European Online Games Experts

Europe is a special market
Europe is one of the fastest growing markets in the world for online video games, and its wealth of player communities offers great retention prospects. It's also a very complex area, with a multitude of languages, laws and cultures, and this makes Europe a daunting place for foreign companies to set up and conduct operations (which is why its market potential is still largely untapped).

At ICO, we have extensive, current knowledge of the European online games market and its variety of operators, and we're ideally placed to help you set up, develop or extend your European online games operations.

ICO provides tailored, specialist advice
Online games aren't just 'products'; they're service-based, generate different user expectations and behaviour, and require a different approach than offline games. We understand the intricate developer/publisher relationship that often underpins online games, and the inter-connected internal processes involved. We're also familiar with the constraints and limitations faced by smaller developers wanting to self-publish. Every game presents its own unique combination of challenges -- we can help you tackle yours and move you closer to a winning service formula.


PACKAGES

Development and publishing consulting
ICO Partners provides bespoke consulting on all aspects of online game development and operations. Since 2008, ICO has helped established companies to build their European deployment strategies, including high-level planning, choosing an office location, organising operational structure and teams, evaluating service providers and assessing the potential of individual games for European markets.

Our core team has over ten years' experience of publishing online games across the whole of Europe. We also assist developers on publishing-related aspects of development -- from budget planning, tools development and metrics analysis to business development strategy and free-to-play business models. To find out more, please contact us.

Market intelligence
We have extensive knowledge of the European market, and maintain a comprehensive database of developers, publishers and service providers. This allows us to create customized market intelligence reports to help our clients build winning strategies for their European projects. We conduct research in-house using a custom tool suite, which gives us a unique perspective of the European online games market as a whole. This specialist knowledge is the reason why ICO Partners is requested to speak about the European market at industry events around the world.

Auditing and due diligence
ICO Partners' team of experts is available to help you assess your online game projects. Whether you are an investor, a developer or a publisher, we can provide in-depth analysis of online operations and services as well as game development, complete with recommendations to mitigate the risks involved with your project at every stage. We apply a very straightforward approach and provide our clients with honest, constructive analysis.

Marketing and community strategy
We have very strong expertise in bringing online games to market, and can provide tailored advice to help you reach and engage your users. ICO's related consulting areas include game positioning, beta planning, release/extended marketing planning, communication strategy, drafting of media plans, community management strategy and ongoing guidance. We can combine these elements as required to help you plan a strong acquisition effort and complementary retention program.

Media relations
ICO Media was built in 2009 to answer the growing demand for a pan-European solution to communicate with media about online games. Unlike typical PR agencies, we work across a wide range of countries and have a very community-based and audience-centric approach, aimed at creating a long-term communication strategy designed to support the long life cycle of online games.

ICO Media key features

• Wide reach across Europe: France, Germany, UK, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Greece, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria.


• Online games focus: We approach games as services, not just products, and design communication with this in mind. Our media services support games throughout their lifecycle -- from announcement and beta through to launch and live updates.


• Specialized media communication: We reach media in online games, video games, peripheral interests (e.g. fantasy, RPGs, lifestyle) and beyond. Our fan community outreach enables better information flow to blogs and fansites.


• Promotional activities: We manage beta programs, trials and client distribution for F2P and P2P games, competitions and promotions with partner websites.


• Event management: We can organise a strong media-oriented presence at consumer shows and coordinate press events, managing the process from planning through to follow-up.


• Covermount deals: You can centralize your effort with us to get covermount coverage for your game.


• Strategic integration with your community plans and social media activities.


If you would like more information about our PR services, please contact us.