SkillPod Media update

South Africa’s leading provider of online casual and skill games, SkillPod Media, can look back on an industrious first quarter. The company has launched its new Game Management Platform, and is migrating major clients onto it; debuted additional multiplayer games; expanded its interactive and social networking modules; and developed a custom game for one of South Africa’s most vibrant car insurance providers.

MiDriveStyle – drive for prizes

MiWay Insurance has rolled out an innovative online game in collaboration with SkillPod – the MiDriveStyle game. Providing a twist on normal arcade racers, the game rewards drivers for driving at reasonable speeds, obeying traffic signs and avoiding obstacles. Sound boring? Hundreds of online players have discovered that the benefits of playing go beyond mere safe driving practice.

By entering tournaments and posting high scores against other drivers, players have been winning prizes that include iPod Nanos, GPS units and spot-prize vouchers. In addition, all players are entered into the grand prize draw, with the chance of winning a large-screen plasma TV. Players can also earn SkillPod pods – virtual currency credits that unlock extra games on the new SkillPod game platform.

SkillPod Media CEO, Mark van Diggelen, sums up the multiple user and brand benefits of the game: “The MiDriveStyle game perfectly combines an exciting game with a socially responsible theme, both of which are effectively used to convey the MiWay brand values. Its popularity is an excellent example of the type of convergence that SkillPod can create for clients.”

The MiDriveStyle game can be played on the MiWay website: (play.midrivestyle.co.za).

Ananzi Games adopts new SkillPod game management platform

The new-generation SkillPod game management platform has been rolled out for the Ananzi Games portal. This will allow Ananzi to get an early lead in taking advantage of new features that will allow custom game advertising campaign implementation with full analysis and reporting, and opportunities to build and monetise online gaming communities.

MNet’s KTV games portal is in the process of adopting the new platform as well.

New gaming platform features and modules

The new platform is a major advance in online gaming community management, allowing for additional features to be custom-built and extra modules to be added on as they’re developed. The latest of these is a survey module, which allows site owners and advertisers to create targeted pre-game surveys for users to complete, with incentivisation in the form of SkillPod currency pods. There is also a fully integrated and moderated chat solution.

Soon to come are additional modules that include a game league offering, sweepstakes and enhancements to the tournament engine to give advertisers and prize sponsors more effective exposure.

And lastly, new games

SkillPod isn’t neglecting the core attractions of its gaming platform – 12 brand new multiplayer games have been launched, including backgammon, checkers and spades. In the offing are another 6 to 8 new games within the next month.

//ENDS

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