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Hitcents

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Website
  
hitcents.com

Founded
  
1999

Hitcents httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenee8Hit

Created by
  
Chris MillsClinton Mills

Launched
  
January 3, 2000; 17 years ago (2000-01-03)Bowling Green, Kentucky, U.S.

CEO
  
Clinton Mills (1999–), Chris Mills (1999–)

Founders
  
Chris Mills, Clinton Mills

Hitcents strong workforce


Hitcents is a mobile app and games studio, headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky. They are the creators of the cross-platform gaming series, Draw A Stickman. In 2014, Hitcents partnered with Hollywood icon Tom Hanks to develop the Hanx Writer. Founded in 1999 as a software company by twin brothers, Chris and Clinton Mills, the company has grown from a small home office into a globally successful enterprise. Hitcents also has offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Contents

Hitcents com innovation


History

As high school sophomores, Chris and Clinton started Hitcents, as an internet advertising company. When the company first began, Hitcents paid clients on a cents-per-hit basis, hence the company name. Hitcents was acquired by Houchens Industries in 2003. Since 2004, Hitcents has grown from three employees to over 50. The company has expanded from its headquarters in Bowling Green, Kentucky to San Francisco in April, 2014 and Los Angeles in 2015.

The scope of the business includes mobile game and application development, solutions for ecommerce, technology, marketing, creative design, software development, production, automation, self-service checkout, and enterprise resource planning.

In 2007, Hitcents was ranked #191 on Inc. Magazine's list of the top 500 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S, after growing 1,099.8% over 3 years. Clinton and Chris Mills were also ranked in the top 5 CEOs under 30.

Hitcents was named one of the best places to work in Kentucky for 2014

Mobile Application Development

Hitcents develops mobile applications for both in-house and client projects. These applications vary in genre: from mobile games to enterprise level business applications.

Draw a Stickman Series

Hitcents created the internationally recognized and award-winning series, Draw a Stickman. The idea started as a simple website, DrawAStickman.com. After it was a critical and commercial success, the game was later developed into a full series of mobile and PC games. Draw a Stickman: Epic was released in October 2012, a mobile application for iOS, Android, Kindle, Windows 7 and 8 phones, and later into full desktop versions for Windows 8, Linux, Mac OS X and Steam.

A key feature of the game is the ability of the player to create a stickman, which becomes the main character of the game. Throughout the game, the player guides this stickman through multiple levels, utilizing various pencils to draw elements, tools, and weapons to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles.

In July 2015, Hitcents launched the sequel to Draw A Stickman: Epic, Draw A Stickman: Epic 2.

Battlepillars

Hitcents created Battlepillars, a tug-of-war real-time strategy game for iOS, Android, and Steam. The game was launched on October 2, 2013. Battlepillars allows users to strategically build and command caterpillars, which are then sent to battle an enemy caterpillar army and various bosses. The game allows users to build each caterpillar in their army using specialized segments that offer various powers and abilities.

Battlepillars was one of the first mobile cross-platform multiplayer games, allowing Android user to play against iOS users through Google Play. Battlepillars was Hitcents' first free-to-play mobile game.

Hanx Writer

Hitcents created Hanx Writer, a mobile app in collaboration with Tom Hanks. Inspired by Tom Hanks' appreciation for classic typewriters, the Hanx Writer App reflects the look, feel, and sound of old-fashioned word-processing.

Hanx Writer was released on August 14, 2014. Hanx Writer reached the No. 1 ranking on the iTunes App Store during its launch week, where it held the top spot in both the Productivity section and the Overall section.

Rigged

On September 16, 2016 Hitcents launched Rigged, a mobile game about gerrymandering in partnership with Fusion. The game play was centered around educating players about the practice of gerrymandering in the United States.

The Godfather: Family Dynasty

Hitcents announced on August 18. 2016 that they will be launching an officially licensed, free to play, mobile strategy game based on The Godfather. The game is stated to be a free to play mobile strategy game and is coming soon.

The game received mostly positive reception. In general, the pros were the game's art style, addictive gameplay, and multiplayer functionality. The most common cons were that the game was unoriginal and its repetitive gameplay.

Website development

Hitcents web development solutions include graphic design, programming and maintenance, administrative access, eCommerce, data transfer and website hosting. Hitcents web department has been recognized over the years with numerous awards for their website work including Marcom Awards, Davey Awards and Communicator Awards. Hitcents designs websites for local businesses, celebrities, and international brands such as Tampico.

Technology and Software Development

Hitcents technology solutions includes consulting, data backup, hardware purchasing, Virtual Private Network setup, secure DSL, kiosk development, networking and high-speed internet access.

Hitcents develops software for businesses, including a company intranet/extranet, inventory system, employee management program.

