MumboJumbo
Independent developer and publisher of casual games.
MumboJumbo, LLC was an independent game developer and publisher that made titles for PCs, consoles, and mobile devices. Its mobile arm, MumboJumbo Mobile, LLC, put out entertainment software for Android and iOS.
The company got its start in January 2001 when Mark Dochtermann and Ron Dimant left Ritual Entertainment to found it. By 2003, it had become one of the first independent developers to push casual games into the mainstream, teaming up with portal sites to let people download games directly to Windows and Mac machines. MumboJumbo was part of a larger group called United Developers, LLC and bought up other studios like Zono and Ritual Entertainment. On January 24, 2007, MumboJumbo announced it had acquired Ritual Entertainment, the studio behind first-person shooters such as *SiN* and *Star Trek: Elite Force II*.
On January 25, 2010, a jury in Dallas County, Texas, awarded MumboJumbo $4.6 million in damages after a breach-of-contract case against its former business partner PopCap Games. MumboJumbo had held a North American retail distribution deal with PopCap, but claimed PopCap violated it by developing its own retail sales strategies. During the 12-day trial, MumboJumbo’s law firm, Rose-Walker, argued that PopCap’s actions “severely damaged” MumboJumbo’s relationship with Walmart.
As of January 2022, the MumboJumbo website is owned and hosted by a cybersquatting firm. Some of its games stopped working after changes in macOS Monterey, but they remain available for purchase on the Apple App Store.
Quick Facts
- Industry
- Video games
- Defunct
- 2018
- Fate
- Defunct
- Founders
- Mark Dochtermann, Ron Dimant
- Hq Location
- Dallas, Texas, U.S.
- Products
- Myth III: The Wolf Age / Luxor series
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
MumboJumbo was founded in January 2001 by Mark Dochtermann and Ron Dimant after leaving Ritual Entertainment. In 2003, it became one of the first independent developers to popularize casual games by partnering with portal sites to make games available for download directly to Windows and Mac computers. The company previously operated as part of United Developers, LLC and acquired other development companies including Zono and Ritual Entertainment.
On January 24, 2007, MumboJumbo announced their acquisition of Ritual Entertainment, a developer of first-person shooter titles such as SiN and Star Trek: Elite Force II. On January 25, 2010, a jury in the 193rd Civil District Court in Dallas County, Texas awarded MumboJumbo $4,600,000 in damages from a breach of contract by former business partner PopCap Games. MumboJumbo had held a North American retail distribution agreement with PopCap, which was violated when PopCap began developing its own retail strategies, damaging MumboJumbo's relationship with Walmart.
As of January 2022, MumboJumbo's website is owned and hosted by a cybersquatting firm. Some of their games have stopped working due to changes in macOS Monterey, but they remain available for purchase from the Apple App Store.
Reader's Guide
MumboJumbo played a notable role in the early casual game market by pioneering direct-to-consumer downloads through portal sites, a model that helped broaden the audience for PC gaming beyond traditional retail. Their Luxor series became a flagship franchise, spanning numerous titles from 2005 to 2013. The company's acquisition of Ritual Entertainment in 2007 brought established first-person shooter properties under its umbrella. The 2010 legal victory against PopCap Games highlighted the competitive tensions in the casual games industry, as distribution partnerships gave way to in-house retail strategies. Although the company's website later fell to cybersquatting and some games became incompatible with newer operating systems, MumboJumbo's catalog remains accessible on mobile platforms. Their legacy includes both a substantial library of casual and puzzle games and a cautionary tale about the fragility of digital distribution rights.
More in Casual game companies 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced