eGames
Corporate brand
UnclaimedeGames was an American publisher and developer of casual, traditional, educational, and downloadable computer games.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
eGames was an American video-game publisher and developer based in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. The company focused primarily on casual and traditional computer games, while also publishing selected educational, arcade, simulation, puzzle, hidden-object, time-management, and licensed titles. Its catalog was aimed largely at the mass-market PC audience and later expanded to downloadable distribution and selected console and mobile platforms. The business originated as Rom-Tech, which became a public company in 1996 through the merger of Romtech, a software sales business, and Applied Optical Media, an early educational multimedia CD-ROM developer based in West Chester, Pennsylvania. After the merger, the company acquired a San Luis Obispo, California software developer associated with SOHO software and discontinued Applied Optical Media's operations. The company subsequently adopted the eGames identity as it concentrated on consumer software publishing and development. During the 2000s, eGames combined licensed publishing with internally coordinated development. Its releases included casual games such as Burger Island, Purrfect Pet Shop, Puzzle City, Satisfashion, and The Dracula Files, as well as traditional or action-oriented products including Xtreme Air Racing, Defender of the Crown: Heroes Live Forever, and Boss Hunter: Revenge is Sweet!. Development work was conducted in part with Brazil-based TechFront Studios and other external partners. Burger Island became one of the company's most visible commercial successes: its initial digital distribution through Yahoo! Games reportedly made it the service's leading downloadable game by sales and downloads during its debut week. The title was later adapted for Nintendo DS, Wii, and iOS, illustrating eGames' movement beyond its original PC retail base. In late 2005, eGames acquired Cinemaware, a company known for 1980s and 1990s games described as interactive movies, including Defender of the Crown. The acquisition gave eGames access to a recognizable back catalog and led to the Cinemaware Marquee label, launched in 2006 to bring independently developed traditional games to retail. The label's releases included Darwinia, Space Rangers 2: Rise of the Dominators, Moscow to Berlin: Red Siege, and other titles. eGames also announced plans to revive classic Cinemaware properties. The company later expanded through the June 2011 acquisition of Heyday Games and adopted the name Entertainment Games. Its subsequent activities included work on the Facebook game Retro World and the unsuccessful Kickstarter project Global Race Club. These initiatives did not reverse the company's deteriorating financial position. Entertainment Games ceased operating as an entertainment company in April 2012. Its name, EGAM ticker, and public-company structure were then acquired by Tamino Minerals through a reverse merger, marking the end of eGames as a game publisher and developer. The company also attracted criticism and attention for bundling advertising software known as TSAdBot, associated with the Conducent Affiliate Network, with some commercially distributed titles.
History
eGames began as Rom-Tech, a public software company formed in 1996 through the combination of Romtech and Applied Optical Media. Romtech supplied software, while Applied Optical Media had developed educational multimedia products on CD-ROM. After the public transaction, the company acquired a San Luis Obispo software developer connected with SOHO software and closed Applied Optical Media's operations. The business later operated under the eGames name and built a catalog centered on consumer computer entertainment. Its publishing strategy covered both casual and traditional games. The company released arcade, simulation, puzzle, hidden-object, time-management, and licensed products, often working with outside studios. Xtreme Air Racing received recognition as a runner-up in GameSpot's annual PC simulation awards. In 2005, eGames released Boss Hunter: Revenge is Sweet!, an office-themed arcade title, and soon afterward began more substantial internal development with Brazil-based TechFront Studios. Defender of the Crown: Heroes Live Forever and Burger Island were among the resulting projects. Burger Island, launched in 2007 with Sandlot Games, became a notable success. Yahoo! Games distributed it for an initial two-week window, during which it reportedly ranked first on the service by both sales and downloads. The game was subsequently adapted for Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, and iOS. Other internally coordinated or partner-developed releases included Puzzle City, Purrfect Pet Shop, Satisfashion, Rubik's Cube Challenge, The Three Stooges: Treasure Hunt Hijinx, The Dracula Files, and Burger Island 2: The Missing Ingredient. This body of work shows the company's emphasis on accessible gameplay and retail or digital products designed for broad audiences. A major strategic development was eGames' acquisition of Cinemaware in late 2005. Cinemaware had been associated with influential interactive-movie-style games, including Defender of the Crown. In 2006, eGames introduced the Cinemaware Marquee imprint to publish traditional games created by developers in different countries. Releases associated with the label included Darwinia, Space Rangers 2: Rise of the Dominators, Moscow to Berlin: Red Siege, and other titles. eGames also publicized plans to revive classic Cinemaware properties. In June 2011, eGames acquired Heyday Games and became known as Entertainment Games. The renamed company shifted attention toward social and online initiatives, including the Facebook game Retro World. It also attempted to fund Global Race Club through Kickstarter, but the campaign was unsuccessful. Financial problems eventually ended the company's entertainment operations in April 2012. Tamino Minerals then acquired the eGames-related corporate name, ticker symbol, and public-company structure through a reverse merger, ending the original company's life as a game publisher and developer. The company is also associated with the early use of bundled advertising software in commercial game distribution. Several titles reportedly contained TSAdBot, linked to the Conducent Affiliate Network. This practice forms part of the brand's software-distribution history but is separate from its game-development catalog.
