragonchain Foundation and Vice President of Strategic Partnerships with Dragonchain, Inc. "By using our turnkey solution, FlowPlay is breaking ground in bringing cryptocurrency to an industry that traditionally deals exclusively in virtual goods. FlowPlay's implementation of blockchain will set an example for companies in their space looking to optimize their businesses through cryptocurrency in the future."
In a multi-billion-dollar industry where players spend nearly as much money in games as they do outside of them, developers are faced with the challenge of creating a secure platform that supports the fair trade of virtual goods. Many gaming companies are failing to eliminate risks for their player communities and effectively compete with others that provide sophisticated payment options. The use of blockchain technology within a gaming platform will limit security vulnerabilities, boost the potential for virtual economies and give game developers the control they need to adapt to an evolving landscape.
"We are a platform company at our core, and as such are constantly looking for new ways to innovate and enhance the experience of our community of players around the world," Morton said. "By strengthening our monetization platform with blockchain, we are exploring ways for our players to earn freely tradeable cryptocurrency in-game and use those rewards as tradable goods, to redeem for cash or in a variety of other ways."
FlowPlay will solidify its uses for Dragonchain's platform across its suite of games in the coming year.
About FlowPlay
FlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful immersive gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, and Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
About Dragonchain
Dragonchain simplifies the integration of real business applications on a blockchain and provides features such as easy integration, protection of business data and operations, currency agnosticism, and multi-currency support. The company also provides professional services to build-out development and successful tokenization ecosystems with long term value utilizing an incubation model. Please visit and contact us at https://dragonchain.com/, [email protected]
FlowPlay Partners with RAVE Foundation to Bring 500 Local Kids to Seattle Sounders FC Match on July 23
Donation From Seattle-Based Video Game Developer Will Provide Hundreds of Soccer Balls to Seattle Area Kids in Need
Donation From Seattle-Based Video Game Developer Will Provide Hundreds of Soccer Balls to Seattle Area Kids in Need
SEATTLE, July 21, 2017 -- RAVE Foundation, the official charitable arm of Seattle Sounders FC, has a new faithful partner in local Emerald City-based immersive games developer, FlowPlay. The company is supporting RAVE's community outreach efforts through a combined charitable donation and sponsorship, providing game day tickets for 500 local youth to attend the July 23 Sounders match as they take on the San Jose Earthquakes. Along with this effort, FlowPlay is also supporting RAVE's ONE Ball program by providing funds for the purchase of 400 soccer balls, which will be gifted to kids throughout the greater Puget Sound community in need of a high-quality soccer ball.
"Over the last four years, our foundation has worked to instill leadership, inclusion, health, and empowerment through the game of soccer in our communities with the support and collaboration of local organizations," said Ashley Fosberg, Executive Director of the RAVE Foundation. "FlowPlay's donation is helping broaden our mission of removing barriers to participation on and off the field with the simple gift of a soccer ball and, in this case, the gift of experiencing the excitement of a Sounders match first-hand."
RAVE Foundation worked closely with area Boys & Girls Clubs of America to ensure the 500 tickets were provided to a diverse set of youth from a variety of communities, many of which have never had the opportunity to attend a Sounders FC match. The company's donation to the ONE Ball program will support RAVE's goal to provide every kid a soccer ball who needs one and target communities in need to foster a culture of inclusive, free play, pick-up, pop-up soccer. FlowPlay staff will also be involved, as 100 employees and family members will be decked out in Rave Green to cheer on the MLS Champions at the July 23 match.
"At FlowPlay, we are passionate about supporting the community around us and providing resources to help the next generation become engaged citizens," said Derrick Morton, CEO of FlowPlay. "We couldn't think of a better way to do this than through partnering with RAVE, and we know our donation will make a notable impact on continuing their mission of using soccer to empower all kids in the community to be inclusive, healthy, safe, and active."
Kick-off for Sunday's game is scheduled for 7:30pm PT on Sunday, July 23 at CenturyLink Field. Fans are encouraged to use #itonlytakesoneball and #SFCcommunity across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to cheer on the Sounders, RAVE Foundation, and the attending youths.
About FlowPlay
FlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful immersive gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, and Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
About RAVE Foundation
The RAVE Foundation, the official charitable arm of Seattle Sounders, was founded in 2013 to serve the greater Puget Sound community. Its mission: To build small, accessible soccer fields in urban areas that provide free play to shape young citizens, strengthen communities and encourage physical activity which empowers and inspires children and removes barriers to participation both on and off the field.
