Blue Scorpion Investments Announces First Equity Investment into The Game Agency

NEW YORK, March 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Scorpion Investments, L.P., a New York, NY-based venture capital firm focused on consumer facing businesses, is proud to announce the acquisition of 22.22% of The Game Agency LLC ("TGA"), a Stamford, Connecticut-based award winning digital agency and development studio that creates video games to drive customer activation. Since 2007, TGA has deployed over 150 Powered By Play™ solutions for Fortune 500 companies in the entertainment, lifestyle, finance, healthcare, and technology industries, which accounts for over 250 million game plays! TGA has won numerous awards including:

• iOS App of the Week for Hasbro's "Monopoly Zapped" and "Nerf Blaster Challenge", and Microprose' "Cyber Defense".
• Intel's AppUp "Best App for Play" and "Best App for Netbooks" award for Lego Starwars "Spacerunner". This PC game achieved #1 status ahead of Angry Birds on the App Up platform.
• WebAward from the Web Marketing Association and the "Womma" (Word of Mouth Marketing Association) award for providing an outstanding word of mouth marketing campaign for McDonald's launch of Southern Style Chicken.

Commenting on the announcement, Richard Lowenthal, The Game Agency's Managing Partner said, "Video games are ingrained in our culture and are a powerful engagement vehicle. Whether used for delivering a marketing message, educating a customer base, or training your workforce, games enable our clients to engage and activate their audiences more effectively. The two-way, participatory nature of games drives active learning which can increase retention of marketing or training materials 5x over passive, one-way communication methods."   

This is the first investment by the venture capital firm co-managed by both Gautam Ahuja and Jamison Ernest, whose aggregate network and experience deeply extend into financial sectors, artistic, creative and visual circles, and high-profile marketing spheres. Blue Scorpion Investments' Advisors and Venture Partners range from Nouriel Roubini to Russell Simmons.

According to the Entertainment Software Association, 150 million Americans play video games with 42% playing regularly (3 hours or more per week). The average gamer is 35 years old and the gender split 56% male and 44% female.  SuperData Research reports in 2015 the worldwide digital games market totals $61 billion across platforms, up 8% year-over-year. Digital download game sales were up 34% in 2015 as well. More than ever, the gaming industry has issued a huge shift from console to mobile-free gaming. Statistics indicate that mobile itself is responsible for $25.8 billion in sales, issuing a 10% growth from last years revenues. Sales of the top 3 earning mobile games in 2015 totaled nearly $3 billion and were "Clash of Clans", "Game of War: Fire Age" and "Puzzles & Dragons".

The growth of gaming extends beyond the consumer sector and into game-based learning which, according to Ambient Insight, is projected to reach $8.9 billion in annual revenue by 2017.

"Blue Scorpion sees great potential in The Game Agency based on their proven track record and the rapid growth of the video game industry," remarked Ernest. The management team, previously at Atari, Disney, General Electric, Encore Software, and Microsoft, has successfully grown their vision into a proven model and today offers a powerful suite of game-based solutions to educate and activate consumers, employees and channel partners.

Blue Scorpion Investments invests primarily in consumer-facing businesses, specifically consumer electronics; disruptive technologies; shared economy; single and multi-platform applications; beauty, cosmetics and accessories; retail, fashion/lifestyle brands; and beverages and packaged foods.  The firm's primary objective is to create significant shareholder value by bringing a combination of creative, marketing and financial resources into active partnerships with owners and management teams of early stage high-growth companies.
www.bluescorpioninv.com.

The Game Agency, LLC Located in Stamford, Conn., Seattle, Wash., and Los Angeles, Calif., The Game Agency is a digital agency and development studio that creates video games to drive business results. Since 2007, The Game Agency has deployed over 150 Powered By Play™ solutions for Fortune 500 companies in the entertainment, lifestyle, finance, healthcare, and technology industries and developed a suite of game-based solutions to educate and activate employees, channel partners, and consumers.
www.thegameagency.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160321/346651LOGO

SOURCE Blue Scorpion Investments

Related Links

http://www.bluescorpioninv.com