Six Degrees Games

About Six Degrees Games

Six Degrees Games, Inc. operated as a video game and virtual world publisher for major gaming systems and personal computers. The company was founded in 2006 by Minard Hamilton and Ben Jones and was based in Marina del Rey, California. Hamilton, who served as CEO, and Jones, who served as President, had previously worked together at Jamdat Mobile, a company acquired by Electronic Arts in 2006. Their prior experience included securing deals with sports entities like ESPN for mobile games, and Hamilton also served as a general manager at ESPN.com.

The company's flagship product was ActionAllStars.com, an online sports game website and virtual world primarily targeting older kids and teens. The platform allowed players to create and customize their own athletes, compete in various games, and progress through levels from amateur to All-Star. By November 2009, the site featured 14 games and had attracted over a million unique users per month. A key part of the business strategy involved securing official licenses from major sports leagues, including the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Baseball (MLB), to use their brands within the games. The business model was set to incorporate micro-transactions, allowing players to purchase items to customize their characters and challenge other players.

Six Degrees Games successfully raised a total of $18 million over three funding rounds. The initial Series A round in August 2008 raised $7 million, led by Clearstone Venture Partners and Prism VentureWorks. This was followed by a $7 million Series B round in November 2009, led by Time Warner Investments, with participation from the original investors. A final round of approximately $4 million occurred in May 2011. Despite its initial growth and significant financial backing, the company is now listed as out of business.