Video Gaming

Zynga’s IPO Priced

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Yes, Zynga has announced it's price-per share and it's $10.  This is a must-read article, though the basic summary is Zynga gets a huge load of cash that's record-setting.

So what's my takeaway here for us progeeks?

  • This is a pretty reasonable stock price compared to everything else – but of course, expect it to go through the roof. Also I expect it to fall a few months later if it does rocket up.  They are big enough that what happens to the stock will affect other IPOs – except, maybe, Facebook.
  • Zynga will raise a lot of money, and what they do next is going to be a big question.  The article jokes they could buy those who once mocked them, but if you think about it they really COULD.  Zynga could choose to radically change the game market merely by acquisition.
  • I have doubts about Zynga successfully expanding/acquiring because their internal model of doing things – intense, statistic-driven – may not map well to other gaming ventures.  I can't, for instance, see them successfully entering the MMO market.  The question is if Zynga's management realizes their limits – and I'm not sure.
  • They will do something with the money, and where that money goes, jobs will probably follow.
  • Zynga's star has faded in the last few months, and in the gaming circles I sense less and less admiration and more dislike and annoyance.  There are people waiting to pounce on any errors made.

So now, we sit and wait and see what happens . . .

– Steven Savage

 

Gree Has New Social Game Platform

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OK gamers, Gree's got a new social game developer platform coming and there's a look at it now.

They're promising:

  • Access to their current amount of players (A sweet 150 million)
  • iOS and Android integration
  • A ton of tools

So sounds interesting for gamers, you're going to want to watch this (and I'm wondering if their iOS integration will cover all Mac devices eventually). It might be something you have to know.

I'd also note that Gree is locked in an increasingly bitter rivalry with DeNA, and this may be one of may ways they take them on (or out).  Hmm, and where are some of the others in all of this . . .

– Steven Savage

Microsoft To Turn XBox into Media Device

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Well Microsoft just upgraded Xbox live with a ton of services.

It's got:

  • The usual stuff – Netflix, Hulu, Zune.
  • 26 TV channels from Verizon
  • Comcast's on demand movies.
  • A bunch of other stuff.

I've been a bit cynical that any company can make a Killbox for cable, but Microsoft might just do it – certainly it seems they are trying.

This also gives us an idea of Microsoft's future – it appears they're going for integrated media devices. In many cases this leapfrogs Apple, leveraging their game platform to make an entertainment platform in a way that makes Apple TV look kind of sad. Throw in the huge XBox userbase, and . . . well you get the idea.

Is this Kill Your Cable, the return of Microsoft, etc.? I don't know that, but I do know:

  • This is (and I hate using this phrase) a game-changer. It represents a definite viable Microsoft strategy, a challenge to others, a lot of alliances built by Microsoft, and a smart move. Microsoft is basically back with this (now let's see if anyone notices).
  • This demands a response from Sony, Google, Apple, and possibly Amazon and OnLive. Microsoft is good at making enemies, but they just challenged everyone else in this space with a hell of a delivery. Oh, and they did it during the holiday season. Look for companies to accelerate or modify plans.
  • This is immensely consumer-friendly. It's also delivered as an update which means people get it with (in theory) no fuss, no mess. This means people will get used to such things because it's delivered on an existing device. This is good for Microsoft and changes expectations (remember how the Nook was a stealth tablet?).
  • It changes how people deliver content – note the XBox still lacks a real browser. That locks out a lot of content, so it may lock some people out of delivery methods – and may lock out others depending on what deals Microsoft makes.

Things just got crazypants this holiday season with one update.  What follows is going to affect a lot of companies, and quite likely you and your career plans.

– Steven Savage