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Mean Hamster Software

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Mean Hamster Software, Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryComputer and video games
Founded1985
FounderJohn Swiderski
DefunctSeptember 2012; 12 years ago (September 2012)
HeadquartersDeer Park, Washington
Key people
John Swiderski, CEO and founder
ProductsCat Wash, Passport to Perfume, Ye Olde Sandwich Shoppe, Everything Nice, Myst, Riven, Pet Shop Hop, Vegas Nights and Exidy games
Number of employees
14 (2012)
Websitemeanhamster.com

Mean Hamster Software, Inc. was a video game developer founded by John Swiderski in 1985. Mean Hamster Software created several games for the Atari 5200 from 1999-2004. They then created Myst for Windows Mobile in 2005, and after the release of Riven: The Sequel to Myst for Pocket PC in 2006, Mean Hamster began work on its first casual games. The company was located in Deer Park, Washington (just outside Spokane, WA).

In 2006, Mean Hamster Software acquired the rights to the Exidy catalog, which includes titles such as Crossbow, Venture and Mouse Trap.

The company closed its doors and laid off all its remaining employees in September 2012.[1][2]

Casual game development

In 2007, Mean Hamster began work on casual games and partnered with PlayFirst to produce a casual game entitled Pet Shop Hop which was released in March 2008. From there, Mean Hamster partnered with Big Fish Games, Namco and Mesmo, Inc. to develop more titles. Games developed by Mean Hamster Software include:

  • Pet Shop Hop[3](March 21, 2008)
  • Everything Nice[4][5] (April 2, 2009)
  • Ye Olde Sandwich Shoppe[6](May 27, 2009)
  • Passport to Perfume[7] (July 21, 2009)
  • Cat Wash[8] (November 13, 2009)
  • Vegas Nights (Facebook)[9](May 15, 2010)
  • Remarkable Farkle[10] (August 1, 2010)
  • Crossbow for iPhone[11] (September 9, 2010)
  • Sushi Quiz[12] (November 21, 2010)
  • Hospitopia[13](January 10, 2011)
  • Vegas Nights (GSN)[14][15] (April, 2011)
  • Lizzie's Royal Dinner[16] (April, 2011)
  • Mother Nature (Feb 13th, 2012)
  • Bee Craft (July 20, 2012)

Mean Hamster Software was named one of Washington State's "Top Video Game Developers" in the September 2008 Issue of Washington CEO magazine. [17]

References

  1. ^ "Deer Park's Mean Hamster Software shuts down, eight positions eliminated". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  2. ^ "Deer Park company falls off app map". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  3. ^ "Pet Shop Hop Download For PC". Play First. Archived from the original on 2011-11-02. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  4. ^ "Our Work Archives - everything nice game art". Element X Creative. Retrieved 2011-10-11.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Create Toys and Treats in new PC game Everything Nice". Namco Games. 2009-04-14. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  6. ^ "Ye Olde Sandwich Shoppe Game Download for PC". Big Fish Games. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  7. ^ "Play Passport to Perfume for free and more - PlayFirst Games". Playfirst.com. Archived from the original on 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  8. ^ "Cat Wash Game Download for PC". Big Fish Games. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  9. ^ "Vegas Nights". Facebook. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  10. ^ "Games op Facebook | Facebook". Apps.facebook.com. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  11. ^ "Crossbow by Exidy for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), and iPad on the iTunes App Store". Itunes.apple.com. 2011-06-20. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  12. ^ "Play Sushi Quiz for free online | Fun Games for Girls". GirlsgoGames.com. 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  13. ^ http://www.facebook.com/hospitopia [user-generated source]
  14. ^ "Vegas Nights - Mesmo Games". Mesmogames.wetpaint.com. Archived from the original on 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  15. ^ "Play Vegas Nights & other free Flash games in our internet arcade". GSN.com. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  16. ^ "Play Lizzies Royal Dinner for free online | Puzzle Games for Girls". GirlsgoGames.com. 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  17. ^ Morgan, Barbara, ed. (September 2008). "Top Video Game Developers". Washington CEO Magazine. Seattle, WA: Bob Ritter.