extremepreneur

Sony to Sony Ericsson, DROP DEAD!

I don't see anyway to sugarcoat this.

With massive layoffs at Sony, coupled with Sony Ericsson losses of US$346 million having just been announced, there's never been a better time to branch out with a potentially lucrative and under used brands – like the PSP [PlayStation Portable)]. But according to MobileToday, Sony has refused the use of the PSP brand, stating that:

"In the past, we have been keen that our product proposition lives up to brand promise, and we feel at the moment the technical specs are not high enough to put such a prestigious brand on a phone."

http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/news.asp?c=0445241201&pk=33430117

They have literally denied Sony Ericsson the tools needed to turnabout their sales picture and in fact have hurt the PSP platform itself. The iPhone/iPod touch are already taking share away from the PSP, which badly needs a OTA distribution system.

This ranks with some of the all-time bad business decisions ever made.

SUPER PIG OUT! A new contest for Pigs a Pop'n

Ok, so we ran a contest and in a few hours, one lucky player (Eric, you were AWESOME) beat our best scores and managed to get to level 25.   I never got past level 14 so I was impressed.

So this time we're making the challenge more interesting.  

In honor of the Super Bowl we're awarding $200 (via Paypal) to the highest score submitted by Super Bowl day (Feb. 1st).  

Just email a screen grab of a game screen (better than Level 25, we know you can do that) to:

[email protected] 

Here's some information on capturing a screen.

How to Capture a Screen

Here's the link to the game: http://tinyurl.com/5mgk6z

Or simply text Pigs to 74415.

We will keep everyone informed of the current high score on this blog, on Twitter, and on the touchArcade forum.

Super Oink Oink!

SYGG wins the contest!

This is one of the first iPhone games that I'd deem worthy for an actual gamer.

Great review of BounceTrap in Destructoid today!

Hands-on: BounceTrap is like Peggle and pachinko (iPhone)

"...this iPhone puzzle game is fun. It's got the addictiveness part down pat. This is one of the first iPhone games that I'd deem worthy for an actual gamer.

Ed's Note: If you're on the fence about this one, know that new Holiday pricing was just announced. For a limited time, nab this title for only $.99 on the iTunes App Store, down from its default $4.99. I think it's totally worth $4.99, but it's a no brainer at just a dollar.

As to me, I'm stuck on Level 14.  Look how close I came to finishing it!

One day, one day....

Pigs a Pop'n released on iTunes for the iPhone/iPod Touch.

This was one of our most popular web-based games on the iPhone several months ago.  It's so much more satisfying as a native app with a country music soundtrack and great sound effects.

 

Sou-Wee!!! How ya gonna keep ’em down on the farm when they see this new fan-dangled iPhone puzzle game? Pigs need a-feedin’ and you got only so many vittles to make ‘em pop off the field. These pigs are a considerate bunch, so if you pop one he’ll kindly pass on some grub to his neighbors. Do it right and you’ll set off one of them there “chain reactions” and clear that field off right quick. Clear one field and you can move right on to the next. Takes real pig-feedin’ skills to advance in this game, so get ‘er done and play PIGS A POP’N on your iPhone or iPod touch today.

Available in iTunes.

Is BounceTrap the next 'classic' in Casual Gaming

We started working on this game back when the only apps on the iPhone were web-apps.  Designed by the "Queen of Casual Games", Sherri Cuono, I can honestly say that this is my favorite casual game.  In the classic tradition of Tetris^TM, Bejeweled^TM, Peggle^TM and others ... I proudly present:

In BounceTrap you drop balls to fill up holes and move onto higher levels.  Think Pinball meets Pachinko meets Peggle.  You have to play it and see:

Available in iTunes.

Enjoy

Here is a video preview:

 

Mystic Jewels, our 4th title for the iPhone App Store

Mystic Jewels is a puzzle-strategy game for the iPhone and iPod touch that we just released on the Apple App Store.

 

Wizard! The art of alchemy and magic requires great skill. You must pass the test of the Mystic Jewels to become a master. Use your spells to transform these jewels into more precious stones and then release more spells onto the gems placed next to them. Your spells are limited but by creating a chain of magic, more spells will be granted to you. Special jewels will require more spells but they will spread the magic all around. Move onto higher levels and prove yourself worthy of the title of Master of the Mystic Jewels.

It is a very different game than the typical "line up three jewels" puzzle game.  The idea is to create chain reactions that transform jewels into magic.  

