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Moshi Monsters founder and ARM's ex-boss honoured | Moshi Monsters founder and ARM's ex-boss honoured |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The founder of Mind Candy, the creators of Moshi Monsters, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours list. | The founder of Mind Candy, the creators of Moshi Monsters, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours list. |
Michael Acton Smith created the firm nearly a decade ago, but it was not until 2008 that he released the adopt-a-pet-monster online game. | Michael Acton Smith created the firm nearly a decade ago, but it was not until 2008 that he released the adopt-a-pet-monster online game. |
The title - which targets six-to-12-year-olds - now has more than 80 million registered users worldwide. | The title - which targets six-to-12-year-olds - now has more than 80 million registered users worldwide. |
ARM Holdings' Warren East was among the other tech leaders honoured. | ARM Holdings' Warren East was among the other tech leaders honoured. |
The 52-year-old retired as the Cambridge-based computer chip designer's chief executive in July. He received a CBE. | The 52-year-old retired as the Cambridge-based computer chip designer's chief executive in July. He received a CBE. |
Slow start | Slow start |
Mr Acton Smith was born in Marlow in Buckinghamshire. His first business was Firebox - an online retailer whose first product was a chess set that used shot glasses for pieces. | Mr Acton Smith was born in Marlow in Buckinghamshire. His first business was Firebox - an online retailer whose first product was a chess set that used shot glasses for pieces. |
Its success helped convince investor Spark Ventures to back a second start-up, Mind Candy. | Its success helped convince investor Spark Ventures to back a second start-up, Mind Candy. |
But the entertainment firm's first project, Perplex City, proved a harder sell. The alternate reality game used the internet, puzzle cards sold in shops, text messages and live events to lead players on a 15-month long global treasure hunt whose winner eventually netted a £100,000 prize. | But the entertainment firm's first project, Perplex City, proved a harder sell. The alternate reality game used the internet, puzzle cards sold in shops, text messages and live events to lead players on a 15-month long global treasure hunt whose winner eventually netted a £100,000 prize. |
The contest won awards of its own, but nearly bankrupted the firm, leading Mr Acton Smith to cancel a planned "second season". | The contest won awards of its own, but nearly bankrupted the firm, leading Mr Acton Smith to cancel a planned "second season". |
Mind Candy then switched focus to create a simpler game for a younger audience. | Mind Candy then switched focus to create a simpler game for a younger audience. |
Moshi Monsters launched in April 2008 allowing children to adopt, name and look after a virtual monster in Monstro City, an online world where kids can play games and communicate with other members. The basic version is free, but for a monthly fee members get access to extra features. | Moshi Monsters launched in April 2008 allowing children to adopt, name and look after a virtual monster in Monstro City, an online world where kids can play games and communicate with other members. The basic version is free, but for a monthly fee members get access to extra features. |
Disney's rival product - Club Penguin - had already proved popular, but initially it looked like the British game might become Mind Candy's second flop. | Disney's rival product - Club Penguin - had already proved popular, but initially it looked like the British game might become Mind Candy's second flop. |
"We were getting hardly any sign-ups," Mr Acton Smith later recalled in a BBC interview. | "We were getting hardly any sign-ups," Mr Acton Smith later recalled in a BBC interview. |
"So, we created new characters, we created new features, new ways for kids to communicate. | "So, we created new characters, we created new features, new ways for kids to communicate. |
"And it took about a year-and-a-half until the summer of 2009 when we hit our tipping point and things just exploded. It went viral and we started adding one new sign-up every second." | |
The brand now has its own magazine, spin-off smartphone app, music albums and toys. Earlier this month released its first animated movie. | The brand now has its own magazine, spin-off smartphone app, music albums and toys. Earlier this month released its first animated movie. |
Moshi Monsters also recently won the Interactive Prize in the Children's Bafta (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Awards, which were announced in November. | Moshi Monsters also recently won the Interactive Prize in the Children's Bafta (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Awards, which were announced in November. |
Mr Acton Smith recently revealed Mind Candy was working on three non-Moshi projects, all of which were designed to be used on smartphones and tablets. | Mr Acton Smith recently revealed Mind Candy was working on three non-Moshi projects, all of which were designed to be used on smartphones and tablets. |
'Gadget luddite' | 'Gadget luddite' |
ARM's Warren East helped build the British chip designer into one of the world's most successful tech companies. | ARM's Warren East helped build the British chip designer into one of the world's most successful tech companies. |
The firm's chip architectures power the vast majority of smartphones and tablets on the market, with clients including Samsung, Apple, Sony and LG. | The firm's chip architectures power the vast majority of smartphones and tablets on the market, with clients including Samsung, Apple, Sony and LG. |
Mr Smith also helped expand the firm into the computer server market, with Dell, AMD and HP among companies to begin using ARM-based processors to run data centre products. | Mr Smith also helped expand the firm into the computer server market, with Dell, AMD and HP among companies to begin using ARM-based processors to run data centre products. |
Despite repeated rumours of the firm becoming a takeover target, Mr East has long defended its business model of staying independent and licensing its intellectual property to a broad range of customers. | Despite repeated rumours of the firm becoming a takeover target, Mr East has long defended its business model of staying independent and licensing its intellectual property to a broad range of customers. |
"A partnership business model enables us to always work with the winners," he told the BBC last year. | "A partnership business model enables us to always work with the winners," he told the BBC last year. |
"Somebody who might be the leading mobile phone supplier of the day is using our technology, but we're also working with other players who perhaps are more aspirant leaders." | "Somebody who might be the leading mobile phone supplier of the day is using our technology, but we're also working with other players who perhaps are more aspirant leaders." |
Despite this, he once described himself to the Daily Telegraph as a "Luddite when it comes to gadgets". | Despite this, he once described himself to the Daily Telegraph as a "Luddite when it comes to gadgets". |
Since stepping down from ARM, Mr East has joined the board of other tech firms including Dyson, Rolls-Royce and BT. | Since stepping down from ARM, Mr East has joined the board of other tech firms including Dyson, Rolls-Royce and BT. |
Netmums | Netmums |
Other tech-related names included in the honours list include: | Other tech-related names included in the honours list include: |
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