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'''Pixelberry Studios''' is a mobile game development company based in [[Mountain View, California]], [[United States]].<ref name=":0" /> Founded in 2013 by Oliver Miao, Keith Emnett, and Winston She, Pixelberry develops [[Episodic games|episodic narrative mobile games]]<ref name="About">{{Cite web |url=https://www.pixelberrystudios.com/about|title=About|website=Pixelberry Studios|language=en-US|access-date=2024-03-09}}</ref> for [[Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[iOS]], aiming to create "games with heart,"<ref name="About"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/karstenstrauss/2015/02/02/mobile-games-with-heart-pixelberry-in-2015/|title=Mobile Games With Heart? Pixelberry In 2015|last=Strauss|first=Karsten|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-04-26|language=en|archive-date=2018-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426150104/https://www.forbes.com/sites/karstenstrauss/2015/02/02/mobile-games-with-heart-pixelberry-in-2015/|url-status=live}}</ref> beginning with ''[[Surviving High School]]'' and ''[[Cause of Death (game)|Cause of Death]]'', which deals with themes of [[bullying]], [[eating disorder]]s and capturing serial killers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pocketgamer.biz/comment-and-opinion/60428/inside-the-game-why-oliver-miao-almost-left-gaming/|title=Inside The Game: Why Oliver Miao almost left gaming|work=pocketgamer.biz|access-date=2018-04-26|archive-date=2018-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426212959/http://www.pocketgamer.biz/comment-and-opinion/60428/inside-the-game-why-oliver-miao-almost-left-gaming/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/6/12/5787172/after-bullying-high-school-story-tackles-body-image-and-eating|title=After bullying, High School Story tackles body image and eating disorders|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|accessdate=19 September 2017|archive-date=14 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614071028/https://www.polygon.com/2014/6/12/5787172/after-bullying-high-school-story-tackles-body-image-and-eating|url-status=live}}</ref> Since then, the company has fully released three more mobile games: ''Hollywood U'', [[High School Story]].<ref name=":0">{{cite news|title=Mobile game takes a stand against cyberbullying|url=http://m.sfgate.com/technology/article/Mobile-game-takes-a-stand-against-cyberbullying-5065326.php|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|accessdate=19 September 2017|archive-date=19 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919235338/http://m.sfgate.com/technology/article/Mobile-game-takes-a-stand-against-cyberbullying-5065326.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Pixelberry Studios Tackles Teenagers' Body-Image Issues With A New Mobile Game|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/06/12/high-school-story/|work=[[TechCrunch]]|accessdate=19 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=16 percent of teens consider suicide before graduation. This quest is for them|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2013/12/13/16-percent-of-teens-consider-suicide-before-graduation-this-quest-is-for-them/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=19 September 2017|archive-date=24 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924045824/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2013/12/13/16-percent-of-teens-consider-suicide-before-graduation-this-quest-is-for-them/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-EA devs add cyberbullying-themed quests to High School Story to teach players how to deal with the issue themselves|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPhone/High+School+Story/news.asp?c=56030|work=[[Pocket Gamer]]|accessdate=19 September 2017|archive-date=13 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013182828/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPhone/High+School+Story/news.asp?c=56030|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2017, Pixelberry was acquired by [[Nexon]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/11/09/nexon-acquires-pixelberry/|title=Nexon acquires High School Story developer Pixelberry Studios|date=2017-11-10|work=VentureBeat|access-date=2018-04-26|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426145100/https://venturebeat.com/2017/11/09/nexon-acquires-pixelberry/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
'''Pixelberry Studios''' is a mobile game development company based in [[Mountain View, California]], [[United States]].<ref name=":0" /> Founded in 2013 by Oliver Miao, Keith Emnett, and Winston She, Pixelberry develops [[Episodic games|episodic narrative mobile games]]<ref name="About">{{Cite web |url=https://www.pixelberrystudios.com/about|title=About|website=Pixelberry Studios|language=en-US|access-date=2024-03-09}}</ref> for [[Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[iOS]], aiming to create "games with heart,"<ref name="About"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/karstenstrauss/2015/02/02/mobile-games-with-heart-pixelberry-in-2015/|title=Mobile Games With Heart? Pixelberry In 2015|last=Strauss|first=Karsten|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-04-26|language=en|archive-date=2018-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426150104/https://www.forbes.com/sites/karstenstrauss/2015/02/02/mobile-games-with-heart-pixelberry-in-2015/|url-status=live}}</ref> beginning with ''[[Surviving High School]]'' and ''[[Cause of Death (game)|Cause of Death]]'', which deals with themes of [[bullying]], [[eating disorder]]s and capturing serial killers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pocketgamer.biz/comment-and-opinion/60428/inside-the-game-why-oliver-miao-almost-left-gaming/|title=Inside The Game: Why Oliver Miao almost left gaming|work=pocketgamer.biz|access-date=2018-04-26|archive-date=2018-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426212959/http://www.pocketgamer.biz/comment-and-opinion/60428/inside-the-game-why-oliver-miao-almost-left-gaming/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/6/12/5787172/after-bullying-high-school-story-tackles-body-image-and-eating|title=After bullying, High School Story tackles body image and eating disorders|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|accessdate=19 September 2017|archive-date=14 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614071028/https://www.polygon.com/2014/6/12/5787172/after-bullying-high-school-story-tackles-body-image-and-eating|url-status=live}}</ref> Since then, the company has fully released three more mobile games: ''Hollywood U'', [[High School Story]].