How will Peak Games use its $100 million warchest, The Game Awards reveals its nominees, and how to launch a game in China

The hottest articles of last week

• 5 GameMaker Studio 2 launches $39 Creator tier for novice developers

  

  Always wanted to get to grips with GameMaker Studio 2 but haven't had the money to get the full deal, nor an interest in a cut-down experience in the free trial?

  Well YoYo Games have got your back, with a new price tier that costs just $39 a year if you're willing to put up with a GameMaker splash screen at the start of your game.

  Users will receive a 30% discount when upgrading to the standard Developer edition of the engine, to account for having already paid for the service.

  The Creator edition only allows publishing to either Windows or MacOS – mobile developers will still need to buy the Mobile license, which currently costs $399 for a permanent license.

  
  

• 4 Ubisoft's Ketchapp and Growtopia catalogue boost mobile DAUs by 234%

  

  Ubisoft hasn't been talking too much about its mobile games of late - its just launched South Park: Phone Destroyer recently, and that's about it.

  But its purchases in the past year have been proving quite fruitful, with Ketchapp and Growtopia seeing a combined growth in DAUs of 234%.

  It also noted that there was an "outperformance" from both Ketchapp its game Might and Magic Heroes: Era of Chaos. The latter was developed and published exclusively in China in a partnership with Tencent.

   

  
  

• 3 How to launch mobile games in China

  

  China - it's a potentially huge market, but it's also nigh-on impossible to break into unless you're a local developer or you know the right people.

  Even then there's no guarantee of success, but Bob Wang, China Country Manager at Tappx, has stepped in to offer some advice if you do decide to launch in the region.

  "The State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPFRT) is an organisation you’ll have to deal with to obtain approval for whatever game you’re planning to release in China - whether it be a cutesy platformer or a match-3 type puzzler, everyone’s game will have to go through a rigorous approval process, with appropriate documentation and permits needed," he begins.

  "Every mobile gaming app launched in China must stick to the exact specifications as stated by SAPPFRT’s extensive approval requirements, and be entered for review twenty days prior to your game’s suggested release date."

  
  

• 2 Super Mario Run and Fire Emblem Heroes receive Best Mobile Game nominations at The Game Awards 2017

  

  It's getting to the end of the year, which means it's time for everyone and their dog to start arguing about which games deserve to be ranked best of the year.

  And for that kind of debate, it doesn't get much bigger than The Game Awards, which has its own Best Mobile Game award this time around.

  Both of Nintendo's big hitters, Super Mario Run and Fire Emblem Heroes, are up for the award, alongside Old Man's Journey, Monument Valley 2, and Hidden Folks.

  Bizarrely, Honor of Kings is up for Best Chinese Game despite launching two years ago - though with Tencent sponsoring the event, it may not be such a strange addition after all.

  
  

• 1 How will Peak Games spend its new $100 million warchest?

  

  In a surprise move, Peak Games sold its card and board game portfolio to Zynga for the princely sum of $100 million.

  That leaves the developer with essentially two games - Toon Blast and Toy Blast - which begs the question, what are they going to do with the money?

  "Significantly, the North American market provides the vast majority of Peak’s revenue and it’s clear this is where it’s going to be investing its new warchest," writes Contributing Editor Jon Jordan.

  "It expects to double its US audience over the next 12 months. It’s a bold plan, particularly because Peak isn’t the only match puzzle game developer making strong inroads into the US mobile market."