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Playdom is an online social network game developer popular on Facebook, Google+ and MySpace; it is currently the largest social game developer on MySpace and number 15 by MAU on Facebook. The company was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area^[2] by University of California, Berkeley graduates Ling Xiao and Chris Wang and Swarthmore College graduate Dan Yue. In 2009 the market for games played on social networking sites was valued at $300 million, consisting mostly of online sales of virtual goods.^[3]

In May 2010, Playdom was recognized as one of the “2010 Hottest Silicon Valley Companies” by Lead411.^[4]

It is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company as part of the Disney Interactive Media Group.

Acquisitions[link]

On November 12, 2009 Playdom acquired Green Patch and Trippert Labs.^[5] The company's abrupt termination of all but one of the Green Patch studio's games, including the extremely popular (Lil) Green Patch, just 6 months later became a topic of intense criticism^[6] and speculation,^[7] which was intensified when the company was acquired by Disney the following month.

On March 31, 2010 Playdom announced acquisition of Argentina-based online game developer Three Melons. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.^[8]

On May 19, 2010 they acquired Acclaim Games.^[9]

On June 7, 2010 Playdom announced the acquisition of gaming developer Hive7 after a $33 million funding round. This acquisition marks the fifth acquisition of the year.^[10]

On July 8, 2010, Playdom announced it acquired Metaplace, Inc.. The pricing of the deal was not disclosed.^[11]

Acquired[link]

On July 27, 2010, The Walt Disney Company acquired Playdom in a $763 million deal. Disney will initially pay $563 million for Playdom, which is the No. 3 social game company with about 42 million monthly players. The deal also includes a further $200 million in additional payments if Playdom achieves growth thresholds.^[12]

Games[link]

This is a list of Playdom's current games.^[13] Playdom has a total of over 27 million players as of July, 2011.^[14]

• Bola – A social football management game developed by Three Melons. In May 2010, Bola achieved 2 million active users.^[15]
• Gardens of Time
• Mobsters: Myspace
• Mobsters 2: Vendetta
• Sorority Life
• Wild Ones
• City of Wonder
• WSOP
• Gnome Town
• City of Might
• ESPN Sports Bar & Grill
• Marvel: Avengers Alliance'
• Blackwood & Bell Mysteries

Discontinued Games[link]

• Social City – A casual strategy game in which the player develops a city. Social City won the 2010 Game Developers Choice Online Award for Best Social Network Game.^[16] Inside Social Games rated Social City as the #2 Best Facebook Game of the first half of 2010.^[17] Social City also received an honorable mention on Gamasutra's list of the Top 5 Facebook Social Games in 2010.^[18] Gamezebo rated Social City at 3.5 out of 5, highlighting balanced gameplay and "adorable" graphics. However, it was criticized for its lack of complexity: "Once you’ve mastered the game’s ecosystem of manufacturing/residential/leisure, all you’ll be doing is visiting your town to keep this balance in check and grow your city. Growing your city remains exciting throughout, but by the time you hit level 15 or so you just start wishing there was something more."^[19] Social City was discontinued from 20 December 2011.^[20]
• (Lil) Green Patch
• Market Street
• Mobsters: Facebook
• Verdonia
• Tiki Farm
• Tiki Resort
• ESPNU College Town
• Mobsters: Overdrive
• Bloodlines
• Big City Life
• (Lil) Farm Life
• Fanglies
• Pet Resort
• Fish Friends
• NBA Dynasty
• Deep Realms
• My Vineyard

Controversies[link]

As of May 2012, users of Playdom's two most popular games, Gardens of Time and Blackwood & Bell, have become increasingly angered by the enormous problems in the games. These problems have largely been ignored by Playdom, as have all the complaints forwarded to Playdom Support. The revenue stream from in-game purchases will reflect this dissatisfaction with Playdom's performance.

In May 2011, Playdom has been ordered by the Federal Trade Commission to pay $3 million in fines for collecting and disclosing children's information without parental approval.^[21]

Controversy surrounded the surprise cancellation of the still popular (Lil) Green Patch in April 2010, just 6 months after Playdom acquired the Green Patch team. And speculation intensified when Disney acquired Playdom the month after it was discontinued.^[22] Playdom also announced they were canceling all other games from the Green Patch studio except (Lil) Farm Life.

