Tap4Fun looking to tap into global market

Tap4Fun is one of the few Chinese game developers that makes products for a global audience, said Charlie Moseley, creative director of the company.

Formed as a developer of iPhone applications, the company made the switch to online games in 2011 and has since done quite well, he noted.

"Tap4Fun is among the top three in market share in China, with online games sold to such countries as the United States, Canada and Japan, in which they all have received good responses," he explained.

In the beginning, its development team consisted of only eight people, but now the company has about 180 employees, including artists, developers, programmers and marketing specialists.

Though it comes from humble origins, the company has big ideas. Its goal is to create competitive online games that connect players from around the world, Moseley said.

In 2011 and early 2012, the company's innovation team led by Moseley released a strategy game series called Empire Trilogy, which can unite players worldwide to compete over resources and territory in online worlds, he said.

It consists of three entries - Island Empire, Galaxy Empire and King's Empire.

And, later in 2012, they added a new mythological game called Spartan Wars to their product portfolio.

"We are now developing new games that will be launched in the coming months," Moseley said.

And, in addition to iOS versions, they are also coming out with Android editions of existing titles as well as new titles for that operating system.

"The gaming industry is growing fast in Chengdu," he said.

"About three years ago, the Tianfu Software Park didn't resemble its current self at all - but now, more and more multinational companies are establishing a presence here," he noted.

However, Moseley also said China still lags far behind some other countries in the industry.

"The biggest problem lies in ideas," he continued.

"We have many smart programmers here, but we need more efforts to improve their game creativity."

The company has a large and open office that accommodates the employees and most of the company's senior executives.

It also has a wide space for leisure, including billiard and tennis tables as well as a coffee house.

The 31-year-old creative director told China Daily that the company's founder may set up a branch in San Francisco in future.

"Years ago I started a website for expats in the city called ChengduLiving.com," he said.

"There are few cities in China that can provide good job opportunities and a comfortable life at the same time, and Chengdu is one of them," he added.

haonan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 06/05/2013 page19)