IndiePub
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video game publishing |
| Predecessor | Zoo Entertainment, Inc. |
| Defunct | November 2013 |
| Fate | Ceased all business activities |
| Headquarters | Cincinnati , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Rob Cassidy (head of indiePub Mobile division) |
| Products | Video games, digital distribution platform for indie games (planned) |
indiePub Entertainment, Inc. (previously known as Zoo Entertainment, Inc.) operated as a video game publishing company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States.
History
Zoo Games was initially established as a fully owned branch of Zoo Entertainment, originally incorporated under the name DFTW Merger Sub, Inc. In March 2007, DFTW combined with Green Screen Interactive Software, LLC, resulting in the formation of Green Screen Interactive Software. Subsequently, Green Screen expanded by acquiring SuperVillain Studios in June 2007, Destination Software in December 2007, and Zoo Digital Publishing in April 2008. By August 2008, Green Screen adopted the name Zoo Games, Inc., while Destination Software was rebranded as Zoo Publishing, Inc., becoming a wholly owned division. Early in 2009, both SuperVillain Studios and Zoo Digital Publishing were divested back to their original proprietors as the company concentrated its efforts on Zoo Publishing.
On May 7, 2009, Zoo Publishing obtained the publishing and distribution rights from New World IP for the full portfolio of Empire Interactive, which included games such as Big Mutha Truckers and Flatout Head On. This deal followed Empire Interactive's entry into administration and New World IP’s acquisition of its intellectual properties. In June 2009, Zoo Games launched Zoo Entertainment Europe Ltd. to expand into the European market; however, this operation was discontinued by December 2009.
On September 28, 2011, indiePub revealed plans to develop a digital distribution platform exclusively for indie games and applications. This service enabled developers to create personalized online stores ("Pubs") to market their games and apps across PC (Windows), Macintosh (OS X), Linux, and Android platforms, offering indie creators a revenue share of 75%. While iOS titles could be linked through these storefronts, the platform intended to utilize decentralized sales tools but was ultimately discontinued prior to its official launch.
Zoo Entertainment rebranded as indiePub Entertainment, Inc. on May 15, 2012. The company ultimately ceased all business activities in November 2013.
indiePub Games
Zoo Publishing supported indiePub Games, a community dedicated to independent video game creators. Initially launched as 2Bee Games in 2009, it was renamed indiePub in 2010 and regularly hosted indie game development contests with monetary awards.
In mid-2010, indiePub organized its third Independent Game Developers' Competition, with winners announced during the Game Developers Conference Online held in Austin, Texas. The accolades included:
- Grand Prize: Dustforce! developed by Hitbox Team (Australia)
- Technical Excellence: Hazard: The Journey of Life by Alexander Bruce
- Best Art: The Dream Machine by Cockroach Inc. (Denmark and Sweden)
- Best Audio: Coma created by Thomas Brush
- Best Design: Vanessa Saint-Pierre Delacroix and Her Nightmare by Bad Pilcrow
- Staff Pick: Catapult for Hire by Tyrone Henrie
Later that year, indiePub conducted a Mobile Game Competition with winners declared in December 2011:
- Grand Prize: SteamBirds for Android by Spry Fox and Radial Games
- Art Award: PLEXXR for iOS from Tactile Media
- Audio Award: Spark It Up for iOS by sumiguchi
- Design Award: SKWER for iOS developed by Alebrije Studios
- Technical Excellence: Hero Mages for Android by D20Studios
In early 2011, the Independent Propeller Awards took place with $150,000 in total prizes sponsored by Unity Technologies and Intel AppUp. Winners were announced at South by Southwest in Austin and included:
- Grand Prize: GLiD (Glid) from Spiderling Game Studios
- Best Art: The Uncanny Fish Hunt by Uncanny Games
- Best Audio: Skinny created by Thomas Brush
- Best Design: Chewy from Happy Candy Co.
