It’s spelled as if it comes straight from the Kaiser, or the Kremlin, and red like the Cold War (which Putin, apparently, is looking to put back in the cooler), and maybe, since it’s somewhat communal, this online sharing thing, it’s appropriate – Kongregate is being touted as “the YouTube for games.”
If that sounds to you like some well-crafted PR spin, you might be on to something, as it was an internal creation. But the site is getting sufficient buzz, and it fits in nice and convenient like with my theory that this year or next will be the year of the online game.
A quick description of the beta site from Kongregate‘s About page:
Kongregate seeks to create the leading online hub for players and game developers to meet up, play games, and operate together as a community.
By wrapping user-submitted Flash games with various community features, Kongregate’s site serves as a unique way for users to play great web-based games alongside friends. Anyone can add their own games to Kongregate’s library in a process that’s fast and simple.
But don’t expect to be able to embed the games on your site or blog, what plays at Kongregate stays at Kongregate.
“All this sounds promising,” opines Blake Snow at GigaOm, “but unlike other proven online communities, making a enjoyable Flash game takes a lot more time and talent than, say, uploading a funny video, and that barrier limits Kongregate’s content stream.”
If Kongregate takes off, the timing is right for them. In an increasingly attention-fueled online economy, online gaming is expected to grow 70 percent year-over-year, grabbing $1 billion a year in advertising by 2010.
It will be especially interesting to learn if the magic YouTube concept can be applied to games.