<ref name=":0">{{cite news|title=Mobile game takes a stand against cyberbullying|url=http://m.sfgate.com/technology/article/Mobile-game-takes-a-stand-against-cyberbullying-5065326.php|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|accessdate=19 September 2017|archive-date=19 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919235338/http://m.sfgate.com/technology/article/Mobile-game-takes-a-stand-against-cyberbullying-5065326.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Pixelberry Studios Tackles Teenagers' Body-Image Issues With A New Mobile Game|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/06/12/high-school-story/|work=[[TechCrunch]]|accessdate=19 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=16 percent of teens consider suicide before graduation. This quest is for them|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2013/12/13/16-percent-of-teens-consider-suicide-before-graduation-this-quest-is-for-them/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=19 September 2017|archive-date=24 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924045824/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2013/12/13/16-percent-of-teens-consider-suicide-before-graduation-this-quest-is-for-them/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-EA devs add cyberbullying-themed quests to High School Story to teach players how to deal with the issue themselves|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPhone/High+School+Story/news.asp?c=56030|work=[[Pocket Gamer]]|accessdate=19 September 2017|archive-date=13 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013182828/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPhone/High+School+Story/news.asp?c=56030|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2017, Pixelberry was acquired by [[Nexon]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/11/09/nexon-acquires-pixelberry/|title=Nexon acquires High School Story developer Pixelberry Studios|date=2017-11-10|work=VentureBeat|access-date=2018-04-26|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426145100/https://venturebeat.com/2017/11/09/nexon-acquires-pixelberry/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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Pixelberry launched ''Choices: Stories You Play'' in August 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PlayChoices/status/761295358068568065|title=Choices on Twitter|language=en-US|date=2016-08-04 |access-date=2024-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PlayChoices/status/766022540527411200|title=Choices on Twitter|language=en-US|date=2016-08-17 |access-date=2024-03-09}}</ref><ref name="CoD Facebook">{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1400195613342841&set=a.178650422164039 |title=Cause of Death |publisher=Facebook |language=en-US|date=2016-08-17 |accessdate=2024-03-09}}</ref> Like their previous games, ''Choices: Stories You Play'' is an [[interactive fiction|interactive narrative game]].<ref name="CoD Facebook"/><ref name="Kastor">{{Cite web|url=http://kastorskorner.com/wp/choices-storytelling-game-pixelberry-studios-positive-visual-game-questionable-intentions/|title=Choices, the new storytelling game from Pixelberry Studios, is a positive visual novel game with questionable intentions|website=kastorskorner.com|language=en-US|access-date=2024-03-09|date=2016-09-12|archive-date=2018-04-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423170025/http://kastorskorner.com/wp/choices-storytelling-game-pixelberry-studios-positive-visual-game-questionable-intentions/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In it, players can pick "[[Gamebook|choose your own adventure]]" stories or "books" across multiple [[literary genre]] such as [[Romance novel|romance]], [[Adventure fiction|adventure]], [[Mystery fiction|mystery]], [[fantasy]], and [[Horror fiction|horror]].<ref name="Kastor"/> Each "book" is divided into "chapters", and chapters are released on a weekly basis. The [[player character]] is usually highly customizable, from skin tone to gender.<ref name="Wired Escape">{{Cite news |last=Ray |first=Somdyuti Datta |title=Pixelberry's 'Choices' Was the Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Escape I Needed |language=en-US |work=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/story/pixelberry-choices-game-escape-alternate-lives/ |access-date=2023-07-29 |issn=1059-1028 |archive-date=2023-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729234521/https://www.wired.com/story/pixelberry-choices-game-escape-alternate-lives/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Since the shutdown of their other games, ''Choices'' is the flagship game and primary focus for the studio.<ref name="Wired Escape"/> In 2020, a planned plot line in one of ''Choices''' most popular titles was leaked, leading to fan backlash and further criticism of racial insensitivity in ''Choices'' stories. Pixelberry's CEO issued a personal apology and pledged $100,000 to [[Black Girls Code]], the Black Writers Collective, and the [[ |
