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Tag: Google Games

  • Go Go Google Games!
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    Go Go Google Games!

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    Whoa, that was fast! Today, Google announced the launch of Google Games, with details on how it will work and launch partners.According to the blog post, users will be able click on a games button on top of their Google+ stream to play games, view game updates from friends in your circles, and see the latest games played, invites, and accomplishments.
  • Google’s 5% shot across Facebook’s bow (and why it’s a bad move)
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    Google’s 5% shot across Facebook’s bow (and why it’s a bad move)

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    According to an interview by Dean Takahashi of Venture Beat with Google executives Bradley Horowitz and Punit Soni, Google will charge game developers 5% for micro-transactions, not 20% as reported by this expert. And, much lower than Facebook's 30% cut.This is great news for game developers launching on Google Games in the short term. And such a stupid move by Google after making all the right moves so far.Why? Because once you start out at a low price, it's very hard to get the number back up without making your partners angry. Just ask Facebook.
  • Hot Summer in the City: 2011 Casual Game Outlook
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    • Android
    • iOS
    • PC
    Hot Summer in the City: 2011 Casual Game Outlook

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    As most of the United States struggles with record heat waves, the summer of 2011 may also be recorded as one of the hottest in the brief history of casual games. As the mercury continues to reach its highest heights, so are the valuations on casual games companies—witness Zygna's upcoming $1 billion IPO and EA's $750 million+ purchase of PopCap. Yet, Nintendo's staggering loss of approximately $300 million in Q1 shows a marketplace struggling with balance. Overheated, interglacial or ice age? Where is casual gaming going? An examination of key indicators provides some insights to this changing climate.
  • Does Facebook favor Zynga?
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    • iOS
    Does Facebook favor Zynga?

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    A famous quote from George Orwell's Animal Farm is, "all animals are equal, but some are more equal then others." Based on Dean Takahashi's excellent article in VentureBeat, this is how game developers perceive the relationship between Facebook and Zynga. Whether a special partnership exists or not, according to Takahashi, the mere fact that rumors are swirling will have a huge impact on social gaming in the year to come --- for Zynga, Facebook, and if they play their cards right, Google.
  • Google to charge game developers 20% for Google Games?
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    • Android
    Google to charge game developers 20% for Google Games?

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    Last week, I speculated on what Google plans to do in terms of charging for distribution on Google Games which is coming out very shortly. Today, I spread rumors. I have heard from 3 anonymous developers in the past week that Google plans to charge 20% for micro-transactions within Google Games. This, of course, is 10% less than Facebook and their mandatory cut of 30% for Facebook Credits. If this is the case, Google is finally being smart about games and could be successful.