- Technical Excellence: Creo by Turtle Sandbox
- Intel Innovation Award: Deep Sea developed by Robin Arnott
- Unity Development Award: Tiny and Big: Grandpa's Leftovers from Black Pants Game Studio
Towards the end of 2011, indiePub introduced the 2012 Independent Propeller Awards with $50,000 in prize money. Winners announced on April 18, 2012 included:
- Grand Prize: Deity by DigiPen's Double++
- Best Art: The Bridge, created by Ty Taylor and Mario Castaneda
- Best Audio: The Red Solstice from IronWard
- Best Design: FYI produced by Digital Dreams
- Technical Excellence: Nitronic Rush from DigiPen's Team Nitronic
- Mobile Game Award: CreaVures, developed by MuseGames
indiePub Games along with its associated entities were shuttered in 2013.
indiePub Mobile
On February 1, 2011, Zoo Entertainment, Inc. introduced indiePub Mobile as a dedicated division focused on creating mobile games for iOS and Android platforms. Rob Cassidy, previously the Development Director at EA Mobile, was appointed to lead indiePub Mobile. The initial lineup featured titles such as Fractal, Blocks: The Devilish Delivery Game (which was later renamed Kona's Crate), Paper Venture, Totem Destroyer Deluxe (HD version), and Cargo Delivery. This initiative represented the first time an independent game publisher expanded into a specialized mobile gaming branch.
By 2013, indiePub Mobile along with all other indiePub subsidiaries were shut down.
Games
The following is a compilation of games released under the Zoo Games brand and indiePub. For games published by Destination Software prior to its acquisition, please refer to List of Destination Software games.
Released (Zoo Publishing)
2008
- Army Men: Soldiers of Misfortune – Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, Wii
- Bigfoot: Collision Course – Nintendo DS, Wii, Windows
- Calvin Tucker's Redneck Jamboree – Wii, Windows
- Chrysler Classic Racing – Nintendo DS, Windows
- M&M's Adventure – Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, Wii
- Margot's Word Brain – Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, Wii, Windows
- NARC – Windows
- Order Up! – Wii
- Puzzler Collection – Nintendo DS, Wii
- Skate City Heroes – Wii
- Story Hour: Adventures, Story Hour: Fairy Tales – Wii
- Twin Strike: Operation Thunder – Wii
- Wordmaster – Nintendo DS
2009
- A variety of titles across Nintendo DS, Wii, and iPhone platforms including Animal Paradise Wild, Deal or No Deal, Diner Dash: Flo on the Go, Groovin' Blocks, and Jelly Belly: Ballistic Beans.
2010
- A diverse portfolio for Nintendo DS and Wii such as Boot Camp Academy, Chocolatier, Dream Chronicles, Hello Kitty: Birthday Adventures, and Kevin VanDam's Big Bass Challenge.
2011
- Releases included Dino Strike (Wii), Mayhem 3D (Xbox 360, PS3), and Minute to Win It for Kinect (Xbox 360).
Released (indiePub & indiePub Mobile & indiePub Entertainment)
2010–2014
- Games launched on mobile and digital platforms include:
- 2010: Silly Bandz (iPhone, iPad)
- 2011: Kona's Crate (iOS, Windows, Mac), Fractal (iPad), and Totem Destroyer Deluxe (Windows, Mac)
- 2012: Titles such as Vessel, Fireburst, Diamond Trust of London, Pictago, and Turkey Stuffin'
- 2013: Releases across iOS, Windows, Mac, Xbox Live Arcade, and PlayStation Network including Auditorium, Capsized+, Bad Bots, and Storm
- 2014: The PlayStation Network release of Vessel.
Announced but Cancelled
- Projects that were planned but ultimately cancelled comprised mobile adaptations of Storm, the PC game Catapult for Hire, mobile ports of Bad Bots, and the Nintendo 3DS title Stunt Flyer 3D.