Crossy Road's monetisation, DOTA Legends rules China, and 10 to play in 2015
Welcome to PocketGamer.biz's Hot Five.
Providing insight into the hot topics of the mobile games industry, these are the five stories that over the past week were the most read on the site.
This week's selection is a real mixture, covering: sage advice about how and why game conferences are important; some weird and wonderful devices from CES; and spotlights on monetisation - including a successful implementation of Unity's incentivised video ads, and transparency into the murky world of China's top grossing Android games.
But coming out on top is our roundup of some of the most anticipated mobile games of 2015.
So, counting down from five to one, check out what made the news last week and which trends will likely be re-appearing on our Hot Five list in future.
#5: Best gaming tech from CES 2015
More Info
Best gaming tech from CES 2015 »CES 2015 already seems like a long time ago.
But despite the lack of surprises this year, the show always throws up some interesting devices: something Spanner reprised in his list of the Best gaming tech from CES 2015.
As expected, VR, Google Glass-type devices, and unconsoles feature. We weren't expecting the floating Bluetooth speaker that levitates over its base unit, and wireless charges your phone, though.
#4: Exclusive: China's top grossing Android games revealed - DOTA Legend is #1
More Info
Exclusive: China's top grossing Android games revealed - DOTA Legend is #1 »Getting good data on China's Android games market has always been difficult due to app store fragmentation.
With the top 10 stories now accounting for around 90 percent of downloads, the situation is improving, however. And it's this situation that's enabled local company TalkingData to partner with Newzoo and come up with a monthly list of the top grossing Android games in China.
Of course, it's an estimate but as with the like of App Annie in the west, over time, it's bound to improve as more data feedbacks to provide more overall accuracy.
As for the first chart (for November 2014), DOTA Legend was the #1 game, and Tencent had six games in the top 10; just as everyone expected.
#3: Top tips for surviving and thriving at game conferences
More Info
Top tips for surviving and thriving at game conferences »In perfect timing for Pocket Gamer Connects London 2015, Neogames' Suvi Latva gave her Top tips for surviving and thriving at game conferences.
A veteran of the game event scene thanks to her work with Finnish game industry organisation Neogames, Latva argued that traveling to conferences is a vital thing for even the smallest game companies.
Not only do you get to hear about new trends but it's a key way of building up the network of personal contacts that are required to successfully grow a company.
"Doing business and raising money requires networks and partners," she concludes.
"And still, even at this digital era, actual face-to-face contacts are very meaningful."
#2: Crossy Road rakes in $1 million on iOS with Unity's incentivised video ads
More Info
Crossy Road rakes in $1 million on iOS with Unity's incentivised video ads »Australian indie Hipster Whale has announced - via the Unity blog - that its Frogger-inspired Crossy Road has grossed over $1 million from Unity Ads alone on iOS.
It's a mark of just how lucrative incentivised video ads can be, at least when imaginatively integrated into free-to-play games.
In Crossy Road, watching ads is rewarded with coins, which can be used to buy new characters; something you can also buy with real cash or by playing the game (a lot).
#1: 10 mobile games you should be excited to play in 2015
More Info
10 mobile games you should be excited to play in 2015 »The start of the new year is a time to look forward, and that's what Peter Willington was doing with his 10 mobile games you should be excited to play in 2015 article.
Looking at games announced or already in soft launch - something we now regularly highlight in our weekly Soft Launch feature - Willington considered everything from big hitters from Ubisoft and EA to some of the most interesting fare from indies and start-ups.
Certainly 2015 is shaping up to be a year full of creativity - something our regular Stateside columnist Carter Dotson - is also banking on.