Debating F2P's soul, Glu's top financials and how the hot Helsinki scene just got hotter
The past 7 days in bite-sized portions
At the start of another financial report season, we prepare our calculator for another round of heavyduty action.
The early signs appear to be good, at least from US publishers EA Mobile and Glu Mobile, which both experienced increased sales; Glu Mobile sharply so.
However, the stock market can be a cruel mistress, and year-on-year growth of 199 percent wasn't enough to stop Glu's share price dropping 20 percent in a day.
Ironically, it's now at the same price as before Kim Kardashian: Hollywood - a game that generated $43 million in Q3 revenue - was released.
Industry voices- Turrican and Rogue Squadron dev Julian Eggebrecht on taking 4 years to make TouchFish, the perfect iOS fish tank sim.
- US developer Pixelberry continued its development diary tells us what happened after High School Story peaked on the App Store.
- Longtime supporter Keith Andrew argued that Nokia isn't dead, just resting until 2016 when it regains the ability to launch new smartphones.
- This week, our Monetizer Mavens debated F2P games' moral core, their ability to unlock creative freedom and even their role in terms of redistributing wealth.
- Prior to her GDC Next talk, ex-DeNA, Kixeye producer Caryl Shaw spoke about on ditching F2P games to reclaim her soul with Telltale.
- There's only two months left before new European VAT rules will be in force, points out European Games Developer Federation's Jari-Pekka Kaleva.
- So, Tim Cook is gay. Why exactly should you care? says Keith Andrew.
- Want more women in games? Then start embracing F2P argues Carter Dotson.
- VR is cool, but currently lacks commercial viability said our Indie Mavens.
- Despite growth of 73%, iResearch claims the $4 billion Chinese mobile games market is 'maturing'.
- Fiksu's Craig Palli revealed the retention curves of five games with over 20 million downloads.
- At Game Connection Europe 2014, TalkingData's Ibrahim Dai spoke about how to accelerate your success in the Chinese mobile market.
- It's been rumoured that GungHo Online has bought a 70% stake in PlayPhone to gain US and emerging markets reach.
- MyGamez kicks off gaming for China Unicom's set-top boxes with Tunnel Ground.
- Tencent's daily app download total passed 100 million.
- The updated Oculus SDK now supports Unity Free.
- Unity signed a global alliance with Korean giant NHN Entertainment.
- According to IDC's Q3 2014 report, Samsung and Apple lead the way in terms of smartphone shipments but Xiaomi, Lenovo and LG are catching up.
- Chukong rolls out Cocos Services to provide one-stop mobile game-making shop.
- Rise of Nations designer Brian Reynolds rebooted Big Huge Games to revolutionise mobile strategy with the forthcoming DomiNations.
- Finnish developer Traplight Games raised $500,000 to launch user-generated social racer What on Earth!.
- EA Mobile saw Q2 FY15 revenue rise 64% to $123 million.
- Finnish mobile developer Next Games bought Finnish mobile developer Helsinki Gameworks.
- Thanks to Kim Kardashian: Hollywood, Glu Mobile sees FY14 Q3 sales up 199% to a record $65 million.
- But despite Kim Kardashian: Hollywood generating $43 million, Glu's shares drop 20%.
- Gamevil opens a Berlin office with ex-GameGenetics' David Mohr as GM.
And doing forget, there are two opportunities to pitch your indie game during November: in London on 13 November and Helsinki on 17 November.
Jon Jordan
A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon can turn his hand to anything except hand turning. He is editor-at-large at PG.biz which means he can arrive anywhere in the world, acting like a slightly confused uncle looking for the way out. He likes letters, cameras, imaginary numbers and legumes.