TechCrunch
BlueStacks' GamePop Subscription Mobile Console Gets 5 New Dev Partners, Bringing Library Value To $200
The Ouya Android gaming console is already out, but its competitor from BlueStacks is picking up steam in the development phase. The subscription-based GamePop and GamePop Mini will have titles from five top new developers at launch, the company announced today. Those include TinyCo, Animoca, Game Circus, Creative Mobile and Nevosoft, and together they represent over 340 million downloads on the Google Play store as of right now.
GamePop’s entire value proposition is dependent on the fact that it can offer gamers access to a rolling catalogue of 500 premium games for a monthly subscription price of just $6.99, so being able to sign up devs with big-name hits is a key success factor for BlueStacks. And according to BlueStacks and its partners, this is also an opportunity for previously mobile-only game makers to explore the TV and home console market, which is a potentially lucrative shift.
Previously, the GamePop team announced that HalfBrick, Glu, COM2US and OutFit7 would be offering titles on its platform, locking down some of the most successful mobile games and apps available on Android. There still hasn’t been a major studio like EA or Gameloft announced as a partner, however, which could hurt its chances of being taken seriously by the gaming community.
As my sometime partner in crime Chris Velazco pointed out on yesterday’s TechCrunch Droidcast, game library is a key concern for any device, and the Nvidia Shield, which in some ways competes with the GamePop and the Ouya thanks to TV-out capabilities, faces problems in that regard despite major publisher backing.
There’s no question that game choice will be key to the GamePop’s ability to woo customers, especially when asking for a regular, monthly commitment. A stable of solid Android developers who’ve proven their ability to attract downloads can help, so today’s announcement is good news for those rooting for the concept, but true marquee titles are going to be the key to success here, since the entire concept is based around turning casual gamers into something a little less casual and a little more invested.
Vidaao Connects Video Creatives With Enterprise Clients For Their Marketing Needs
New York-based enterprise startup Vidaao wants to handle all your company’s video needs for you. Thanks to its network of video producers, clients only need to write down their briefs — Vidaao will then take care of production, planning, strategy and paperwork. Still part of the NYC Seedstart accelerator, it has just closed a $300,000 seed round led by Canrock Ventures.
“From our international network of 500 creatives, Vidaao recommends 5-7 high quality professionals within 24 hours,” co-founder and CEO Justin Park told me. “On average, you can expect to save 30 percent on your video production costs,” he continued.
While Vidaao targets enterprise clients, it only focuses on mid-level videos ranging from $3,000 to $10,000. If your production is bigger than that, you should work with a dedicated video production agency. In fact, agencies sometimes use Vidaao to find video producers for smaller projects.
After submitting your brief to Vidaao, the platform identifies producers that are likely to be interested by the job based on the type of video, location and price. Then, producers bid on the project and the client can select a video producer. Finally, all the project is managed through the online platform. Park even calls Vidaao a sort of ‘Basecamp for video’, because everything is tailored for this specific space.
An interesting feature is that video professionals can showcase their work on Vidaao. They get a profile page with client reviews and sample videos, making it easier for freelancers to get new clients. Vidaao handles all the paperwork as well. In addition to freelancer contracts, the company regularly deals with non-disclosure agreements — many projects are promotional videos for unreleased products.
The team of four just raised $300,000 from Canrock Ventures and angels. Previously, Vidaao had raised $225,000 from friends and family (including a professional poker player). When asked how Park had the idea to create Vidaao, he talked about his previous experience. “I first started a video production company that focused on video walkthroughs of apartments in New York and learned a lot about the problems with video production,” he said. “Enterprise clients need a better source for mid-level video production,” he continued.
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