Back in October I had a chance to visit King’s studio in Stockholm. I was mainly there to check out an upcoming game and absorb the culture, but as is often the case when talking with mobile-minded developers, the conversation eventually moved to Asia: the great white whale of gaming markets. How do you break into it? And how do you get to be #1?
This week King answered that question, at least as far as China is concerned – and based on my chats with the team, the move they’ve made isn’t the least bit surprising (and really, it’s the one any developer looking for success in the Asian market should consider). But what was it? Read on to find out!
As always, thanks to our pals at Laohu.com for providing Gamezebo readers with a roundup of the biggest gaming news to hit China each week.
Back in October I had a chance to visit King’s studio in Stockholm. I was mainly there to check out an upcoming game and absorb the culture, but as is often the case when talking with mobile-minded developers, the conversation eventually moved to Asia: the great white whale of gaming markets. How do you break into it? And how do you get to be #1?
This week King answered that question, at least as far as China is concerned – and based on my chats with the team, the move they’ve made isn’t the least bit surprising (and really, it’s the one any developer looking for success in the Asian market should consider). But what was it? Read on to find out!
As always, thanks to our pals at Laohu.com for providing Gamezebo readers with a roundup of the biggest gaming news to hit China each week.
Tencent announced this week that it will distribute Candy Crush Saga in China. The English version of the popular match-three game had failed to impress after landing on the App Store in China due to paralyzed social functions (Chinese users cannot access Facebook). In contrast, Tencent will launched a domesticized version catering to Chinese gamers, which builds on WeChat and Mobile QQ, two powerful app sharing platforms in China. (Laohu.com)
On April 23, Baidu will hold a mobile games conference with the theme “Innovative Vision”, where it may announce detailed strategies regarding its Baidu Mobile Games platform. According to sources, Baidu has just consolidated Baidu Duoku and Mobile 91 – its existing gaming businesses – into a single entity. The conference is expected to center around this key event. According to Zhang Dongchen, head of Baidu’s mobile gaming business, Baidu Mobile Games will be Baidu’s only mobile gaming platform which adopts a unified approach to business, operation and marketing. (Laohu.com)
A result of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, Chukong Technology, which develops popular casual game Fishing Joy, has secretly filed in SEC for listing. IPO documents will be published as early as next week, while timing for the IPO is expected around May. Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and EZCapital will underwrite this IPO. Chukong did not respond to the story. (Laohu.com)
According to a survey on iOS and Android gambling games published by data research company Distimo, China iOS gambling games grew by 115% in revenue in 2013, with total income ranking 6th in the world. The US contributed the most to App Store gambling games in 2013. (Laohu.com)
