That was the stated intention, anyway.
Back in June 2012, SCE head Jim Ryan claimed that PlayStation Mobile users wouldn't "stumble upon any of the junk that exists in the wider marketplace."
To be fair to Mr Ryan, PlayStation Mobile is not full of junk. In fact, there are great games on the service one of which I've already lost hours to. However, it's not an unblemished selection, and this is the problem.
Sony's vision of a curated store that's exclusively populated with gaming gems is already undermined.
For the platform to succeed, Sony needs to keep that quality bar stringently high. When you're competing against established app marketplaces, there's no value in offering a small selection of mixed quality.
Perhaps this is the inevitable consequence of requiring games on the platform to be developed in C#. After all, it's a relatively small group of developers that will be willing and able to make that effort for PlayStation Mobile.
If Sony's hoping to play curator, it will need a sizeable longlist to choose from if it's to have any hope of success. But that's quite enough of my wittering let's move on to our bite-sized overview of the last seven days' worth of news.
Platform wars
- PocketGamer.biz editor at large Jon Jordan argues that Apple has taken one small step towards console play as Gameloft announces the first official third-party iOS gamepad.
- At a time of industry confusion regarding the potential implications of clause 2.25 for third-party app promo tools (more on that below), Apple launches its own solution.
- PlayStation Mobile rolls out on PlayStation certified Android devices and the PS Vita, sporting a day one library of 20 games
- including Underline by Albino Pixel. We spoke to studio co-founder Dave Allanson, who told us that PlayStation Mobile will be a place for more 'premium' content compared to the App Store and Google Play.
- Zynga projects a $105 million loss for Q3 2012, as OMGPOP's value slides.
Funding, start ups and acquisitions
- Nexon acquires Japanese developer gloops in a deal worth $467.9 million.
- We're committed to developers says Qualcomm senior director Liat Ben-Zur and that's why we're dedicating $370,000 to app contests.
- Microsoft and Barnes & Noble sign off on their $300 million strategic alliance, rebranding their joint venture Newco as the snappier sounding Nook Media.
Monetisation
- In this week's edition of the PocketGamer.biz Charticle, we take a look at Rovio's Bad Piggies, and see how effectively it's bringing home the bacon.
- CMO Jennifer Vela-Valido explains how Geosophic can help developers drive downloads and get a better return on their advertising inventory.
- Localising an app into a region's native language will produce an appreciable increase in downloads and revenue, according to the latest report from Distimo.
Industry voices
- The PocketGamer.biz mobile mavens discuss the App Store update that's been called "catastrophic" for developers.
- Product manager Mike Kanarek reveals why Brass Monkey is turning smartphones into game controllers with its web-based gaming technology.
- Convergence will kill the industry, argues PocketGamer.biz editor at large Jon Jordan. Fortunately, it's divergence that's ascendant.
- As part of the regular PocketGamer.biz Games We Like column, the Pickford Brothers take a look at some games without gatekeepers, as Ste discusses the joy of self-publishing.
- No-one cares about your app and it won't be a hit, because the App Store economy is more brutal than you could imagine, says Lucky Frame founder Yann Seznec.
The curious case of clause 2.25
- PocketGamer.biz editor Keith Andrew asks: is Apple clamping down on third-party app promotion services? Clause 2.25 in Apple's recently updated App Review Guidelines certainly suggests as much
- Consultant Tadhg Kelly reckons that Apple's new dev guidelines will avoid a Facebook style farce.
- AppGratis CEO Simon Dawlat argues that the changes are an attempt to stamp out App Store copycats.
- When Keith Andrew takes a straw poll of opinion, the developers he speaks to believe that Apple's trying to ensure its control over all aspects of its ecosystem.
- The palpable sense of confusion in the industry has Keith whip out his soapbox and proclaim that Apple's rules and regulations aren't the problem it's the way it delivers them.