The three-day Casual Connect conference starts tomorrow in Kiev for the 7th time. Editorial Office App2Top.ru I prepared a special project by interviewing the leading companies of the casual games market, which are now actively developing in the mobile direction. But first we want to introduce you to Jessica Tams, Executive Director of Casual Games Association.
Jessica, how has the casual gaming industry changed over the past three years?
During this time, we have seen how the mobile and social gaming market has matured a lot and how new business models in gambling have appeared.
Over the past three years, the industry has become really massive – the volume of its audience has become comparable to the audience of other types of entertainment, such as television, cinemas and console games.
What is the main trend now?In 2013, a session dedicated to gambling will appear on Casual Connect.
We believe that this will become the main vector of development for developers, publishers and distributors of casual games. Nevertheless, downloadable, social, mobile and browser games will not cease to play an important role in the ecosystem of the industry, and people should understand that it will also be possible to earn money there.
Do you think this trend will last for a long time?
Games of any kind do not go away, even when new ones appear.
Therefore, it seems to me that all kinds of casual games will continue to exist for many years to come.
This year, one of the Casual Connect conferences was held in Singapore for the first time. Why did you decide to expand to the East?
We were waiting for the right moment to start expanding into Asia, and in 2012 we had an opportunity when one of the conferences in this region stopped being held.
Casual game publishers, especially Big Fish, supported us. Southeast Asia has good ties with the West, it is ready to do business together, and for many Western companies that are planning to expand, this may be the first step. In addition, there are a lot of users who are ready to consume new game content.
Now you hold four conferences a year. Many developers would like to release so many games annually! What can you advise them in terms of increasing productivity?I think quality is more important than quantity!
In my opinion, no one would refuse to have only one game in their portfolio if it earned like Angry Birds :) As for productivity… You just have to do what you like, and then the performance will be at a high level by itself. Therefore, each developer needs to make the games that he likes and that he knows how to do, and not get carried away with another soap bubble along with everyone else. Only by creating what you like, you can create something really worthwhile.
Developers from Eastern Europe are known for their cool downloadable casual games. Do you think they will start playing a leading role in the mobile market too?Each developer must decide for himself in which direction to develop, for which platforms to make projects.
Choosing a new path, you need to take into account your weaknesses and strengths. Personally, I think that developers from Eastern Europe are very talented people, both in terms of programming and in terms of art. Such a combination is extremely rare, and developers should make the most of their unique capabilities. And despite the fact that Eastern European companies can certainly create great mobile games, it seems to me that you should not rush there headlong, do not forget about other platforms.
What is the source of your creativity?I wouldn’t call myself “creative” – I just analyze information and follow market trends.
It is important for our Association to maintain objectivity and a comprehensive approach, so I just do everything so that as many different ways to earn income as possible are discussed at Casual Connect. And to engage in creativity is the task of developers!
What will the casual gaming industry look like in 5 years?Cool!
The casual gaming industry is unique in that with its help we get access to players all over the world. You and I have seen how the casual games market has become a market of really mass demand, and I think that in the future casual games will become the dominant form of digital entertainment.
What impressed you the most in Eastern Europe?Since 2006, when I came here for the first time, I was struck by the level of culture, education and religiosity.
In addition, it was here that I saw more women taking leadership positions in business than anywhere else. I see a strong community and a desire to share information. To be honest, Casual Connect in Kiev is my favorite conference, although maybe it’s all about incredibly fun parties ;)
What, in your opinion, distinguishes the casual games industry from all others?Now that the games have become very popular, it is very important for us not to forget that we can gradually change the world for the better.
The fact that people of different nationalities unite under the banner of casual games already testifies to their positive influence. When I saw how developers from Eastern Europe went to Singapore for Casual Connect this year to meet new teams from Asia, I was very impressed. It’s hard for me to imagine any other sphere where professionals from different countries could communicate with each other so easily. I am happy that thanks to casual games, I personally have friends all over the world that I can rely on.