MyTown's uncanny success

I posted a few things last year about Booyah, an app that promised a lot, but turned out to be not much more than your standard social networking/check-in app. And despite a little hype around its introduction, Booyah had some trouble finding an audience. But the developers (former Blizzard folks still supported by some execs there) came right back with MyTown [iTunes link], and this time, they appear to have hit gold -- despite the app's low profile, it already boasts more users than the well-known Foursquare and Gowalla apps. That's probably because it's more of an actual game; rather than just checking-in, the app has a currency to it, where you can "buy" places you check-in from, and then charge money to the next person that stops by. Imagine Foursquare mixed up with Monopoly -- instead of meaninglessly becoming the mayor of some place you visit, you can actually own and make money off of other people showing up there.

It's an interesting idea, and it seems to be working. MyTown has just reached version 2.0, increasing the number of levels you can earn and items you can buy with the virtual cash. It's still a free app, and originally, we heard that Booyah was going to earn money by teaming up with retail and business partners -- Taco Bell would pay them, and then they'd attach some promotion to checking in from a Taco Bell. But they haven't moved on to that point yet, apparently; right now it's just about building up a userbase and setting up a solid formula. And so far, while the original Booyah app may not have been able to do that, MyTown seems to be rolling right along.

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Source: http://www.techcrunch.com/2010/01/20/mytown-2-location/

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Software Odds and ends iPhone App Store

I posted a few things last year about Booyah, an app that promised a lot, but turned out to be not much more than your standard social...

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boom

MyTown is addictive but there is a huge problem to their future business model. You can basically check in anywhere you want at anytime. There is no downtime. Technically, I can be at home, chilling in my bed, and check in 30 locations around the city within a minute. What's the fun and point in that?

January 22 2010 at 5:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Derrick Rollns

Yes it is rather repetitive. I started playing it last night after reading this review and now I'm over level 21. I can't put it down. They got something right. There's an aspect of competition to see who can get the most check-in points at each location. But I'm finding that even that isn't too difficult to do.

I think the key strategy is to acquire as many establishments as possible and then collect rent on them. Part of what make the game so addicting is in how quickly money accumulates from rent. You need to collect every ten minutes before they max out and stop accumulating.

I'll probably play it for a couple more days until my attention shifts to some other shiny object.

January 22 2010 at 3:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mickey

It's not a interesting as the write-up makes it sound (speaking as a user of both FourSquare and Gowalla).

To me it seems like an idea without real rewards or consequences. As far as I can figure out the entire storyboard is (1) check in to as many places as you can, (2) take the things we give you at each place and either sell them for virtual bucks or use them to add value to the next place you check in, (3) "buy" rights to a property so when someone lands checks in you get more virtual bucks. Rinse and repeat.

Just as some companies' business models seems to be "survive until acquired" this "game" seems to be based upon the premise that if they make a virtual world they'll be able to sell virtual billboards and promos and co-marketing with brick-and-mortar places.

Meh, IMHO.

January 22 2010 at 11:46 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jayenkai

Yup, not available outside US.

How strangely annoying. Wonder why they would region lock something like that?
That's dumb.

This week, I've been playing the free TurfWars game, which is quite nice, and also free, and also available in the UK.

January 22 2010 at 4:11 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Andy

This app doesn't appear to be available on the UK apps store. Shame, as it looks interesting!

January 22 2010 at 1:37 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply