Does the industry really need another mobile games publisher?
It seems a fairly simple question but think about it some more and the answer is less clear.
Certainly, the industry doesn't need any more game developers, but it's getting dozens of start ups every month. Players have never been better supplied with high quality and cheap content.
Publishers are a different matter, however. In the purist form, they don't make games, merely ensure the games they publish gain better promotion, marketing and, hopefully, sales. In that sense, the mobile games industry can never have too many publishers.
And that's the rationale behind Ayopa Games.
Experienced team
Formed by Johnny Coghlan (Chillingo, Storm8) and Elliott Chin (Blizzard, Sega, Logitech), it's officially launched today with the goal of being the "developers' publisher".
"Working on games such as Angry Birds and Cut the Rope, I've seen how big an opportunity there is to help indie developers," Coghlan explains.
"We're looking to publish games that we really believe in; creative, high quality games that appeal widely but also offer depth."
Good to go
Significantly, given his most recent experience with freemium publisher Storm8, Ayopa - its meaning is derided from the Greek for 'free market' - will initially be focused on standalone paid for games for iOS, with Android, Window Phone/XBLA, PC and Mac also scheduled.
Its line up sees it working with fairly new developers, including the likes of Sandstorm Interactive, Patchwork Games, and Lab Rats Studio, which might raise some eyebrows as its M.U.S.E. shooter was originally pencilled in with Chillingo.
Ayopa's first releases will be Chicken Rescue from End Boss Games, and W.E.L.D.E.R. from Highline Games due in the next couple of weeks.
"We've had a phenomenal response," says Chin of the company's starting phase. "Developers are signing up with us because they can see we really get their games."
Global approach
With the schedule for the first couple of months in place, the next phase for Ayopa is building out its pipeline to fulfill its midterm aim or 2 - 4 games released per month.
This will be aided by the company's geographic split, with Chin working out of San Francisco, while Coghlan is relocating to the UK, giving the ability to more easily hook up with European talent.
But wherever they are, the bottomline for Ayopa's future success remains the same as any other publisher.
"Developers need to do better launching with us than on their own," Coghlan states. "That's the win-win situation we're after."
Developers interested in working with Ayopa Games can find out more via its website or email contact [at] ayopagames [dot] com.
Interview
Contributing Editor
A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon is Contributing Editor at PG.biz which means he acts like a slightly confused uncle who's forgotten where he's left his glasses. As well as letters and cameras, he likes imaginary numbers and legumes.
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