Facebook for Games

This idea is so basic and so big that it amazes me no one has implemented it yet: I love Xbox Live but what if you do not own an Xbox, what about a system agnostic version (a Facebook for games, i.e. MyGame). Seriously, how incredible would a single online interface be where you could download games to whatever system you own, talk to other gamers, upload save files, and get a universal ranking (across all platforms). The monetary potential for something like a MyGame is intriguing, you could charge a modest monthly fee for user access, generate ad revenue, and even sell developers access to player’s game files (I am not a developer but I would think this could be a very useful development tool). Let’s take a closer look at the benefits for players, developers/publishers, and ultimately who could implement/run the site.

The benefits of a MyGame online portal for players would be enormous and could revolutionize the way we currently play games. Xbox Live has crated demand for gamers wanting to get achievements, increase their ranking, and status on the site; just imagine if you took that concept and multiplied it by 1000 by using the same system for every game ever created. What if there was a site where a gamer could upload their save files from every Final Fantasy game and get credit for completing them; this would not only create interest for current games, but should spur usage of older generation titles as gamers compete to increase their status/rank. In turn it would be amazing to have all of your save files in one place; how many time have you traded in an old DS game only to have an itch to play it again but not the urge to start over from the beginning (problem solved!). Not to mention the obvious social benefits of discussing games with fellow gamers and the ability to share save files; MyGame would be a Mecca for any serious to moderate gamer.

A universal dedicated gaming portal would also have far reaching advantages for publishers and developers alike. By ranking players for older games, you create demand for the games publishers have sitting on their shelves (code and IP are done); in essence they get additional revenue with little to no costs. Developers in turn get access to players save files that could be broken down to get all kinds of useful data on how players actually played their products; the analyzed save data in turn would give developers a new tool to improve future releases. For both developers and publishers alike, a social game portal could offer countless ways to reward brand loyalty and encourage usage/consumption. Imagine a promotion where Electronic Arts gave away free gifts for every Madden save file a player uploaded: for 3 different years worth of saves files you get a t-shirt, 6 gets you a free game, and 12 might warrant a signed football (from Madden himself). The promotional significance of MyGame could be enormous and open avenues for many smaller games that might otherwise be overlooked (huge benefit for developers).

The question becomes not if a dedicated system agnostic game portal will come to light, but more when and who will be the champion that makes it happen. None of the current console manufacturers (Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo) will sacrifice their current control/royalties (i.e. walled gardens), so we can rule them out. Individual 3rd party publishers (like EA, Activision, or Capcom) may not have the resources or the political clout to get enough people to agree on a standard. That leaves (in my humble opinion) two major players that might have a shot: Game Stop and Facebook. Game Stop has no system allegiances and has ties to pretty much every publisher (and hence many developers), so they clearly have the political connections. Game Stop also has direct contact with gamers and the largest video game magazine (Game Informer) in their arsenal; combine that with their political power and the need to expand their product offerings (digital distribution is looming) and they seem a natural. On the flip side, Facebook has the perfect existing platform (they already have many aspects in place) and the culture to drive a video game dedicated social platform.

We only touched on a handful of benefits for a dedicated system agnostic social networking video game site (whew, that was a mouthful); clearly this needs to happen (NOW!!!!). Players get rankings, social interaction, and free stuff, while publishers/developers add another promotional tool to their bag of tricks and development data. Due to the complicated conflicts of interest that arise from an independent game site, there are not too many players that could make this happen, but both Game Stop and Facebook seem to have the necessary elements in play to make a go of it. In the end this is about the biggest no brainer idea and has the potential to drastically alter the way we play/develop/sell games (please send all royalty checks to Brian Schorr @ …..).