Bright Things Share Discussion Threads

[the analyst] 08/4/2010 17:45

One of Kuju's software houses (called "ZOE", for some bizarre reason) stated last year they were exploring new territory:



""That said, Zoe has spent the last year looking at exploring new territory, to complement our core 'in the room' music and party games - we're interested in the mainstream online social communities, currently on platforms other than games consoles, that present a growth opportunity for social games and Zoe." "



"Indeed, all Zoë Mode's games are infused with a lively
and vibrant spirit capable of appealing to the kind of
person who likes to get out a DS on a train journey but
wouldn't necessarily spend hours in the evening playing a
mammoth MMO.
"Our goal is quite simply to be the best independent
developer of music and party games, and we have
arguably achieved that already," adds Daly. "We are happy
to release the occasional 'experimental' title, such as Crush,
but the focus is on the social space and music and party
games in particular."
"

[the analyst] 08/4/2010 17:41

Kuju made the news yesterday, as the co-founders stepped down and a new CEO was appointed.





Kuju Entertainment Chairman, Dominic Wheatley, said: "Nigel has a wealth of creative and dynamic leadership experience within the realms of TV, digital media and online services. He brings fresh thinking to the group at a fascinating juncture within the worldwide digital entertainment industry."

[the analyst] 08/4/2010 17:34

So, do we think there is a chance that Kuju is developing games for SocialGO?

Could be huge potential for them both to benefit from a rev-share agreement on the profits...

[carl79] 08/4/2010 17:29

wow - howdyou find that?! lol

[carl79] 08/4/2010 17:20

Thats some success story!

Ha ha, yeah...then we'd be cookin on gas! Wait, we dooo have a games guru for a CEO - prepare for lift off chaps!

[the analyst] 08/4/2010 17:16

Now...

If only we had a CEO that was a gaming industry guru...

I wonder what could be possible...

[carl79] 08/4/2010 16:56

what is farmville?

[the analyst] 08/4/2010 16:47

The inclusion of games is a big one, imo - good to see that finally happening

Obviously they are nothing like Farmville etc, but one step at a time...

[carl79] 08/4/2010 16:43

Just jumped off the SG QA session...

V2 does not look as though it is coming anytime soon

There is some exciting functionality in the new GO-IM...i expect that to be popular

They mentioned that the uk national lottery have a premium network - they are customising their site and Alex used it as an example of what you can do - encouraging to know they have at least one major name using their service!

I'll digest what else they said and post more if i remember anything interesting

[norbus] 08/4/2010 16:28

ljs
can you quantify upturn?

[ljsquash] 08/4/2010 15:56

Everything had been going lower in the USA for some time, but the laSt few days has seen a significant upturn in the USA and the UK.

[carl79] 08/4/2010 15:50

Yep, i dont doubt that they are growing in the US - it is the main market imo...most growth will come from there. Have you noticed that the sites it claims are the busiest are actually closed down?

[ljsquash] 08/4/2010 12:06

Agreed, but this is comparing directly against their own figures.

[carl79] 08/4/2010 10:14

I'd be careful trusting Alexa - i've found their numbers to be way off the pace...a decent indicator but not "factual" imo

[ljsquash] 08/4/2010 08:22

Well looking at Alexa the numbers in the USA are certainly improving strongly again the past few days and the UK has gone to 9% of audience now.

[ljsquash] 08/4/2010 08:22

Well looking at Alexa the numbers in the USA are certainly improving strongly again the past few days and the UK has gone to 9% of audience now.

[carl79] 07/4/2010 18:28

Hi Ian, If Dom is indeed planning an exit, i'd expect he'd do so once the ship is steadied and making good progress - he has a lot invested here...not sure how wealthy he is but im sure he'd want to see this investment do well...I would also be reluctant to say Alex is running the ship...I predict that before long you will have £10k or so of BGT - if only for old time's sake ;-)

[iantc] 07/4/2010 18:20

Carl79 - 7 Apr'10 - 18:37 - 5201 of 5202


further more, is it worth anything?! - can they just sell this to YouPorn or someone like that?? I am achm "told" that youporn is a adult site, i've never seen it myself! lol

lol carl ,mind you you can while away the time there as you wait for bgt to move .supprised dom has not moved on yet now alex and ste are in charge of the ship

[the analyst] 07/4/2010 18:06

Maybe we will get all the announcements in one go:

- Full year results
- Fundraising
- V2 launch
- Current trading update, including KPIs
- Start of a marketing push

When are we realistically expecting V2 to be launched? I think they said the summer, so I guess that would mean September? Last year's results were in September, but they could easily bring that forward to May or June if they wanted to

I don't think they have the cash to last until September, but obviously the longer it goes before raising funds, the better they must be doing in generating cash

[carl79] 07/4/2010 17:37

Anyone got any idea how many zocku networks BGT have? The platform still lives for existing members and still takes payment at circa £30 a month...

Let me put that another way, how many networks would be required on Zocku to justify its existence...100, 200, 500, 1000?? I cant see them keeping it running with only a handful of networks

Further more, is it worth anything?! - can they just sell this to YouPorn or someone like that?? I am achm "told" that youporn is a adult site, i've never seen it myself! lol

[carl79] 07/4/2010 17:22

Hi TA,

I don't have a number for some of the reasons above, namely I do not where we starting from and I dont know what "good" looks like - so don't know if viral and close to free is actually fine or whether they need to pump millions into a targeted campaign...Perhaps you are right on the attrition. Maybe the marketing is fine and they are pulling in 100 premium sign ups per week but 80 leave after the free month! Just too many unknowns to give a credible judgement so as i say, its hard to call where your biggest bang for buck is. But I would still rather lose a customer and know for certain why they left as opposed to be working to gain a customer and not know for certain what will keep them...

i dont want to be sitting at 1.4p in 12 months time (but with a better platform) following another cash injection - I hope that the new FD and Vikrant's involvement help avoid this situation, not to mention of course that I fully expect Dom does not want to be trading at 1.4p in a year's time either.

Back full circle, I am all for a marketing pus (viral or paid) after V2 and agree that they should push after launch...My point v marketing is that I would like to be told that they understand what their "market" want to justify product developments like V2 - reason for this is that historic developments have not overtly accelerated sign ups as far as i can tell so are we really "wowing" people?? I absolutely agree V2 needs to be bug free and be in keeping with the changing social networking demands - ie remain cutting edge and innovative.

Ultimately, I am saying that I would like more coms from the company, what they are up to (which we can kinda get via searching the web), why they are up to it (harder to quantify), and what the benefits of what they've been up to are (we have as yet only been able to guess in the most part). Let me give an example as im not explaining myself very well - (I feel)


EG

* We are releasing a Premium Wordpress plug-in
* We have had 10,000 requests for something to integrate full, SEO enabled wordpress content into our member's networks
* We released the wordpress plug in and in the first week saw 200 premium sign ups

This kind of attitude would give us momentum in terms of share price (imo) and it would give people who like me ultimately crave formal evidence of tangible progress something to substantiate current and further investments...