Mobile games and Facebook games have grown up independently, but the line between the two is thinner than ever.
Need proof?
Consider the third annual Inside Social Apps conference, happening next week in San Francisco. Initially focused on web-based games, the event now features as much mobile as online entertainment.
We chatted with AJ Glasser, managing editor of conference host Inside Network, about why new creators and legacy developers should watch this space.
Pocket Gamer: How is Inside Social Apps changing?
AJ Glasser: Our mobile focus is much higher compared to last year.
When I joined Inside Network a year ago, our first agenda was how we could get more mobile into Inside Social Apps. Thats why we expanded it from one day to two days.
We made a conscious choice not to put mobile into its own track since most folks today want to do both social and mobile.
Social apps are still important too, though?
Sure. There are a lot of new players, as well as veterans from other spaces, now working in this area.
But some companies are struggling. Even those who seemed to hit their stride early are having to deal with a very competitive global market. It's not just having a hit, but having a franchise, a dynasty, if you will.
With Inside Social Apps, we provide a history - a context - for the big picture. The market is ripe for sharing, but there isnt a forum. We want something almost on the order of GDC.
We also want to reach out internationally.
We have folks coming from China and Europe, and it's all the same market, but from a different perspective. Why are things handled that way in, say, Berlin or Beijing? It is a chance for people to meet each other.
Do you see any themes for the conference?
There are some issues bubbling under. Real-money gambling is an emerging trend thats on everyone's mind, I think.
My panels on monetisation and game design will address the issues of cloning and marketing conditions. There is a lot more interest in making a good product these days.
There will also be discussions on different ways to buy ads and users on Facebook. It's very expensive and, as far as results, they can be hard to track.
We were also able to set up a fireside chat with the people from Google+. This will be one of the first times they'll be talking publicly about their gaming plans.
We've heard a lot of talk about how Google+ is doing, but now we will see what it looks like on the other side of the desk.
Why do you think mobile developers should be thinking about Facebook?
Facebook is an opportunity for developers to get closer to the audience. Users are usually hooked up with Facebook, so if your game was on Facebook and mobile, you could be with your audience everywhere.
Another argument for it is that you can do more on Facebook than on mobile.
To some degree that because there are better social features on Facebook and Google+ then, say Game Center.
Also, I think the risks are lower, and if you get a hit, Facebook has great conversion rates, which is why people keep making games for it.
What trends are you seeing in terms of the audience?
My only observations are it's becoming more mobile and we are getting more Japanese developers.
Considering the success of Japanese mobile platforms such as GREE and DeNA, that's pretty exciting. We look forward to hearing from them at the conference.
And for people not making it to San Francisco, are there plans to expand to other cities or to rotate the location?
Nothing to announce yet, but its obviously very interesting to us.
Thanks to AJ for her time.
You can get more details about Inside Social Apps via its website.
Interview
Damon Brown has been speaking the mobile game gospel since 2003 for Playboy, New York Post, and many other outlets. Damon writes books
when he isn't busy gaming or Twittering. His most popular book is Porn & Pong: How Grand Theft Auto, Tomb Raider and Other Sexy Games Changed Our Culture.
Top Stories
News
3 hours, 42 minutes ago
Week in Views - Apple back themselves bigstyle, Clash bags Haaland and dreams come true at King
News
6 hours, 33 minutes ago
Mobile Movers: All the latest appointments and job moves from around the industry
News
7 hours, 18 minutes ago
Squad Busters has 20 million pre registrations with 30 million in its sights
News
7 hours, 40 minutes ago
Carry1st's African Cup to feature Call of Duty: Mobile tournament with $15,000 prize pool
News
3 hours, 42 minutes ago
Week in Views - Apple back themselves bigstyle, Clash bags Haaland and dreams come true at King
Feature
5 hours, 54 minutes ago
Apple and Nintendo's Delta blues: A legal timebomb or just the new normal?
News
6 hours, 33 minutes ago
Mobile Movers: All the latest appointments and job moves from around the industry
Feature
10 hours, 55 minutes ago
Mobile Mavens: The industry wades in on Squad Busters from its “transformative impact” to being “corporate box ticking”
Feature
12 hours, 38 minutes ago
New release roundup: The best new mobile games from the morality of AI to Dadish’s 3D journey
Events
GameDev Atlantic 2024 | May 4th | |
LA Games Conference 2024 | North America | May 6th |
Mobidictum Meetup Berlin May 2024 | Europe | May 7th |
Valencia Indie Summit 2024 | Europe | May 16th |
Mobidictum Meetup Tallinn May 2024 | Europe | May 21st |
Israel Mobile Summit 2024 | Middle East | Jun 6th |
WN Conference Istanbul 2024 | Jun 11th | |
DevGAMM Vilnius 2024 | Europe | Jun 14th |