- CMUNE
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Cmune 
Type Private Headquarters Beijing, China Key people Ludovic Bodin, Shaun Lelacheur Sales, Benjamin Joffe, Yong Joon Hyoung, Tommy Franken, Gabriel Weyer, Jerome Scola, Eamon Logue Industry Online games, Internet, Social Networking Products ÜberStrike Employees 17 employees Website Cmune Available in English Cmune is creating a next-generation 3D social platform for the Internet.[1]
Established in 2007, Cmune also creates, develops, distributes and monetizes 3D browser-based games and virtual worlds in-house and for third parties. Cmune has offices in Beijing, China[2] and Seoul, South Korea.
Cmune is the developer and publisher of Paradise Paintball, now called Uberstrike, the first free-to-play 3D first-person shooter browser game inside social networks, and working on 3D browser based MMO games for undisclosed clients.
Paradise Paintball was a browser based 3D multiplayer game that was launched in November 2008. The game was ranked number 1 worldwide on Apple Dashboard Downloads for four months after its debut in November 2008 and is the first 3D multiplayer game on Facebook[3] and MySpace, where it was awarded "Best New App" at GDC in March 2010.[4]
Contents
Background
Cmune was founded in 2007 by Shaun Lelacheur Sales and Ludovic Bodin.
Paradise Paintball
Screenshot of in-game action for Paradise Paintball
"Paradise Paintball" was the world's first "Social Shooter". It offered both single and multiplayer first-person shooter experiences and can be played across most internet browsers, in Mac or Windows and via Facebook, MySpace or Apple Dashboard. Single player features are only present during practice sessions. "Paradise Paintball" is thought to be the first 3D browser based game with real time micropayment systems, where users will be able to purchase virtual goods or top up on credits without having to quit the game.[5][6]
"Paradise Paintball" was one of the very first applications to be verified by Facebook with the video preview of the game shown in Facebook's promotional video.[7] It was also one of the few gaming applications that was selected for the video. The game had more than 100% growth in monthly active users in the past month and past three months respectively on Facebook.[3]
On 2 April 2009, the game was reviewed by Inside Social Games.[8] The game hit 1 million downloads on 18 May 2009.[9]
v4.0 Era
A new version, Paradise Paintball 4.0, now known as UberStrike, was released on September 14, 2010[10], thus ending the 'PP3D Era', including a thorough redesign of the lobby, UI, maps, and a number of new guns, armors and gear.
UberStrike
In November 2010[11], the game was renamed "UberStrike!" to align with the changes in theme and gameplay toward a fantasy shooter. The game recorded over 1 million Facebook installs and 300,000 monthly active users in November 2010, making it the first and largest FPS on Facebook.
UberStrike quickly gained popularity on some accounts, especially for Facebook players, although some player dislike the new game, calling the new name the 'last straw'. However, the new name brought with it a large press release which brought in many new players, allowing both new and old players to christen in the 'new era' of CMUNE's social shooters. The release was generally well received by the public and popularity quickly increased, though many legends we're lost.
Since the 14th of September[12], Uberstrike has been undergoing several updates. 'The beginning is yet to come'[13] is a line that many players have been saying. Many Facebook and CMUNE portal players call UberStrike 'Simply awesome' or 'the best game on FaceBook'. CMUNE have been focusing all their energy on this game since its release and many more updates to improve the game are expected.
Uberstrike varies from Paradise Paintball in many ways. Some of the most recognised changes are the 'loss of paintball', with no evidence of paintball ever being involved in the game(one of the many reason old players have left), which allowed for the inclusion of many more weapons (Some of which cost points, which can be earned by playing the game, and some of which cost credits, a form of currency that can only be bought using real-life currency), Another major change was in the gameplay itself- armor was introduced as a 'Armor Point Count' that constantly drained away but could be replenished using nearby respawning shields or buying a steady armor base with credits.[14]
Cmune has made UberStrike avilable on CyWorld, the Korean Social Network Site, Owned by one of Cmune's Founders, Yong Joon Hyoung. In addition, UberStrike has recently become available through the Mac App Store, for free. The App has special HD Graphics, and boosted FPS. Making it superior to the Cmune Portal. In the future Cmune expects to add in-app iTunes Purchases[15]. Cmune also plans on releasing a Unified App in the Future, but it is unknown where it will be available from. In addition Cmune added a feature allowing Facebook, and Cmune users to log in on the opposite portal(Cmune on FB; FB on Cmune).
