Smilegate offers mobile game platform service

By Yoon Sung-won

Kwon Hyuk-bin Smilegate Group CEO

Smilegate, a major Korean game company, showcased a new mobile game platform called “Stove,” Thursday.

The company has sought to become a global game platform operator, expanding from its PC online game-oriented business.

Smilegate Group CEO Kwon Hyun-bin said its platform service will include diverse support for smaller game developers both in technological and financial aspects.

“Stove is the first part of our goal to become a sizable entertainment group. Under the vision, our focus lies on the global platform business. We will announce more about what we will add to your platform business,” Kwon said during a meeting with partner companies and media in Seoul, Thursday.

“Unlike other companies’ mobile game publishing platform services, we will provide not only the marketing channels towards the global market but also financial aid, business mentoring and technological support.”

The new platform service has been developed and will be operated by Smilgate Megaport, an online game mobile game affiliate of the Smilgate Group.

The company said the open mobile game platform service will help game companies reduce development and management costs, support customer management and conduct promotional events more easily.

The platform service includes user account management, integrated billing system, development kits and console, in-game data analytic systems and promotional marketing tools to better retain users.

“Despite a rapid change of trend to mobile games, the increase of domestic market demand has become stagnant amid fierce competition. Companies have tried to go overseas. But they need significant infrastructure and human resources to succeed in the global market,” said Smilegate Megaport Chief Operating Officer (COO) Lee Dong-hoon.

“We believed the game platform business is what we can do best. With the Stove platform service, we will help our partners to focus only on developing games by dealing with subordinate issues for their stead.”

The Stove platform is connected to the billing system of mobile application stores including Google’s Play, Apple’s Appstore, Naver’s N Store, Amazon and the One Store by the three local mobile carriers _ SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus. It is also synced to Google Plus and Facebook to help game companies manage user accounts.

Smilegate makes profits by lending the mobile game service platform and by providing additional services based on the platform.

The COO said the company is in talks with partners who want to use the platform service and the first mobile game titles will be available in between late August and early September.

He also said the company will participate in this year’s E3 game show in the United States and talk with more global partners for the platform service.

Lee said the partners may receive financial aid from Smilegate. He said the support will include short-term marketing measures to boost sales after launching and longer-term ones.

“Smilegate has operated an indie game developer support program called Orange Farm. We understand the difficulties of small development companies and indie developers undergo in the early stages. We will help them survive and work with them in a long term,” Lee said.