Timeline

  • 1999: Hitcents is founded.
  • 2001: In response to the dot-com crash, Hitcents develops a proprietary line of products to run ads on their existing member websites.
  • 2001: Develops an online web marketing tracking system that would monitor clients' ROI in real-time.
  • 2002: Introduces web department services.
  • 2002: Begins developing technical infrastructures and software development initiatives for many local and national corporations.
  • 2002: In December, Hitcents has its ribbon cutting as the first company to renovate space in Western Kentucky University's Center for Research and Development.
  • 2003: Houchens Industries acquires Hitcents, bringing a technology firm into their family of companies.
  • 2004: March: Hitcents hires its first employee.
  • 2005 August: Hitcents presents EyeOn Automation, an intelligence system for homes and businesses.
  • 2006 July: Hitcents launches Utopia product with Pan-Oston, a self-scanning checkout machine for grocery stores.
  • 2006 August: Hitcents reaches 50 employees and expands to 10,000 square feet (1,000 m2) of space.
  • 2006 September: Hitcents launches Ticket Kiosk program with Western Kentucky University.
  • 2007 June: Hitcents launches BlueCotton.com, a Flash website for designing and ordering T-shirts on the web.
  • 2007 August: Hitcents is listed 191 of the 500 fastest growing companies by Inc. magazine. Chris and Clinton Mills are also named fifth in the top CEO's under 30 years old by Inc.
  • 2007 November: Hitcents' EyeOn Automation division was called upon by ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to assist with installing special voice activated electronic features for the Hughes Family of Louisville, Kentucky.
  • 2007 November: The first Utopia self-checkout convenience store unit was installed in a Jr. Food store in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
  • 2008 May: Utopia self-checkout units were installed at Strack & Van Til supermarkets in the Chicago area.
  • 2011: Hitcents develops www.drawastickman.com.
  • 2012: Draw A Stickman is named one of the best websites of 2011.
  • 2012 October: Draw A Stickman: Epic is released.
  • 2013 February: Harlem Shake app is released.
  • 2013 July: Draw A Stickman: Epic is selected as one of the top 100 Android applications.
  • 2014 August: Hitcents releases the Hanx Writer app in collaboration with Tom Hanks.
  • 2015 July: Hitcents releases Draw A Stickman: Epic 2.
  • 2016 September: Hitcents releases the Rigged game, in collaboration with Fusion.
  • Awards

    2011

  • Davey Award- Draw A Stickman- GOLD
  • Dope Award- Draw A Stickman- SITE OF THE MONTH
  • Design Licks- Draw A Stickman- SITE OF THE DAY
  • FWA Award- Draw A Stickman- SITE OF THE DAY
  • AWWWARD's- Draw A Stickman- SITE OF THE DAY
  • Design Taxi- Draw A Stickman- SITE OF THE DAY
  • 2012

  • Interactive Media Award (IMA)- Draw A Stickman- BEST IN CLASS
  • Hermes Creative Award- Connected Nation Corporate- GOLD
  • Hermes Creative Award- Draw A Stickman- PLATINUM
  • Horizon Interactive Award- Draw A Stickman- BEST IN CATEGORY
  • Webby Award- Draw A Stickman- Viral Marketing- PEOPLE'S VOICE
  • Webby Award- Draw A Stickman- Best Use of Motion Graphics- PEOPLE'S VOICE
  • Webby Award- Draw A Stickman- Best Use of Motion Graphics- WEBBY
  • The Web Award- Draw A Stickman- GAME SITE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE
  • W3 Award- Draw A Stickman- Animation- GOLD
  • W3 Award- Draw A Stickman- Self Promotion- GOLD
  • Innovation Award- BG Chamber of Commerce- Hitcents- AWARD
  • Davey Award- BART- Animation- SILVER
  • 2013

  • Webby Award- Draw A Stickman: Epic- Mobile Sites & Apps/Games- WEBBY WINNER
  • Webby Award- Draw A Stickman: Epic- PEOPLE'S VOICE
  • Webby Award- One Direction Scrapbook App- HONORABLE MENTION
  • W3 Award- Tampico Website- AWARD
  • Manny Award- Draw A Stickman- AWARD
  • Lovie Award- Draw A Stickman: EPIC- Games- GOLD
  • Lovie Award- Draw A Stickman: EPIC- Tablet Games- SILVER
  • Lovie Award- Draw A Stickman: EPIC- Tablet Games- PEOPLE'S LOVIE
  • 2014

  • Webby Award- Hanx Writer- HONORABLE MENTION
  • 2015

  • W3 Award- Hanx Writer- Mobile App: Entertainment- GOLD
  • W3 Award- Hanx Writer- Best Visual Design: Aesthetic- SILVER
  • W3 Award- Draw A Stickman: EPIC 2- Mobile App: Innovative & Experimental- SILVER
  • 2016

  • Webby Award- Draw a Stickman: Epic 2- Mobile Games- HONOREE
  • References

    Hitcents Wikipedia


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