Posts Tagged ‘social networks’

“Without question, the social gaming market is the newly hot space in the game industry.  Some of the leading developers have emerged as companies only in the last few years and in that time have managed to gather tens of millions of both dollars and users from these games.   With these outstanding numbers and increasing sociality of games not only on the web, but on mobile and console platforms as well, it seems like a very attractive market to enter.  However, for all its potential, it’s a place that many independent developers and traditional game publishers are having difficulty being successful in.  The reason for this is because these games are overwhelmingly financed by microtransactions of virtual goods, and knowing how to inspire users to pay you for virtual goods is something that’s not easy to master.

This article will attempt to shed light on these economics within the social games market, what kind of opportunity exists for new entrants, and provide strategies that independent developers with limited resources can use to make a successful entry into the market.  This article is one of a two part series that will focus on strategies independent developers can use to be successful.  The next will focus on strategies for publishers to enter the space.”

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“By the end of 2010, Facebook was the leading social networking site in 15 of the 18 European markets included in this report. Only the Netherlands, Poland, and Russia have other social networks – in each case a home grown site – with audiences larger than Facebook. With 48 percent monthly penetration of the internet user population in the Netherlands, Facebook currently ranks second to Hyves, while it also ranks second in Poland with 55.5 percent penetration behind Nasza-klasa.pl. It should be noted, however, that Facebook is growing rapidly in both those markets. In Russia, Facebook has its lowest penetration in Europe at 18.8 percent, currently lagging behind leaders
Vkontakte, Odnoklassniki, and Mail.ru – My World.”

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bynd.com has done some research to try to understand the difference between what people are saying online compared to the actions of early adopters and the views of the rest of the US population when it comes to their mobile check-in habits. The results have been published as an article in Mashable, including an infographic pointing out the motivations behind this new habit.

You can find the article here: http://mashable.com/2011/05/04/social-location-apps-study/

published an article and an infographic about why people do check-in

As a planet, we spend 3 billion hours a week playing computer and videogames. That’s a LOT of time — enough to change our lives, and probably save the world (the real world) while we’re at it.

That’s why Gameful have created a “secret HQ” for people who are making games that are making us:

• happier
• smarter
• stronger
• healthier
• more collaborative
• more creative
• better connected to our friends and family
• and better at WHATEVER we love to do when we’re not playing games

Here are some games that are already doing just that: EVOKE, Fold It!, The Epic Win App, Flower, Code of Everand, SuperBetter, The MP Expenses Game, Budgetball, the Pokéwalker, Quest to Learn, Little Big Planet: Gamechangers, World Without Oil, Seek ‘n Spell, Goal Mafia,and Conspiracy for Good.

What all of these projects have in common: they’re dedicated to making some kind of a real positive impact on gamers’ lives and the world around them.

Gameful is an online “Secret HQ” where you can connect with other people who believe in the power of games to make us better and change the world.

You can find all the information at http://gameful.org

Community Equity started in August 2008. It is a framework to build a social value system for social networks and communities.

http://kenai.com/projects/community-equity