A recent study from Hitwise has shown that searches for "Games" have overtaken searches for Mobile phones on the week ending the 14th November 2009. With Christmas approaching it will obviously have an effect on the results, but it is showing the power of gaming in today's market.

Ref: Hitwise

With the ongoing launch of some massive single and multiplayer games, is there a marketing opportunity being missed by companies to partner or attach themselves to this market?

Related links:

• Go to the Hitwise website

I have been one of the lucky people to get a beta invite to new social gaming website Platogo and I have to say I love the concept. After an initial issue with emails (which has now been sorted), I spoke to a couple of the guys at Plotago and they were quick, helpful and seemed to be very on the ball.

About Platogo
"Platogo is a social gaming network, and is the first platform to apply the Web 2.0 paradigms of user-generated content and strong community focus to browser-based gaming in a way that's attractive to gamers and developers alike."

If I were to call the new hybrid generation of online engagement available, "web 3.0", then Platogo would definitely be in that category. Platogo takes what can be called social gaming into the new era of social media; similar to the principle of social commerce. It combines the success of the current saturated market of social networking and produces additonal purpose and community engagement.

One of my previous posts (The next step in social media) mentioned that the tide seems to be turning online to one of two possible routes: community engagement (places to host communities) or community montioring (integrated and amalgamated feeds of communities). Platogo seems to be addressing the first category very well by providing a purpose and niche market that people with a common interest can get together - and which most importantly includes that communal interest. With the recent exponential growth of online gaming and the monster that is social networking, the idea seemed like a logical approach. Platogo allows collaboration to create games which is a new concept in itself whichhas exponential opportunities for both netowkring and gameplay/interaction.

So, what makes Platogo better than other options?
The benefit of Platogo is that it builds a community around the games, and from what I understand, there will be complete interaction through online gameplay via building games and playing them. Some may say that you can play these type of games on Facebook - and you can (except game development). Nonetheless, Facebook is primarily a social tool, not a gaming tool and aims at a slightly different market. Platogo, although in its infancy stages, seems to be addressing theindustry of gaming, with the social part being an additional service which, if executed correctly, will make it a much more specialised product.

Why choose Platogo over traditional online gaming?
I wouldn't choose Platogo over traditional online gaming at present as the extent of Flash games can't compete with the likes of "Halo". However, I don't see it as an alternative but a complimentary product. It provides the more addictive, simplistic games that can be played online anywhere in the same way that you see hundreds of friends playing Farmville on Facebook. Platogo will hopefully be the appstore of online community gaming.

In conclusion, I think that Platogo knows that it has quite a large mountain to climb in order to meet the expectations of their (social) gaming community. However, if they time their launch correctly with the right games and the right interface to stimulate interactivity, I definatley think this will be one to watch - with many similar products in other industries to follow.

Related links:

• Platogo 

The ability to swordfight using the accelerometer on the iPhone is either genius or madness. Let's face it, the boys of us who dreamed of the ultimate lightsaber fighting game on the Wii is actually pretty excited by the concept. How well does it work? I'll be honest I haven't tried it yet as it is only a 2 player game (which could be a pain if there is no one around with an iPhone or the game itself).

Check it out though:

For 59p you can't really complain too much, but does it have what it takes to start a new revolution in advanced gaming?

iSamurai: Two-Player Sword Fight includes the following features:

• Two-player interactive Wi-Fi game using two iPhones or iPod Touches
• Single-player game with four levels of difficulty
• Tutorial featuring animations of the different attacks
• Training “Dojo” where the player can practice the different iSamurai moves
• Art of War quotes from legendary warriors 

Microsoft's E3 presentation set the benchmark for Sony and Nintendo. Microsoft's flagship console the Xbox will be incorporating new features such as full body movement, facial, voice and pattern recognition. With the combination of amazing graphics, interaction and potentially party gamplayon top of the exisitng sound online play and marketplace interface (Designed by AKQA), Microsoft must surely be onto a clear market leader. We will have to wait and see though!

Microsft have also released some bad news for the high street games retailer by being the first console that will allow customers to by pass the retail option. Software highlights include Halo: Reach, Final Fantasy XIII, the exclusive Left 4 Dead 2 and of course, a brand new Metal Gear Solid!  

The digital age is moving forward, and gaming is just the start...

Related links:

• MCVUK
• Microsoft Xbox
• AKQA