MySpace Plans Games Channel With Oberon

Officials from casual game publisher Oberon Media have announced a partnership with popular social network MySpace to create a new gaming channel on MySpace, with the service due to launch in early 2008. Named MySpace Games, the new service will allow users to choose from “hundreds” of online casual games to play with friends in the community. Users will also be able to add and virally share games through their personal MySpace profile pages. All games will be available to play online free of charge to MySpace users. Players will be able to challenge friends to multiplayer games, invite them to play the same single player game or socialize via chat services within the game. The two companies have already begun encouraging developers to submit ideas for new social gaming titles to [email protected], with the service supported by its own specially created software development kit (SDK). Further community initiates resulting from the partnership are expected to be announced early next year. “Bringing entertainment in the form of fun, social, casual games will enhance our user experience,” said Amit Kapur, vice president of business development for MySpace. “Our goal is to provide our members with an easy way to play with their friends and give them with additional ways to interact.” Tal Kerret, co-founder and chairman of Oberon Media commented: “We’re very excited to be partnering with MySpace to provide the best social networking casual games experience to its growing audience. Our white label casual gaming solution is allowing us to create a customized games platform that delivers a great experience to MySpace users.”