- 2012
Entertainment Games exits the entertainment business
[1]Financial difficulties lead the company to cease trading as an entertainment company; its corporate structure is later acquired by Tamino Minerals.
- 2011
Heyday Games acquisition and rebranding
[1]After acquiring Heyday Games, the company becomes known as Entertainment Games.
- 2007
Burger Island expands eGames' digital and platform reach
[1]Burger Island launches with Sandlot Games and later appears on PC, Nintendo DS, Wii, and iOS.
- 2006
Cinemaware Marquee launches
[1]The affiliated label begins publishing traditional games from developers around the world.
- 2005
Cinemaware acquisition
[1]eGames acquires Cinemaware and gains access to its classic interactive-movie game catalog.
- 1996
Rom-Tech becomes a public company
[1]Romtech and Applied Optical Media merge to form the public company that later develops the eGames identity.
Products and positioning
A mass-market publisher and developer focused on accessible PC and downloadable games, supplemented by licensed properties, casual-game franchises, and revived classic titles.
Casual time-management game · 2007
Burger Island
A casual restaurant-management game developed with Sandlot Games. It became one of eGames' strongest commercial releases after its Yahoo! Games debut and was later distributed across PC, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, and iOS. The game exemplified the company's effort to combine accessible mass-market design with digital distribution and cross-platform publishing.
Casual time-management game · 2009
Burger Island 2: The Missing Ingredient
A follow-up to Burger Island that continued eGames' focus on accessible restaurant and time-management gameplay. It was part of the company's later development program with partner studios and extended one of its best-known casual properties.
Publishing label · 2006
Cinemaware Marquee
An affiliated publishing imprint established after eGames acquired Cinemaware. It was used to bring traditional computer games from international and independent developers to retail markets. Associated releases included Darwinia, Space Rangers 2: Dominators, Moscow to Berlin: Red Siege, and other strategy, action, and simulation-oriented titles.
Strategy and adventure game · 2007
Defender of the Crown: Heroes Live Forever
A later title connected with Cinemaware's classic Defender of the Crown property. Its release reflected eGames' dual strategy of reviving recognizable legacy brands while developing new products with external teams, including work involving Brazil-based TechFront Studios.
Hidden-object adventure game · 2009
The Dracula Files
A hidden-object adventure centered on vampire fiction. It belonged to eGames' late-2000s casual catalog, which emphasized short-session play, accessible mechanics, and retail or downloadable distribution for a broad PC audience.
Time-management game · 2008
Purrfect Pet Shop
A pet-adoption-themed time-management game developed during eGames' period of collaboration with external studios. It represents the company's use of familiar lifestyle and simulation themes to target the casual-game market.
City-building puzzle game · 2007
Puzzle City
A puzzle and city-building title that combined construction-oriented progression with casual puzzle mechanics. In addition to PC distribution, it was adapted for Nintendo DS, demonstrating eGames' attempt to extend selected products to handheld platforms.
Fashion-design time-management game · 2008
Satisfashion
A fashion-design game built around time-management mechanics. The title was released for PC and adapted for Nintendo DS and Wii, fitting eGames' strategy of developing approachable lifestyle games for both computer and console audiences.
Flight simulation game
Xtreme Air Racing
A PC flight-racing simulator that received recognition as a runner-up for a GameSpot annual award in the PC simulation category. It represented the company's traditional-game publishing activities alongside its more casual releases.
Controversies
Bundling of TSAdBot advertising software
Several eGames products reportedly included TSAdBot, advertising software associated with the Conducent Affiliate Network. The practice made eGames an early example of a commercial game publisher distributing software with bundled advertising functionality.
Marketing campaigns
- Global Race Club Kickstarter
Online
After moving toward social and online games, Entertainment Games sought crowdfunding for Global Race Club through Kickstarter.
Outcome. The campaign was unsuccessful.
Brand decisions
2012
Exit the entertainment businessStrategyBackground
Entertainment Games faced financial difficulties after its attempts to expand into social games and crowdfunding.
Action taken
The company ceased trading as an entertainment company in April 2012.
Aftermath
Tamino Minerals acquired the company name, EGAM ticker, and public-company structure through a reverse merger.
2011
Acquire Heyday Games and rebrandM&ABackground
eGames pursued expansion beyond its established PC publishing identity.
Action taken
The company acquired Heyday Games and became known as Entertainment Games.
Aftermath
The renamed business focused on projects such as the Facebook game Retro World before later ceasing entertainment operations.
2006
Launch Cinemaware MarqueeStrategyBackground
Following the Cinemaware acquisition, eGames wanted to publish traditional games from developers outside its core internal operations.
Action taken
It introduced Cinemaware Marquee as an affiliated retail publishing label.
Aftermath
The label released titles including Darwinia, Space Rangers 2: Dominators, and Moscow to Berlin: Red Siege.
2005
Acquire CinemawareM&ABackground
eGames sought to broaden its publishing portfolio and obtain a recognizable catalog of classic computer games.
Action taken
The company acquired Cinemaware in late 2005.
Aftermath
The transaction led to the Cinemaware Marquee label and plans to revive classic Cinemaware properties.
Sources1 sources
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