Interviews

That was the year that was: Stephen Hey, Connect2Media

2010 will see more demanding customers

That was the year that was: Stephen Hey, Connect2Media
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The year has ended so it's time to look back at what happened in the world of mobile gaming during 2009.

Equally, the lessons of history are useless without a future to demonstration what we've learnt, so as well as asking various notables about their view on the past 12 months, we're also getting them to look ahead to 2010.

You can see the full list of our end of year interviews here.

UK-based publisher Connect2Media was formed from the European division US outfit Hands-On Mobile in 2008. It publishes games on Java - including Pro Evolution Soccer and future versions of Lumines - as well as its own iPhone IP.

Its marketing manager is Stephen Hey.

Pocket Gamer: What was the most significant event of 2009?

Stephen Hey: It is hard to ignore the rise of the App Store. It's changed everything including changing a lot of companies who were doing business to business marketing to ones that are now charged with marketing direct to the consumer.

The problems of the App Store are well documented but perhaps one of the positive side effects was a return to creating small games that are fun and unique to the device - games like Flight Control, Mouth Off and Arachnadoodle. These games gave mobile developers the kind of popular esteem and acclaim normally reserved for the mighty armies of console developers.

What was the most significant event for Connect2Media?

This is hard. As a company we celebrated our first anniversary in 2009 and that was significant. Creating and launching our own IP across multiple platforms - and it getting lots of critical acclaim has got to be a major achievement too.

We did this with Go! Go! Rescue Squad, and continued with the 365 range (365 Puzzle Club and 365 Solitaire Club), and several iPhone titles including Timeloop.

What was your favourite mobile game of 2009?

Arachnadoodle. I know that's a corporate answer but the game is important to me for several reasons.

Eric Hobson, our CEO, introduced a scheme for choosing new projects internally: one which was democratic and involved a voting system for proposed projects. This system is great but doesn't work overnight. However, Arachnadoodle was the first game to come out of the system and, for my money, our best iPhone game yet.

What do you predict will be the most important trends in 2010?

2010 is going to be just as pivotal a year for the industry as 2009 was. I think we will see growth on Android and increasing innovation not only on Apple platforms but on J2ME and others as more sophisticated handsets start to become the norm.

The quality of games delivered on the App Store will be reflected on other platforms, and people will see games like EDGE on the iPhone and will demand them on their handset, Apple or not. So we will get a more demanding consumer but this will come with an upsurge in the penetration of touchscreen handsets.

If you could enforce one New Year's resolution, what would it be?

To recognise what we have. More people will be playing games on their mobile and expect those games to be great in 2010. Connectivity will be important and expected, and games will integrate seamlessly into a connected, mobile culture that pervades every element of our lives. So let's hold our heads up high and make some bloody great mobile games.

Thanks to Stephen for his time.

You can keep up-to-date with Connect2Media via web and Twitter.

Jon Jordan
Jon Jordan
A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon can turn his hand to anything except hand turning. He is editor-at-large at PG.biz which means he can arrive anywhere in the world, acting like a slightly confused uncle looking for the way out. He likes letters, cameras, imaginary numbers and legumes.