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Tuesday, November 9, 2010
The Pitch
Global Mind Games makes game out of solving world challenges
By Lynette F. Cornell
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Global Mind Games
Headquarters: Belmont
Phone: 978-618-2491
Email: info@globalmindgames.com
URL: www.globalmindgames.com
Year founded: 2010
Employees: 7
In the company’s own words:
“People love games. People love social networks. The marriage of games and social networks, like Facebook, has created a phenomenon that is sweeping the planet. At least 250 million people are playing social games on Facebook. We believe a healthy fraction of those players are ready to graduate from building virtual farms, tending pets and playing poker to taking on more brainy and consequential challenges. Global Mind Games is carving out a niche in social games that matter – games that grapple with political, societal and economic quests of deep interest to an international audience. Fun and friends will drive player volume for our games just as with the escapist entertainment games. And like those games, we’ll also focus on status – the trait that persuades players to buy more game currency or virtual goods with real money.”
The technology:
In partnership with Boston-based game developer DoubleTap LLC, the company has designed a social game called Global Innovation Game that allows players to offer solutions to challenges in the areas of health, transport and energy. Players support their ideas with evidence drawn from the Internet, aiming to win over the player community. As ideas gain support, their value rises in the game’s currency. The company plans to monetize this game through the sale of virtual goods including game currency and enhanced game features, as well as through the integration of sponsors in game play, advertising and aggregated behavioral data from game play. The game had a soft launch on Friday, November 5.
People behind the company:
Fred Skoler, co-founder and president, has 20 years of start-up experience working in the interactive games industry. He was a founding member of MGM Interactive in Los Angeles and previously served as the COO and president of production for Whatif Productions LLC. Edward DeMarco, co-founder and CEO, is the former foreign-policy editor for Bloomberg in Washington. Camilla Kydland, co-founder and executive technology director, previously founded Science2Games, a game design consulting company.
Advisory board:
Serving on their advisory board is former IBM executive Chris Caine, who is the CEO of the consulting firm Mercator XXI, and Bruce Piefke, who is the CEO of Special Event Network in Atlanta.
Accomplishments:
GMG has a co-branding agreement in place with the Public Forum Institute as the official game of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2010 this month. Over 25 countries and organizations, representing a collective population of over one billion people, have signed on to promote the Global Innovation Game as a global event for their communities.
The market:
Global Mind Games is anticipating to have one million players for its Global Innovation Game from the combined communities of Facebook users and participants in this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week.
The pitch:
The company is seeking $200,000 to expand its product features. It is also pursuing business partnerships with globally focused data analytics companies. Additionally, the company is looking to expand the reach of its games by finding large online goal-focused communities for partnerships.
The competition:
According to the company, any social game publisher can be considered its competitor.
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