Tuesday 15 November 2016

Striking Gold: What’s next after Pokemon Go.


Konnichiwa
Happy #TravelTuesday :-)
Got a great feature for you today. Received an email this morning from Sean McNicholas, the CEO of Project M Studios. He reached out to me after reading my post: Alfonzo Words: #PokemonGO - 5 Lessons You Taught Me

So it's humbling & a great honor to present you with his guest post today.

What If I told you that you could play a mobile game to pass the time while waiting in line at the bank or riding the bus, and be rewarded Actual 24k Gold Bars delivered to your door for successful accomplishments made inside the virtual gaming environment.  Use your phone and fingers to mine for real actual gold.  Nothing has ever been done like this.  Until now.
💥💰💰💸 💸 🎮🎮🎮📱📱📱


The world recently saw the wild frenzy that can be the result when a mobile game adds a touch of reality.  Pokeman Go almost instantly became the biggest mobile game in history, generating $1.6 million in revenue a day with well over 100 million users.

Pokemon Go set higher expectations for mobile gamers who are now demanding more from the games they play than simple entertainment.  They want to feel engaged, they want to feel like the time they spend playing games is not wasted time.  A mobile game studio based out of London has created what they believe will be the future model of mobile gaming.  Something completely groundbreaking that has never been done before.  They want to reward players with actual 24k gold bars.  And they are already doing it!

The game is called Dig That Gold and it is celebrating its Australian release on IOS this week.


Dig That Gold launched in the UK in September and has already given out over 25,000 AUD worth of real 24k gold bars to players.  97% of these players acquired their gold without spending a single cent on in-app purchases that can help players reach goals faster.  

“Mobile devices have opened the world of gaming to a critical mass of casual gamers across all parts of society. Despite this, game studios that make millions every day have failed to provide a tangible incentive for players who have stayed committed and loyal to these games. That’s what makes Project M, and our first offering – Dig That Gold – revolutionary in nature, with the awards of real 24k gold bars leading the charge in terms of remunerating consumers for their dedication to the game.” - Sean McNicholas, CEO Project M

Sean McNicholas, the game's creator, came from a corporate finance background but was fascinated by the staggering growth of the mobile game market.  

“I always thought it would be a great idea to reward mobile game players with some sort of tangible thing, something of value they could hold in their hands that would bridge the gap between the virtual world and the real world.  I was shocked that no other game was doing this.”

Video games have been designed around the same principles for decades.  Entertain the user by immersing them in a virtual fantasy world.  Pokemon Go was revolutionary because it intertwined the virtual fantasy world with the world we live in.  Dig That Gold goes beyond mere entertainment.  It aims to give players the chance to strike gold, quite literally.  There is a thrill factor in that which cannot be compared to capturing an invisible Pikachu.

“I believe this is going to be the beginning of a big shift in the mobile game industry.  Something new needed to come along.  Pokemon Go made people realize they could get something more out of a gaming experience.  Dig That Gold is taking it to a new level.” -Sean McNicholas, CEO Project M Studios


The Australian Mobile Game Market in a Snapshot:
  • Revenue in the "Mobile Games" segment amounts to US$99m in 2016.
  • Revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2016-2021) of 7.4 % resulting in a market volume of US$142m in 2021.
  • User penetration is at 28.7 % in 2016 and is expected to hit 36.5 % in 2021.
  • The average revenue per user (ARPU) currently amounts to US$18.00.
  • Mobile Game users are split almost evenly with regards to gender usage.  

Dig That Gold, a quick look
  • Launched by London-based mobile game studio Project M, Dig That Gold is the first mobile game of its kind to award players real 24k gold bars for their in-game achievements
  • In the beta phase of Dig That Gold, over 300 players have already received a bar of real 24k gold
  • To celebrate the launch, the London-based game studio Project M will hosted a live treasure hunt across London giving people the chance to win thousands of pounds of real gold bars by solving clues across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.  Olympic medalist Louis Smith (Brand ambassador to Dig That Gold) was one of those giving away gold bars.
 
About the Game
Dig That Gold is currently free to download for iOS devices. Set during the legendary Gold Rush era, Dig That Gold plays host to an infinite and exciting ecosystem of virtual gold mines. The game sees players navigate through different mines, destroying blocks in search of gold nuggets while managing their air and energy levels which deplete over time. Once a player exits a mine, they are then able to pan for virtual gold nuggets which will eventually convert into real gold.
As players explore this online mining environment, every virtual gold nugget that is successfully mined is stored in their in-game account. Once a certain number of gold nuggets have been mined, players are able to exchange their virtual gold for real 24k gold bars, which are dispatched in the post by Baird & Co – the oldest gold refiners in the UK to supply the Royal Mint.
Players are able to make in-app purchases to accelerate their game progression – so far, 97% of the 300-plus people who have acquired gold bars during the game’s beta phase did so without spending money.


