Comments on: 2010 online games trends

By: Justin Davis

Justin Davis — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:15:25 +0000

Very much agreed re: facebook. The console and PC-centric companies are pulling the rug out from under them and they don't even realize it. That's why I started http://socialgamecentral.com/ - to cover Facebook games from a consumer angle, the way dozens of sites cover console/PC.

By: Steven Davis

Steven Davis — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:29:47 +0000

I think Apple has created serious problem with the App Store and free apps. The collapse of game prices and availability of free copycats pose a severe problem for people considering the platform. Service-based games may be the only ones that survive.

However, as a developer, I then need to consider how large the PAYING iPhone customer base is for games vs. something like Facebook.

By: DianeL

DianeL — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:30:48 +0000

Thanks for the comment Martin! It could indeed be a way of mixing games and real life with less problems for scaling than the previous attempts had (ARGs, etc). Exciting!

By: Martin Rabl

Martin Rabl — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:11:40 +0000

Nice article.
While rules and environment for games are changing I think that especially point number 5 adds something completely new to the mix. Ok, location based games have been around for some years now but with smartphones having penetrated the mainstream market now, it is the right time for all sorts of Gowalla and Foursquare clones to try their luck.

In the last few weeks I have noticed that my friends lists on both of them grew rapidly and once there is more to do than just checking into a location and earning a few badges, they will become even more popular.

By the end of the year you won't ask anymore where your friends are (or maybe even are planning to go) on a Saturday night, you'll simply look it up - and join them playing some sort of mini-game in the 'real world'.