As reasons for start-up layoffs go, it’s almost near mantra status: We’ve grown so much in recent months that it’s time to stop and trim. The Electric Sheep Company is…

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Websites for young kids always have to tread carefully when it comes to advertising. Kids virtual world Webkinz is finding out just how much care is necessary. The company, which…

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Cambridge, Mass-based GuildCafe, the creator of social networking tools for online game players, has acquired Uberguilds, a Portland-based network of online gaming communities. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.…

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In its first earnings report as a public company, Chinese online gamer Giant Interactive (NYSE: GA) posted Q3 revenue of $54.1 million, up 164.2 percent from last year. Net income…

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Vivox, a Framingham, Mass.-based provider of voice services for online games and virtual worlds, has raised $7.8 million in a second round led by Benchmark Capital. Previous investors GrandBanks Capital…

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Pasadena-based Numedeon, the parent company of tween-oriented virtual world Whyville, has taken an investment from game show host Pat Sajak, reports socalTech. Terms of the funding were not disclosed, though…

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Chinese MMOG developer Giant Interactive Group (NYSE: GA) announced that its IPO shares priced last night at $15.50 per share, above the $12-$14 range it had indicated last month. A…

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Nickelodeon and Disney (NYSE: DIS) are both releasing two online projects aimed at young children this week, though the two have different ideas in terms of what they want to…

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A report from Virtual Worlds Management, which tracks the virtual worlds industry, says over $1 billion was invested in 35 virtual worlds over the last 12 months. Most of this…

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Turner Broadcasting has flirted with virtual worlds for a while. Now the Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) division will try for a relationship with a little more depth, signing a one-year…

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PlaySpan, a Santa Clara, CA-based in-game commerce network, has received $6.5 million in its first round of funding, paidContent.org has learned. The round was led by Easton Capital, Menlo Ventures,…

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Warner Bros. (NYSE: TWX) is creating a video site that will house all its iconic animations, from Bugs Bunny to Batman, called T-Works. The site kicks off in the spring,…

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Media Machines, a San Francisco-based online and 3D virtual world making tools and content creation services, has received $9.4 million in its first round of funding, reports PEHub, citing SEC…

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Interactive game developer Trilogy Studios has raised $3.2 million in a second round equity financing. The funds will go towards expanding its various massively multiplayer online gaming and virtual world…

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Chinese 3D virtual community Hipihi has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Japanese venture firm NGI group. In addition to the funding, NGI is also serving as Hipihi’s strategic…

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Kongregate, a San Francisco-based website where Flash games developers post their wares for players to try out, has scored a $5 million first-round investment led by Greylock Partners. Kongregate gives…

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German MMPOG maker Gameforge has received and undisclosed amount of venture funding from Accel Partners. The Karlsruhe-based outfit’s website claims around four million active users of its 12 titles, which…

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Pop culture-focused virtual world operator Doppelganger has raised $11 million in a fourth round. The round was led by ComVentures; return backers Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Draper Richards, Trident Capital, KPG…

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A couple of additional notes from IAC’s earnings earlier this week: Zwinky.com: A lot about virtual worlds in various earning calls this quarter. IAC provided some details on its entrant,…

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