{"id":1198,"date":"2012-08-15T23:18:00","date_gmt":"2012-08-16T04:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/startupwhisperer.com\/damn-stinking-apes-lookout-for-the-small-game-developers\/"},"modified":"2021-02-03T16:39:52","modified_gmt":"2021-02-03T22:39:52","slug":"damn-stinking-apes-lookout-for-the-small-game-developers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/startupwhisperer.com\/2012\/08\/damn-stinking-apes-lookout-for-the-small-game-developers\/","title":{"rendered":"Damn Stinking Apes – Lookout For The Small Game Developers"},"content":{"rendered":"
Our industry is clearly moving to freemium – sales of virtual goods on social networking sites, online worlds, and casual games were $9B in 2011(1) growing at 9.2% CAGR with Facebook and App Stores as <\/a>the main distribution channel. <\/p>\n Social casual games (bubble, match 3 and casino) represent more than 50 percent of Facebook\u2019s MAUs, and attract more players than the next 10 genres combined. Casual games like bubble, match 3 and casino are also gaining traction on mobile when free verses paid. But even with all these free games, only 25 percent of all of Facebook\u2019s monthly active users play games on the site, according to an IHS Screen Digest report<\/a>. <\/p>\n We also know that nearly half of all Facebook users log on through a mobile device including tablets, yet mobile versions of social games are still maturing and discovering these apps remain highly fragmented for consumers.<\/p>\n As an industry and as a games business, we need evolve in order to expand market share, and market position. But we also need to recognize that while games are a necessary endeavor to get a bigger slice of the current market, it doesn\u2019t necessary grow the market overall. We need to make strategic investments in new ideas and innovations, create valuable partnerships that build stable and profitable businesses, and foster new economies that can attract and retain more social gamers. <\/a><\/p>\n