Earlier this year, when we were still able to hold physical events (remember those!) we hosted an Investment Dinner in London to introduce some of our Scale-Up companies which are currently raising to a select number of investors.
As part of that event, I MC’d a fireside chat between a company founder – Gareth Williams from YellowDog – and their investor David Leftley from Bloc Ventures. It’s not an opportunity that comes along very often so I am indebted to them both for willingness to take part and in helping us to better understand the VC – founder relationship.
See full article here: https://www.setsquared.co.uk/its-like-a-marriage-exploring-the-investor-founder-relationship/
Marmalade Game Studios, a portfolio company of Bloc Ventures, goes live with new mobile MONOPOLY game.
[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource GamesPress.]
London, 4th December 2019 – – Independent developer and publisher Marmalade Game Studio along with Hasbro, Inc. today celebrates the release of a brand new premium MONOPOLY game on iOS and Android. The studio, known for its inventive and high calibre takes on family favourite games such as CLUEDO/CLUE and The GAME OF LIFE, is proud to launch the definitive mobile edition of one of the most famous and beloved games of all time.
Marmalade’s MONOPOLY game not only replicates the instantly recognizable gameplay of the game, but goes a step further in bringing it to life. Featuring a living, breathing city with slick 3D animations, the game allows players to enjoy the wheeling and dealing experience that they know and love in the form of a dynamic, premium video game.
“We’ve always felt that digital board games had the potential to be more interesting, to better reflect the fun and dynamic experience of sitting around a table with friends or family,” said Michael Willis, CEO and one of the two creative leads at Marmalade Game Studios. “We try to draw on our extensive individual experience in creating triple-A console games to craft something more than just a straight adaptation – a version of MONOPOLY that takes advantage of the technology and is perfectly suited to mobile play – without a microtransaction in sight!”
Marmalade has years of experience and collective background in creating high-profile triple-A video games. MONOPOLY for iOS and Android includes a number of new features and additions which make the game more enjoyable, social and accessible for everyone, whether playing around a table or online across the world. Players will be able to play with their own house rules or host speedier quick-play matches, among other special features. Additionally, players will enjoy a game free of any advertisements or pay-to-win microtransactions.
“We are thrilled with what the creative minds at Marmalade have achieved with this fantastic rendition of MONOPOLY for mobile,” said Richard Cleveland, Vice President of Marketing, Digital Media at Hasbro. “They have taken a game with a rich heritage and created an entirely new user experience, while staying true to the spirit of the game fans have come to depend on for over 80 years.”
“We’re really proud of what we’ve managed to achieve with MONOPOLY, one of the most beloved brands in gaming,” added Cristina Mereuta, Marmalade’s COO and other creative lead. “We’ve always been firm believers in surrounding ourselves with the most exceptional talent in the games industry and giving the team the freedom and flexibility to bring great ideas to the table. In essence, we’re perfectionists – and it’s our team’s constant drive for quality that has made this version of MONOPOLY everything it is.”
MONOPOLY is now available to buy on both the iOS App Store and Google’s Play Store, priced £3.99 / $3.99 / €4.49.
For more information about MONOPOLY, please contact Paul Watson at paul@gameifyouare.com.
About Marmalade Game Studio
London-based Marmalade Game Studio is one of the most successful publishers in the digital board games market. Notable successes include The Game of Life and CLUE/CLUEDO, both highly polished and innovative games that constantly top the charts on the app stores. For more information about Marmalade Game Studio, please visit the website: https://marmaladegamestudio.com/, and follow us on Twitter (@MarmaladeGames), Facebook (@MarmaladeGameStudio), and Instagram (@MarmaladeGames)
About Hasbro
Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating the World’s Best Play Experiences. From toys and games to television, movies, digital gaming and consumer products, Hasbro offers a variety of ways for audiences to experience its iconic brands, including NERF, MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, BABY ALIVE,MAGIC: THE GATHERING and POWER RANGERS, as well as premier partner brands. Through its entertainment labels, Allspark Pictures and Allspark Animation, the Company is building its brands globally through great storytelling and content on all screens. Hasbro is committed to making the world a better place for children and their families through corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. Hasbro ranked No. 13 on the 2019 100 Best Corporate Citizens list by CR Magazine and has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere Institute for the past eight years. Learn more at www.hasbro.com, and follow us on Twitter (@Hasbro) and Instagram (@Hasbro).
https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/081227/monopoly-is-heading-to-ios-and-android-later-this-year/
https://www.mcvuk.com/marmalade-game-studios-cristina-mereuta-on-why-talent-trumps-genre-experience/
Powered by Bloc portfolio company EVRYTHNG, Ralph Lauren launched the apparel industry’s first mass-scale digital activation of its entire Polo apparel line. Every item Born Digital.
EVRYTHNG, the real-time internet-of-things software platform, is managing data infrastructure and product digitisation of Ralph Lauren’s Polo clothing range. Product labelling is being handled by EVRYTHNG partner Avery Dennison. As a result each individual item maintains a unique digital identity that corresponds to the physical product. This allows Ralph Lauren and all of its customers to gain true transparency and authenticity. With an annual product volume of over 200 million product items produced by hundreds of third party manufacturers, this is no small feat.
The digital benefit will need to be marketed and communicated to consumers, but once achieved will bring previously unavailable control of the resale market, recycling initiative, and real-time ownership and loyalty programmes.
Digital Identities map the entire life-cycle of a product in what Niall Murphy, cofounder and CEO of EVRYTHNG calls a “transparency goal”. This includes product material, type of labour, factory location, and intended distribution channel.
EVRYTHNG published a case study on the project which can be downloaded here.
Multi-cloud management platform provider Yellowdog wins Finance Challenge award
YellowDog, the multi cloud management platform, has won the ‘People’s Choice award’ and placed 3rd overall in the UBS Future of Finance Challenge 2019.
The UBS Future of Finance Challenge 2019 was delivered in collaboration with Deloitte. It brought together 40 Fintechs that were selected from over 400 who applied from across the world.
In the ‘Foundation Setting: Technology Enablement’ category, YellowDog’s ability to change the way that financial institutions can scale, control, and optimise data processing and simulation was recognised with both the ‘People’s Choice award’ and the 3rd place finish.
YellowDog CEO and Founder Gareth Williams, and CCO, James Stevens were in New York this week to present as part of the UBS Future of Finance Challenge and accept the awards when they were announced.
Williams said: “This award is one that will certainly stand out because none of the many that we’ve won to date have been decided by C-level executives in a major Tier-1 international bank; and we were up against some stiff and impressive competition.
“YellowDog’s class-leading solution for multi- and hybrid-cloud management continues to evolve and this award is a fantastic acknowledgement of how our product solves the needs of these key customers. We’re very happy!”
