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.
…