PlayJam unveils social network for casual gamers

The new site offers social networking functions alongside network accesibility and new video functions that let players upload videos viewable online and via PlayJam's iTV services, such as those available via Sky TV in the UK and Dish TV in the USA.

The new PlayJam website will be promoted directly via each broadcaster to encourage the growth of a worldwide PlayJam community. Users can play games, host blogs, and accrue games specific points from both TV and web games via an integrated points system - points which can then be spent on prizes.

PlayJam was founded five years ago and has become a big force in iTV, gaining over 8 billion plays from a potential audience of 55 million homes globally.

Founder Jasper Smith recently re-acquired the firm to revamp it for the online age, and is joined by former channel head Jeff Zie, who takes the role of head of online.

Zie helped launch a number of web and TV-based interactive offers for Microsoft, BSkyB, Emap and Liberty Media, and also oversaw the introduction of Electronic Arts’ online casual games business Pogo across Europe.

Zie commented: “Adding social networking and user generated content to a widely established and successful games network alongside a cross-platform reward scheme will significantly fuel further PlayJamming. With a mobile launch also imminent, it’s a really exciting time to return to PlayJam and enhance its offering utilising the best of today’s media technologies.”