Who made all these ‘casual’ games?

[James C. Smith]

I am trying to create a real database (as opposed to the Excel spreadsheet I normally post) and trying to get more accurate and more complete data about games that have been listed in the Real Arcade top 10 sellers list.

Please review these lists of companies, games, and their relationships. I would appreciate it if you could post any corrects here. (Or send them to me privately if you prefer)

I am using the term publisher for refer to a company who did not make a game, but owns the explosive rights to the game and most likely paid to have the game made. I use the term distributor to refer to a company who does not own the IP for the game but represented the developer in getting the game listed on Real Arcade. A game with only a developer listed is assumed to be self published a game.

I am probably asking for trouble by trying to distinguish between publisher and distributor. It is a very fuzzy line the may not be clear in many situations. I am not particularly interested in hearing if someone listed as a distributor is really a publisher. (But I’ll listen anyway).

I am more interested in hearing about blatant errors, and also about cases there the company listed as the developer is actually some kind of publisher or distributor. I would like to know who the true developer is for all these games. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the games I have listed as being developed by PopCap or GameHouse were actually made by someone else.

Please let me know who really made all these games.

(see list in next post)

[James C. Smith]

Part 1 of 2Company Role Game
Alaware Entertainment Distributor Action Ball
Alaware Entertainment Distributor Beetle Junior
Alaware Entertainment Distributor Crystalix
Alaware Entertainment Distributor Hyperballoid
Alaware Entertainment Distributor Magic Ball
Alaware Entertainment Distributor Magic Ball 2
Alaware Entertainment Developer Magic Ball 2 New Worlds
Alaware Entertainment Distributor Snowy - Treasure Hunter
AliasWorlds Developer Snowy - Treasure Hunter
Alpha72 Developer Snail Mail
AlwaysNeat Developer Dropheads
AlwaysNeat Developer Twistingo
Arcade Lab Developer Bricks of Atlantis
Arcade Lab Developer Bricks of Camelot
Arcade Lab Developer Bricks of Egypt
Arcade Lab Developer Spin & Win
ASAP Games Developer TipTop
Atari Publisher Monopoly Tycoon
Atari Publisher Scrabble - Download Edition
Atari Publisher Scrabble Blast!
Atari Publisher Scrabble Rack Attack
Atari Publisher Yahtzee
Bantam City Games Developer Invadazoid
Big Fish Games Developer Magic Vines
Big Fish Games Developer Mahjongg Towers
Big Fish Games Developer Mahjongg Towers II
Boxerjam Developer Mega Monty
Bulldog Interactive Developer Cue Club
CPA Inc Developer Yahtzee
Deep Red Developer Monopoly Tycoon
Dekovir Developer Puzzle Solitaire
Dekovir Entertainment Developer Ballistik