In September 2009, competitor Zynga initiated trade secrets lawsuits against Playdom and 22 other rivals,^[23] including Green Patch which Playdom acquired in November 2009. These lawsuits were finally settled in November 2010, less than 4 months after Disney's acquisition of Playdom in July 2010.^[24] The correlation of timing of events in the lawsuits with the acquisition and surprise cancellation of (Lil) Green Patch just before Playdom was acquired by Disney fueled speculations that Playdom senior management sacrificed (Lil) Green Patch and the studio's other games in a bid to settle the legal dispute prior to the Disney acquisition. Ongoing secrecy around the lawsuits and the settlement make it difficult to find evidence supporting or rebutting these allegations.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official game website
• Playdom Community Forums

Bryan Scott

No. 43     Buffalo Bills
Safety
Personal information
Date of birth: (1981-04-13) April 13, 1981 (age 31)
Place of birth: Maple Glen, Pennsylvania
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Weight: 220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
College: Penn State
NFL Draft: 2003 / Round: 2 / Pick: 55
Debuted in 2003 for the Atlanta Falcons
Career history
Atlanta Falcons (2003–2005) New Orleans Saints (2006) Tennessee Titans (2007)* Buffalo Bills (2007–present) *Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
No notable achievements
Career NFL statistics as of Week 16, 2011
Tackles 519 Sacks 10.5 INTs 7 Total touchdowns 2 Stats at NFL.com

Bryan Anderson Scott (born April 13, 1981 in Warrington Township, Pennsylvania) is an American football safety for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Penn State University. Scott has also been a member of the New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans in his career.

Early years[link]

Scott was a three-sport standout at Central Bucks East High School in Buckingham Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He was a consensus first-team All-American and was named the Associated Press Pennsylvania Big School Player of the Year and the USA Today Pennsylvania Player of the Year his senior year, rushing for more than 3,000 career yards and 53 tackles with three interceptions as a senior defensive back.

He averaged nearly 20 points per game in basketball as a senior and was a Pennsylvania state prep medalist in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

College career[link]

Three-year starter at Penn State, playing in all 48 career games, and finished career with 202 tackles, five interceptions, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. He played in the 2003 Senior Bowl.

He graduated from Penn State University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Parks Management. He participated in the university's study abroad program in Fiji.

Professional career[link]

Atlanta Falcons[link]

Scott was drafted in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft (55th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons.

In his rookie season, Scott led all defensive backs with 63 tackles despite only starting six contests in 15 total games. Finished tied for team-high special teams with 13 tackles.

In 2004, he started all 16 games at strong safety and ranked third on the team with 85 tackles and 2.5 sacks, and one interception, including 7 tackles in the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He registered 54 tackles, a sack and an interception in 16 games during the 2005 season.

New Orleans Saints[link]

On April 6, 2006, Scott was traded to the New Orleans Saints for OT Wayne Gandy and a 2007 conditional late round draft choice.

Tennessee Titans[link]

On March 26, 2007,^[1] Scott signed with the Titans. On September 1, 2007 the Titans released him.

Buffalo Bills[link]

He signed with the Buffalo Bills on September 12, 2007. A free agent in the 2008 offseason, the Bills re-signed Scott on March 18. Following injuries to Kawika Mitchell and Keith Ellison in the middle of the 2009 season, Scott was moved to outside linebacker. Scott responded with 10 solo tackles and a sack against Kansas City in week 14.^[2]

Personal[link]

Scott is an accomplished musician. He sings and plays the piano, drums and saxophone. He participated in the ABC Monday Night Football's musical competition called "Monday Night at the Mic" in 2003 paired with Grammy Award winning artist Michelle Branch. The duo lost to Doug Flutie and Barenaked Ladies in the finals after competing against a host of other NFL players and recording artists in a round-robin competition. Bryan also had a major role in the feature film White Men Can't Rap [1], where he played the drummer Tater in band Cocoa Bean Mogul.

Scott sang a song he wrote at the funeral service for Kevin Dare, the Penn State pole vaulter who died while competing at the Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships in February 2002.

He created the non-profit foundation, Pick Your Passion Foundation for the Arts, to encourage youth participation in music, visual and performing arts in underserved communities.

His cousin, Ryan Stewart, is a former defensive back with the Detroit Lions (1996–99) and current radio personality in Atlanta, Georgia.

He is the inspiration for the Twitter hashtag #allhedoesismakeplays, for his knack of making key plays during his playing time for the Buffalo Bills.

References[link]

External links[link]

Biography portal

• Team BScott
• Buffalo Bills bio