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VIRTUALISATION The seventh platform for video gaming
VIRTUALISATION The seventh platform for video gaming | The seventh platform for video gaming |
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| by Mike Bantick | |
| Wednesday, 25 February 2009 | |
  
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Over at AusGamers.com there is a recent interview with Firemint CEO Robert Murray. Firemint have been in the game of creating games, predominantly for hand-held devices for a decade now. Carving out a niche that is according to Murray and just beginning to burgeon. “Firemint sees handheld and mobile devices as the leading growth platform. Handheld platforms and digital distribution are all about convenience, what you want, when you want it, wherever you are”, said Murray. But he is quick to point out that companies like Firemint need to be ready to move with trends; “... handheld and mobile platforms are not all we are interested in. More broadly it is digital distribution that excites us. Buying your content digitally is cheaper, more convenient and environmentally friendly. It is simply a matter of time and broadband penetration before digital distribution exceeds retail in revenue.” This is where the iTunes App Store and Nokia N-gage digital distribution channels help companies such as Firemint. By avoiding the bricks and mortar retail chains and inherent extra overheads, targeting a more casual, 5 minute attention span audience and making purchasing quick and painless. Companies such as Firemint and the more omnipresent PopCap have flourished in this environment. Murray continues this thought: “Services like App Store and N-Gage are a breath of fresh air for us. They have their problems for sure, but the possibility of distributing globally through just one channel on a consistent platform eliminates an incredible amount of expense and lowers barriers to entry for content providers.” “ I think it is good for the consumer, and it is good for the industry. The more spent on the game and the less spent on porting, deployment and distribution costs, the healthier the industry will be. In business terms these services are revolutionary, and they may finally allow mobile games to live up to the promise that we all saw back in 2002.” The full interview can be viewed here. |
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