Comments on: MySpace wants to be “a gaming platform” – who are the top acquisition targets? http://www.gamesbrief.com/2009/07/myspace-wants-to-be-a-gaming-platform-who-are-the-top-acquisition-targets/ The Business of Games Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:28:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Nicholas Lovell http://www.gamesbrief.com/2009/07/myspace-wants-to-be-a-gaming-platform-who-are-the-top-acquisition-targets/comment-page-1/#comment-4390 Nicholas Lovell Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:35:28 +0000 http://www.gamesbrief.com/2009/07/myspace-wants-to-be-a-gaming-platform-who-are-the-top-acquisition-targets/#comment-4390 That's a really good point, Tadhg. I think the key question is whether MySpace feels that it needs content (in which case, buying someone with lots of traffic to MySpace games like Playdom makes most sense) or if they want tools to monetise content (in which case billing providers or microtransaction companies might be most interesting).<br><br>Hi 5 definitely looks like a good bet. That's a really good point, Tadhg. I think the key question is whether MySpace feels that it needs content (in which case, buying someone with lots of traffic to MySpace games like Playdom makes most sense) or if they want tools to monetise content (in which case billing providers or microtransaction companies might be most interesting).

Hi 5 definitely looks like a good bet.

]]> By: Nicholas Lovell http://www.gamesbrief.com/2009/07/myspace-wants-to-be-a-gaming-platform-who-are-the-top-acquisition-targets/comment-page-1/#comment-3539 Nicholas Lovell Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:35:28 +0000 http://www.gamesbrief.com/2009/07/myspace-wants-to-be-a-gaming-platform-who-are-the-top-acquisition-targets/#comment-3539 That's a really good point, Tadhg. I think the key question is whether MySpace feels that it needs content (in which case, buying someone with lots of traffic to MySpace games like Playdom makes most sense) or if they want tools to monetise content (in which case billing providers or microtransaction companies might be most interesting).<br><br>Hi 5 definitely looks like a good bet. That's a really good point, Tadhg. I think the key question is whether MySpace feels that it needs content (in which case, buying someone with lots of traffic to MySpace games like Playdom makes most sense) or if they want tools to monetise content (in which case billing providers or microtransaction companies might be most interesting).

Hi 5 definitely looks like a good bet.

]]> By: Tadhg Kelly http://www.gamesbrief.com/2009/07/myspace-wants-to-be-a-gaming-platform-who-are-the-top-acquisition-targets/comment-page-1/#comment-3537 Tadhg Kelly Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:32:02 +0000 http://www.gamesbrief.com/2009/07/myspace-wants-to-be-a-gaming-platform-who-are-the-top-acquisition-targets/#comment-3537 Why not buy Hi5?<br><br>Hi5 has been actively building itself as a games-oriented social network this year, has developed a series of technologies like virtual goods integration, has a userbase that could probably help boost Myspace's numbers by 40-60 million, etc.<br><br>Simply buying one of the successful developers won't be enough for Myspace. The issues are many, but chief among them is that most of the companies you've listed don't have a full package approach. They all rely on a myriad of billing providers. For Myspace to buy into the space they would need an acquisition target that not only has some games, but also has the infrastructure. I don't think any of the social game developers really have that in play yet as they are all so young. Why not buy Hi5?

Hi5 has been actively building itself as a games-oriented social network this year, has developed a series of technologies like virtual goods integration, has a userbase that could probably help boost Myspace's numbers by 40-60 million, etc.

Simply buying one of the successful developers won't be enough for Myspace. The issues are many, but chief among them is that most of the companies you've listed don't have a full package approach. They all rely on a myriad of billing providers. For Myspace to buy into the space they would need an acquisition target that not only has some games, but also has the infrastructure. I don't think any of the social game developers really have that in play yet as they are all so young.

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