Scoreloop drives sales by making mobile gaming social

By Jordan Crook

June 11, 2009

Screenshot from Zombie Pub Crawl

Scoreloop, a mobile social gaming platform, has combined the ubiquity of social networking sites with its gamers' competitive nature.

With the release of new Scoreloop-enabled games, the company's social gaming platform features server-based high scores, challenges to other gamers, along with profiles and avatars. Players can challenge anyone via their address book or friend's list on a social networking site such as Facebook.

"We think in casual gaming, and especially in mobile, you are predominantly playing games that last five minutes and want to get more fun out of it by not playing alone," said Marc Gumpinger, CEO of Scoreloop, Munich, Germany.

"You are out in the world with your mobile phone, among real people, so why not play against real people?" he said. "Playing against your mobile is unnatural, but now, people are used to establishing a connection.

"We are there to provide that connection in the gaming world."

With Scoreloop-enabled games, players are always aware of their ranking on the high-scores board and can challenge other players on the leader board by simply tapping on their name.

If it's preferred, players can also create and accept anonymous challenges from other players.

Scoreloop technology ensures that players are competing within their skill bracket and rewards winners with coins and medals.

Gamers must spend a coin per challenge and can use accrued coins to buy virtual items like clothes for their avatar or virtual services such as access to a new level.

"Coins are our virtual currency, which we are sharing a percentage of with developers," Mr. Gumpinger said. "A piece of every coin spent on their game comes out of our revenue and goes directly to the developer.

"The good thing is that the developer gets the additional features of challenges, viral distribution, and additional revenues for paying nothing," he said. "We are the only company that offers this proposition."

Some of the new games from Scoreloop include Aeio, Submarine and Zombie Pub Crawl, as well as a Scoreloop original game called Bug Landing which is still in demo phase.

Scoreloop boasts an easy to implement software development kit and customizable user interface.

Scoreloop functions on any iPhone or iPod Touch game that renders a score and is available on the new iPhone OS 3.0 or earlier models.

"We are very happy with the things that Apple is doing with the new iPhone OS 3.0 and we are taking advantage of it," Mr. Gumpinger said. "We are using the notifications feature to notify gamers of challenges so you know immediately that someone, somewhere in the world has been challenging you."

Games enabled with Scoreloop can be found at the Apple iPhone App store.

Scoreloop claims that by implementing social networking to high scores lists, its platform can help game developers improve player experience and give them a competitive advantage.

Along with the viral distribution that challenges offer, developers also receive recommendations from Scoreloop based solely on player behavior.

Scoreloop encourages game developers and publishers to visit its site at http://www.scoreloop.com as all Scoreloop technology is licensed for free.

"The service works just about for anyone, it could be kids or elderly people anyone who wants to have fun," Mr. Gumpinger said.

Aeio, a Scoreloop enabled game, is available for $0.99. Scoreloop classifies this game as addictive in that it challenges both memory and rhythm skills.

On the other hand, Submarine is an underwater challenge game controlled mostly by side scrolling. For $1.99, players navigate a yellow submarine through obstacles such as mines, icebergs and whirlpools.

Zombie Pub Crawl is another Scoreloop enabled offering available for $0.99 where players manage a tank to fend off zombies in search of beer.

"Right now, getting exposure for your games is of critical importance and that's one of the best things that Scoreloop is doing for developers," said Nicole DeMeo, spokeswoman for Scoreloop, San Fransisco, CA.

"What ends up happening is very naturally once you play the game you get your high score, you're shown ranks among the universe of all players," she said. "From there, you can challenge anyone who has ever played the game and it opens up the game to a lot more people.

"Because of that, Scoreloop becomes this phenomenal game discovery tool and is driving game sales."

Comments on "Scoreloop drives sales by making mobile gaming social"

1. Jeff Richards says:

   September 10, 2009 at 12:08am

   Scoreloop is onto something great here...the whole idea behind mobile devices is to stay connected, along with social networks. Video games = fun, + the networking is a perfect fit. Sites tailored to gamers such as http://gamefriends.com are an even better fit than fb or myspace because it's all for gamers.