So here we go:
With hits like iDracula and Zen Bound, Chillingo has etched out a name for itself as one of the iPhone's big players. Rather than developing games themselves, they act as the publishing and marketing muscle behind developers who perhaps don't have the financial clout or experience do to the job themselves.
We got to talk with Joe Wee, one of founders of the company, about how they got to where they are today and their plans for the future.
Know Your Mobile: Chillingo’s back catalogue is full of games from different genres, from hardcore RPGs to casual games like Sneezies. What are the main factors you consider when deciding what content to sign up?
Joe Wee: The most important factor that we look out for is gameplay innovation – if you look at iDracula, Zen Bound, Bike or Die, Sneezies – they all create a unique gameplay experience that is truly iPhone centric. For example, the jog-wheel control mechanism that iDracula has coined has already sparked quite a cult following amongst new apps that are in the market now – who needs buttons on a phone if you can do it that way?
KYM: Although Chillingo is known primarily as an iPhone games publisher these days, its subsidiary Clickgamer offers games for all mobile platforms. Do you feel there’s much life left in traditional Java mobile gaming?
JW: Going forward, we will be pushing only AAA game titles through our Chillingo publishing brand, whilst our clickgamer.com publishing brand will be focusing on A grade iPhone apps. Since clickgamer.com’s inception in 2002, we have always concentrated on high quality mobile apps, hence, in a way iPhone publishing is a very natural progression for the brand.
There is a big shake up happening in the traditional java games world. I think that the answer to that question lies in how the ‘traditional mobile value chain’ will readjust itself to fit in with the new wave of manufacturer-based appstores – and how network operators will reinvent themselves if they wish to continue to take a large chunk out of mobile content revenues.
KYM: Chillingo is one of the few publishers that has managed to establish itself as a trusted, truly iPhone-centric publisher. How have you managed to do this?
JW: We have always been passionate about great games, and we will continue to do so – the iPhone as a gaming platform deserves great games on it! I believe that as long as we do not stray away from the core of our business, we will continue to build a reputation for ourselves for super-great iPhone games.
KYM: Did the huge success of iDracula come as a surprise?
JW: When we first started to work on iDracula with Moregames – our mission was simple if not too ambitious – to create a No.1 iPhone game that was great value for money. To that end, we have achieved our goal! The combination of a great game and a great hype engine fuelled the success quite effectively.
KYM: Which Chillingo game are you most proud of?
JW: It has to be circuit_strike.one that we have just submitted to the App Store only last night – it has been months in the making and we are VERY PROUD of how it has turned out… it will be the shooter game to end all shooter games. It will set a new bar to how shooter games should be on an iPhone.
KYM: What are you favourite iPhone games?
JW: Personally, Eliss and Zen Bound
KYM: If you could add one element of functionality to the iPhone to make it even better as a gaming device, what would it be?
JW: iPhone 3.0 actually fulfils a lot of our wishlist – we are already working on incorporating a lot of the features such as push notification and peer to peer networking to our upcoming games. Finger crossed – that Apple will release a true gaming console in the future ☺
KYM: Ngmoco’s Neil Young said the company missed out on the opportunity to publish Zen Bound. Are there any iPhone games you wish you’d had the chance to work with?
JW: Of course, there are one or two, but we are confident that our roadmap of upcoming AAA titles like Vampire Origins, Knights Onrush, Touch KO, Underground, Return To Mysterious Island and Hardgore – will keep iPhone gamers very busy in the foreseeable future!
KYM: How do you think iPhone gaming, and its audience, will develop over the next 12 months?
JW: We are very optimistic about the future of iPhone gaming, the market is only in its infancy – the closest competitors are at least a few years away from getting it right. We believe that the iPhone is here to stay as a true mobile gaming device.
KYM: Do you think Android phone gaming could take off in that time frame? If so, would you consider making games for the platform?
JW: It is a question of handsets penetration and quality of games available for Android. If they get it right, then the answer is yes.
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