Web game takes off

• By TED GRIGGS
• Advocate business writer
• Published: Apr 4, 2008 - Page: 1D - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Baton Rouge video game developer Yatec LLC has released its second title, a brain teaser called I.Q. Identity Quest that weaves a mystery and travel to Egypt, Easter Island and other exotic locales around six classic puzzle games.

After less than a week, the game is already ranked No. 1 among brain teaser games on Big Fish Games’ portal, which distributes more games worldwide than any other online site. Overall, the game is ranked No. 45.

Yatec General Manager Hayden Middlebrook said the No. 1 ranking, after just a few days on the site, came as a surprise.

“We should know within the first couple of months if we have what you’d call a success,” Middlebrook said.

“I’m thrilled, I’m delighted,” said Stephen Moret, secretary of the state Economic Development Department. “We’ve been saying with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce and the state ... that digital media, and particularly video game developers, represent a very large opportunity for the state.”

The digital media industry is bigger and growing faster than the movie industry, Moret said. Although the opportunity was there, DED did not have anyone whose job was solely to recruit digital media firms.

However, part of the governor’s executive budget includes money to add two DED staffers that will cultivate digital media companies, Moret said. Those new positions, the state’s tax credit program for game developers, and the success of Yatec and Nerjyzed Entertainment will help Louisiana recruit digital media firms, large and small.

Yatec took a different route in developing its second game, Middlebrook said. The company acted as developer and publisher on the first game, Enchanted Gardens.

Yatec considered that game a success on one level because the company was able to distribute it on a number of online sites, Middlebrook said. But the sales didn’t really pan out.

This time around, Yatec developed the game and then shopped around for publishers, Middlebrook said. Oberon Media offered the best package of advice and a little money upfront.

Oberon describes itself as the world’s leading multiplatform casual games company, with expertise in the online, cell phones, interactive TV and retail categories. Almost all casual games are distributed online. The games allow consumers to quickly learn the rules and begin playing. Players can download a trial version onto their PC, Mac, cell phone or MP3 player, try it out for an hour, and then decide whether to purchase it.

The advantage of going with Oberon is Yatec gets Oberon’s quality assurance services, its expert opinions and advice, Middlebrook said.

“The biggest piece of advice that they gave us that we used was we actually wrapped a story around the game,” Middlebrook said.