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Big fish Games, an online portal for both online and downloadable computer games, have reportedly closed an $83.3 million funding round led by Balderton Capital, General Catalyst Partners, and the rather aptly named Salmon River Capital.

Founded in 2002 as a game development studio, BFG now distributes games created by other developers, with over 500 in its ‘partnership’ program.

The money will be used to promote worldwide expansion.

Balderton lists Bebo amongst its other investments.

Tags: Balderton Capital, Big Fish Games, General Catalyst Partners, Salmon River Capital

Reuters are reporting that Warner Music has signed a deal with digital media site 7digital.com to provide its catalogue in the MP3 format, which can be played on nearly all music devices.

Warner Music International, a division of Warner Music Group said its catalogue — with hits from James Blunt and the Red Hot Chili Peppers — would be available to 7digital.com customers in the UK, Ireland, Spain, France and Germany. The site is the first major European download store to offer Warner’s tracks in the DRM-free MP3 format — 7digital offers EMI’s catalogue in the MP3 format and aims to sign more labels soon.

Founded in 2003, 7 Digital’s singles service distributes singles to over 200 partner sites such as AOL, MSN, Yahoo, and NME. 7 Digital is established in the music industry by providing the download capability for all the major record labels and over 200 independents. In addition, 7 Digital helps artists such as Gorillaz and Coldplay make downloads available directly from their own websites.

Investors: Balderton Capital, Sutton Place Managers

Tags: 7Digital, AOL, Balderton Capital, MSN, NME, Sutton Place Managers, Warner Music International, Yahoo

Habbo, the largest virtual world for teens, has announced it has partnered with William Morris Agency, a talent and literary agency. Habbo is the first online virtual world the agency will represent in the rapidly growing digital entertainment industry.

So far, so good but at this point a crap of marketeers appear to have stepped in and written a few words …. [Read more]

Tags: 3i Group, Balderton Capital, Elisa Group, Group Partners, Habbo, Movida Group, Sulake Corporation, Taivas Group, William Morris Agency

Spark Ventures PLC said music publisher, Kobalt Music Group Ltd has signed a deal with Balderton Capital under which Balderton will invest equity in Kobalt.

The company said the deal will increase Spark’s investment in Kobalt to £7.0million from £4.4 million.

Spark originally provided significant seed investment to Kobalt in 2001.

Kobalt Music Group is an independent music publisher that offers global administrative and creative services to writers, publishers and other publishing rights holders. It has developed a centralised royalty collection infrastructure and its own administration technology that enable the delivery of revenues and information more quickly and efficiently than previous technologies allowed.

The Group comprises of two business areas, Kobalt Music Services and Kojam Music. Kobalt Music Services has developed technology which provides rights owners with effective and cost efficient collections and administration of royalty revenues.

The company claims that collection of royalties can be time-consuming and costly. Writers typically receive royalties nine to twenty-four months after they are earned and pay up to 50 per cent of gross royalties [Read more]

Tags: Balderton Capital, Kobalt Music Group, Kojam Music, Spark Ventures Plc

I read a story recently where a guy recalls walking down a London street and passing a casino. This was not a casino ‘US Style’ with entertainment, tuxedos, packed with high-rollers and pazzazz. Oh no, this was a typical London casino with scraggy carpets, a few games machines and a £1 max table. In the window was a cardboard sign saying ‘Free Soup and Bread Roll’ - a soup kitchen and casino all in one! Was this a generous offer or a synical ploy to keep their punters alive just long enough to fleece them of their last coin?

Anyway, if we combine the thrill of a casino with a broadband connection and a billion delusional people carrying a high density of greed genes and a dangerous level of financial market knowledge (i.e. none) what do we get? Opportunity that’s what we get.

Betfair (The Sporting Exchange Limited), has created Tradefair, a new home for the financial bettor and trader. The portal is a binaries trading exchange and traditional spread betting site.

Betfair revenues have seen exceptional growth: 2004:£60m, 2005:£107m, 2006:£144m, 2007:£181m

Investors include Balderton Capital (Benchmark Capital), Softbank and Index Ventures

www.tradefair.com

Story here.

Tags: Balderton Capital, Benchmark Capital, Betfair, Index Ventures, Softbank, The Sporting Exchange Limited, Tradefair