Boomzap Entertainment is a casual games developer registered in Singapore with a virtual office environment. It was formed in 2005 and has released 50 games to date that are ported on various platforms. Boomzap has developed for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Nintendo DS, Wii, iOS, and Android. Its games are available on games portals such as Big Fish Games, Yahoo!, WildTangent, GameHouse, Google Play, Amazon, iTunes, Steam and others.
Boomzap is known in the game industry for being one of the few companies to use a pure virtual office environment.Working Nowhere and Everywhere: The Zen of Running a Mobile, Virtual Game Development Studio from CasualConnect.orgThe Top 5 Practices of Running a Virtual Game Studio on Gamesauce Articles have been written on the subject in the Casual Games Association Magazine and Gamasutra regarding their prototyping methods. from Gamasutra A feature article on Gamasutra was released on April 1, 2010, that further elaborated Boomzap's "quick and dirty" production process for making games."Quick and Dirty Prototyping: A Success Story" - from Gamasutra
History
Boomzap was founded in 2005 by Christopher Natsuume and Allan Simonsen. Natsuume, the company's Creative Director was formerly lead producer for Far Cry at Crytek. Simonsen serves as the company's Technical Director and worked on the Spider-Man game for the Nokia N-Gage. Boomzap Entertainment is composed of two legal entities: Boomzap Inc. in the state of Washington, USA and Boomzap Pte. Ltd. in Singapore. Both companies are private corporations owned by Natsuume and Simonsen.
Boomzap also has an active presence in worldwide independent game development industry. Founders Natsuume and Simonsen, as well as other members of the studio, speak at conferences around the world such as Game Connection,"Christopher Natsuume on the cold, hard truth" on Pocket Gamer Casual Connect,"Chris Natsuume: Making A Difference" on Gamesauce Game Developers Conference, and Global Mobile Game Developers Conference,"Staying Alive and Redefining Indie" on GMGC. and help coordinate the different chapters of the International Game Developers Association."Boomzap Entertainment - Company" on Boomzap.com Most recently, Boomzap has participated in the Manila site of the Global Game Jam."Manila Game Jam @ Globe Labs" on Global Game Jam.org
As of October 2017, the company employs 30 game developers working out of Japan, Singapore, Russia, Ukraine, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Boomzap Fight Club In October 2014, Boomzap announced a new brand called Boomzap Fight Club to house its free-to-play, mobile-first strategy games."Let's talk about Fight Club, Boomzap Entertainment's latest brand" on Games in Asia
Games developed Year Title Publisher Platform(s) PC Console Mobile 2006 Jellyboom Big Fish Games, Boonty, Double Games Microsoft Windows — — Magic Lanterns Boomzap Entertainment Jewels of Cleopatra Encore, Inc. iOS 2008 Hoyle Enchanted Puzzles — Zen Fashion Big Fish Games Jewels of Cleopatra 2: Aztec Mysteries Encore, Inc. iOS 2009 Orchard Majesco — Frogs in Love Big Fish Games, Oberon, PlayFirst, Pogo, WildGames Passport to Paradise Big Fish Games 2010 Pirates Plund-Arrr Majesco — Wii Awakening: The Dreamless Castle Big Fish Games Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X — iOS Antique Road Trip: USA Android, iOS Awakening: Moonfell Wood iOS Death at Fairing Point: A Dana Knightstone Novel 2011 Antique Road Trip 2: Homecoming Android, iOS Awakening: The Goblin Kingdom iOS Death Under Tuscan Skies: A Dana Knightstone Novel 2012 Otherworld: Spring of Shadows ZapTales Boomzap Entertainment — Awakening: The Skyward Castle Big Fish Games Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X Botanica: Into the Unknown Death Upon An Austrian Sonata: A Dana Knightstone Novel 2013 Otherworld: Omens of Summer Awakening: The Sunhook Spire