Source: Rachel Kaser, GamesBeat
Browser-based gaming company Arkadium announced today that it is launching a publishing service to third-party game developers. Earlier this year, Arkadium opened its platform to third-party developers, allowing them to submit their games for launch on the company’s platform. This new service will take the process a step further, giving the developers access to extensive resources in marketing, research, monetization and other forms of support.
GamesBeat spoke with Kenny Rosenblatt, Arkadium’s CEO, about the company’s new ventures and fund. He stated that the “Arkadium for Developers” program has seen good returns since it launched in April. “So, we’re now able to further expand to open our publishing service for 3rd party games which was something I’ve always known we wanted to do, and the time felt right now. Now with Arkadium as a publisher for 3rd party games, we’re elevating ourselves to support game developers in a more robust and invested way.”
In addition, Arkadium has revealed its $1 million Arkadium Publishing Fund 1 (APF1). This fund provides monetary support to browser-based games in the Arkadium network. Rosenblatt gave more details on how the funds will be granted, saying, “This initial fund will be distributed based on the needs of the developer. For example, some developers just want cash to fund their title. Others want distribution/user guarantees, or paid marketing support. Based on what the developer needs – we will craft our deals to best support them.”
Arkadium launches the publishing initiative with a portfolio of seven third-party browser games. The biggest is Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, created in partnership with Sony with gameplay similar to the quiz show of the same name. The other games are Multiplayer Chess Online, riddle game Ridella, word game Categories, escape game Room Escape, and puzzle games Element Blocks and Zoo Boom.
Rosenblatt added, “Besides funding new game ideas, we are guaranteeing that millions of eyeballs will see your title. The discoverability and promotion of new games on our platform is where we give the most support to developers… The other thing that we inherently offer developers is the highest quality players in the market. Our players come from Tier 1 countries that command the highest advertising CPMs and have the disposable income to spend on micro-transactions. We want to help set developers up to succeed. And we believe providing the audience, partners and expertise to do so is the way for them to get there.”