Dozens of new games hit the market every year. Every single one of them goes through a testing process of some sort, a process that is more rigorous in some cases than others. For more complex games, or those that use particularly innovative or untried technology, the final step is a soft launch. This is when the game is launched on a specific platform and / or in a specific geography only.
Australia is a popular choice for soft launches for a couple of reasons. One is size. A population of around 25 million is sufficient to properly trial the game, but small enough to recall or issue the necessary patches if significant issues come to light. The second is that Australia has a tendency towards early adoption. This means gaming enthusiasts will be eager to embrace innovation, and will provide valuable and meaningful feedback.
Several interesting new games are being soft launched in Australia this year. Here we look at some of the most exciting and innovative.
Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile living up to the hype so far
One of the most anxiously anticipated mobile games of the year, Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile has received plenty of thumbs up from Aussie players since its long-awaited soft release a few weeks ago. The major issue has always been the inherent difficulty of operating a first-person shooter with touchscreen controls.
The designers have done a great job here. Yes, the controls are fairly complex and take some getting used to. However, that is inevitable and if you are prepared to invest some time into getting the feel of it, you will be richly rewarded. Indeed, some players who have been trialing the game say they are already able to defeat players on PC or console.
Gubbins could be the next Wordle
Everyone loves word games, and we mean that quite literally. If Words With Friends and more recently, Wordle can tell us anything it is that these types of games can go viral in no time. Early indications are that we could soon be talking about Gubbins in the same breath.
The game presents a series of Scrabble-type challenges that you can either take on for your own gratification or over which you can have fun challenges with family and friends. There are scores of word games out there, so success demands something extra. This oneโs x-factor is the Gubbins which give the game its name. These are odd-looking little creatures that carry out a variety of tasks. Some of them help you complete your challenge, while others are a hindrance and lock out certain letters or areas. The Australian soft launch was for iOS only, but an Android version will follow when the game launches in full.
Wolfdenโs โcasino-liteโ will never compete with the real thing
Social casinos have been one of those slightly surprising success stories of the past year or two. The idea is to present gambling-style games where people can win prizes but in a โjust for funโ way that does not obligate anyone to lay down their own cash.
Australia is a popular place to soft launch social casino games for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, the stereotypes are quite accurate โ this is a nation where gambling is a way of life. Australians bet well over $1,000 per person per year on average โ far more than any other country. They are the biggest experts in casino gaming and will provide valuable insights into the game mechanics and will not be shy about leveling criticism. In short, if it sucks, you can trust Aussie testers to say so.
The other condition that makes Australia such a good test market for these games is that the regulatory environment is so strict. Social casinos walk a fine line and if they sail too close to the regulatory wind, that wind blows strongest Down Under.
So much for the whys and wherefores. How about the game itself? Wolfdenโs team spent 15 months developing the innovative product and is now excited to finally showcase the results of its hard work. Playability is no issue and the games offer reasonable opportunities to have fun with friends and maybe even win a little from them. If you sense a โbutโ approaching, it is this. Social casinos are always going to be compared with real ones and when you can access genuine recommended mobile casinos with free spins and play real pokies for a shot at real returns, social casinos will always come a poor second place.
Ensemble Stars!!Music could cement the series into the mainstream
Ensemble Stars was a smash hit in Japan and its international popularity has really started to ratchet up. Australia is probably the most passionate manga market outside its home country, so was an obvious choice for trialing this latest edition.
The hype being generated on YouTube and similar channels is genuine and with a Netflix series to accompany it, this gameโs success is virtually a foregone conclusion. Keep an eye on the gaming press for feedback when the soft launch happens in the next few weeks.
Last Updated on by Icy Tales Team