FlowPlay Expands Social Casino White-Label Platform with Introduction of Industry's First Social Sports Betting Solution
New White-Label Solution Leverages Free-to-Play Mechanics to Unlock Online Sports Betting Market in the U.S.
New White-Label Solution Leverages Free-to-Play Mechanics to Unlock Online Sports Betting Market in the U.S.
SAN DIEGO, April 27, 2017 -- GiGse – FlowPlay, creator of the most powerful immersive gaming platform, today announced the launch of the social casino industry's first social sports white-label solution. Powered by Sportradar's peerless data and statistics and debuting at GiGse, the new solution gives businesses of all kinds – from fantasy sports operators to major brands – the opportunity to quickly and easily enter the burgeoning online sports betting industry. Especially built for the U.S. market where real-money gambling online is illegal and unregulated in nearly all forms, FlowPlay's platform leverages free-to-play mechanics. Through this regulation-free approach, FlowPlay is granting partners access to a variety of free-to-play fantasy sports offerings such as daily fantasy sports (DFS), real-time betting experiences, and traditional sportsbooks.
While the recent rise of DFS has caused an influx of consumer awareness and interest in online sports betting, it remains a niche product with significant regulatory hurdles. Today, 90 percent of the DFS industry is controlled by the two largest entities (Juniper Research) and the operating model is only considered legal in 10 out of 50 states with regulatory fees costing upwards of $1 million in each. FlowPlay is closing the gap between consumer demand and regulation by leveraging similar free-to-play mechanics as the $4.4 billion social casino market (Eilers), which provide a viable revenue model for businesses and brands of all sizes. Since launching its sports business unit in late 2014, FlowPlay's social sports games now bring in multi-million dollar revenues into the company. FlowPlay also remains the only social casino developer to provide social sports offerings to its player base, now opening its highly-monetizing games to partners.
"Businesses today face a regulatory minefield when it comes to online sports betting that simply does not apply to free-to-play games," said Derrick Morton, CEO of FlowPlay. "Our white-label platform provides companies with the technology and infrastructure they need to successfully, and legally, begin taking advantage of the emerging fantasy sports betting market."
"FlowPlay is the first casual games company that we have partnered with," said Dr. Laila Mintas, Deputy President at Sportradar US. "We were looking for a company that could really take our peerless breadth and depth of statistics and really bring it to life through some innovative products. FlowPlay's social sports offerings really are securing some exciting levels of engagement and we know that they will continue to develop new ways that will allow U.S. fans to get closer to the sports they love here in the U.S."
FlowPlay's white-label platform is available as both an out-of-the-box solution, allowing businesses to quickly and easily bring social casino games to market, as well as a flexible solution for custom-branded offerings. Through the social sports solution, partners also have the opportunity to launch games based on real-time or historical statistics for players and teams across all major college and professional sports leagues.
Key features of the platform include:
- Truly Cross-Platform Player Experiences: Massively multiplayer gameplay and chat functionality allows thousands of players to chat and play together simultaneously across all platforms including desktop, tablet and mobile at any given time – increasing engagement rates and improving player loyalty.
- Synchronized Launches and Upgrades Across All Platforms and Devices: One of the most technically complex social gaming products on the market, FlowPlay's platform leverages one core codebase allowing launches and deployment of new updates across all popular platforms and devices to occur in near real-time.
- Industry-Leading Monetization & Retention: FlowPlay's proven monetization methods consistently exceed industry standards for average revenue per daily active user (ARPDAU) and player retention rates, secured through highly-social features spanning a unique combination of in-game items and sharing functionality.
- Extensive Payment Integrations & Analytics: More than 20 different integrations with domestic and international payment providers are available, along with an extensive analytics dashboard featuring up to 300 metrics to evaluate user acquisition activities, ensure steady growth, and identify new monetization opportunities.
GiGse is taking place April 26-28 in San Diego, CA. At the event, Morton will be speaking in a roundtable session titled, "The Social Casino Surgery," on Thursday, April 27 @ 3:00pm PT where several leading business-to-business social casino providers will discuss the state of the industry and best practices for leveraging white-label social casino technologies.
For more information on FlowPlay's white-label platform and social sports betting capabilities, contact [email protected].
About FlowPlay
FlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful immersive gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, and Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
About GiGse
GiGse takes place on April 26-28 at the Marriott Marquis Marina in San Diego, CA. For several years, GiGse has established itself at the forefront of gaming trends across the North American region and is nestled among the tech and start-up wonderland that is San Diego. The event brings together the gaming community to discuss innovation, future technology, digital disruption, emerging gaming channels, content and new casino concepts through a vibrant collection of talks and demonstrations. As GiGse has evolved over the years, so has our parallel industry content and peripheral technology audience, and we are always looking for exciting digital, sensory and millennial led concepts for the gaming sector to embrace. To find out more about GiGse, please visit www.gigse.com.
