Presentation: By: Henrik Riis CEO watAgame
Henrikriis Gosupermodel
Jan 14, 2015
Gosupermodel, early days
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Transcript
Who Am I?
33 years Formerly R&D Engineer with 7 years experience Now CEO of watAgame ApS for 3,5 years Burning for the combination of games and communities
watAgame in short?
Gamunities producer Specialised in cross media mobile/web Established in 2003 Based in Copenhagen, Denmark 11 employees 9 products in more than 10 languages
What are Indie games?
Indie games are video games that are created independently of the financial backing of a large publishing company. These games generally have a small or non-existent budget and are often primarily available online or through friend-to-friend sharing [Wikipedia.com 28.10-2006]
Why Indie games?
It can be financially viable to be independent: Easy distribution - Worldwide distribution via internet Cheap production - Games relying on great game play
rather than 3d graphics and actor voice overs can be very cheap to produce
Easy sales - Direct sales to end-user via mobile, paypal etc.
Examples of profitable indies
Neopets.com Habbo.com Puzzlepirates.com Runescape.com
Why Indie games?
It is easier to get started: Low start up costs Few people needed No expensive tool kits needed (Nintendo, Playstation) No high level partnerships needed
Why Indie games?
It is the most creative approach: Working with large corporations limits creative freedom
They have a lot to loose! Published games are locked in a few financially
proven genres Virality is paramount
Games that re-invent Games that challenge Games that surprise
Creativity must make up for all money can buy
A mobile RPG multiplayer universe
Era of Eidolon A multiplayer RPG series for mobile phones Seven games in the series so far Launched in seven major languages 96.000 heroes from 55 countries Published through mobile content aggregators
What is goSupermodel?
A virtual space for girls to meet! A community game centered on fashion A world full of fabulous clothes, fantastic haircuts and
cool accessories Cross media – mobile/web Boys are not allowed!
Reaching the girls
Supplying them with means for: Social relations Communication Being creative Playing simple games
Game features
Dolling Multiplayer games Community elements Fashion content A safe environment Tutorial and help
Dolling
20+ billion possible combinations!• Girls love styling and want to be unique!• Clothes, hair and accessories can be customized• Product placement of Branded clothing
Multiplayer photo shoots
Four player multiplayer game• Style/fashion element• Communication is key• A place to meet
Community elements
• Friend lists• In-game mail • Forum• Blogs with pictures• Picture upload• Competitions with real prizes• Chat (web only)
Stickiness through relations
• Being on friend lists• Best friends • Virtual hugs• Gifts• Player rating each others content• High scores
Game system to encourage behaviour
Goal: Create friendly communityHigh quality user contributed content
Solution: • Popularity parameter
Game system to encourage behaviour
Goal: Encourage socialisation
Solution: • Communicative multiplayer game• Popularity parameter
Somewhere safe!
• A combination of admins and moderators supervise community
• All pictures are screened• Email- and phone number filter• Offensive word filter• Auto recognition system: Bad users, predators &
hackers
Cross media
• Critical mass gained fast through web media• Excellent billing solution through mobile• Cross media users have:
– Longer average lifetime– Increased session time per day– Higher expenditure on virtual items
Business model
• Free access:– Reaching an elusive target group– Generating rapid viral spread
• Earnings from:– In-game sales of virtual goods
• Weekly Player Spending limit– Advertising sales
Virtual goods
Game credits lets users buy:• Clothing• Haircuts• Accessories• Messages to all• Photographer pictures
• Picture upload
• Gifts
Advertising sales
• Banner impressions• Sponsored competitions• Customized campaigns
Our outset for development
Create a concept that puts us in the drivers seat: Uses our existing development platform has a good business potential is independent of middle men does not require “deals” with slow organizations is born viral has global appeal uses a public brand
Our creative process
Step 1:Find out whats cooking: ”The harder I work the luckier I seem to be getting” Get an international games related network Plug in!
Talk to investors Talk to industry colleguages Talk to universities Look at other succes products Browse the web Read blogs Watch TV Read studies Play games
Our creative process
Step 2:Create our own recipe: Define who we are cooking for Ask customer what they want – then give them
something else Review other peoples recipes for target group Find out what flavour we want Brainstorm - Create an all new dish
Add own special ingredient Present recipe to target group Review and refine recipe
Our creative process
Step 3:Get cooking Build an alpha – as early as possible Create a focus group:
Get their opinions Watch them play - just watch
Build the beta version Test, balance and refine Never be afraid to pull the plug
Our creative process
Step 4:Serve it Set it live Use guerilla marketing Measure on everything!
Keep refining! Spice it up – add more flavours Create side dishes
