Feature: 'Bite-Sized Pieces of Mobile Fun: I-Play CEO David Gosen on Mobile Game Design'

In this exclusive interview with Gamasutra and the final feature for today, I-Play CEO David Gosen discusses the independent mobile game publisher and developer's fundamental strategies, the need for education, and the future of the mobile games market in general. In this section of the interview, Gosen discussing mobile games that appeal to females: "I think you need to segment with care," said Gosen, cautiously. "If you take a game like 24, we know from focus groups that women are very motivated to play that game, because they have a strong relationship with TV series – some would like an even stronger relationship with [lead character Jack] Bauer – but the game design is such that it's a mission-based game with challenging puzzles. And we know that style that motivates females is puzzle, card, and simple type games." "They're still challenging, of course. Simple does not equal easy. So what we have to do is make sure that the game design and the concept and genre appeals to them. This is not about going out and doing overtly targeted games to women. That is not the answer. You look at the success of Tetris, or our own Jewel Quest, and you can see that when you actually deliver a quality puzzle-based game, you will recruit a significant number of women to that game genre." You can now read the full Gamasutra feature on the subject, including more information on Gosen's view of the mobile gaming market (no registration required, please feel free to link to the article from external websites).