Dexterity Software Developer Fitznik
DigitalSpaz Studios Developer Word Challenger
DivoGames Developer AirStrike 2
DivoGames Developer AstroAvenger
DivoGames Developer Star Defender 2
Dream Dale Developer Magic Ball
Dream Dale Developer Magic Ball 2
e-Funsoft Developer Fruit Lockers
Electrotank Developer Fruit Smash
Electrotank Developer Mahjong Jade Expedition
Evil Genius Games Developer Rhiannon's Realm: Celtic Mahjongg
Flipside Developer Go Bingo
Flipside Developer Gravity
Flying Bear EntertainmentDeveloper Insaniquarium Deluxe
FreshGames Developer Cubis Gold
FreshGames Developer Cubis Gold 2
Full Armor Studios Developer Walls of Jericho
Funkitron Developer Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament™
Funkitron Developer Scrabble - Download Edition
Funkitron Developer Scrabble Blast!
Funkitron Developer Scrabble Rack Attack
Funkitron Developer Slingo Deluxe
Game Gekko Developer Bubble Fish Bob
GameHouse Developer Adventure Inlay
GameHouse Developer Adventure Inlay Safari Edition
GameHouse Developer Aloha Solitaire
GameHouse Developer Aloha Tripeaks
GameHouse Developer Bounce Out
GameHouse Developer Bounce Out Blitz
GameHouse Developer Collapse! Crunch
GameHouse Publisher Feeding Frenzy
GameHouse Publisher Iggle Pop!
GameHouse Publisher Luxor
GameHouse Distributor Mad Caps
GameHouse Publisher Magic Inlay
GameHouse Developer Mah Jong Medley
GameHouse Publisher Pizza Frenzy
GameHouse Publisher Puzzle Inlay
GameHouse Developer Reader's Digest Super Word Power
GameHouse Developer Shape Shifter
GameHouse Developer SpongeBob SquarePants Collapse!
GameHouse Developer Super Collapse
GameHouse Developer Super Collapse! II
GameHouse Developer Super Jigsaw Kinkade
GameHouse Developer Super Jigsaw Lighthouses
GameHouse Developer Super Jigsaw Puzzle
GameHouse Publisher Super Letter Linker
GameHouse Developer Super Mahjong
GameHouse Developer Super Pop & Drop
GameHouse Developer Super WHATword
GameHouse Developer Super Wild Wild Words
GameHouse Publisher Word Harmony
GameHouse Developer Word Slinger
gameLab Developer Diner Dash
gameLab Developer FATE: The Carnivàle Game™
Goodsol Development Inc Developer Pretty Good Solitaire
Grab Distributor Gold Miner Special Edition
GreenLight Games Developer Word Jolt
Gulny Games Developer Crystalix
Half Pint Productions Developer Combo Chaos
HBO Publisher FATE: The Carnivàle Game™
Hexacto Developer Lemonade Tycoon
HipSoft Developer Digby's Donuts
HipSoft Developer Five Card Frenzy
HipSoft Developer Flip Words
HipSoft Developer Gem Shop
HipSoft Developer Puzzle Express
HipSoft Developer Trivia Machine
Idigicon Ltd Publisher Platypus
Imageinengine Developer Avalanche
Inertia Software Developer Mah Jong The Endless Journey
Intermix Media Developer Gold Miner Special Edition
iWin Developer Jewel Quest
iWin Developer Mah Jong Quest
JamDat Mobile Developer Emperor's Mahjong
JamDat Mobile Distributor Lemonade Tycoon

