The document discusses lessons learned from social gaming, specifically through the development of Bejeweled Blitz, which was PopCap's first social product. It highlights the importance of continuous feature updates, the role of social interactions in gameplay, and challenges like cheating among players. Additionally, it makes predictions about social interactions in future gaming through platforms like Xbox Live and Facebook Connect.

1. Lessons from social gamingJames GwertzmanVice President, Asia/PacificTwitter: “gwertz”

2. PopCap was late

3. Bejeweled BlitzFirst social product6 weeks developmentLaunched Jan 2009Based on our most popular brand

4. First 30 daysMonthly Active Unique users(MAU)

5. First 60 daysMonthly Active Unique users(MAU)

6. First 140 daysMonthly Active Unique users(MAU)

7. Top Facebook Games (today)Monthly Active Uniques (MAU)

9. Understanding viral growthInvite page conversion: 51%Invite page conversion: 49%

10. Continuous updating

11. Continuous updating

12. Continuous updating

13. Continuous updating

14. Continuous updating

15. Dealing with unstable platform

16. Designing a “social” gameSocial games emphasize relationshipsLots of interaction with other usersInteraction is integral to the gameplayBlitz started with just high-score postingAdded more “social” features over time“team score” for prize competitionTrash talking & showing off

17. CheatingCheating against your friends is generally no fun and is self-policing…Not so cheating against the world… These players are playing a very different game

18. CheatingIt’s very hard to protect against determined hackers… so design to minimize the impact

19. 3 Predictions

20. Social interaction w/ all gamesXbox Live and Facebook ConnectiPhone game and Facebook Connect

21. Social network billingVS

22. More deals in Chinese SNS space

23. Questions?