Brain Curve Boomzap Entertainment — Antique Road Trip: American Dreamin' Big Fish Games Microsoft Windows Otherworld: Shades of Fall Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X Death at Cape Porto: A Dana Knightstone Novel Botanica: Earthbound — Awakening Kingdoms Microsoft Windows iOS 2014 Emberwing: Lost Legacy Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X Awakening: The Redleaf Forest The Claw Boomzap Entertainment — Doors of Fate Gladiator Fight Death and Betrayal in Romania: A Dana Knightstone Novel Big Fish Games Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X Pillage People Boomzap Entertainment — Android, iOS Super Awesome Quest Awakening: The Golden Age Big Fish Games Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X iOS Rescue Quest Chillingo — Android, iOS 2015 Pocket Ages 505 Games iOS Magic Puzzle Island Gravity Co. Ltd. Android 2016 Super Awesome RPG Boomzap Entertainment Android, iOS Monster Roller Legends of Callasia Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X Cathy's Crafts GameHouse Jewel Quest: Seven Seas iWin 2017 Rescue Quest Gold Boomzap Entertainment Android Sally's Salon: Beauty Secrets GameHouse Android, iOS Cubis Kingdoms iWin Microsoft Windows
Jelly Boom
Jelly Boom is Boomzap's first game, and it was released on February 14, 2006."Jellyboom for Windows (2006)" from MobyGames Jelly Boom is a block puzzle game, wherein you combine blocks of similar colors and eliminate them when a detonator falls unto the blocks. Jelly Boom was published online by publishers like Big Fish Games, Boonty, and Double Games. It also reached #1 on Boonty's Top Games chart."Jelly Boom Detail" on CasualCharts.com
Magic Lanterns
Magic Lanterns was first released on June 13, 2006. Magic Lanterns is a casual puzzle game where you have to click on a group of lanterns to clear them. The lanterns in most game modes refill the screen, so when lanterns are cleared, there are new ones. The more lanterns you clear, the higher your score. The game has different game modes, which have different mechanics: Lantern Quest, Perfect Mode, Panic Mode, and Puzzle Mode.
Hoyle Enchanted Puzzles
In 2007, Boomzap released the game Hoyle Enchanted Puzzles, also published by Encore, Inc. Hoyle Enchanted Puzzles is a collection of nine different puzzle mini-games in a light fantasy theme. It placed in the iWin's Top 100 chart, peaking at #3 and staying within the Top 10 for 21 days."Hoyle Enchanged Puzzles detail" on CasualCharts.com According to a review by Jayisgames, Hoyle Enchanted Puzzles is "A solid collection of puzzles built into a lasting and interesting new whole.""Hoyle Enchanted Puzzles" from Jay Is Games Gamezebo gave the game 4 out of 5 stars in its review, stating that "while the puzzle themes will be immediately familiar to casual games, the developer added enough of a new twist to most of these digital diversions to keep us glued to the PC for hours.""Hoyle Enchanted Puzzles Review" from Gamezebo
Jewels of Cleopatra series Boomzap developed the tile-matching puzzle series, Jewels of Cleopatra (released in 2007) under publisher Encore, Inc. Gamezebo gave 3.5 of out 5 stars to the original Jewels of Cleopatra, stating "What it all adds up to is a well-made, enjoyable gem-matching romp in full Egyptian garb."."Jewels of Cleopatra Review" from Gamezebo
Jewels of Cleopatra 2: Aztec Mysteries was released in 2008, developed by Boomzap under publisher Encore, Inc. It gave the same rating of 3.5 stars to the sequel, noting that "Armchair adventurers who enjoy Match-3 games will no doubt enjoy clicking through the story-heavy Jewels of Cleopatra 2: Aztec Mysteries.""Jewels of Cleopatra 2: Aztec Mysteries Review" from Gamezebo
Zen Fashion
On May 21, 2008, Zen Fashion was released on Big Fish Games and other casual game portals."Zen Fashion Game" on Big Fish Games Zen Fashion is a drag-matching Match-3 type puzzle game.
