We've said it before: there's a huge potential crossover between virtual worlds and casual gaming, and several startups looking to make the most of it. One such is US firm FlowPlay, which launched its beta ourWorld virtual world in April. The company has just announced that it's signed up more than 100,000 users, with returning players logging more than 200,000 hours in the world, with the average user spending an hour a day in the site.
That’s the funny thing about the term ‘casual’ in relation to games - the actual usage patterns are often anything but casual, since an hour a day playing console games would (almost) qualify you to call yourself a hardcore gamer.
Anyway, CEO Derrick Morton says the numbers are outstripping ourWorld’s original projections. The success is clearly partly built on having good relationships with large casual games firms, such as Sandlot Games, who make titles like Cake Mania and Tradewinds. That company’s CEO has warm words for ourWorld, saying “Because the virtual world integrates a story, experience and additional entertainment options with a casual gaming platform, users have a stronger inclination to keep playing in ourWorld, versus other destinations.”
The full version of ourWorld is due to launch this summer, with a wealth of new content. Clearly an emerging player to watch.
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