Pixelberry launched ''Choices: Stories You Play'' in August 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PlayChoices/status/761295358068568065|title=Choices on Twitter|language=en-US|date=2016-08-04 |access-date=2024-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PlayChoices/status/766022540527411200|title=Choices on Twitter|language=en-US|date=2016-08-17 |access-date=2024-03-09}}</ref><ref name="CoD Facebook">{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1400195613342841&set=a.178650422164039 |title=Cause of Death |publisher=Facebook |language=en-US|date=2016-08-17 |accessdate=2024-03-09}}</ref> Like their previous games, ''Choices: Stories You Play'' is an [[interactive fiction|interactive narrative game]].<ref name="CoD Facebook"/><ref name="Kastor">{{Cite web|url=http://kastorskorner.com/wp/choices-storytelling-game-pixelberry-studios-positive-visual-game-questionable-intentions/|title=Choices, the new storytelling game from Pixelberry Studios, is a positive visual novel game with questionable intentions|website=kastorskorner.com|language=en-US|access-date=2024-03-09|date=2016-09-12|archive-date=2018-04-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423170025/http://kastorskorner.com/wp/choices-storytelling-game-pixelberry-studios-positive-visual-game-questionable-intentions/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In it, players can pick "[[Gamebook|choose your own adventure]]" stories or "books" across multiple [[literary genre]] such as [[Romance novel|romance]], [[Adventure fiction|adventure]], [[Mystery fiction|mystery]], [[fantasy]], and [[Horror fiction|horror]].<ref name="Kastor"/> Each "book" is divided into "chapters", and chapters are released on a weekly basis. The [[player character]] is usually highly customizable, from skin tone to gender.<ref name="Wired Escape">{{Cite news |last=Ray |first=Somdyuti Datta |title=Pixelberry's 'Choices' Was the Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Escape I Needed |language=en-US |work=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/story/pixelberry-choices-game-escape-alternate-lives/ |access-date=2023-07-29 |issn=1059-1028 |archive-date=2023-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729234521/https://www.wired.com/story/pixelberry-choices-game-escape-alternate-lives/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Since the shutdown of their other games, ''Choices'' is the flagship game and primary focus for the studio.<ref name="Wired Escape"/> In 2020, a planned plot line in one of ''Choices''' most popular titles was leaked, leading to fan backlash and further criticism of racial insensitivity in ''Choices'' stories. Pixelberry's CEO issued a personal apology and pledged $100,000 to [[Black Girls Code]], the Black Writers Collective, and the [[Latino]] Writers Collective. He also committed the company to enact more representative writing and hiring practices.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pixelberrystudios.com/blog/2020/6/15/representation-at-pixelberry |title=Archived copy |access-date=2023-07-31 |archive-date=2023-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731045410/https://www.pixelberrystudios.com/blog/2020/6/15/representation-at-pixelberry |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022, Pixelberry launched a sister app to ''Choices'', called ''StoryLoom'' which features creator-made, interactive stories.[https://storyloom.com/] |
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On July 15, 2022, Pixelberry Studios announced that High School Story will have its servers permanently shut down on August 10, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-15 |title=High School Story and Hollywood U - The Final Sunset |url=https://www.pixelberrystudios.com/blog/2022/7/14/zbtg1ervcb4k6vcppslh41mlbxvc9d |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Pixelberry Studios |language=en-US}}</ref> On January 22, 2024, Pixelberry announced it would shut down ''StoryLoom'' on February 29 and lay off 120 employees across multiple departments.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-22 |title=2024 Studio Update |url=https://www.pixelberrystudios.com/blog/2024/1/19/2024-studio-updates |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Pixelberry Studios |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kerr |first=Chris |date=January 17, 2024 |title=Nexon-owned mobile studio Pixelberry is conducting layoffs |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/nexon-owned-mobile-studio-pixelberry-is-conducting-layoffs |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=www.gamedeveloper.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Patel |first=Devon J. |date=February 9, 2024 |title=Santa Clara County game developer slashes 120 jobs as tech layoffs continue |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2024/02/09/pixelberry-studios-layoffs-los-altos-gaming.html |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref> |
On July 15, 2022, Pixelberry Studios announced that High School Story will have its servers permanently shut down on August 10, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-15 |title=High School Story and Hollywood U - The Final Sunset |url=https://www.pixelberrystudios.com/blog/2022/7/14/zbtg1ervcb4k6vcppslh41mlbxvc9d |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Pixelberry Studios |language=en-US}}</ref> On January 22, 2024, Pixelberry announced it would shut down ''StoryLoom'' on February 29 and lay off 120 employees across multiple departments.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-22 |title=2024 Studio Update |url=https://www.pixelberrystudios.com/blog/2024/1/19/2024-studio-updates |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Pixelberry Studios |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kerr |first=Chris |date=January 17, 2024 |title=Nexon-owned mobile studio Pixelberry is conducting layoffs |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/nexon-owned-mobile-studio-pixelberry-is-conducting-layoffs |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=www.gamedeveloper.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Patel |first=Devon J. |date=February 9, 2024 |title=Santa Clara County game developer slashes 120 jobs as tech layoffs continue |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2024/02/09/pixelberry-studios-layoffs-los-altos-gaming.html |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref> |
