Purple Moon
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Brenda Laurel |
| Defunct | 1999 |
| Fate | Intellectual property acquired by Mattel |
| Headquarters | Mountain View, California , United States |
Area served | Girls aged 8–14 |
Key people | Brenda Laurel (founder) |
| Products | Rockett series, Secret Paths series, Starfire Soccer Challenge |
Number of employees | 40 (1999) |
Purple Moon was a California-based American company specializing in video games designed for girls, headquartered in Mountain View, California. Established in 1996 by entrepreneur Brenda Laurel with backing from Interval Research, the firm focused on creating products and services for girls between the ages of 8 and 14. Their initial releases, Rockett's New School and Secret Paths in the Forest (1997), featured visual novel formats that emphasized themes such as friendship and making choices. Purple Moon emerged as part of the 1990s trend in girl-oriented games, which gained momentum following the success of Mattel's Barbie Fashion Designer.
Laurel’s approach to business was shaped by four years of research conducted at Interval Research, prioritizing designs grounded in core values. The company also launched a complementary website, purple-moon.com, which showcased game characters and enabled virtual item exchanges. This platform included brand collaborations with companies like Bonne Bell and SeaWorld. To protect user privacy, registration on the site required parental approval.
Although Purple Moon introduced innovative concepts, it encountered criticism for reinforcing gender and ethnic stereotypes. By 1999, the company employed roughly 40 individuals but faced financial difficulties due to market competition. Operations were discontinued in early 1999, with Mattel acquiring its intellectual property. While Mattel briefly maintained the website, it did not pursue further development of Purple Moon’s products.
Reflecting on Purple Moon’s business legacy in 2009, Laurel remarked that although girls and women have become fully engaged participants in interactive media since then, obstacles persist for female developers and underrepresented genres. She emphasized continuing initiatives led by prominent executives and scholars aimed at advancing women’s roles within the gaming industry.
Works
- Rockett series
- Rockett's New School
- Rockett's Tricky Decision
- Rockett's Secret Invitation
- Rockett's First Dance
- Rockett's Adventure Maker
- Rockett's Camp Adventures
- Secret Paths series
- Other games
External links
- Brenda Laurel lecture on girl game development at the TED conference, 1998
- "She Tried to Make Good Video Games for Girls, Whatever That Meant" on Kotaku, May 28, 2012
- A ROM of Their Own in Time, June 9, 1997