Untitled MMORPG(2010)
Around Spring 2010, Cmune was planning to work on a new RPG Game[16]. It was planned to be developed with a partner in San Francisco. However, the game was canceled, and little information about it has been released.
Micropayment model
Cmune's games employ the micropayment business model through the sales of virtual goods.
During an interview with Inside Facebook, David Marcus, the CEO of Zong mobile payments, a global mobile payment provider, mentioned that Paradise Paintball was one of his favorite Facebook applications due to the real time micropayment systems provided in-game. Zong later featured Paradise Paintball in a video demonstration of their mobile payment solutions.[6]
FusionFall
Shaun Lelacheur Sales from Cmune was involved in the development of various UI and Unity game engine related elements for Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall, the industry breakthrough and first browser based MMO game developed for children.[17] Launched in January 2009, Fusion Fall hit 4 million users around 3 months after launch.[18][19][20]
Recognition
Cmune was chosen as 'Start-up of the Day' on 17 December 2008 by Microsoft StartupZone, with founder interviews featured on the MicrosoftStartupZone blog.[21] CMUNE also was selected as the only start-up from Asia in the Gaming for LeWeb internet conference in Paris, France in 2008.[22]
On 18 May 2009, Cmune's Paradise Paintball was named as one of the 50 finalists for Facebook's fbFund 2009.[23][24] The fbFund is run by Facebook, Accel Partners and The Founders Fund. Subsequently, on 28 May 2009, Paradise Paintball was selected as one of the winners Facebook fbFund 2009 program.[25][26]
Paradise Paintball was featured in a Zong mobile payments promotional video[27] on 30 May 2009.
Cmune presented at the Infinity Ventures Summit[28][29] in Sapporo, Japan on 23 May 2009. At the event, Techcrunch, the popular technology blog, praised the company, citing it as one of the most promising companies at the event.[9]
Cmune was nominated for two Unity Awards, The Community Choice Award which is chosen via poll, by users, and The Cross_Platform Award, which will be awarded September 22nd, 2011, at Unite 2011.[30]
See also
- Online gaming in China
- Virtual good
Notes
- ^ Journal Du Net article (French)
- ^ 01NetPro article (French)
- ^ a b Appdata - Paradise Paintball 3D
- ^ Gamasutra, March 10, 2010
- ^ Inside Facebook interview with Zong CEO
- ^ a b Zong mobile payments video demo in "Paradise Paintball"
- ^ Facebook Verified Applications
- ^ "Paradise Paintball" is a 3D FPS inside Facebook
- ^ a b Techcrunch article about CMUNE in Infinity Ventures Summit at Sapporo
- ^ Launch Post
- ^ Official Press Release of the new name
- ^ Launch Post
- ^ Rant By Player Saying That "He Misses v3.0, But Golden Age Has Yet To Come", Read The Last Paragraph of It
- ^ Armor Uncovered
- ^ http://www.oneclickmac.com/you-should-probably-give-uberstrike-hd-a-download-its-free/#comment-331448684/ Cmune's comment about In-App Purchases
- ^ http://unity3d.com/gallery-old/developer-profiles/web-games/CMUNE Cmune Devolper Profile(Old)
- ^ Cartoon Network Creates First AAA, Browser-Based MMOG for Kids
- ^ FusionFall hits the 4 million mark
- ^ Quick Stat: FusionFall Passes 4 Million
- ^ FusionFall now 4 million strong
- ^ MicrosoftStartupZone blog article
- ^ Le Web 2008 list of startup presenters
- ^ Facebook announces fbFund finalists
- ^ Facebook’s fbFund ‘09 Names First Batch Of Winners
- ^ Paradise Paintball one of the winners of Facebook fbFund
- ^ Paradise Paintball on About.com
- ^ Zong mobile payments video demo in Paradise Paintball
- ^ Infinity Venture Summit Best of the Rest
- ^ List of Infinity Venture Summit presenters
- ^ http://unity3d.com/awards/ Unity Awards 2011
External links
Categories:- Companies established in 2007
- Privately held companies of the People's Republic of China
- Video game companies of the People's Republic of China
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