[James C. Smith]

Part 2 of 2Company Role Game
Katana Games Developer 5 Spots
Katana Games Developer 5 Spots II
Katana Games Developer Fireworks Extravaganza
Kewlbox Developer Chicktionary
Kraisoft Entertainment Developer Alien Sky
Kraisoft Entertainment Developer Atomaders
Large Animal Games Developer Saints & Sinners Bingo
Masterworks Developer Flux
Mind Control Software Developer Oasis
Monkeystone Developer Congo Cube
MumboJumbo Developer Chainz
MumboJumbo Developer Chainz 2 - Relinked
MumboJumbo Developer Equilibria
MumboJumbo Developer High Roller
MumboJumbo Developer Luxor
MumboJumbo Developer Mad Caps
MumboJumbo Developer UltraBall
Mystery Studio Developer Wild West Wendy
Newrosoft Developer Bewitched
Ninai Games Developer Puzzle Station
Nuclide Games Developer Rocket Mania
Nurium Developer BreakQuest
Oberon Developer BeTrapped!
Oberon Developer Inspector Parker
Oberon Publisher Saints & Sinners Bingo
OXXO Games Developer Beetle Junior
pixelStorm Developer Backspin Billiards
pixelStorm Developer Rumble Cube
PlayFirst Publisher Diner Dash
PlayFirst Publisher Oasis
PlayFirst Developer TriJinx
Playtonium Publisher Infinite Crosswords
Pogo Developer Casino Island To Go
Pogo Developer Mahjong Garden To Go
Pogo Developer Poppit! To Go
Pogo Developer WordJong™ To Go
PopCap Developer AstroPop Deluxe
PopCap Developer Atomica Deluxe
PopCap Developer Bejeweled 2 Deluxe
PopCap Developer Big Money
PopCap Developer BookWorm Deluxe
PopCap Publisher Chuzzle Deluxe
PopCap Developer Diamond Mine
PopCap Publisher Dynomite
PopCap Developer Heavy Weapon Deluxe
PopCap Publisher Insaniquarium Deluxe
PopCap Developer Mummy Maze Deluxe
PopCap Developer Noah's Ark Deluxe
PopCap Publisher Rocket Mania
PopCap Publisher TipTop
PopCap Developer Typer Shark Deluxe
PopCap Developer Zuma Deluxe
Puzzle Lab Developer Charm Solitaire
Puzzle Lab Developer Charm Tale
Puzzle Lab Developer Crystal Path
Puzzle Lab Developer Fiber Twig
Puzzle Lab Developer Fiber Twig 2
Puzzle Lab Developer Fresco Wizard
Puzzle Lab Developer Magic Inlay
Puzzle Lab Developer Puzzle Inlay
Puzzle Lab Developer Puzzle Myth
Pyrogon Developer Super Letter Linker
Raptisoft Developer Chuzzle Deluxe
Raptisoft Developer Dynomite
Raptisoft Developer Hamsterball
Realore Studios Developer Turtle Odyssey
Redclaw Games Developer Weave Words
Reflexive Entertainment Developer Big Kahuna Reef
Reflexive Entertainment Developer Rebound
Reflexive Entertainment Developer Rebound Lost Worlds
Reflexive Entertainment Developer Rebound Lost Worlds - Recharged
Reflexive Entertainment Developer Wik & The Fable of Souls
Rene-Gilles Deberdt Developer Kyodai Mahjongg
Retro64 Developer Cosmic Bugs
Retro64 Distributor Platypus
Retro64 Developer Water Bugs
Rionix Developer Action Ball
Sandlot Games Distributor Ballistik
Sandlot Games Developer Granny in Paradise
Sandlot Games Distributor Snail Mail
Sandlot Games Developer Tradewinds 2
Scholastic Developer I SPY Spooky Mansion Deluxe
Skunk Studios Developer Gutterball 2
Skunk Studios Developer Gutterball 3D
Skunk Studios Developer Spelvin
Skunk Studios Developer Varmintz
Skunk Studios Developer Word Up
Skyworks Technologies Developer Pin High CC Golf
Small Rockets Developer Kayak Extreme
Small Rockets Developer Red Ace Squadron
Small Rockets Developer The Red Ace
Snood Llc Developer Snood
Snowstep Developer Froggy Castle
Snowstep Developer Incadia
Snowstep Developer Turtle Bay
Sony Pictures Digital Publisher Bewitched
Sony Pictures Digital Developer JEOPARDY!
Sony Pictures Digital Developer Wheel of Fortune
Splashworks.com Developer Pipsoh!
Sprout Games Developer Feeding Frenzy
Sprout Games Developer Iggle Pop!
Sprout Games Developer Pizza Frenzy
Sprout Games Developer Word Harmony
Stargaze Interactive Developer Hyperballoid
Tibo Software Developer Jigsaw Puzzle Golden Edition
Tik Games Developer Cinema Tycoon
Tik Games Developer Fortune Tiles Gold
Tik Games Developer SquareOff Gold
Tik Games Developer Texas Hold 'Em
Tix Games Developer Gold Fever
Total Eclipse Developer Academy of Magic - Word Spells
ToyBox Games Developer Ancient SuDoKu
ToyBox Games Developer Ancient Tri-Jong
ToyBox Games Developer Ancient Tripeaks
ToyBox Games Developer Atlantis
ToyBox Games Developer Maui Wowee
U-Click Developer Infinite Crosswords
Wildfire Studios Developer Devil's Island Pinball
Wildfire Studios Developer Tumblebugs
Zylom Developer Mahjongg Fortuna

