Japanese middleware developer CRI Middleware has been speaking to Develop about its plans to expand into the iPhone and smartphone markets.
The company has been a provider of middleware solutions to the games industry for a long number of years, on consoles ranging from the Xbox 360, Wii and PS3, through the Dreamcast, Gamecube and Saturn, and even as far back as the FM-Towns.
The Japanese launch of the iPhone has prompted CRI Middleware to establish a specific smart phone division, despite never having previously entertained the mobile market.
"I think that all of the smartphone platforms hold equal potential for the future," says head of the new smartphone division, Tomonori Haba. "Its just that the huge success of the iPhone has been seized upon as a great phenomenon - and a very encouraging one at that."
To bolster the company's expansion into the iPhone and smartphone markets, Haba explains that he is keen to bring CRI's technology to the English-speaking markets as well, encouraging developers to get in touch and register their interest directly.
This new division also demonstrates the growing enthusiasm Japan is demonstrating for smartphone gaming, and for the use of middleware in game development.
"In the console market, there has certainly been a section of the Japanese industry thats been cautious about adopting middleware, and have been skeptical as to the real practical benefits and results," Haba concludes. "But that situation is changing."
Top Stories
Feature
May 17th, 2024
New release roundup: The best new mobile games from a battle royale to a console classic remake
Feature
May 16th, 2024
Behind the scenes: How adding sandwich offers to an idle merge game boosted three metrics at once
Events
Valencia Indie Summit 2024 | Europe | May 16th |
Digital Dragons | Europe | May 19th |
GamesBeat Summit 2024 | North America | May 20th |
Mobidictum Meetup Tallinn May 2024 | Europe | May 21st |
Nordic Game Spring 2024 | Nordic | May 21st |
Impact 2024 - Indie Games | May 23rd | |
MomoCon 2024 | North America | May 24th |
Morocco Gaming Expo | Africa | May 24th |
Popular Stories
Feature
May 14th, 2024
53 top mobile games in soft launch: Squad Busters, Battle Guys: Royale, Plants vs. Zombies 3, LEGO Hill Climb Adventures, and more
Feature
May 13th, 2024
Hot Five: Dubai's new Gaming Visa, April's mobile game charts, and Xbox studio closures
Feature
May 14th, 2024