Inside Social Games

Sparkle, a new virtual world from Tokyo-based Genkii, is about to make it easier for iPhone users around the world to connect and interact. Rather than connecting people locally like most apps, Sparkle is taking the MMO approach and hoping to connect thousands of users across the globe.

At the moment, the app is nothing more than a communication app (Sparkle IM) that connects users to Second Life and OpenSim grids (chat, IM, etc), but this is only the beginning. The final version of the game will be a full 3D world complete with its own internal economy, virtual goods, games, and support for multiple languages.

CEO Ken Brady states that the company is looking beyond just the Apple platforms. Genkii may be looking to integrate Sparkle 3D into non-mobile platforms as well, including PlayStation Home and the Nintendo Wii. There are about 40 million iPhone and iPod Touch devices in the market, and about 48 million Wii’s worldwide and around 21 million for the PS3. Nevertheless, expansion to other platforms is not the top priority for Genkii. It is certainly something they wish to do, but are currently more focused on the iPhone and optimizing the viral potential with the Apple system in order to increase monetization (i.e. through virtual goods sales).

Already in production for about a year, Genkii is also seeking investors to raise a round before increasing product development.

[via TechCrunch]