[James C. Smith]

Part 1 of 2 of alternate view of same data
Game Role Company
5 Spots Developer Katana Games
5 Spots II Developer Katana Games
Academy of Magic - Word Spells Developer Total Eclipse
Action Ball Distributor Alaware Entertainment
Action Ball Developer Rionix
Adventure Inlay Developer GameHouse
Adventure Inlay Safari Edition Developer GameHouse
AirStrike 2 Developer DivoGames
Alien Sky Developer Kraisoft Entertainment
Aloha Solitaire Developer GameHouse
Aloha Tripeaks Developer GameHouse
Ancient SuDoKu Developer ToyBox Games
Ancient Tri-Jong Developer ToyBox Games
Ancient Tripeaks Developer ToyBox Games
AstroAvenger Developer DivoGames
AstroPop Deluxe Developer PopCap
Atlantis Developer ToyBox Games
Atomaders Developer Kraisoft Entertainment
Atomica Deluxe Developer PopCap
Avalanche Developer Imageinengine
Backspin Billiards Developer pixelStorm
Ballistik Developer Dekovir Entertainment
Ballistik Distributor Sandlot Games
Beetle Junior Distributor Alaware Entertainment
Beetle Junior Developer OXXO Games
Bejeweled 2 Deluxe Developer PopCap
BeTrapped! Developer Oberon
Bewitched Developer Newrosoft
Bewitched Publisher Sony Pictures Digital
Big Kahuna Reef Developer Reflexive Entertainment
Big Money Developer PopCap
BookWorm Deluxe Developer PopCap
Bounce Out Developer GameHouse
Bounce Out Blitz Developer GameHouse
BreakQuest Developer Nurium
Bricks of Atlantis Developer Arcade Lab
Bricks of Camelot Developer Arcade Lab
Bricks of Egypt Developer Arcade Lab
Bubble Fish Bob Developer Game Gekko
Casino Island To Go Developer Pogo
Chainz Developer MumboJumbo
Chainz 2 - Relinked Developer MumboJumbo
Charm Solitaire Developer Puzzle Lab
Charm Tale Developer Puzzle Lab
Chicktionary Developer Kewlbox
Chuzzle Deluxe Publisher PopCap
Chuzzle Deluxe Developer Raptisoft
Cinema Tycoon Developer Tik Games
Collapse! Crunch Developer GameHouse
Combo Chaos Developer Half Pint Productions
Congo Cube Developer Monkeystone
Cosmic Bugs Developer Retro64
Crystal Path Developer Puzzle Lab
Crystalix Distributor Alaware Entertainment
Crystalix Developer Gulny Games
Cubis Gold Developer FreshGames
Cubis Gold 2 Developer FreshGames
Cue Club Developer Bulldog Interactive
Devil's Island Pinball Developer Wildfire Studios
Diamond Mine Developer PopCap
Digby's Donuts Developer HipSoft
Diner Dash Developer gameLab
Diner Dash Publisher PlayFirst
Dropheads Developer AlwaysNeat
Dynomite Publisher PopCap
Dynomite Developer Raptisoft
Emperor's Mahjong Developer JamDat Mobile
Equilibria Developer MumboJumbo
FATE: The Carnivàle Game™ Developer gameLab
FATE: The Carnivàle Game™ Publisher HBO
Feeding Frenzy Publisher GameHouse
Feeding Frenzy Developer Sprout Games
Fiber Twig Developer Puzzle Lab
Fiber Twig 2 Developer Puzzle Lab
Fireworks Extravaganza Developer Katana Games
Fitznik Developer Dexterity Software
Five Card Frenzy Developer HipSoft
Flip Words Developer HipSoft
Flux Developer Masterworks
Fortune Tiles Gold Developer Tik Games
Fresco Wizard Developer Puzzle Lab
Froggy Castle Developer Snowstep
Fruit Lockers Developer e-Funsoft
Fruit Smash Developer Electrotank
Gem Shop Developer HipSoft
Go Bingo Developer Flipside
Gold Fever Developer Tix Games
Gold Miner Special Edition Distributor Grab
Gold Miner Special Edition Developer Intermix Media
Granny in Paradise Developer Sandlot Games
Gravity Developer Flipside
Gutterball 2 Developer Skunk Studios
Gutterball 3D Developer Skunk Studios
Hamsterball Developer Raptisoft
Heavy Weapon Deluxe Developer PopCap
High Roller Developer MumboJumbo
Hyperballoid Distributor Alaware Entertainment
Hyperballoid Developer Stargaze Interactive
I SPY Spooky Mansion Deluxe Developer Scholastic
Iggle Pop! Publisher GameHouse
Iggle Pop! Developer Sprout Games
Incadia Developer Snowstep
Infinite Crosswords Publisher Playtonium
Infinite Crosswords Developer U-Click
Insaniquarium Deluxe Developer Flying Bear Entertainment
Insaniquarium Deluxe Publisher PopCap
Inspector Parker Developer Oberon
Invadazoid Developer Bantam City Games
JEOPARDY! Developer Sony Pictures Digital
Jewel Quest Developer iWin
Jigsaw Puzzle Golden Edition Developer Tibo Software
Kayak Extreme Developer Small Rockets
Kyodai Mahjongg Developer Rene-Gilles Deberdt
Lemonade Tycoon Developer Hexacto
Lemonade Tycoon Distributor JamDat Mobile

