Singapore’s Gametize sharpens focus with new Lifeplay and GameMaki apps

Singapore startup Gametize has launched a new app that focuses entirely on consumers. Called Lifeplay, it adopts all the consumer-focused features that were in the previous version of GameMaki, leaving the new iteration of the latter as a  part of the company’s gamification platform for enterprises. Read more

How GameMaki came back from the brink to become a blueprint for Singapore’s startups

Startups in Singapore are caught in a bind. While located in the heart of Asia, the city has a minuscule domestic market and is surrounded by countries with varying levels of internet adoption.

Developed economies like Japan and South Korea, while tech-savvy, pose language challenges. China, meanwhile, plays by its own set of rules. US and Europe aren’t a walk in the park either.

Nonetheless, Singapore-based startups aiming at developed markets do have several possible paths to pursue.

Gamemaki offers one blueprint. It looks like a Silicon Valley style startup on the surface. Its most visible product is a mobile social network where denizens earn points for completing fun, real-life challenges. Not exactly a certain money maker. Read more

Life is just one big game at Demo Asia

There were two major themes in DEMO Asia’s pitch session on social media startups (live blog): gamification and modernizing customer loyalty programs. It’s the battle between start-ups —  those that encourage you to have have fun in your daily life verses those that help you make money.

Keith Ng at GameMaki brought a Angry Bird plushy on stage and challenged the audience to put away their mobile games for real world challenges. He asked the audience to join the game by taking a picture with a DEMO friend and put it up on the GameMaki app, which allows people to see what interesting challenges are taking place around them and easily join in by snapping a picture of the completed activity.

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Live blog: DEMO Asia pitches by social media startups

Check out how these social media companies intend to change the way we live. Companies launching their products in this session are: MeSixty, Wildfire, DropIcon, GameMaki, Sageby, Teamie, Oceans Inc, and Squiryl. Startups doing Alpha Pitches are Burpple and MyManisku. Read more

Socialico rebrands as Gametize; to unveil Gamemaki mobile app

Socialico, a Singapore-based gamification company, announced today that it is rebranding itself as Gametize. It will soon officially launch the mobile app version of its flagship social discovery product GameMaki.

The app is already available for download on the iTunes App Store. Read more

PHOTOS! Singapore At SXSW 2011 – Part 1

SXSW 2011 is over. About 20K people from all over the world descended upon Austin, Texas (USA) for two weeks to experience the Music, Film and Interactive South by Southwest festivals.

This year was the first year that our tiny city state of Singapore had an official presence at SXSW Interactive (technology). Made possible by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) (the CIO of Singapore government), SXSWi saw several of our startups exhibit and pitch there.

SXSW has grown in breadth, depth and number of attendees over the past 25 years: check out this cool infographic. This year was my first time there, as with most of the Singapore delegation. Here are some photos! Gorge yourselves. (Part 2 here.) Read more