Watch the Game Trailer Here:



About Mobile Game Developer Project M
This revolutionary concept is the first offering from Project M – a London-based game studio. In light of the success of Pokémon Go, combining the virtual and real worlds into one integrated experience, Project M awards players for the time and commitment they dedicate by awarding tangible assets for in-game achievements. Dig That Gold is the first in a suite of Project M games that seek to break the fourth wall of gaming, combining experiential value with in-app experiences.

CEO of Project M, Sean McNicholas, commented on how Dig That Gold’s revolutionary premise finally gives gamers the recognition they deserve:

“I believe Project M’s Dig That Gold will compel people to rethink what they would like to get out of their mobile gaming experience. We believe this new concept will revolutionise the gaming industry forever!”

Click Here to check out a recent Forbes article that talks a bit about the current landscape of the mobile gaming market and how Sean and his team are shaking things up.
Project M recently won BEST START-UP at the 2016 #TIGAawards & Dig That Gold was a finalist for Game of The Year. 
As brand ambassador for Dig That Gold, Olympic medalist Louis Smith explained why he was eager to become involved in this new mobile game sensation.
“Beyond my main line of work as a gymnast, I’m a keen gamer – it keeps my mind occupied in the downtime between training sessions and events, and is something I’ve been into for years now. That’s why, for me, it’s great that I'm able to be involved in Dig That Gold.


“The thing that really caught my attention was the simple premise of getting something back from a game, as opposed to an endless investment of time, and sometimes money, with no return. Being awarded real gold bars for your in-game success is a fresh concept that I’m a real fan of, so it’s great to see so many people taking part in The Great Gold Hunt today, with Londoners and gamers alike jumping at the chance to get their hands on some real gold.” -Louis Smith









Happy Gaming :-)

Notes to Editors
About Project M
Project M is a London-based development studio offering the world’s first mobile gaming solutions that bridge virtual and real-world experiences. Founded by entrepreneur Sean McNicholas in February 2014, Project M is developing a suite of mobile games that awards players tangible assets for their in-game achievements.
About Dig That Gold
Dig That Gold is an iOS mobile game developed by Project M. Players are transported to a virtual mining ecosystem where they mine and pan for virtual gold nuggets. When the player collects enough nuggets in the game, they will be awarded real 24k gold bars delivered to their home.
About Baird & Co

Baird & Co is the oldest gold refiners in the UK to supply the Royal Mint.

*******

© Enricoh Alfonzo ~ Alfonzo Words
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30 comments:

  1. My boys were asking me last night if I ever felt real gold. I have not but would love too.

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  2. This is incredible!! How can you not want to be rewarded with real gold? Let me know how you like it--would love to know your personal review once you've given it a shot

    KatrinaJeanCarter.wordpress.com

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  3. Wow! I didn't know about this. After PokemonGo fever, they are doing a great job!

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  4. Wow that is one heck of a game! I will have to download it tonight and start earning my millions.

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  5. Wow, what! I love PokemonGo but I would much rather love to be rewarded with real gold, haha. I have to check this out :)

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  6. Holy moly, this is going to set the world on fire. I am so not a gamer but with something tangible in play I can imagine it is even more addictive.

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  7. This is my first time to heard it, and I think my son would love it.

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  8. I have never heard of this, but I am always looking for new app games and things. I love ones that bring real into them.

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  9. What a great post and it really sounds new to me.

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  10. This sounds AMAZING!!!! Hopefully it will be available in most countries soon! It's definitely going to sky rocket gaming

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  11. Okay, I love the idea. But realistically, don't think anyone is going to get a bar of gold. Bummer though, fun idea.

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  12. I had not heard of this, thanks for sharing. Now lets all go earn our millions!

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  13. This looks awesome. My boys would probably really like to look into this game.

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  14. This sounds like an interesting concept for sure. I would check it out.

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  15. Wow, a tangible goal while playing a video game! Sounds great for sure!

    Nina
    aworldofdresses.com

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  16. I just had to watch the video because I love games! I'm going to have to check it out.

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  17. this looks like it could be a fun game to play

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  18. such a cool idea that a lot of people would love to try this game! First time I heard about this but dfntly interesting

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  19. This is such a great idea! I'm not usually a gamer but if it mixes well with reality and pass times I just might try

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  20. How fun that you can get a bar of gold. These things get addictive fast. :)

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  21. Im not a gamer myself, but my kids will love this. What a cool idea.

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  22. Sounds interesting! I'm sure the kids are already looking forward to this game. There's always something new on their gadgets!

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  23. Interesting, I'll have to mention it to my kids, although I doubt they'd be too bothered. The gold bars are more like tiny cards!

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  24. Omg now this sounds like one awesome game!!!! I was hooked on Pokémon so I'm sure I would love this!!!

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  25. You'll never know what game they'll come up with next. I'm sure my daughters would love to hear about this!

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  26. Never heard of this before. They are always coming up with new games! I hardly have games on my phone anymore because they take up too much time.

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  27. If I had to play video game to save my life I would be most dead...LOL

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  28. Breaking the 4th wall, they say? Ha, made me an instant fan. I'd love to try this app!

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  29. Wow! This is quite something new. Would love to try this app too!

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