eGames Acquires Social Game Maker Heyday Games

Casual game publisher eGames, Inc. has acquired social gaming company Heyday Games, appointing studio head Gene Mauro to be its new president and COO in the process. According to the company, Mauro will be in charge of "all aspects of future game products." "We are creating an innovative social game product aimed at boomers and early boomers," said Mauro in a statement. "Our team has a strong track record of creating hit games and launching cutting edge web companies and we look forward to combining this group with eGames' marketing, sales, financial reporting and legal expertise and experience." The move will expand eGames' social presence. According to eGames, the newly-combined entity is one of only a handful of publicly-traded social game companies currently operating. "There is tremendous growth in social games but to date investment has been limited to venture capitalists, private investors, other institutional investors, and so called 'secondary markets,'" said Jerry Klein, who remains as eGames' CEO following the merger. Langhorne, Pennsylvania-based eGames was founded in 1992, and has developed casual games that include Puzzle City and Boss Hunter: Revenge is Sweet!. In 2005 the company acquired classic computer game developer Cinemaware's assets, and has since released new titles in its Three Stooges and Defender of the Crown franchises.