DeNA opens up Yahoo Mobage to US developers; claims potential revenue of $1 million a month

Wave the opportunity to make $1 million a month in front of most developers, and chances are you're going to get squashed in the rush.

And that's the situation in Japan according to social network DeNA. 

In a move the firm claims opens up Japan's 90 million internet users to US-based studios, DeNA is offering developers the opportunity to port their titles to Yahoo Mobage the Japanese social gaming platform DeNA unveiled with Yahoo! back in April.

Mobage, which allows registered users to play titles on both PC and mobile, will make its public launch in Japan on October 1, with DeNA attempting to ensure western studios get their slice of the cake by offering localisation, hosting and payment solutions for those who sign up.

Mobage money

"The amount of money to be made in Japanese social gaming is astronomical," says DeNA CEO Tomoko Namba.

"By offering this platform and providing tools to help ease the transition, DeNA hopes to be American game developers' portal to the east."

Statistics released by DeNA suggest it's not just the size of Mobage's userbase backed up by 20 million DeNA mobile users and Yahoo's 52 million monthly active members that offers potential. The amount each user spends is also impressive. 

DeNA points to a recent report by industry researchers that suggest the average revenue per user for virtual goods in Japan is $4, four times the US rate, which enables top thirdparty developers on Mobage to make that fabled $1 million a month.

Indeed, DeNA itself posted sales of $279 million for its Q1 FY2010, up 175 percent year-on-year, so it's certainly a fast growing sector. 

Studios looking to work on the platform are advised to contact DeNA quick via the firm's website.