TeknoUp was the first to write an article that mentioned the rumor of Kompas Gramedia – Magazine Group is preparing to enter the segment of game industry by being a game publisher. The article attracted my attention because starting next month; local game industry will be even more interesting by the appearance of some names entering the field as game publishers which will support the industry. Kompas Gramedia seems to want to take a part in the local game industry.
From the information that I managed to acquired, from a close/knowing party of this matter, confirms Kompas Gramedia’s step preparing to launch its game publisher service. TeknoUp mentioned, that the focus of the game publisher will be in client game (online game) and mobile game (especially iOS).
Some sources that I inquired said that Kompas also has started to contact some game developers/studios in Indonesia, one of the destination is Bandung. It can be predicted that the contact to local game publisher/studio is necessary to be done intensely to secure the game content that will be published.
Although one of the source is saying that the Kompas game publisher will be a new independent entity separated from other Kompas groups, other source stated that the game publisher owned by Kompas will be under the Gramedia Majalah. It is possible that the second information is the one close to the truth.
For me, this news is interesting. First, we know of how many contents owned by Kompas group network which have the opportunity to be made into a game. The cooperation with game developer/studio can take form of co-production, where Gramedia handles the content while the execution is done by game developer/studio. On the other side, Kompas owns resources sufficient to be a ‘pure’ publisher which takes role in helping the monetization and marketing the games from local developers, with full development of the game is done by game developer/studio. But of course, it is still be interesting to see what strategy Kompas Gramedia will do in the future.
Becoming the publisher for local game has the chance of becoming a ‘trend’ in the upcoming months. I personally gained an info that at least two large game companies in Indonesia, which previously focusing in the game making, both released by them or for a project, will try to be game publishers. And there’s another one (not a game developer) that is in the process of publishing local game. The growth of game industry in Indonesia is quite rapid nowadays, and attracts the interest of not only local parties but also game publishers or studios from other regions in Asia. It will be interesting to see the soon to appear local game publishers focusing on local games.
As for Kompas Gramedia, let’s wait what kind of form, strategy and cooperation offered as game publisher. I will find more information including from Kompas Gramedia regarding this issue.
[Image]
Digital Eight is the name: https://www.facebook.com/DigitalEight
Here’s the Kaskus thread: http://www.kaskus.co.id/showthread.php?t=14477123
And this man is the chief: http://id.linkedin.com/pub/kama-adritya/35/8b6/b28