iPhone Gaming Developers Squeezed by Big Names

In a packed gaming market, iPhone developers big and small are competing for iPhone owners’ attention. Gaming applications are a huge draw, but their popularity is putting pressure on independent developers, who are competing with big-name publishers like Electronic Arts and newly venture-backed and angel-funded gaming houses such as Ngmoco and Tapulous. Independent game developers, who may have the drive but not the capital and resources of big-name publishers, are feeling the pressure, especially with the number of active publishers in Apple’s App Store at 15,300. There are currently 13,732 gaming applications available on the App Store and 25 to 50 gaming apps are added to the store each day, according to Sunil Verma, cofounder of Mobclix, an analytics company. Popular iPhone app developers such as Ngmoco and Tapulous have skyrocketed past some of the platform’s independent developers because they have the capital to promote iPhone games. Ngmoco has also tapped top executives, including former SEGA president and COO Simon Jefferey, to help run the business. Room For All With nearly 80 percent of iPhone games requiring payment and 23.3 percent free, according to Mobclix, there is earning potential for both independent developers and big name publishers. “I think independent developers will always be able to develop for the iPhone,” said Krishna Subramanian, cofounder of Mobclix. “But you will start to see more big games and powerhouse developers like Electronic Arts and Ngmoco, big players that are looking at the iPhone as a gaming platform.” The two groups are developing to different audiences and offering a different caliber of gaming applications. “I still think you will have one-app developers creating apps or casual games for the iPhone as a way to reach out to those users in other countries outside the U.S. who are attracted to the free apps,” he said. Demand for free downloads is still…