Here is a video preview of the game in action:

Mystic Jewels is available for $1.99 in iTunes.

iPhone Apps ... and you know it don't come easy.

The iPhone Application store has created a Meritocracy for mobile apps and the rewards can be great. The problem is that the market has many many titles. Over 7000 applications at last count. There are over 20 Blackjack Games alone (make that 21, we just released one).

Kenny Rogers Announces Casino Games on Apple App Store

Do the math. There have been over 200m downloads of iPhone apps. If we assume that one out of ten have been paid and half of those are games than we have 5m paid game downloads. There are over 1400 paid game apps in the store. This would imply that the average game sells a bit over 3500 copies. However, in a typical market HALF of the sales (or more) would be sold by the top ten titles. According to some sources, 80% of the sales would be sold by the top twenty titles. So an 'average' title might only see 1500 sales or so.

I have argued that the key to success here is to have extraordinary efficiency combined with excellent quality. That isn't easy, as reflected in the recent news from GLU on their iPhone efforts:

http://www.casualgaming.biz/news/27895/Glu-gloomy-despite-Q3-gains

However, despite the gains seen in Q3 the firm has issued a gloomy outlook for the upcoming Q4 - and president and CEO Greg Ballard has blamed the company's failure in capitalising on the iPhone phenomenon as the cause. To date Glu has released just one title for the platform.

"In truth, we were less disappointed about Q3 than we were about our outlook for Q4," Ballard told Pocket Gamer. "We missed our numbers, but only by about $150,000. But the slowdown that we see in Q4 is what's causing more uncertainty. Q3 was not as calamitous as the numbers might have suggested.

"We know that games are typically purchased in the first 90 days of owning a handset, so if people are buying fewer handsets, then fewer games will be sold. And in the US, when people did buy new handsets, a lot of them bought the iPhone.

I have blogged on how the cost structure of a venture backed game company can be a problem. It seems it is also a problem for established companies as well.

Predicting hits is a tricky business. Best to have a model where you can profit from even minor hits in this saturated market.

The iPhone Application store has created a Meritocracy for mobile apps and the rewards can be great. The problem is that the market has many many titles. Over 7000 applications at last count. There are over 20 Blackjack Games alone (make that 21, we just released one).

Kenny Rogers Announces Casino Games on Apple App Store

Do the math. There have been over 200m downloads of iPhone apps. If we assume that one out of ten have been paid and half of those are games than we have 5m paid game downloads. There are over 1400 paid game apps in the store. This would imply that the average game sells a bit over 3500 copies. However, in a typical market HALF of the sales (or more) would be sold by the top ten titles. According to some sources, 80% of the sales would be sold by the top twenty titles. So an 'average' title might only see 1500 sales or so.

I have argued that the key to success here is to have extraordinary efficiency combined with excellent quality. That isn't easy, as reflected in the recent news from GLU on their iPhone efforts:

http://www.casualgaming.biz/news/27895/Glu-gloomy-despite-Q3-gains

However, despite the gains seen in Q3 the firm has issued a gloomy outlook for the upcoming Q4 - and president and CEO Greg Ballard has blamed the company's failure in capitalising on the iPhone phenomenon as the cause. To date Glu has released just one title for the platform.

"In truth, we were less disappointed about Q3 than we were about our outlook for Q4," Ballard told Pocket Gamer. "We missed our numbers, but only by about $150,000. But the slowdown that we see in Q4 is what's causing more uncertainty. Q3 was not as calamitous as the numbers might have suggested.

"We know that games are typically purchased in the first 90 days of owning a handset, so if people are buying fewer handsets, then fewer games will be sold. And in the US, when people did buy new handsets, a lot of them bought the iPhone.

I have blogged on how the cost structure of a venture backed game company can be a problem. It seems it is also a problem for established companies as well.

Predicting hits is a tricky business. Best to have a model where you can profit from even minor hits in this saturated market.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Crash

(With apologies to Dr. Strangelove)

They say every cloud has a silver lining, here's this one's.

For some businesses it MAY be very good. Here's why.

Let's take two iPhone game companies as an example, Company A and Company B.

