PocketGamer.biz Week That Was: Puzzle & Dragons hits a million in the US, Zynga's in need of friends, and Android tablets overtake iPad
There's been a lot of thought paid recently into what it means to really 'make it' in the mobile games industry.
Earning millions of dollars from a game is clear indicator of success, but what if the game is creatively lacking?
Can a developer responsible for a by-the-numbers success that follows every rule of monetising efficiently and intelligently be viewed as one who's 'made it'?
Certainly - but so, too, can the hardscrabble indie developer who's barely scraped together a few thousand dollars from downloads of a rich, story-driven game that pushes the boundaries of what players are expecting from a mobile experience.
Ultimately, the answer to what it takes to make it in the modern mobile games industry lies in how you, personally, choose to define success.
Unfortunately, we can't do that for you - but we can give you a good look back at the week that was.
Tools and platforms
- Veteran publisher Zynga reportedly lost three top executives after posting a net loss of $16 million this quarter.
- Tencent's WeChat game platform is poised to launch in August, giving China its answer to LINE and Kakao.
- While GREE is moving to close down its Tellit chat platform - although it's confident this wont lead to a loss of jobs.
- And Distimo becomes the latest app analytics firm to provide free web access into its insight.
- Finally, iPad sales are down but Android tablet sales continue to climb and now account for 7 out of 10 tablets shipped.
Funding, start ups and acquisitions
- The Android-focused Kiwi Inc. closed a $9 million funding round led by Sequoia capital
- And RealNetworks picked up Slingo for $15.6 million.
- Meanwhile, Grand Cru is poised for big things as it closed an $11 million Series A funding round bring on Supernauts.
Industry voices
- And speaking of Grand Cru, CEO Markus Pasula said the raised capital gives his studio several shots at making a hit.
- Fireproof's Barry Meade believes there's too much emphasis paid to the business and metrics side of making mobile games and that developers should instead focus on making great games.
- Our editor Keith Andrew thinks it's high time for games journalists to stop putting themselves in the news.
- While our mobile mavens wonder if the Ouya's already running out of steam.
- Grey Alien's Jake Birkett examines the best way to make money the 'non-evil' way.
- And DeNA's Ben Cousins believes there's no reason why shooters can't be a top three genre on mobile.
Monetisation
- GungHo final revealed some US figures for Puzzle & Dragons, and the addictive game now has a million players stateside.
- Also on the topic of Puzzle & Dragons, it's now bringing GungHo a daily revenue of $4.9 million.
- In an attempt to understand the pick-up-and-play user better, our weekly Monetizer looks at Despicable Me: Minions Rush, Pac-Man Rush, and King's underdog Pet Rescue Saga.
- And lastly, with 5.4 million daily active users, it's estimated that The Simpsons: Tapped Out is 'worth' $58 million.