[James C. Smith]

Part 2 of 2 of alternate view of same data
Game Role Company
Luxor Publisher GameHouse
Luxor Developer MumboJumbo
Mad Caps Distributor GameHouse
Mad Caps Developer MumboJumbo
Magic Ball Distributor Alaware Entertainment
Magic Ball Developer Dream Dale
Magic Ball 2 Distributor Alaware Entertainment
Magic Ball 2 Developer Dream Dale
Magic Ball 2 New Worlds Developer Alaware Entertainment
Magic Inlay Publisher GameHouse
Magic Inlay Developer Puzzle Lab
Magic Vines Developer Big Fish Games
Mah Jong Medley Developer GameHouse
Mah Jong Quest Developer iWin
Mah Jong The Endless Journey Developer Inertia Software
Mahjong Garden To Go Developer Pogo
Mahjong Jade Expedition Developer Electrotank
Mahjongg Fortuna Developer Zylom
Mahjongg Towers Developer Big Fish Games
Mahjongg Towers II Developer Big Fish Games
Maui Wowee Developer ToyBox Games
Mega Monty Developer Boxerjam
Monopoly Tycoon Publisher Atari
Monopoly Tycoon Developer Deep Red
Mummy Maze Deluxe Developer PopCap
Noah's Ark Deluxe Developer PopCap
Oasis Developer Mind Control Software
Oasis Publisher PlayFirst
Pin High CC Golf Developer Skyworks Technologies
Pipsoh! Developer Splashworks.com
Pizza Frenzy Publisher GameHouse
Pizza Frenzy Developer Sprout Games
Platypus Publisher Idigicon Ltd
Platypus Distributor Retro64
Poker Superstars Invitational TouDeveloper Funkitron
Poppit! To Go Developer Pogo
Pretty Good Solitaire Developer Goodsol Development Inc
Puzzle Express Developer HipSoft
Puzzle Inlay Publisher GameHouse
Puzzle Inlay Developer Puzzle Lab
Puzzle Myth Developer Puzzle Lab
Puzzle Solitaire Developer Dekovir
Puzzle Station Developer Ninai Games
Reader's Digest Super Word Power Developer GameHouse
Rebound Developer Reflexive Entertainment
Rebound Lost Worlds Developer Reflexive Entertainment
Rebound Lost Worlds - Recharged Developer Reflexive Entertainment
Red Ace Squadron Developer Small Rockets
Rhiannon's Realm: Celtic MahjonggDeveloper Evil Genius Games
Rocket Mania Developer Nuclide Games
Rocket Mania Publisher PopCap
Rumble Cube Developer pixelStorm
Saints & Sinners Bingo Developer Large Animal Games
Saints & Sinners Bingo Publisher Oberon
Scrabble - Download Edition Publisher Atari
Scrabble - Download Edition Developer Funkitron
Scrabble Blast! Publisher Atari
Scrabble Blast! Developer Funkitron
Scrabble Rack Attack Publisher Atari
Scrabble Rack Attack Developer Funkitron
Shape Shifter Developer GameHouse
Slingo Deluxe Developer Funkitron
Snail Mail Developer Alpha72
Snail Mail Distributor Sandlot Games
Snood Developer Snood Llc
