Virtual Fairground

{{short description|Dutch video game developer (2008–2011)}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Virtual Fairground

| logo = Virtual Fairground logo.jpg

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| traded_as =

| fate = Bankruptcy

| foundation = 2008

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| defunct = 2011

| location_city =

| location_country = Amsterdam, Netherlands

| location =

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| key_people =

| industry = Retail

| products = Video game industry
Interactive entertainment

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Virtual Fairground (2008–2011) was a Dutch video game developer from Amsterdam. In 2008 it acquired the Dutch Flash development studio Flashclub (and renamed it BigWheel Studio) to serve as main development outfit.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/flashclub-acquisition-flash-development-studio-bagged-by-dutch-mmo-outfit-virtual-fairground|title=Flashclub acquisition|work=GamesIndustry.biz|access-date=25 May 2016}} Virtual Fairground created Club Galactik (2010), a Flash based virtual world and MMO based on an international animated television series called Galactik Football.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/club-galactik-avatar-creator-rolled-out|title=Club Galactik|work=GamesIndustry.biz|access-date=25 May 2016}} With the game Virtual Fairground targeted a younger audience.{{cite web|url=http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/gdc10-massivelys-interview-with-virtual-fairground/|title=GDC10: Massively's interview with Virtual Fairground|work=Engadget|access-date=25 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129022714/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/gdc10-massivelys-interview-with-virtual-fairground/|archive-date=29 January 2015|url-status=dead}}

In 2010 the company collaborated with Dutch DJ Ferry Corsten and announced Pulse, a dance themed rhythm game for iPhone and Steam. It was promised Ferry Corsten would produce 7 new music tracks exclusively for Pulse.{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/02/25/world-famous-dj-ferry-corsten-and-virtual-fairground-create-music-game-pulse|title=World Famous DJ Ferry Corsten and Virtual Fairground Create Music Game Pulse|date=25 February 2010|work=IGN|access-date=25 May 2016}} The final iOS version of Pulse: The Game was released in March 2010 after being completed by Dutch game developer Rough Cookie.{{cite web|url=http://gamesauce.org/news/2012/12/13/the-global-game-jam-and-beyond-pulse-2009/|title=Gamesauce: Global Inspiration for Game Developers - The Global Game Jam and beyond: Pulse (2009)|work=Gamesauce: Global Inspiration for Game Developers|access-date=25 May 2016}} In the same year Virtual Fairground also developed a development platform for Flash-based 3D MMO's; this engine was called The Ride.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.develop-online.net/news/35399/Virtual-Fairground-moves-into-engine-market|title=Virtual Fairground moves into engine market|website=Develop-online.net|date=16 July 2010|access-date=25 May 2016}}

In 2011 Virtual Fairground went bankrupt. The company had financial problems due to some cancelled projects and to a disappointing number of visitors of Club Galactik, the game version of Galactik Football.{{Cite web |url=http://www.control-online.nl/gamesindustrie/tag/virtual-fairground/ |title = Virtual Fairground• Control Magazine • |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222151955/http://www.control-online.nl/gamesindustrie/tag/virtual-fairground/ |archive-date=22 February 2013 |url-status=dead}}