Archive
Sony Online Entertainment Expands Relationship with Live Gamer to Power Microtransactions Experience Across Multiple Platforms
Today we are pleased to announce that we have expanded our relationship with Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) to implement Elements, our core microtransaction platform, to power micro-payments across their social, web, and in-game channels.
SOE and Live Gamer will work closely over the next quarter to seamlessly augment and upgrade SOE’s existing proprietary infrastructure. This collaboration will enable a unified cross-platform e-wallet and item merchandising experience within SOE’s traditional client-side PC online game business. Games to take advantage of the Live Gamer platform will include PoxNora®, Free Realms™, EverQuest® and EverQuest®II, as well as future titles.
“The microtransaction industry has become increasingly specialized, and Live Gamer has helped us with advanced functionality that allows us to continually stay ahead of the curve in ecommerce,” said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment. “We chose Live Gamer to power our payments, merchandising and primary-secondary market solutions based on innovative technology, recognized track record in the market and an advanced, holistic approach.”
Along with this announcement are significant upgrades to the core platform itself such as an upgraded enterprise storefront, retail merchandising capabilities, advanced item offers and new analytics features for payment gateway optimization to improve publishers’ ability to drive conversion rates, ARPU, and retention.
Read the official announcement or contact us to learn more about our new platform upgrades.
Live Gamer Hires Gaming Icon Stevie Case, to Drive Business Development Initiatives
Stevie case
Live Gamer is please to announce that female gaming icon, Stevie Case has joined our team as Senior Director of Business Development, bringing her passion for the industry and long-standing experience in the professional gaming business to the company.
In her career, Stevie has been acknowledged as both one of “20 Women to Watch in Business Under 30” by Working Woman Magazine, and as one of the “Next Game Gods” by PC Gamer.
She most recently served as the N. American Business Development and Sales lead at fatfoogoo. She has previously served as Director of Business Development and Sales at Tira Wireless, as well as at Spleak Media Network as Director of Product Management, designing features for an IM-based social network.
Ms. Case is a widely respected figure in the industry and is celebrated for being one of the first professional female gamers in the world. Stevie gained notable recognition for defeating John Romero in a Quake deathmatch. Soon after, she joined Ion Storm: first as a game tester, then as a level designer. Stevie, Romero, and id Software veteran Tom Hall then went on to co-found Monkeystone Games, where she was CEO.
We are thrilled to bring her industry expertise to the Live Gamer family!
Virtual Goods News: Q&A With Live Gamer’s president, Andrew Schneider
Virtual Goods News recently caught up with Live Gamer’s president, Andrew Schneider to talk about likely trends of 2010 in microtransactions and virtual goods.
Here’s what he had to say…
To read the entire visit, Virtual Goods News
Virtual Goods News: What do you see happening with free-to-play business models in the immediate future?
Andrew Schneider: Free-to-play models will become king online and on mobile, with revenue coming from microtransactions. We’ll also start hearing hype around the first free-to-play console title.
VirtualGoodsNews: What company do you think will have the most impact on virtual goods in 2010?
Andrew Schneider: Apple will open the door for virtual currencies and virtual goods sales on the iPhone and iPod Touch via the App Store. Over $100 million in virtual goods will be sold within the App Store economy in 2010 alone, with overall virtual goods sales rivaling overall iPhone app sales.
VGN: What impact do you see microtransactions having on total mobile revenues?
AS: Mobile microtransactions will reach 20% of mobile revenues. The introduction of microtransactions through the iPhone App store will be a major influencer here.
VGN: Do you see any innovations coming in the ways publishers use virtual goods?
AS: Multi-purpose, cross platform item use will become commonplace. For example,
single items may have functional use in games or virtual worlds, but then also be used outside of that context — in user profiles or other social display outlets on multiple platforms.
VGN: Where do you see brands fitting in to 2010′s virtual goods picture?
AS: Brand licensing will increase, both for free-to-play games and for virtual goods inside games, social networks, and virtual worlds.
VGN: Do you see publishers trying to monetize virtual goods differently in 2010?
AS: Publishers will focus on an integrated approach to revenue that expands beyond monetization of the “super-user,” with a targeted combination of virtual goods, virtual currency and advertising.
VGN: Do you see traditional media companies adopting a microtransaction-oriented business model?
AS: Traditional media companies will increasingly mirror the virtual goods market in social gaming for monetization. The first major move to this will occur when Google starts charging for content.
…
Live Gamer joins Virtual Goods Panel at International CES Game Power Conference
Live Gamer president, Andrew Schneider joined “Virtual Worlds, Virtual Economies, Virtual Goods and Services and Virtual Gaming” at the Digital Hollywood Game Power Conference at International CES.
The moderator included Cindy Cook, former Chief Marketing Officer, Vivendi Games
Other Panelists included:
Mark Hansen, Director of Business Development, LEGO Group Project Lead, LEGO Universe
David Laux, Global Executive, Games & Interactive Entertainment, IBM
Karl Mehta, Co-Founder & CEO, PLAYSPAN, Inc.
Christopher Romero, World Designer & CTO, WorldWide Biggies
Cary Rosenzweig, President and CEO, IMVU
Craig Sherman, Chief Executive Officer, Gaia Online
We would like to thank our fellow panelists and audience members for an interesting look on the virtual universe and how technology will positively impact the experience by creatively engaging more users in addition to driving the growth of the virtual economy both in innovation and economic growth.