Snowy - Treasure Hunter Distributor Alaware Entertainment
Snowy - Treasure Hunter Developer AliasWorlds
Spelvin Developer Skunk Studios
Spin & Win Developer Arcade Lab
SpongeBob SquarePants Collapse! Developer GameHouse
SquareOff Gold Developer Tik Games
Star Defender 2 Developer DivoGames
Super Collapse Developer GameHouse
Super Collapse! II Developer GameHouse
Super Jigsaw Kinkade Developer GameHouse
Super Jigsaw Lighthouses Developer GameHouse
Super Jigsaw Puzzle Developer GameHouse
Super Letter Linker Publisher GameHouse
Super Letter Linker Developer Pyrogon
Super Mahjong Developer GameHouse
Super Pop & Drop Developer GameHouse
Super WHATword Developer GameHouse
Super Wild Wild Words Developer GameHouse
Texas Hold 'Em Developer Tik Games
The Red Ace Developer Small Rockets
TipTop Developer ASAP Games
TipTop Publisher PopCap
Tradewinds 2 Developer Sandlot Games
TriJinx Developer PlayFirst
Trivia Machine Developer HipSoft
Tumblebugs Developer Wildfire Studios
Turtle Bay Developer Snowstep
Turtle Odyssey Developer Realore Studios
Twistingo Developer AlwaysNeat
Typer Shark Deluxe Developer PopCap
UltraBall Developer MumboJumbo
Varmintz Developer Skunk Studios
Walls of Jericho Developer Full Armor Studios
Water Bugs Developer Retro64
Weave Words Developer Redclaw Games
Wheel of Fortune Developer Sony Pictures Digital
Wik & The Fable of Souls Developer Reflexive Entertainment
Wild West Wendy Developer Mystery Studio
Word Challenger Developer DigitalSpaz Studios
Word Harmony Publisher GameHouse
Word Harmony Developer Sprout Games
Word Jolt Developer GreenLight Games
Word Slinger Developer GameHouse
Word Up Developer Skunk Studios
WordJong™ To Go Developer Pogo
Yahtzee Publisher Atari
Yahtzee Developer CPA Inc
Zuma Deluxe Developer PopCap

[ggambett]

Atlantis - I guess that's Atlantis Adventure, not "the" Atlantis? That would be FunPause not ToyBox.

Alaware - it's actually Alawar

owns the explosive rights to the game
Selling those sounds really dangerous! :D

[James C. Smith]

Some of you may have assumed I meant exclusive rights. You should not make such assumptions. I actually did mean explosive rights. For example, PopCap has the right to explode Chuzzle any time they see fit.

[Omega]

Fitznik was not created by Dexterity Software, it was published by them. The creator is Screaming Duck Software. OT: do you mean "role" when you typed "roll" in the column headers? :) At first I thought it was some kind of a new marketing term.

[James C. Smith]

Thanks for the information on the developers. That is exactly the kind of information I am looking for.

