In any industry, no-one really likes to get their hands dirty.

The roll out of W3i's new framework for freemium developers is built upon that principle, with the firm claiming to handle everything from servers and storefronts to maintenance and security.

However, there's also a valid monetary angle to Games Platform, the name given to the framwork: a large portion of the smaller studios dipping their toes into the freemium market simply can't afford to handle the fundamentals of the business.

Games Platform, W3i claims, will take care of all of this.

Time equals money

"Many are independent hobbyists to burgeoning development shops," the company says of the Games Platform beta, which is opening for participation.

"For these small-shop developers, funds and resources are at a premium. Most would prefer to focus on developing a highly interactive, quality game rather than worry about hardware and software procurement needed to support the game infrastructure."

It's not just a question of money, however. In terms of every aspect – from server maintenance to security and storefronts – time is also an issue.

"However monotonous it might be, most recognise that server setup, maintenance and security should not be taken lightly," the firm adds. Developers know they need a system that provides solid uptime and strong security.

"Developers get more excited about what to place into inventory and more importantly, interaction of the goods with gameplay than they do about managing the inventory and presenting it in a compelling manner."

Further than Flurry

Developers that participate in the beta and provide feedback for W3i will also gain access to additional analytics tools, enabling them to monitor the performance of their titles – many for the first time.

"The importance and value of strong data to help make inventory optimisation decisions is often overlooked yet is highly critical," the firm concludes.

"When first starting, most iOS developers will integrate Flurry or simply use Apple's iTunes connect to get basic information. However, this is not enough information to make sound inventory decisions.

"For example, although iTunes provides you with revenue data, it does not breakdown that revenue by item. Nor does it provide any segmentation to facilitate targeting."

Studios looking to take part in the beta should register on W3i's website, with only a limited number of openings available.