Free Lunch Design Bought by Advergaming Publisher

By: Derek Yu

On: January 31st, 2008

Free Lunch Design, the developer behind the freeware megahit Icy Tower, has been acquired by Muskedunder Interactive, a Swedish game development company and publisher that specializes in Flash “advergames.” (I really don’t like that term!) From Gamasutra:

Muskedunder primarily develops advergames and serious games for clients including Doritos, Paramount Home Entertainment and Red Cross. Through the acquisition, Peitz becomes lead programmer and shareholder.

Muskedunder Interactive CEO Magnus Alm says his company will not be leaving the advergames space, but aims to expand its development profile.

So far, the only change is a spiffy new Flash-based website. All the FLD games are still up for download, with a promise from Alm that there will be more free games to come. I’m hoping the content of the games don’t change either!

In any case, all the best to Johan, and I hope we can see more great freeware from him in the future (it’s been a while since the last, hasn’t it?).

(Thanks, Alec!)

Posted in Business, Community | Tags: FreeLunchDesign

haowan

A pox on advertising!
Splinter of Chaos

Yeah…advergames are the direct opposite of what I consider indy. I REALLY hope this doesn’t turn out poorly.
Zeno

Advergames go on my “instant AdBlock, never ever play” list.
lexaloffle

Advertising in games (and websites) makes my eyes burn a little. But if it means that FLD can afford to make more games without running out of food, then hurrah, I say.
Carlz0r

I my browser blocks most ads, even if they are not in pop-up. It’s just a simple fact of life that ads are annoying, and most people don’t want to look at them…

But hey, if someone offers you money, I say take it, if you can do what they want you to do for it.
Ping

I propose a new term: “Playable Advertisements,” or “plads”

Hehehe, plads.
Gr.Viper

adplay vs. gameplay?
tales

post-adplay is better
http://mybrain.ej.am/ AdamB

FreeLunchDesign

AdBasedLunchDesign
Michael

Advergames aren’t all bad. I remember having a good bit of fun with Tapper, (originally Budweiser-branded) when it came out. And Cool Spot (7-Up) was one of the best platformers for the Genesis/Megadrive. Heck, even Avoid the Noid (Dominos) was good for killing a few minutes every now and then.