Figure Eight Technologies, Inc. Expands in Greenville
Greenville, NC (February 13, 2012) - Figure Eight Technologies, Inc. may not be a familiar Pitt County business name, but the games they develop may ring a bell. Lucky’s Loot, Wheel Deal, Lucky 7 and Deuces Wild are just a few of the titles they have created for the ever-growing gaming industry.
Figure Eight Technologies is pleased to announce that they have relocated to the former Gun Rack building at 3506 NE Greenville Boulevard to accommodate their expanding business. Formed in 2003 by East Carolina University graduate Garrett Blackwelder, Figure Eight Technologies specializes in casino-style game design and software development. The company currently licenses promotional game software in over 2000 locations in more than 16 states.
With assistance from the Pitt County Development Commission, Figure Eight secured a North Carolina Rural Center Building Reuse grant that helped with upfit costs. The 12,000 square foot facility is now the corporate headquarters for Figure Eight and is comprised of over 25 offices, warehouse space, conference rooms and showrooms. Employees moved from the original office in Simpson to the new location in December. The design team was also moved from Raleigh to Greenville. Employee numbers have almost doubled, from 15 to 27, in the last 12 months.
Finding talented employees has been easy for the growing company. Several designers, programmers and interns have recently been hired from Pitt Community College, which offers a simulation and game development degree, and East Carolina University’s College of Technology and Computer Science. "Seeing a home grown game design company thrive like this in the East is a true testament to the talented workforce and resources that are available to companies in Pitt County,” says Scott Poag, existing industries coordinator for the Pitt County Development Commission.
With tremendous brand recognition throughout the state, all of Figure Eight's software and graphic design is created in-house. Owner and president Garrett Blackwelder explains, “We specialize in sweepstakes software for internet cafés and business centers across the globe. By developing and designing all sweepstakes software in-house, we can quickly adapt to the ever-changing technology in today’s world.”
While continuous development of new games is their primary business, Figure Eight also prides itself on dedication to customer service, including upgrades of existing games, tracking of all sales and statistics, and management and security of games and payment systems. The company provides 24 hour support for all terminals and locations.
Future plans included branching out to other types of gaming, such as Class III casino, Class II bingo and skill game markets. Figure Eight’s growth could mean more jobs, especially if they land a contract for video lottery terminals, for which they have submitted a proposal and is pending legislation.
One of Figure Eight’s latest accomplishments was being named one of the “25 NC Companies to Watch” by The Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED), a private, nonprofit organization that promotes entrepreneurial efforts in North Carolina. The award honors growth-stage entrepreneurial companies that demonstrate high performance in the marketplace and exhibit innovative products.
Figure Eight’s attention to quality while constantly innovating is what it does best. Vice president Tim Smith says, “The process of creating a game from concept to installation is truly a team sport for us here at Figure Eight,” and designer Dmitri Medvedev describes a “creative spirit” throughout the company. With client input and their active imaginations, the team aims to maximize visual appeal and game play for end users while also providing excellent customer service for their clients. Smith states, “We always have to be developing the latest and newest technology to stay ahead of the competition.”
For more information on Figure Eight Technologies, Inc., visit their website at http://www.figure8tech.com/
About Figure Eight Technologies, Inc.
Figure Eight Technologies, Inc. is a North Carolina Corporation with offices in Greenville, NC. Its 12,000 square foot corporate Headquarters is located in Greenville, North Carolina. Figure Eight was formed in 2003 and has more than 8 years of experience in designing and developing sweepstakes products and sweepstakes games that are located throughout the United States. Figure Eight currently sells and licenses its products in over 2000 locations in over 16 states.
