Japanese mobile games revenues grow 35%, how Homescapes monetises, and Fingersoft launches Round Zero
Indie developers in 2017 apparently love opening indie publishing arms, and Hill Climb Racing developer Fingersoft is no exception.
The developer has decided to launch its own data-driven publishing platform Round Zero, which intrigued our readers so much that it became our most read story of last week.
Second on our Hot Five list is our IAP Inspector's investigation into the monetisation of Homescapes, which he found to be simple, but not as interesting as the game's core design.
Japan, India, Sheffield
Third up is a report by App Annie and Dentsu which found that Japanese mobile gaming revenues grew 35% year-on-year in the 12 months ending June 2017, once again surpassing that of the US.
And finally, KamaGames has partnered with Yoozoo to bring its social casino games to India, and Sumo Digital is reportedly looking into a £150 million IPO.
Click the link below to find out more about the stories that caught our readers' attention last week.
#5: Report: UK developer Sumo Digital preparing for £150 million IPO
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Report: UK developer Sumo Digital preparing for £150 million IPO »While not exactly the biggest contributor of mobile titles, Sheffield-based game developer Sumo Digital is still a major player in the industry at large.
So it's particularly interesting to hear reports that it's currently exploring a £150 million IPO three years after it performed a management buyout.
It is, of course, all just rumours and reports for now. We won't know for sure if the developer will go public until it says something officially.
But for a developer that's worked on major games such as Crackdown 3, Forza Motorsport 7, Snake Pass, and Sonic & All Stars Racing: Transformed, it certainly sounds like a smart move.
#4: KamaGames partners with Yoozoo to bring social casino game to booming India market
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KamaGames partners with Yoozoo to bring social casino game to booming India market »Social casino developer KamaGames has partnered with Yoozoo Games to make a new poker title for the Indian market based on its Pokerist game.
The new game will feature the same modes and features of Pokerist, which KamaGames has released in other markets and will be fully localised for India.
The title for the game will be announced in the near future and the app itself is expected to be released on mobile devices by the end of the year.
It's one of the first deals for Yoozoo's Pune studio after it set up in India in early 2017. The partnership is part of KamaGames' plans to expand its operations in the Asia market following successful growth since it was founded seven years ago.
#3: Japanese mobile game revenues grew 35% in the year ending June 2017
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Japanese mobile game revenues grew 35% in the year ending June 2017 »Mobile gaming revenues in Japan increased by approximately 35% year-on-year in the 12 months ending June 2017, according to a new report.
A study by App Annie, in partnership with marketing agency Dentsu, claims that Japan's mobile revenues have now surpassed the US for three years in a row despite that country having three times as many smartphone users.
It should be noted though that much of Japan’s mobile games revenue is concentrated in the top grossing games. During the year preceding June 2017 the top 10 titles accounted for more than 40% of all mobile game revenues.
#2: How does Homescapes monetise?
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How does Homescapes monetise? »Some of us at PocketGamer.biz are still enjoying Homescapes weeks after it was first launched, so it was only natural that our IAP Inspector would get his hands on it before long.
No major game escapes his grasp, and Playrix's latest is no exception - and he gave it a passing grade to boot.
The hook is the story which, charming rather than gripping, bobs along at a gentle pace but is surprisingly enjoyable," he writes.
"Completing a level means not only the warm feeling of progression, but the next little slice of Austin's pleasantly mundane domestic adventure."
#1: Hill Climb Racing developer Fingersoft launches data-driven publishing label Round Zero
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Hill Climb Racing developer Fingersoft launches data-driven publishing label Round Zero »There's a growing trend lately of indie developers who have found huge success deciding to branch off into publishing, which is actually quite a nice way of giving back to the industry.
The latest in the growing list of new indie publishers is Fingersoft, which has decided to launch its own data-driven label Round Zero.
They'll offer free installs and access to performance data to developers so they can see if their game actually has any potential - all with apparently no strings attached.
If the game shows promising signs early on, Round Zero will then look to push the game further down the pipeline and might even help publish the game worldwide.