RockYou Social Dev Acquisitions Continue With 3 Blokes Purchase

Social media company RockYou (Gourmet Ranch, Zoo World) is continuing its game-focused expansion with the acquisition of Facebook game developer 3 Blokes (Galactic Trader), the company announced Wednesday. Founded in 2006 in Brisbane, 3 Blokes employs gaming veterans that include VP and GM George Fidler (Rome: Total War, Medieval II: Total War) and VP of creative John Passfield (Destroy All Humans! 2, the Ty the Tasmanian Tiger series). "We’re incredibly excited to welcome 3 Blokes into the RockYou family, and have been deeply impressed by their wealth of expertise in both traditional and social gaming," said RockYou SVP of games Jonathan Knight, adding that the studio's "unique design sensibilities are a bridge between the casual and competitive gaming landscapes on Facebook." "Being a RockYou Studio enables us to maintain our independence and innovate freely as we work to redefine the concept of a social game," added 3 Blokes' George Fiddler. Other recent acquisitions by the newly game-focused RockYou include Gourmet Ranch developer Playdemic and 3D social game engine developer TirNua. The company also has at least two games in development by the John Romero-founded Loot Drop.