Tokyo-based mobile contents provider MTI is planning to launch a Mobage and GREE competitor. Dubbed entag!, the mobile social gaming platform is set to start operations on January 11.
Not too surprisingly, membership will be free. As Mobage and GREE, entag! will offer a host of casual social games for free that will be monetized via avatar-related and in-game virtual item sales.
Users will also be able set up profiles on the platform, blog, exchange messages with other entag! users, join communities, etc. etc. entag! is designed to be used on Japanese feature phones and smartphones from the get-go.
The initial line-up includes titles from Sony Computer Entertainment like Ape Escape or Popolocrois Story (click to enlarge):
The launch of entag! will be promoted on national TV, with commercials starring super-popular Japanese boy band KAT-TUN.
MTI isn’t a lightweight: the company was founded in 1996, is listed at the JASDAQ, and currently counts 700 employees (more information on MTI in English can be found on their corporate website).
The company aims at 10 million entag! users by mid-2013 (probably knowing very well that will not happen).
entag! avatar design:
entag! top page (smartphone version):
