Expanding beyond its focus on its home market, Japanese games giant DeNA has launched a social network on iPhone designed to link up players all over the globe.
Called MiniNation, the network comprises of four fairly simple mini-games and a focus on community-like aspects - a message system, avatars and profiles all included into the bargain.
The games themselves are available as four separate downloads, each title tapping into the DeNA part-owned Aurora Feint's OpenFeint network - allowing players to leap from one game to the next using the same avatar and profile.
Going west
It is, apparently, just a start, with TechCrunch reporting DeNA has every intention to expand beyond this initial run of four games, presumably tapping into more games from its popular Moba-ge-town social games portal in Japan.
The move follows a deal with Yahoo! announced last month, with the two parties launching yet another social games network in Japan, called Yahoo! Mobage.
Allowing players to play the same titles on both mobile and PC, it's being viewed as an attempt by DeNA to command a greater influence on social gaming in the coming months.
Cause for concern
However, some have already expressed concern regarding what impact MiniNation can hope to have in an App Store already populated by a wealth of casual titles and social network link-ups.
DeNA says it plans to introduce in-app purchases of sorts in the future avatar related and virtual items likely to be up for sale but translation issues and a lack of fresh appeal could yet hamper DeNA's attempts to make a big mark in the west.
[source: TechCrunch]
News
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.
Top Stories
News
Apr 29th, 2024
Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen joins LEGO’s board of directors days after Squad Busters’ soft launch
Feature
Apr 29th, 2024
King’s Paula Ingvar: a games industry journey from "I’m not worthy!" to Candy Crush Soda’s VP of product
Feature
Apr 29th, 2024
Hot Five: Supercell’s Squad Busters levels up, retro Nintendo on iOS, and Genshin Impact’s worst month yet
News
Apr 26th, 2024
Week in Views - Squads busted, Apple crushed, War zoned and Snoozin' with the Snorlax…
Events
Dubai GameExpo Summit 2024 | Middle East | May 1st |
The MENA Games Industry Awards 2024 | Middle East | May 2nd |
GameDev Atlantic 2024 | May 4th | |
Mobidictum Meetup Berlin May 2024 | Europe | May 7th |
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 |
Popular Stories
News
Apr 23rd, 2024
Supercell’s Squad Busters soft launches today with over 100,000 Google Play downloads
News
Apr 25th, 2024