June 16, 2010
- GMO Internet Group
June 16, 2010
Press Release
GMO Internet Group
GMO Social App Initiative Selects 27 Titles to Support from 550 Entries
Tokyo – June 16, 2010 – GMO Internet Group announces the GMO Social Apps Initiative launched in March this year has now moved into the development stage. Twenty-seven teams were selected from over 550 applicants and are now creating social apps with the support of the project.
About the Selected Teams
Among more than 550 applications received by the GMO Social Apps Initiative were proposals from former employees of major game developers, candidates who have previously launched well known titles for major video game software development companies, and a group of young Tokyo University students. The standard of applications was exceptionally high and presented a difficult task for our panel of judges. However 27 teams were chosen that we believe will develop successful apps based on their technical, operational and planning skills, financial standing, and drive.
Networking Event
On June 4, the 27 teams, judging panel members, media sponsors and representatives of the GMO Internet Group got together to network and discuss the project.
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Some of the Participating Teams
Company Name | Overview |
Anbai K.K. | Heading up this team with a game development career spanning fourteen years is Nakaji Kimura. Kimura-san’s credits include direction and scenario for the Japanese cult hit adventure game Kowloon’s Gate (PlayStation). He has also worked on developing a long list of mobile games and is author of the book “Game Creator Saho”. Together with experienced social application engineer, Nochi-san, illustrator Saito-san and mobile website producer Ito-san, this team has established a new company and is ready to make its mark on the social application industry. |
softnica Y.K. | An experienced team that has already been the creative force behind a number of consumer game titles. CEO Hashishita Tomoshige, is an industry veteran with almost 30 years experience in game development. Hashishita-san worked on classic 1980’s NES games including Volleyball and Shin Onigashima, and in 1983 received an award in the 1st Unix Game Program Contest. The team brings a breadth of experience and a proven track record to the new genre of social application games. |
Sol Entertainment, Inc. | The leader of this team, Yutaka Konoe built his career at a major game maker. Konoe-san has worked on consumer and arcade games from the planning stages right through to production. Credits include the hit series Point Blank and Tekken and he is currently working on titles for a number of platforms. Sol Entertainment aims to take advantage of this experience to produce successful social applications for the GMO Social App Initiative. |
Paical Y.K. | This diverse team brings experience in artwork production, consumer game development, and web content development through contract work on a number of major consumer game titles. Paical’s talented design department features a number of up and coming illustrators. Credits include Ghost in the Shell (PSP), The Eye of Judgment series, Blue Dragon, and Xenosaga Episode 3. |
Magnum Enter K.K. | This team is a collaboration between game developer company, Magnum Enter and web production group Kurapps. Magnum Enter has contributed to a number of well-known multi-player consumer games including Famista Online, an online game with over one million users. The partnership will see Magnum Enter in charge of planning and production with Kurapps responsible with development direction and design. As chairman of a theatre company, Magnum Enter’s Sato-san also brings a unique creative perspective to the project. |
Marumu Games, Inc. | This team brings together Taira Nishio, creator of successful Flash games for mobile phones, and Reo Yonaga, a director active in the consumer games industry. Yonaga-san has contributed to multiple titles that were awarded “gold” evaluations by leading Japanese game magazine, Famitsu, and his iPhone application Matrix Music Pad received the best paid app and best selling app awards at Apple Rewind 2009. This team was the first to be selected by the GMO Social Apps Initiative from the many applications received. |
Route 24 Y.K. | Kenichi Nishi, creator of a number of original consumer games titles teams up with creative powerhouse 1-10 Design, Inc. and experienced online game developer GWEB, Inc. Nishi-san’s credits include CHRONO TRIGGER, Super Mario RPG, PostPetDS Yume Miru Momo to Fushigi no Pen, Moon (for PlayStation), Giftpia, and Chibi Robo! (for GameCube). He also directed a project working with Grammy award winning musician Ryuichi Sakamoto. 1-10 Design has received over 40 advertising awards both in Japan and internationally. |
About the Evaluation Process
Due to the large number of entries received, standards were exceptionally high.
1) Applicants submitted social application proposals to the project office.
2) An initial screening was conducted by the project office and 100 proposals were selected.
3) The 100 proposals selected in the initial round were evaluated by our three judging committees, the specialist committee, the platform committee and the media committee. Eighty entries remained at the end of this process.
4) In the next stage each company underwent four separate individual interviews covering ambition, technical skill, the strength of their proposal, and financial condition.
5) The 30 highest scoring teams in the above evaluation were selected. After negotiation, 27 of these teams made the final selection.
Going Forward
After the development phase, the 27 titles will be released on participating platforms (GREE, mixi App, Mobage town).
Related Links (all links are to Japanese language sites unless otherwise indicated)
Official Site: http://app-yarouze.com
Media Inquiries
GMO Internet Group PR
E-mail：[email protected]
About GMO Internet Group
GMO Internet Group, headquartered in Japan, is a leading force in the Internet industry offering one of the most comprehensive ranges of Internet services worldwide. The group holds top domestic market share in domain registration, web hosting, and payment processing and provides a host of other Internet services including global online security services, ecommerce solutions, and Internet advertising to both businesses and individuals. At the centre of the group is GMO Internet, Inc. a company listed on the prestigious first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE: 9449).
GMO Internet Inc.
Company Name | GMO Internet Inc. http://www.gmo.jp/en (TSE First Section Code: 9449) |
Location | Cerulean Tower, 26-1 Sakuragaokacho, Shibuya ku, Tokyo, JAPAN |
CEO | Masatoshi Kumagai |
Business Description | - Web Infrastructure & Ecommerce - Internet Media |
Capital | 1.27 billion yen |