Mobile social gaming company FunPlus Group launched its publishing business PublishingPlus, a new mobile game publishing program that will provide free-to-play game developers with a simple alternative way to publish their games.
Along with the new publishing business FunPlus announced Greg Essig as the head of business development. Before joining FunPlus, Greg managed the games section of the App Store at Apple, and prior to that he helped create the gaming division for Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
“PublishingPus is a mobile publishing design for the modern mobile market,” said Essig, “With our structured program, developers can focus on making great games, without the headaches that come with negotiating for the resources needed to get there.”
PublishingPlus allows Game developers to sign up for its program from any stage of game development whether you are just starting with the game or have already reached the beta stage. The rights to the intellectual properties will remain with developers, but FunPlus will get the exclusive right to publish sequels and spin-offs of the game under the same terms as the original game.
PublishingPlus has four differentiating tenets which will help the developers publish and market the game. It will provide the financial support up until the game launch after which the revenue will be split in 50-50 between FunPlus and developers, but only after FunPlus’ expenses of running the game have been deducted.
If the developer decides to back out before the game is finished, they can terminate the agreement and regain all rights by paying back all the financial support given till that point. FunPlus said it is “looking for collaborators” with the program, but said developers aren’t legally required to defer to the company’s advice on creative or technical matters.
“PublishingPlus is a major step into the future of mobile game publishing,” said FunPlus co-founder and CEO Andy Zhong. “The current market has let too many great games fall by the wayside due to uncertainty. By eliminating that confusion and offering FunPlus’ wealth of experience and resources, we hope to change this trend so that talented developers have a chance to shine.”
Game developers interested in applying are free to submit their ideas for consideration at any stage of development. PublishingPlus will consider applications as early as paper documents or as far along as geo-beta. Financing begins immediately and support continues for each successful tier and milestone met. The PublishingPlus website is live and officially accepting applications as of today, 11 May.