Revision as of 10:53, 7 May 2024
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Company type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Game Developer |
Founder | Oliver Miao, Keith Emnett, Winston She |
Headquarters | Mountain View, CA , United States |
Number of employees | 51-200 employees (2024)[1] |
Parent | Nexon |
Website | pixelberrystudios |
Pixelberry Studios is a mobile game development company based in Mountain View, California, United States.[2] Founded in 2013 by Oliver Miao, Keith Emnett, and Winston She, Pixelberry develops episodic narrative mobile games[3] for Android and iOS, aiming to create "games with heart,"[3][4] beginning with Surviving High School and Cause of Death, which deals with themes of bullying, eating disorders and capturing serial killers.[5][6] Since then, the company has fully released three more mobile games: Hollywood U, High School Story.[2][7][8][9] In November 2017, Pixelberry was acquired by Nexon.[10]
Pixelberry launched Choices: Stories You Play in August 2016.[11][12][13] Like their previous games, Choices: Stories You Play is an interactive narrative game.[13][14] In it, players can pick "choose your own adventure" stories or "books" across multiple literary genre such as romance, adventure, mystery, fantasy, and horror.[14] Each "book" is divided into "chapters", and chapters are released on a weekly basis. The player character is usually highly customizable, from skin tone to gender.[15] Since the shutdown of their other games, Choices is the flagship game and primary focus for the studio.[15] In 2020, a planned plot line in one of Choices' most popular titles was leaked, leading to fan backlash and further criticism of racial insensitivity in Choices stories. Pixelberry's CEO issued a personal apology and pledged $100,000 to Black Girls Code, the Black Writers Collective, and the Latino Writers Collective. He also committed the company to enact more representative writing and hiring practices.[16] In 2022, Pixelberry launched a sister app to Choices, called StoryLoom which features creator-made, interactive stories.[1]
On July 15, 2022, Pixelberry Studios announced that High School Story will have its servers permanently shut down on August 10, 2022.[17] On January 22, 2024, Pixelberry announced it would shut down StoryLoom on February 29 and lay off 120 employees across multiple departments.[18][19][20]
References
- ^ Pixelberry Studios. "Pixelberry Studios". LinkedIn. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
- ^ a b "Mobile game takes a stand against cyberbullying". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 19 September 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^ a b "About". Pixelberry Studios. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ Strauss, Karsten. "Mobile Games With Heart? Pixelberry In 2015". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2018-04-26. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
- ^ "Inside The Game: Why Oliver Miao almost left gaming". pocketgamer.biz. Archived from the original on 2018-04-26. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
- ^ "After bullying, High School Story tackles body image and eating disorders". Polygon. Archived from the original on 14 June 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^ "Pixelberry Studios Tackles Teenagers' Body-Image Issues With A New Mobile Game". TechCrunch. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^ "16 percent of teens consider suicide before graduation. This quest is for them". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^ "Ex-EA devs add cyberbullying-themed quests to High School Story to teach players how to deal with the issue themselves". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on 13 October 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^ "Nexon acquires High School Story developer Pixelberry Studios". VentureBeat. 2017-11-10. Archived from the original on 2018-04-26. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
- ^ "Choices on Twitter". 2016-08-04. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ "Choices on Twitter". 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ a b "Cause of Death". Facebook. 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ a b "Choices, the new storytelling game from Pixelberry Studios, is a positive visual novel game with questionable intentions". kastorskorner.com. 2016-09-12. Archived from the original on 2018-04-23. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ a b Ray, Somdyuti Datta. "Pixelberry's 'Choices' Was the Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Escape I Needed". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Archived from the original on 2023-07-29. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "High School Story and Hollywood U - The Final Sunset". Pixelberry Studios. 2022-07-15. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ "2024 Studio Update". Pixelberry Studios. 2024-01-22. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ Kerr, Chris (January 17, 2024). "Nexon-owned mobile studio Pixelberry is conducting layoffs". www.gamedeveloper.com. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ Patel, Devon J. (February 9, 2024). "Santa Clara County game developer slashes 120 jobs as tech layoffs continue". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2024-03-04.