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BlackBerry World 2012: We've already got games running on Blackberry 10 say Fishlabs and Paw Print

#bbwc Dev Alpha device is good to go

BlackBerry World 2012: We've already got games running on Blackberry 10 say Fishlabs and Paw Print
Given its history as an enterprise show, BlackBerry World 2012 doesn't have a lot of sessions about gaming.

However, to underline the company's new commitment to gaming, there was a press panel on the subject.

Moderated by Anders Jeppsson, RIM's head of gaming, it featured a variety of gaming partners ranging from publishers such as Gameloft to indies like Fishlabs and Paw Print. Tools company Marmalade were also onboard.

Bang of BB

Obviously the focus of the panel was the forthcoming BlackBerry 10 OS.

"We knew it would be relatively straightforward to get our PlayBook games running on BB 10 and we've already got a game [Kami Retro] running on the Dev Alpha device," said Anthony White, director of small UK indie Paw Print Games.

Another new fan of the platform is Michael Schade, CEO of Fishlabs.

"We want as little work as possible [in terms of porting] and the best opportunities to sell our content. And that's what RIM is providing," he said.

The company got its Galaxy on Fire 2 title running on the PlayBook tablet within a day.

"The price point are much healthier on the App World," Schade added. "It's very hard on the Apple App Store. There are so many titles at 99c."

Store security

Anthony White wondered how long that would last, but he also pointed out that on Android, one of Paw Print's games had a piracy rate of 98 percent.

"What's the difference between a BlackBerry user and an Android user?" quipped one member of the audience, CrackBerry's EIC Kevin Michaluk.

"A BlackBerry user has a credit card."

"We're passionate about protecting IP when it comes to piracy," added Christopher Smith, VP, BlackBerry application platform & tools.

Schade was also very happy that RIM enables developers to select the specific devices that their games will work on via App World.

This is another key competitive issue with Android where support issues for the wide range of devices is an increasing challenge, especially when customer refund charges costs developers $6.

Feel the love

Gameloft is the first company to officially announce support for BlackBerry 10 with 11 titles for launch.

Its senior account manager OEM, Sam Shperling, said working with RIM had changed a lot recently.

"Two or three years ago, when you asked someone at RIM for a device, you didn't get an answer," he said, adding that the company's current largesse in terms of giving out devices shows how committed RIM now is to games.

"There's really good support from RIM and from the community too," he added.
Contributing Editor

A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon is Contributing Editor at PG.biz which means he acts like a slightly confused uncle who's forgotten where he's left his glasses. As well as letters and cameras, he likes imaginary numbers and legumes.