Founded by Eirik Moseng, Digiment’s legacy in mobile game development is marked by innovation and a commitment to quality. The company played a pioneering role in shaping the mobile gaming industry. Digiment was an award-winning, leading independent video- and mobile games development and self-publishing company, specializing in premium-quality games across a wide range of platforms, including Java ME, BREW, Symbian, and major app stores like Play Store, Amazon Appstore, and Apple App Store.
Digiment adopted a multi-platform strategy and the company was being committed to bringing its games to all of the popular mobile, console and desktop platforms.
The company is most known for its Marv The Miner franchise which include a number of action, arcade and puzzle games, and the development of the mobile version of the Silent Hill franchise created by Konami.
History
Digiment was founded in 1996 in Oslo, Norway, under the name Digital Entertainment AS by Eirik Moseng and a team of former Commodore 64 and Amiga demoscene pioneers. The company was later renamed Digiment, combining the words “Digital” and “Entertainment.” Its original vision was to create AAA-quality games for PC and video game consoles. In 2001, Digiment shifted its focus to mobile game development, creating innovative titles that utilized mobile features such as network connectivity, personalization, and positioning. Its early adoption of Java ME, BREW, and Symbian platforms positioned the company as a leader in the emerging mobile gaming industry.
Global Expansion
In 2002 Digiment opens its first office abroad in Barnaul, Russia. Later the company opens an office in Stockholm, Sweden.
In 2007, Digiment acquired the Swedish developer It's Alive Mobile Games AB, infamous for its BotFighters location based game for mobile devices. The acquisition also included a selection of intellectual property from the former Swedish game developer Daydream Software AB and Carbello AB (acquired by Daydream in 2003) such as Bouncy, Order of the Full Moon, Netbaby Grand Prix and Nuxelia.
The company is since 2007 headquartered in London, England with, at that time, development studios in Oslo(Norway), Barnaul (Russia), and Stockholm (Sweden).
Gamefederation Studio
In Sweden, the company held the legal name Gamefederation Studio AB but operated under the brand Gamefederation. Gamefederation Studio AB was a wholly owned subsidiary of Digiment Ltd. Gamefederation managed the work-for-hire business under Digiment, and developed critically acclaimed titles such as Silent Hill Mobile 1 and Silent Hill Mobile 2 for Konami. In addition, Digiment has created a number of titles for external publishers and mobile manufactures such as Sony Ericsson and Nokia.
In the period of 2009 to 2010, the company reorganises and the offices in Barnaul, Russia and Stockholm, Sweden are closed, while the company continued its expansion in Oslo and London. The company refocuses to develop games for a wider range of platforms, including PC, Mac, video game consoles and mobile devices.
Distribution
Digiment’s Java ME, BREW, Symbian and Windows Mobile titles were distributed through distribution deals with carriers, service providers and media houses worldwide, allowing subscribers to purchase and download Digiment games directly through their handsets.
Later titles are distributed through the traditional distribution platforms such as Play Store, Amazon Appstore, Apple App Store, Mac App Store, Steam, Windows Phone Store, and Windows Store.
Connected games
Digiment developed a groundbreaking mobile connected gaming platform, GServ (later rebranded to Gamearx). This platform allowed users to:
Submit scores and view leaderboards in real time.
Download new content, starting with Winter Sports (2003).
Engage in player-vs-player competitions through “ghosting” multiplayer technology in Racing Destruction (2004).
These innovations solidified Digiment’s legacy in mobile game development as an industry leader pushing technological boundaries.
Developed games
The company started up developing both proprietary game formats and games based on leading external IPs with leading brands, console manufactures, international publishers, and later phone manufacturers.
The first internal game the company developed was a point'n'click adventure game called Sloby & Hurgl: The Castle of Vaniya (1996). The game was highly inspired by the game Pilot Brothers: On the Track of Striped Elephant developed by the Russian developer Gamos. Digiment had previously licensed the game from Gamos for publishing and distribution in the Scandinavian and Western markets.
The company continued its development with The Days After..., a third-person strategy game with a massive outdoor landscape and smooth transitions between interior and exteriors environments, highly revolutionary at the time. The game was built using Digiment's proprietary 3D engine, but the title was later cancelled in 1999.
Silent Hill Mobile Games
Through Gamefederation Studio, Digiment developed Silent Hill: Orphan and Silent Hill Mobile 2, mobile adaptations of Konami’s iconic horror franchise. These titles received critical acclaim for their atmospheric design and gameplay innovation.
Global Reach and Technological Impact
Through its subsidiaries, Digiment expanded globally, leaving a profound impact on the legacy of mobile game development. Titles like Marv The Miner and Silent Hill Mobile cemented its position as a leader in the field. Its proprietary platform, GServ, exemplified how connected gaming could revolutionize the industry, further enhancing Digiment’s enduring legacy.
Conclusion
The Digiment legacy in mobile game development highlights the importance of innovation and adaptability. Its contributions continue to inspire new generations of developers, ensuring its impact remains significant in the evolution of gaming technology.
Portfolio
The company continued its development with 100+ games for the mobile platforms, both internal games and games for international publishers and device manufactures.