[NuriumGames]

Not to be picky, but for BreakQuest the 'oficial' company name is 'Nurium Games' not 'Nurium' :)

[Miguel Tartaj]

Hello James,

Cheers! You must be very busy but you're always organizing things that can help the rest.

Just one small detail; Katana Games is the name of the company, we use the brand KatGames for the casual games (I guess the list should have the brand name)

BKW is a very good game; congrats!

[James C. Smith]

I am working on all this for an article in the IGDA Casual SIG Quarterly publications. My database is starting to produce some interesting results. You can see some of the results on www.game-sales-charts.com I hope to make that web site have interactive live data. But for now you can just see some exports from my database into Excel and HTML.

I made all the corrections mentioned so far. The last one for KatGames is in my database but not in the snapshot currently exported to the web site.

[Omega]

One more post James. And you will have 1,000. BTW, I didn't notice Fitznik in the list anywhere.

[Sharpfish]

I am working on all this for an article in the IGDA Casual SIG Quarterly publications. My database is starting to produce some interesting results. You can see some of the results on www.game-sales-charts.com I hope to make that web site have interactive live data. But for now you can just see some exports from my database into Excel and HTML.

I made all the corrections mentioned so far. The last one for KatGames is in my database but not in the snapshot currently exported to the web site.

Interesting site (especially the "top developers" page)... keep up the good work :)

[James C. Smith]

My database contains complete data for the weekly top 10 lists from 7/24/2003 to present. Before 7/24/2003 the data is very spotty. I hope to have all that data filled in very soon. In the mean time, all my results are filtered to only include data from 7/24/2003 forward. Games such as Fitznik that did not appear after that date are not included. And games like Rebound, Bejeweled, and Collapse have lower number than they should. For example, I know Rebound was in the top 10 for at least 60 weeks but this chart currently shows just 24 weeks because most of these weeks were back when my data has holes in it.

[soniCron]

Excellent work, James! Much thanks for the hard work! :)

[TimS]

I'll check my list when next I can compare 'em (likely tomorrow) and send you anything I find. Great to see your efforts continue in this area... fun data...

[TimS]

OK All I've got is these:

"OXXO Games" is actually "OXXO Media" (dunno how they brand it though...)

Snowstep is "Snowstep Development"

and Gold Fever is developed by Tik Games.

That's all I got out of mashing your list against mine, but then... your list is cooler to begin with.

[MrPhil]

Sorry for the noob questions but:

What is "explosive rights"?

In the spreadsheet on the "churn rate" tab you have a column called "Avg. Eventual Weeks." What does that mean?

I don't understand what the "Top Companies" tab is listing and what "sumofscore" is?

How is "score" in the "Top Games" tab calculated?

I have to say even with my question this is an extremely useful resource. Thank you very much for making it available James.

[ggambett]

What is "explosive rights"?
It's when a company has the right to take all the manufactured copies of a game, bury it in a no longer used silo, and blow them to pieces. I think Atari exercised that right with the infamous ET cartridge.

;)

[James C. Smith]

MrPhil

Those are all very good questions. They will all be explained later. Sorry.

I have been collecting this data for a long time and posting very simple summaries of it in these forums. But recently I was asked to write an article about this data for a publication of the IGDA’s Casual Games SIG. So I have been “cleaning up” the data and doing more extensive analysis. I posted some of the raw data here in an effort to get help from the community to identify errors and omissions. (Thanks again to all who helped.) I also put an early version of the output of some of my analysis on www.game-sales.charts.com. This again is to get feedback and find errors.

The final analysis will include the answers to all your questions. It will be published in the “Quarterly” publication from the IGDA Casual Games SIG. At that time, I will also update the data on the www.game-sales.charts.com web site and add some explanations. The web site will probably include a long form version of the article.

In the mean time, you can just wait, or speculate on the data yourself.

[MrPhil]

Those are all very good questions. They will all be explained later.

That's great, what could be better than useful free data? An article about it! (And at least I was asking good questions ;)) I look forward to the article.

Thanks again.