FlowPlay Donates $60,000 to Washington's Technology Access Foundation Academy
Funds Designated to Build a State-of-the-Art Design and Engineering Lab for Diverse Group of Middle and High School STEM Students
Funds Designated to Build a State-of-the-Art Design and Engineering Lab for Diverse Group of Middle and High School STEM Students
SEATTLE, Feb. 23, 2017 -- FlowPlay, creator of the most powerful immersive gaming platform, today announced a $60,000 donation to the Technology Access Foundation (TAF) Academy as part of the company's 10-year anniversary celebration. FlowPlay's contribution is allocated for the development of The Lighthouse Design & Engineering Lab, one of three new start-of-the-art labs being constructed during TAF's 2017 campus expansion. The lab will support TAF Academy's larger mission to prepare every student for college and life through a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum, providing innovative educational experiences to many students whom otherwise would lack the opportunity.
Part of Federal Way Public Schools, TAF Academy is a 6-12 public neighborhood school serving a diverse student body made up of nearly 70 percent minority students and half that qualify for Free and Reduced (FRE) meals. With the goal of enlisting students as active participants in their education and cultivating an awareness of their broader role in the world, TAF sustains a 95 percent graduation rate with 100 percent of graduating seniors accepted into college. In just eight years of operation, TAF Academy has garnered attention on both district and national levels, winning numerous state and national awards for excellence and innovation.
"Partnerships with companies like FlowPlay that share our values have been critical in helping us continue to achieve our mission and serve students over the past 20 years," said Trish Dziko, executive director of TAF Academy. "The work our students will put into the Lighthouse lab's creation will provide a memorable, hands-on learning experience. The involvement of FlowPlay's team during the process is also giving students a valuable opportunity to access networking and mentoring among successful professionals from our local technology industry."
The Lighthouse Design & Engineering Lab will provide students with an open, collaborative learning community that is fully equipped with first-class tools and software including a 3D printer, laser cutter, microscopes for DNA barcoding, video production tools, carpentry tools and more. Students will use these tools and software to explore next generation projects such as interactive architecture, wearable technology and sustainable city designs. The lab will be designed and installed by TAF middle and high school students with support from the FlowPlay staff.
"Promoting STEM education has always been an important cause at FlowPlay, and we're continuously looking for partners that are dedicated to making technology more accessible for all students," said Derrick Morton, CEO of FlowPlay. "The TAF Academy has made a real, positive difference for hundreds of kids, and working side by side with their students is the perfect way to celebrate our company's 10-year anniversary. We are eager to get started with them and hope our contribution will help inspire Washington's future engineers and designers."
For more information about partnering with TAF, visit: http://techaccess.org/partners/.
About FlowPlay
FlowPlay is the company behind the most powerful immersive gaming platform for casual and sports wagering games, virtual worlds and social casinos. A developer, operator and publisher, FlowPlay serves both consumers and businesses with engaging online and mobile free-to-play experiences. Partners turn to FlowPlay for its extensive multiplayer infrastructure, industry-leading monetization rates and proven track record helping businesses launch custom-branded online games. FlowPlay's consumer products include ourWorld, one of the most popular teen virtual worlds, and Vegas World, the industry's most engaging multiplayer social casino. Together, they have been played by a loyal community of more than 75 million users around the world. FlowPlay dominates a cross-section of industries including online and mobile games, fantasy sports and casinos – consistently creating opportunities in high-growth and emerging markets. Based in Seattle, FlowPlay was founded in 2006 and is primarily funded by Intel Capital and the creators of Skype. For more information, visit www.FlowPlay.com or contact [email protected].
About the Technology Access Foundation Academy
TAF Academy is a fully accredited, award-winning 6-12th grade neighborhood public school, managed in partnership between the Federal Way school district and Technology Access Foundation (TAF). TAF Academy provides a rigorous and relevant learning environment rooted in project-based learning practices for today's college-bound student. The school serves a diverse student population in a historically low-performing area, and encourages participation by female and ethnic minority students who typically have been underrepresented in STEM fields. It offers STEM industry immersion, college and career readiness and technology education. Currently, 95% of TAF Academy students graduate on-time, with 100% of the graduates accepted into college. For five years in a row, the Center for Educational Effectiveness has awarded TAF Academy with a "School of Distinction" award, noting it to be one of the top 5% highest improving schools in WA state for increased reading and math achievement. For more information about TAF Academy, visit http://tafacademy.techaccess.org/ or contact [email protected].