Google gets games
Google is set to launch an app store for Chrome this October, a key feature of which will be a marketplace for browser games.
Google's new game developer advocate, Mark DeLoura told listeners at GDC Europe, the Chrome Web Store "aims to make a proper marketplace for browser games -one that solves a lot of the issues of games on the web today, from discovery to monetization."
According to gaming website 1up, DeLoura said the new app store will use Google Checkout and boast a prominent dedicated game page, which, like the Android Market will allow users to post reviews and rate an app, to solve a major problem which DeLoura said is finding quality games online. Chrome users will reportedly be able to install games, adding shortcuts to a ‘new tab' page.
In what could be perceived as a dig at Apple's App Store, Google stressed the lack of approval process for developers' apps and the ease of which new content can be published via the service.
A screen shot at the conference reportedly showed a four-step process for developers, who must ‘create a web-based game' then ‘create a wrapper.' The third ‘upload' stage includes adding information, a price and possible video, while the fourth publishes the app.
Perhaps more important though is Google's apparent bid to get more developers on side with a lucrative pay structure.
Google reportedly does not want a share in revenue from the apps sold via its new Chrome-based store, just a 5 percent processing fee for each transaction, in contrast to many online stores which can keep around 70 percent of any cash generated by popular apps, arguably selling the developer short.
The search giant will reportedly permit gaming freebies but none that hook users in then demand a payment later. While the service will not be able to cope with microtransactions at launch, DeLoura reportedly said it will in due course.