Company A manages to get a few $million or so from a VC in the summer to build games for the iPhone market. They setup offices in Silicon Valley, driving distance from Sand Hill Road, and put one of the VC guys on the board. They hire people, start working on iPhone games. Last week they ship two very nice titles, one is free, one is around a buck. My guess is they will be lucky to see 10,000 unit sales, or gross receipts of $7000 on that paid title, and that is optimistic. Honestly, they will probabily make less (based on what I have heard from other developers). Knowing salaries, rents, overheads ... the paid title has a burdened cost of $50k to $100k. I'm sure the plan is to continue production but not be cash flow positive for a number of years. Spend the raise, put out titles, build I.P., get to a 'hit'. The typical B, C, round scenerio.

Company B doesn't raise $$$ from anyone. Instead it uses the profit from development projects to fund title development. They ship their first title when the iPhone app store opens, modest sales. The title acts as a showcase allowing them to secure more development deals. They don't move to Silicon Valley, they don't hire a bunch of people, they run off cash receipts. The development deals improve the skills of the team as well. Because of this they build an efficient system that produces quality titles at a fraction of the expense of Company A. They begin releasing a stream of quality titles for the iPhone that become profitable with even modest sales. As long as they maintain cost control they are profitable on every title and maybe even get a hit or two. Cash flow positive.

Fast forward several months.

Maybe Company A doesn't get round B (see Sequoia Presentation). They have to cut staff, expenses, try to make a profit on their highly burdened titles.

Meanwhile Company B just continues the flow of products, still brings in dev deals ... people get paid.

Who just benefitted from the Crash?

PlayScreen launches portal with 20 free games for the new T-Mobile G1 (Google Android) Phone.

G1 owners won’t have to wait for great mobile entertainment at PlayScreen.com

SAN DIEGO - Oct, 23rd, 2008.  The company that launched the first iPhone web-based games has announced the release of 20 web-based titles and its first downloadable game for the new T-Mobile G1™, Google Android™ Phone.   Titles include casual, action, puzzle and social games.

"These ad-supported titles take advantage of the advanced browser on the new G1 phone" said William Volk, president and CEO of PlayScreen. "Titles include solitaire, bowling, sudoku, solitaire, backgammon, darts, golf and other popular games."

“PlayScreen is applying its considerable experience in advanced mobile technology to bring these titles to consumers” commented PlayScreen President Sherri Cuono. “There are no installs required and these games are played instantly via the browser.  We're also going to make downloadable versions of these games available when Goggle’s App Market launches.”

“With all the excitement over this new phone and operating system we wanted to make sure consumers didn’t have to wait for their favorite games” added William Volk.

PlayScreen and the PlayScreen logo are trademarks of MyNuMo, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About PlayScreen: San Diego based PlayScreen is a social entertainment company delivering mobile social games, ringtones, wallpapers, videos, and text services on all major US Carriers.  More Details about PlayScreen at http://www.PlayScreen.com/g1/ .  (PlayScreen is a trademark of MyNuMo, LLC.)

Contact: [email protected] +1 858 692 1124

MyNuMo is now PlayScreen, the next generation social entertainment company.

PlayScreen to bring casual social games and entertainment to iPhone, Google Android, and other advanced mobile platforms.

SAN DIEGO, CA - Oct, 22nd, 2008.  The company that launched the first iPhone web-based games and the social network that enables independent artists to sell mobile content across all major carriers is now PlayScreen (www.PlayScreen.com), a new worldwide social entertainment brand.

"PlayScreen is the culmination of our acquisition of advanced social gaming technology and the successful launch of game titles for the iPhone" said William Volk, president and CEO of PlayScreen. "The mobile entertainment market has evolved tremendously during the last year, with the launch of the iPhone and Google Android, making the time right to launch a new brand. The imminent launch of our 2nd round of iPhone native games, titles for the new Google Android T-Mobile G1 phone and other new technology initiatives are well reflected in the PlayScreen name."

PlayScreen is creating high quality iPhone and other advanced social games” commented PlayScreen President Sherri Cuono.  “With over a year of experience in iPhone web and native apps as well as advanced social games, PlayScreen will be building the next generation of mobile entertainment applications.”

“You can expect major innovations on our independent artist social network as well” added William Volk, “We’re going beyond the current offering of ringtones, wallpapers, and videos to enable independent developers to market their mobile apps on a wide range of hardware platforms.”

PlayScreen and the PlayScreen logo are trademarks of MyNuMo, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About PlayScreen: San Diego based PlayScreen is a social entertainment company delivering mobile social games, ringtones, wallpapers, videos, and text services on all major US Carriers.  More Details about PlayScreen at www.PlayScreen.com.  (PlayScreen is a trademark of MyNuMo, LLC.)