Social Networking and Games - Friends Or Foes?
The ongoing Mobile Gaming Forum (MGF) in London has been a major source of interest for us.
Although we can't fly out, but thanks to the frequent updates, it's fairly easy to stay ahead of what's going on.
One of the topics that caught our eye has been social networks and mobile gaming.
The MGF panel of experts talks about how there's a need to integrate the two platforms together so that users get a seamless interface.
One of the key forces driving the need for this bridge has been Facebook Connect.
Experts are talking about the potential users can easily extend their social network gaming to mobile games.
Traditional features such as leader boards and high scores do help create a sense of social gaming, nonetheless, the major advantage that social network games can easily be updated through the Internet while mobile games can't.
As developers for mobile games, it's a dilemma we face fairly regularly while developing.
Trying to get the same sort of numbers for social network games for our games for the iPhone is a daunting task.
We've incorporated almost every way of connecting social networking into our games via email, share on Facebook buttons, etc.
But it still falls short when we see the number of users playing FarmVille or Cafe World on Facebook.
One of the reasons we feel that people are more comfortable playing social network games is primarily the device they play on, a computer or laptop.
The whole association with the device is one of utility.
You can use your laptop to watch movies, work on spreadsheets, or surf the Internet, etc, while mobiles have this one-fixed connotation of being devices for making calls or sending texts.
You play games when you need to pass the time.
Until recently the iPhone revolution and social networking websites changed how cell phones could be potential gaming platforms.
Regardless of device perceptions, the importance of Facebook Connect has allowed mobile game developers like us to at least try to bridge this gap between social network and mobile games.
Users can easily play social network games through their network (Facebook, MySpace, etc) and then continue to check game status on their cell phones through the Facebook Connect API.
The key concern for us is whether to develop specifically for mobile platforms and then move to social networks or vice versa.
In our opinion, with smartphone penetration increasing and explosive app growth dictates that the mobile gaming will take off since social networking websites allow users to take their digital lives with them.
The iPhone has played a major role in showing how users can easily surf the Internet on their phones and still maintain their digital lives while on the move.
As developers, we feel that mobile gaming needs to integrate with carriers more effectively to show how Internet connectivity is on par with fixed broadband lines and users can use their phones like their computers.
The iPhone has done it's part in convincing users that smartphones have come far enough to support heavy duty gaming.
It's our responsibility to show how mobile games based on popular social network games can let users play on their phones.
Another major factor that can help developer tap new markets is to use the existing communities on social networking websites to build a customer base.
Prior to the boom of social networking websites, the bridge between the personal computer and cell phones was large enough for both industries to remain separate.
The new digital convergence of the Internet onto a variety of devices has meant that both these areas should be collaborating to create new experiences for users.
Some firms have already started to create their own online gaming networks such as Chillingo by launching its own iPhone social gaming platform: Crystal.
Efforts by developers should focus on how users are able to extend their digital identities onto mobile gaming.
By doing so, it will bring back interest in an industry that has taken a somewhat backseat in the midst of this convergence.
API tools such as Facebook Connect should not been seen as threats, but rather the potential to access existing users and bring them into the mobile arena.
Although we can't fly out, but thanks to the frequent updates, it's fairly easy to stay ahead of what's going on.
One of the topics that caught our eye has been social networks and mobile gaming.
The MGF panel of experts talks about how there's a need to integrate the two platforms together so that users get a seamless interface.
One of the key forces driving the need for this bridge has been Facebook Connect.
Experts are talking about the potential users can easily extend their social network gaming to mobile games.
Traditional features such as leader boards and high scores do help create a sense of social gaming, nonetheless, the major advantage that social network games can easily be updated through the Internet while mobile games can't.
As developers for mobile games, it's a dilemma we face fairly regularly while developing.
Trying to get the same sort of numbers for social network games for our games for the iPhone is a daunting task.
We've incorporated almost every way of connecting social networking into our games via email, share on Facebook buttons, etc.
But it still falls short when we see the number of users playing FarmVille or Cafe World on Facebook.
One of the reasons we feel that people are more comfortable playing social network games is primarily the device they play on, a computer or laptop.
The whole association with the device is one of utility.
You can use your laptop to watch movies, work on spreadsheets, or surf the Internet, etc, while mobiles have this one-fixed connotation of being devices for making calls or sending texts.
You play games when you need to pass the time.
Until recently the iPhone revolution and social networking websites changed how cell phones could be potential gaming platforms.
Regardless of device perceptions, the importance of Facebook Connect has allowed mobile game developers like us to at least try to bridge this gap between social network and mobile games.
Users can easily play social network games through their network (Facebook, MySpace, etc) and then continue to check game status on their cell phones through the Facebook Connect API.
The key concern for us is whether to develop specifically for mobile platforms and then move to social networks or vice versa.
In our opinion, with smartphone penetration increasing and explosive app growth dictates that the mobile gaming will take off since social networking websites allow users to take their digital lives with them.
The iPhone has played a major role in showing how users can easily surf the Internet on their phones and still maintain their digital lives while on the move.
As developers, we feel that mobile gaming needs to integrate with carriers more effectively to show how Internet connectivity is on par with fixed broadband lines and users can use their phones like their computers.
The iPhone has done it's part in convincing users that smartphones have come far enough to support heavy duty gaming.
It's our responsibility to show how mobile games based on popular social network games can let users play on their phones.
Another major factor that can help developer tap new markets is to use the existing communities on social networking websites to build a customer base.
Prior to the boom of social networking websites, the bridge between the personal computer and cell phones was large enough for both industries to remain separate.
The new digital convergence of the Internet onto a variety of devices has meant that both these areas should be collaborating to create new experiences for users.
Some firms have already started to create their own online gaming networks such as Chillingo by launching its own iPhone social gaming platform: Crystal.
Efforts by developers should focus on how users are able to extend their digital identities onto mobile gaming.
By doing so, it will bring back interest in an industry that has taken a somewhat backseat in the midst of this convergence.
API tools such as Facebook Connect should not been seen as threats, but rather the potential to access existing users and bring them into the mobile arena.
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