I was at the Innovation Works Social Gaming talk on Monday and heard some interesting predictions by AJ Redmer, CEO of WeMadeEntertainment USA Inc., a huge game development company specializing in MMOG (Massively Multiplayer Online Games) such as the Legend of Mir.
AJ presented on what he sees as the new frontier of opportunity for game developers. In the US, he says the sales trend is already huge and foresees it to continue. Of course the spark was lit by the release of the Apple iPad in 2010, which sold 2 million units in the first 2 months and its Q1 sales exceeded all tablet sales combined for the past 3 years. It is projected to reach astonishing US$17bn revenue in 2014 and that’s just in America. Already Apple is doing big business in China and the iPad is definitely a hot product. I work amongst a group of early 20’s Chinese people and many of them carry an iPad – more than my friends back in Australia.
But the point being made by AJ, is that there is a huge opportunity for developers in China to take advantage of this wave of tablet popularity. Many manufacturers are releasing Tablets, many based on the Android platform such as the Dell Streak, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Motorolla Xoom. The Motorolla Xoom has been considered the first major challenger to the Apple iPad, which was unveiled at the CES Conference in Las Vegas in January. AJ said there is a big software opportunity because there is no dominant social network or social game optimized for tablets. Previous products were based on keyboard inputs and not touch screen, so there is big space for new software and apps to interact with the device.
Already an iPad app has been developed for cats, yes that’s right, your pet cat! Game for Cats developed by Hiccup is a game for cats to catch a mouse or a laser dot. Now that’s creative blue ocean strategy! Can someone please develop an app for pandas?