Spleak
| Spleak | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Spleak Media Network |
| In-universe information | |
| Alias | spleak@hotmail.com, "Spleak" on AIM |
| Species | Chatbot |
Spleak was an IM platform where users can publish and rate content. By time Spleak closed it existed in the form of six bots covering as many subject areas - CelebSpleak, SportSpleak, VoteSpleak, TVSpleak, GameSpleak, and StyleSpleak.
Users could add a "multi-Spleak" (which contains all of the different Spleak bots in one) to their IM buddy lists on MSN (spleak@hotmail.com) and AIM (buddy name: spleak), or add the separate bots on MSN (celeb@spleak.com, sport@spleak.com, vote@spleak.com, tv@spleak.com, game@spleak.com, and style@spleak.com) or AIM (buddy name: celebspleak, sportspleak, votespleak, tvspleak, gamespleak, and stylespleak). Users may also access Spleak online by using a CelebSpleak, SportSpleak, or VoteSpleak widget, or though CelebSpleak and SportSpleak application on Facebook.
History & Closure
Spleak was created in 2005 by Morten Lund and Nicholaj Reffstrup. It was originally a multi-functional chatbot, including general chat, games, a dictionary function, and more. However, in 2007, Spleak Media Network released a new version of Spleak, named CelebSpleak, which focused exclusively on celebrity gossip and entertainment news. CelebSpleak also introduced a new IM publishing platform, on which users rate, create, and share short-form gossip (known as "Tattles" in the CelebSpleak system) over IM and web widgets. Some users have expressed discontent over this transition, preferring the older version of Spleak. Other users have enjoyed Spleak's celeb-centric focus and the opportunity to publish Tattles. In May 2008, Spleak Media Network released the SportSpleak bot, with StyleSpleak, TVSpleak, and GameSpleak following in July 2008.
On 24th October 2008 it was announced on The Spleak blog and in the Spleak's Windows Live Messenger name, that Spleak would be shutting down. From the following day, Spleak's Windows Live Messenger name was was left empty meaning that it simply displayed "spleak@hotmail.com" whilst the bot itself remained non-responsive to conversation.
Partnerships
Spleak Media Network had a partnership with Hearst Publications. Hearst will be placing Spleak widgets on some of its websites, such as Teen Magazine, Seventeen, and Elle Girl, as well as publishing content through CelebSpleak. Spleak Media Network has other similar partnerships in the works for CelebSpleak and other bots.
References
- About Spleak Media Network page
- Mashable.com article on Hearst partnership
- FastCompany article on Spleak widget
- eMediaWire article on new Spleak interactive communities