What do you guys like in a mobile gaming website? Feedback Would Be Much Appreciated.

goliath

Hello again everyone- I just wanted to ask everyone a question and I was hoping to get some feedback. I am thinking about starting a new website (my current one is myvideogamenews.com) that's fully dedicated to the iOS platform. I have found myself gravitating more towards iOS gaming and I think that concentrating on one single platform may be better instead of covering all the gaming news (I plan on still doing my other site, I just have never found that following that some other sites have). I think that concentrating on one specific platform with all news, it may help the site gain more exposure and not have to try and play with the "big boys" such as IGN and such for all video game news.

So- with all that said, what are some of the most important features you guys like in a mobile gaming website? Do you like forums, video reviews, giveaways etc. Any feedback would be much appreciated.

I also plan on having a "spotlight game" and would LOVE to feature some of your gaming creations on the new site. Who knows- maybe even Gamesalad could sponsor the site.

Thanks everyone.

goliath

Anyone?

Zipfrazzle

One thing I can think of is possibly a game category dedicated to games that push the edge of the technology such as Infinity Blade. Most hardcore gamers resist mobile apps because there's the misconception that it can't meet their needs. Sure, it may not have as much raw power as a dedicated gaming console, but there's plenty of games out there that can fulfill the serious gamer's needs just as well, without sinking $400 for the console and $70 per game and much more, well, mobile, with more intuitive or creative controls thanks to the accelerometer and gyro that console games have yet to replicate (other than Wii & DS)

Of course, if you ONLY talk about those games your site would be a little dry, but I think it would be a fine primary mission for the site to build up awareness and everything. Developers such as Epic Games can be the pioneer, you could be the herald.

jigglybean

Too many are general mainstream and the big boys have money thrown at them by the larger publishers. And, do people still visit websites for mobile game reviews? Its just so year 2000.

Zip is right, maybe turning your attention to higher tech games and give people reasons why spending $4.99+ on an app is worth it. Try and build some relationships with these studios first, so you have a large stream of content to push.

I would look at youtube and your website working together, maybe have it driven by videos instead of endless lines of text

Thunder_Child

Third-party sites:

Third-party sites may not be advertised on the forums except as follows:
Links are allowed within signatures provided that the links are to sites managed/owned by you.

Hope your site doesnt violate the terms.

goliath

I don't think it violates any terms. I was simply asking what people would like to see in a new mobile gaming website. I also want to predominately feature games from GS as well. Maybe we can even team up with the good guys at Gamesalad as well.

Thanks for the feedback thus far everyone. I will keep you all updated.

gamestudent

I like the idea of doing video reviews for games, and I think that you could definitely seperate your site into different genres.

Zipfrazzle

Jiggly puts it out very well. Don't do traditional categories, focus on the "Why".

"Why should I pay attention to mobile apps?"
"Why should I pay for apps?"
"What good are mobile apps to me?"

Although the mobile app market has been exploding for the past 6 years, its still a growing market and there are still people who are unfamiliar or skeptical.

Once you focus on the "Why", you can draw traction by marketing your site to the associated groups where they frequent.

"How could a mobile app possibly entertain me as a hardcore gamer?"
Well, here's some games and what content and features they deliver.

"Why should I pay for this $7.99 tiny mobile game before I even played it?"
Well, you pay $70 for console games before play it, and there are a lot of mobile games that are by no means tiny. Here's a review of these games

But even more so than hardcore gamers, once you begin on focusing on "Why should I read your website" and "why should I pay attention to mobile apps", I'm sure you can quickly identify other groups that may very well be interested in apps but have no channel fitting for them to find apps suitable for them.

Old people, for example, had been a category I've been casually discussing with a couple people that no editorial sites focus on. Yet, there are plenty of ways a smartphone and its apps can enrich older citizen's life. From smaller games with fitting font sizes not not so fast paced gameplay that can keep them entertained while in retirement homes or just simply home alone, to apps to track their health, remind their medications, remind them of their grandchildren's birthdays or school play events, etc.

Many editorial services focus on traditional categories and forget the "Why", and people gravitate towards them only because they already know what categories to look for - this does not apply to people who are new, and don't even know what they want or what great things are out there.

goliath

Very nice feedback everyone. I will keep you all updated if and when I start this new venture.

Thunderfalcon

You can use any of the following products to make a site easily and professionally:
1.gamesalad
2.iweb
3.game maker html5
4.construct 2
5.webplus x8