From the biggest publishers to the smallest bedrooms shops, the Japanese company is encouraging all developers to consider using the GREE Platform, and it's keen to ensure indie developers get their fair share of the attention.
That's the reasoning behind its just announced GREE Love Indies program.
We caught up with SVP of marketing and developer relations Eros Resmini to find out more.
Pocket Gamer: Can you explain what GREE Loves Indies is all about?
Eros Resmini: GREE Loves Indies is a brand new program that recognises and supports the efforts of independent developers and small studios across the country, and we launched it because we wanted to spread the love.
We're all big fans of the contribution indie have made to mobile games, and want to support them however we can. The idea is we provide great tools and knowhow to keep the developers focused on creating great games. We know a thing or two about how to build games and want to teach indies our tricks of the trade!
And as part of the GREE Loves Indies program, GREE will work with one selected Indie of the Month each month to help launch their game on GREE Platform.
To learn more and apply to be Indie of the Month, check out greelovesindies.com.
It's a catchy phrase, but given that the majority of GREE's revenue in Japan comes from companies such as EA, Capcom, Konami etc, why does GREE actually bother with indies?
We think all developers are an important part of the community but GREE actually comes from indie developer roots. Our founder and CEO, Yoshikazu Tanaka, developed GREE in his apartment as a side project starting with only three employees to help him build the games and the platform. So, we know how hard it can be.
We wholeheartedly believe that indies are responsible for pushing the limits of creativity and driving innovation within the mobile industry. We're thrilled to have so many indie devs registered on GREE Platform, and we want to continue providing them with as much support and opportunity as possible.
GREE Loves Indies is a way for us to make our unique and robust developer tools and knowledge accessible for all devs, no matter how big or small.
What sort of support will each Indie of the Month receive?
Indie developers will be psyched to know that they have an opportunity to tap into GREE's secret sauce and that the Indie of the Month program will give them what they need to power up their game.
Each Indie of the Month will receive support over a 4-6 week time period with program benefits including: a detailed game review and plan of action to optimise game performance; a game integration engineer to help integrate the GREE Platform features most suitable for the selected title; public relations support to help build awareness; and in-depth post-launch game evaluation to maximise retention, monetisation, and the lifetime value of the game.
We are here to help in any way we can.
Can you explain how the process of selecting GREE's Indie of the Month will be handled?
Our team of GREE-niuses will review applications, looking for games that are unique, interesting, creative, and fun. We are all passionate (and competitive) gamers and look forward to the inevitably lively debate that will occur each month when it comes time to choose the best of the best.
Developers can apply now at greelovesindies.com.
Do you worry this has the potential to generate a certain amount of envy within the GREE Platform community between those selected and those not?
The Indie of the Month offerings are great, but the goal is to ensure that every indie developer can benefit from the GREE Platform. By leveraging the GREE Platform SDK, developers get access to APIs and services ranging from leaderboards and achievements, to gifting, requests, and incentivised invites.
That's why we say Indie Innovation + GREE Platform = Success!
We also plan to grow GREE Loves Indies. Indie of the Month is just the first in what will be several different programs to help indie developers take their games to the next level.
How can developers who are interested in the program learn more?
The GREE Loves Indies website is a great place to start: greelovesindies.com.
We'll also be at GDC Online in Austin so stop by our booth (#421) on the show floor, open on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 9-10th, from 9am to 6pm to hangout with our GREE Loves Indies manager, Caitlin Bigham (greelovesindies [at] gree.net), and our developer community ninja and game integration engineer, Erin Anderson (erin.anderson [at] gree.net).
They will be on hand to answer any burning questions you may have, or just there to hangout with you in the GREE Loves Indies photobooth.
When will the first indie game of the month be announced?
The website is live now and the first round of applications are due by November 2nd. We will announce the first Indie of the Month shortly thereafter.
For those of you that aren't quite ready to submit, applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, so if you miss the November 2nd date, there's always next month!
