Blackberry Mobile Games: Here is a question that many have been pondering: will Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) ever be able to compete with the likes of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) when it comes to mobile game development? More specifically, attracting mobile game developers to its new operating system?
In a recent article published by All Things D, BlackBerry/Research In Motion Global Gaming Head Anders Jeppsson had this to say:
“I’ve been evangelizing that BlackBerry’s not a business device. It used to be, maybe, many years ago. But over 80 percent of our users are active consumers today, and they’re very, very social.”
With that being said, as well as the early success of Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY)’s app store, the company is doing its part in attracting developers to its operating system. Most importantly, it needs to give developers a reason to get involved. This is why BBRY has been focusing on making sure that developers realize how simple and cheap it can actually be, much in the same way that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) do.
Believe it or not, Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) has gone to some extremes to help persuade developers to give its operating system a closer look.
For example, BlackBerry/Research In Motion rolled out a “10k Commitment” incentive that “promised early-adopter devs up to $9,000 in free money if they couldn’t reach $10,000 in revenue in their first year on BB10.”
In other words, they were asking developers to give it a try with no strings attached. If things didn’t work out in terms of revenue, BlackBerry/Research In Motion would step in and take care of things.
One final note discussed by Jeppsson: there is a benefit of being first to the party, particularly when that party does include titans like Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). Since Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY)’s operating system is only a couple months old, there is not nearly as much competition. This means it is much easier for a game to be a huge success on the BBRY system as opposed to iOS or Android, where there is much more competition….
….According to the All Things D piece, “Jeppsson said he’s been working on developer outreach since he came to Research in Motion in 2012.”
If he is successful in attracting more and more game developers, it will only benefit the company in the months and years to come.
What do you think about how Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) is reaching out to developers? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
DISCLOSURE: I have no positions in any stock mentioned.
Related tickers: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Research In Motion, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)
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