CORE GAMING
SPONSORED EDITORIAL
PLATFORM FOCUS
The right side of the fence
As mobile gaming becomes increasingly vital to operators, Justin Chamberlain of CORE Gaming explains why a focus on HTML5 will be the key to their success
With mobile ?rmly carving out its place in the egaming industry, developing suitable games and ensuring systems are adaptable is becoming increasingly important, whether for suppliers or operators. Even more important, is the need to decide on which side of the proverbial fence one stands: HTML5 or native. There are pros and cons for both platforms which essentially whittle down to which offers the best capabilities for developing mobile content as well as which provides the most freedom. Although native apps have been around for longer and may have initially produced better content, the restrictions that come from needing to get clearance from an app store owner are huge, particularly when factoring in a hefty revenue share cutback, such as Apple’s at 30%. Previously, the market was dominated by Flash but this doesn’t translate onto mobile. Well-established games developers with lots of content in the marketplace are ?nding that they can’t simply repackage and redistribute those products using Flash. For those who wish to cash in on the lucrative revenues offered by mobile, it is essential to make a choice between HTML5 or native. The strict quality controls maintained by companies like Apple are such that for CORE Gaming and our clients, HTML5 represents the best choice, particularly as it offers a better platform for operators to reach users. HTML5 has come a long way, even in the short space of a year, and now we ?nd we can do almost anything with this programing language that could previously be done on Flash. Unlike Flash, HTML5 is a global standard and all browsers are built to plug in to and run it. This ensures that there are no problems with compatibility and users are not required to update anything. Additionally, HTML5 doesn’t have any security issues and is not as processor intensive as Flash. While no programming language is perfect, HTML5 is continuously being improved. The latest advancement in HTML5 will allow us to deliver multiple audio on iOS 6 devices; something which was not previously possible. We’re staying at the forefront of HTML5 developments in order to maintain our edge and to ensure that the games we produce utilise the best and latest technology. We have found that HTML5 games have not cannibalised Flash revenues, which is what operators feared initially, as users are utilising games on both mobile and web, at different times of the day. Games content is well suited to HTML5 and mobile and we actually think developers have only just begun to scratch the surface of what can be achieved when HTML5 is combined with mobile devices. Currently, many operators are simply in a rush to get their content for slots or table games onto mobile, without giving much consideration to the possibilities that mobile technology can provide. Accelerometers, gyroscopes, geolocation, and facial recognition are becoming standard features on tablets and phones, offering huge potential for increasing and enhancing player interaction with games. Going forward, we hope to not only excel in delivering content in HTML5 but to take the experience of the game to a new level. We are currently developing content which will contain interactive features, where users will be able to interact with the screen as well as the device to unlock more gaming potential. For the industry to truly tap into the potential of HTML5, operators need to become more comfortable in utilising the latest devices. We aim to show that not only can we deliver a game on mobile but that we can go further and improve the overall experience. We anticipate that HTML5 will become dominant on the web as well as the mobile platform as it is being seriously considered for web deliveries. CORE Gaming is fully prepared for that; in the next year we will be distributing more than 50 mobile games across the market, some of which will also serve desktops. We aim to be a market leader in rolling out the best of what HTML5 has to offer and want to ensure that our games re?ect the latest developments at all times. While some companies may still be in two minds about HTML5 or native, for us there is no competition. CORE Gaming is getting the best of HTML5 and will continue to stand out in the future.
Justin Chamberlain, CEO of CORE Gaming, has a rich history of games development in the industry and is now pushing the boundaries of HTML5 content with his team of 20 developers and artists.
www.egrmagazine.com
71