[ Sponsored Links ]

Advertise here »

Online multiplayer games launch - advice/partners/developers sought

reply to message » post a new message » e-mail to a friend »
Subject:  Online multiplayer games launch - advice/partners/developers sought
Author:   projectdrag:   view profile | all posts by this author | add to favourites
Date:   01:10:01 27 February 2004
 
Hello,

We're gearing up to launch a new games/entertainment website aka project drag and are looking to add to our online multiplayer games portfolio. I thought I'd take the opportunity of flagging this up to get a little feedback from forum users - it seems to be a great place for e-busines comment and insight. I'm also on the lookout for other e-consultancy users that might be interested in exploring working relationships - hope that's ok.

Based in the UK but with a global focus, we've linked with a couple of independent US games publishers to allow our users to compete against one another via their browsers (which can expand to full screen in the game environment).

The business case for our venture is very strong and we're moving into a market when global broadband penetration is rising at a healthy rate, with many early-adopters likely to be savvy and C-Generation (Console), and thus an increasing demand for sticky, rich media experiences, which games provide in good measure.

The key pros are:

a) the viral, invite-a-friend nature of our venture - surely a good traffic driver / word of mouth / email tools to help increase awareness

b) the fact that users can effectively play skill-based games for money (virtual sports, in effect, and entirely different to gambling - legal comment/discussion welcomed should you know the ins and outs of this),

c) the nascent digital distribution model and associated subscription model - offers a brand new route to a brand new market for independent developers and revenue sharing, benefits from scale

d) the market forecasts from all the major research agencies - a global market in an accelerated growth phase, with potential untapped demand massively outstripping the current supply

e) the chance to pioneer something for the casual gamer that has so far only been targeted at the hardcore game players - the lunchtime online multiplayer games session will become de rigeur in offices around the world if we get our way

f) a wealth of advertising opportunities coming at a time when there is increased demand for richer, more subtle and user friendly forms of advertising on the web - advergaming (adverts/logos/branding/content featured within the game environment) offers amazing branding opportunities for savvy marketers, with players exposed to your brand for extended periods, with the obvious benefits of association when games are spectacularly good. Also provides opportunities for data capture via competitions, which can be sponsored with prizes, vouchers, money, holidays etc.

g) the opportunity to white label elements of/the full web service to other portals/online publishers/websites

h) the push activity of microsoft and sony for xbox and ps2 online, broadband-enabled multiplayer gaming - this is raising awareness that you CAN compete online via the web, which, to our advantage, has a far greater reach than both consoles multiplied by quite a factor; we believe there is a significant opportunity to transfer this demand and interest in multiplayer gaming to PCs and laptops from all corners of the globe, particuarly when incentivised by real money prize pools

i) the knock on advantages of operating a website that benefits from high traffic, long user sessions - ie online advertising, content deals, loyal users, high levels of interaction and community tools

j) the chance to work with the digital industry at large on common standards that enable joined up gameplay - a cross platform gaming experience may one day be a reality

We need to support the above by concentrating on the user and making sure that we host only the best quality online multiplayer games (our key launch title is fantastic fun and players negotiate a 3D gaming environment testing their skills, and no, it isn't a first person shooter but a sports title). There are plenty of hurdles to overcome and any thoughts, comments or general advice would be warmly received.

In terms of business development, please get in touch if our venture is appeals to you, either as a games developer or distributor of digital games (are you working on web multiplayer titles? do you have an existing portfolio of web games that needs to be monetised via ongoing commissions), marketer (looking for advergaming/competition/sponsorship information etc), a content partner (we white label, syndicate news/reviews and can feed content into our site/link to your site) or journalist/press (quotes, comment, the latest on our plans for world domination etc).

We've not benefited (nor yet particularly sought) external funding but the market has picked up and we're now talking to two angels. I'd welcome discussion with other interested parties. (As a sidenote, we are not particularly desperate for cash but the business will certainly benefit from scale and if a strategic equity divestment would facilitate rapid growth, and the investors have the right skills to help us, then it might make a lot of sense for everyone concerned).

Thanks for reading!

Jonathan B.
email: elementsofdrag@hotmail.com
 
« Back to Internet Marketing Forum Previous Thread »  |  Next Thread »
« Back to Internet Marketing Forum Post a new message »
Subscribe for only €299