Zeebo Inc was a Brazilian video game developer and manufacturer that was founded in 2008 by Eduardo J. Barbosa.
The company's headquarters were located in São Paulo, Brazil.
Zeebo Inc was known for developing games for the Zeebo console, a low-cost, handheld gaming device.
The Zeebo console was launched in 2010 and was designed to be affordable and accessible to gamers in emerging markets.
Zeebo Inc was a pioneer in the mobile gaming industry, and its focus on emerging markets helped to bring gaming to a wider audience.
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Founding
The founding of Zeebo Inc. is a fascinating story that begins with Reinaldo Normand, who had an initial idea for the Zeebo system while working at Tectoy Mobile.
Reinaldo Normand sought backers for the project in the United States and formed a small U.S.-based division of Tectoy, called Tectoy of America, in 2007.
In 2007, Mike Yuen, senior director of games and services at Qualcomm, was also working on a similar concept, and he met Reinaldo Normand, leading to a collaboration between the two.
Qualcomm decided to fund the project, and Tectoy of America became Zeebo Inc. in March, 2008, with Reinaldo Normand joining the executive staff and being given responsibility for worldwide special projects.
Dave Durnil, Director of Engineering at Qualcomm, designed and built the first working prototype of a 3G wireless gaming and entertainment console, a crucial milestone in the development of Zeebo.
In August, 2009, Mike Yuen left Qualcomm and was named Zeebo's senior vice president of content and services, taking on a key role in shaping the company's direction.
Company Overview
Zeebo Inc. had its headquarters in San Diego, California.
The company had offices in São Paulo, Brazil, Mexico City, Mexico, and Shanghai, China.
Zeebo Brasil, the Brazilian subsidiary of Zeebo Inc., was responsible for marketing and development in Brazil.
In Mexico, marketing and development were carried out by Zeebo Mexico, the Mexican subsidiary.
Tectoy provided manufacturing and distribution for Zeebo in Brazil.
Zeebo partnered with Claro in Brazil and Telcel in Mexico to provide wireless bandwidth.
The company also announced an agreement with AT&T in March, 2010, giving them access to AT&T's international roaming network.
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Technology and Features
The Zeebo system was developed by Zeebo Inc. with the participation of 12 companies, mainly Qualcomm and Tectoy. It was manufactured and distributed by local partners in target countries, such as Tectoy in Brazil.
The console uses a QualcommBREW mobile gaming chipset similar to that in mobile phones. This allows for wireless connectivity without any subscription fee. Players are always connected to the wireless network.
Players can purchase and download games and other content wirelessly via 3G or EDGE. Games cost from about 500 to 2500 credits. Z-Credits are purchased by bank transfer, credit card, bank debit, or prepaid cards.
The user can browse web sites, send and receive e-mail, and take part in social networking activities via the wireless network. This is all done without any additional subscription fees.
The Zeebo can also perform "over-the-air" (OTA) updates to the console's firmware. This delivers new content, features, and bug fixes.
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Games
The Zeebo console features a wide range of games, including remastered versions of popular titles like FIFA 09, Resident Evil 4, and Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D.
Some games are developed specifically for the Zeebo, such as Zeebo Extreme racing games, Boomerang Sports games, and Zeebo Football Club games.
In addition to original games, the Zeebo also offers classic arcade games, like Caveman Ninja and Spinmaster, which were originally created in the 1980s and 1990s by Data East Corp. in Japan.
These classic games have been modified to run on the Zeebo system, making them accessible to a new generation of gamers.
The Zeebo also launched a series of Football Club ("FC") games, starting with Zeebo FC Foot Camp, which includes four mini-games highlighting specific football skills.
Users can create personal characters ("avatars") for use in Football Club games with the Zeeboids application, which was released along with Zeebo FC Foot Camp.
In Brazil, the Zeebo was sold with three free games built-in: FIFA 09, Need for Speed Carbon: Own the City, and Brain Challenge.
Over 30 other titles are available for purchase and download, including Prey Evil, Zeebo Extreme Rolimã, and Zeebo Extreme Jetboard, which are available for free download with new systems.
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In Mexico, the console includes five free built-in games: Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D, Pac Mania, Tekken 2, Zenonia, and Zeebo Family Pack.
At its launch in Mexico, over a dozen games were available for wireless purchase, and since then, over a dozen more games have been introduced, all in Spanish.
The Zeebo also offers access to over 50 websites grouped into thematic categories called "Z-Channels", providing a wide range of entertainment and educational content.
Development
The Zeebo's development process is based on the BREW platform, which allows for the creation of content using the Zeebo SDK.
This SDK is downloadable from the Zeebo Inc. website, making it easy for developers to get started.
Gamepad peripherals are made possible by a BREW extension, giving developers more options for creating engaging games.
The Zeebo system supports OpenGL ES 1.0/1.1, which is a widely used graphics standard.
Applications can be downloaded wirelessly over-the-air, making it easy for users to access new content.
These downloads can range in size from 5-25MB, although some games can be as large as 50MB.
Games like Need for Speed Carbon: Own the City can consume over 100 MB of storage, but most of the assets are preloaded from the factory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Zeebo do?
Zeebo is a 3G-enabled system that allows users to play games, access the internet, and run educational apps. It's designed for developing markets, offering a fun and educational experience.
Where is Zeebo from?
The Zeebo console originated in Brazil and Mexico, where it was first released in 2009. Its creators, Zeebo Inc, are based in these countries.
Who made the Zeebo?
The Zeebo was developed by Zeebo Inc. in collaboration with 12 companies, including Qualcomm and Tectoy, who also manufactured and distributed the console in target countries.
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