Unite 2015 Boston learnings, Puzzle & Dragons gets first US TV ad, and Dawn of Steel analysed
Welcome to PocketGamer.biz's weekly rundown of the stories clocking up the hits, picking up the click-throughs and generally keeping the advertisers happy by serving up page views.
Or, if you'd prefer, the top five stories currently dominating our readers' attention.
Each week, we'll be counting down the biggest news from the previous seven days, giving just a glimpse of the industry's big issues, from five to one.
Handy for you, each headline in the list also allows you to click through to the article in full, so you can make sure you've not missed out on any of last week's big stories.
#5: GungHo launches first US TV ad for Puzzle & Dragons
More Info
GungHo launches first US TV ad for Puzzle & Dragons »Puzzle & Dragons has been a massive success, generating well over $1 billion in revenues.
Yet most of its downloads and revenues have come from its home territory - Japan - which is why publisher GungHo is now beefing up the game's marketing in other countries.
One example of this is the announcement that the game is now being supported with a TV advertising campaign in North America.
#4: Mech-ing changes: the monetisation of Dawn of Steel
More Info
Mech-ing changes: the monetisation of Dawn of Steel »A mecha-flavoured RTS, published by German outfit Flaregames and developed by US startup Superweapon, Dawn of Steel was the latest F2P game to be investigated by our IAP Inspector.
"Superweapon's effort feels incredibly different to any of the growing number of mobile strategy title," wrote Matt Suckley.
"Of course, the now-standard base construction and attacking loops remain. However, what changes is the nature of your attacks."
Focusing on more tighter direct control of up to three powerful mech units is the basis of the game's refreshing new take on mobile strategy, although Suckley did also note that the game's monetisation did contain a lot of resource and time gating.
#3: How to get a job at Scopely
More Info
How to get a job at Scopely »Having recently released The Walking Dead: Road to Survival and Yahtzee with Buddies, US developer and publisher Scopely is on a roll.
And that's one reason that the Los Angeles-based outfit is looking to add to its already 140-strong workforce.
We talked to Senior Technical Recruiter Chris Kale to find out more about the company culture and the type of roles and experience Scopely is looking for.
#2: From discovery to VR and monetisation: 5 things we learned at Unite 2015 Boston
More Info
From discovery to VR and monetisation: 5 things we learned at Unite 2015 Boston »With the announcement that over 1 million developers used its now free game development and publishing tools in August, Unity continues to experience fast growth.
But at its main conference - Unite 2015 Boston - the company was not resting on its laurels. Instead CEO John Riccitiello was facing up to future opportunities and challenges; most notably the opportunity to support developers making VR games and the challenge of when the sector would be a mass market and profitable undertaking.
Other topics covered in our Unite 2015 Boston roundup included tips on discovery, monetisation and another new technology - Google's Project Tango.
#1: Supercell talks community, ClashCon and eSports
More Info
Supercell talks community, ClashCon and eSports »The first ever ClashCon is coming to Helsinki on 24 October, so it was a good time to talk to the game's community manager Marika Appel.
"ClashCon is all about the community, so we just want to create a fun and beneficial experience for our most dedicated players and celebrate them," she explained.
Whether the game will use these sort of events to add an eSports element to its already impressive success story, Appel was open to the suggestion.
"It’s certainly within the realm of possibility if that’s where fans want to take it!" she said.