Combining head-to-head gaming with location-based competition and sociability is the vision for Gamorlive.

Its HTML5 API recently went live and it's looking for developers who want to hook up their games to its platform.

Also demonstrating the value of location is the French-based start up's ambition to relocate to Silicon Valley to increase the company's visibility.

We caught up with CEO Pascal Boudier to find out more.

Pocket Gamer: How did GamorLive get started?

Pascal Boudier: The concept was born when I watched a video trailer for Super Street Fighter 4 on Nintendo 3DS.

It showed players launching battles with people nearby who they don't know, which was a concept I thought was very interesting. But while not everyone has a 3DS, a lot of people have a smartphone with an internet connection and GPS. It's the perfect device to connect players locally for rapid 'minute games' in real-time.

Gamorlive came into reality during a Startup weekend in Nice in March 2011. After I give a pitch, Didier decided to join the project. We worked throughout that weekend and Gamorlive was born.

As the two co-founders, we've linked our knowledge and passion for gaming to transform this idea into reality, making something special and really fun.

Our primary goal is to match people during fun 'minute games' (quick and fun casual games) on a web portal.

GamorLive currently focuses on 2D HTML5 games. Do you plan to expand it to 3D games?

At this time, HTML5 can provides great 2D games such as Box Factory (see it on Gamorlive).

WebGL technology can help to provide 3D games but at this time, it's not a great solution due to device fragmentation. Furthermore, to connect people in real-time and match them together, we need an efficient data connection.

We want people to be able to play everywhere and have a good user experience. For example, on the road most people use a 3G network. This is fine for handling simple 2D games. 3D games will be our next step but it's currently too early.

Many developers have complained HTML5 is incapable of handling graphically rich titles. What's your view?

HTML5 is a young technology. It's an open standard and offers huge possibilities.

But I don't think the problem is how can I use HTML5 to come up with the rich graphics and deep gameplay of games you play on PSP? No, the challenge is to imagine new experiences with all the possibilities and the advantages offered by this technology.

In Gamorlive, we are focused on multiplayer casual skill games. HTML5 technology is perfect for this kind of games because it's focused on a one-versus-one gaming. The developer has just to imagine a one screen game, which maybe only has one level but enables real-time battle gameplay for a few minutes.

How important is the location-based element of GamorLive?

It's a strong element of our portal because our goal is to bring more social interaction to players.

We want to connect players locally because we think the closer you are when you're playing with someone, the better is the social interaction. And why not battle someone in the same area and arrange a meeting or a date in the chat at the end of the game to provide more tangible relationship and more fun?

Using this element, players can also attempt to conquer their city and become the master of their favourite places.

For us, conquering places by fighting against friends or other players provides more engagement than a simple 'check-in'. In the future, we will organise located event with shops, for example, and we will offer prizes for the best players.

How many developers are currently using your tools?

We've just opened the API to developers three weeks ago, and haven't done much promotion, but developers are contacting us daily. They've very curious and want to study and test the API.

Our HTML5 API is very simply to use. It's free and will remain free for ever, allowing developers to quickly integrate their own games into our platform. Gamorlive hosts the game and manages the netcode, and the income. We also have a really interesting revenue sharing model.

What platforms do you support?

At this time, we are available directly on iOS browser, Android browser and Windows Phone browser.

An Android native application is available on Google Play [link], we'll soon have an iOS app available on the App Store, and players can find Gamorlive on Facebook and Chrome Store or even join Gamorlive on our web site.

Amazon Appstore and Windows Marketplace are the two next platforms we will support.

Thanks to Pascal for his time.

Interested developers can contact Gamorlive by emailing info [at] gamorlive [dot] com