Orchard
In 2007, Boomzap received funding from the Media Development Authority of Singapore to create a game demo for the game Orchard, which was later signed by Majesco."Boomzap received funding to complete a game demo which was picked up by game publisher Majesco." on Singapore Media Fusion The game was released in January 2009."Majesco Entertainment Announces Orchard For The PC Is Now Available" on GameSpy It also ranked #1 on Amazon.com, Arcade Town and PlayFirst."Orchard Detail" on CasualCharts.com
Frogs In Love
Boomzap released Frogs In Love on April 15, 2009."Frogs in Love for Windows (2009)" on MobyGames You play the role of a frog who falls in love with a beautiful female frog, Jasmine. But to win her heart, you have to prove yourself by winning challenges at the Flower Festival. It is a puzzle game with 13 different kinds of puzzles. Frogs In Love was published on portals such as Big Fish Games, Oberon, PlayFirst, Pogo, and WildGames."Frogs in Love Detail" on Casual Charts
Passport to Paradise
On December 24, 2009, Passport to Paradise was released by iWin. The game peaked at #4 on the Top 10 Games on iWin's portal, and was the #1 Tycoon game on iWin for the same week."Passport to Paradise Detail" on Casual Charts
Pirates Plund-Arrr
On January 7, 2010, Majesco announced Pirates Plund-Arrr, a Nintendo Wii game being developed by Boomzap Entertainment. It was scheduled for release in April 2010,"Majesco Entertainment Announces 'Pirates Plund-Arrr' for Wii(TM)" on PR Newswire"Pirates Plundarrr sailing Wii-ward this April" on Joystiq and was eventually released in May 2010."Pirates PludArrr" on GameSpot
Awakening series
Awakening is a game franchise in the hidden object puzzle adventure genre published exclusively by Big Fish Games. It is available on PC, Mac, as well as iPhone and iPad platforms. The first game, Awakening: The Dreamless Castle, was originally released on February 14, 2010."Awakening: The Dreamless Castle" on Big Fish Games As of November 2014, Awakening consists of eight titles, seven of which are full, downloadable games while one is a free-to-play version.
Awakening: The Redleaf Forest is the sixth and final installment in Queen Sophia's adventures released on May 31, 2014."Awakening: The Redleaf Forest" on Big Fish Games A seventh title, Awakening: The Golden Age was released on November 1, 2014, to serve as a prequel to the series."NEW on PC: Awakening: The Golden Age Collector's Edition - November 1, 2014" on Boomzap
Awakening Kingdoms is a stand-alone game that is not meant to replace the adventure series, but serves as "an endless game world that players can continuously explore and enjoy"."Awakening Kingdoms, One of Big Fish's Most Popular Hidden Object Series Now Offers an Endless Game World for Free" on The Sacramento Bee.
As of August 2014, games from the Awakening series have been downloaded over 17 million times on PC, Mac and mobile devices."Awakening Kingdoms is now available on Mobile Devices" on Big Fish Games.
Antique Road Trip series
Antique Road Trip is a game series in the hidden object genre, with puzzles and different minigames. As of September 2013, Boomzap has released three Antique Road Trip games, all published exclusively by Big Fish Games and available on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad ad Android platforms.
After Antique Road Trip: USA and Antique Road Trip 2: Homecoming follows the latest installment Antique Road Trip: American Dreamin, the first free-to-play game developed by Boomzap. It was released on September 25, 2013."Antique Road Trip: American Dreamin'" on Big Fish Games
Dana Knightstone series
Dana Knightstone is a series of hidden object games with a mystery novel storyline published exclusively by Big Fish Games. It is available on PC, Mac, iPhone and iPad platforms. The franchise draws it title from the main character, Dana Knightstone, a fiction writer who can see ghosts."Death At Fairing Point: A Dana Knightstone Novel Collector's Edition" on Boomzap