Tokyo-based Shift is running a clever, so-called “software test marketing site” called Mintest that can best be described as a platform for social game makers to test titles and acquire the first users at the same time.
For social game makers, Mintest serves as a way to get actual people (and heavy social gamers) to test their titles and get early feedback. Users have the benefit of seeing and playing games before anyone else – and getting rare items, in return for testing social games.
The pitch here is to create a “win-win” situation for both sides.
Mintest supports both PCs and mobile devices (feature phones and smartphones) and games designed for GREE, Mobage, Mixi, or Hangame.
Players can register on Minterest, choose titles that seem interesting and submit comments or bugs to developers in order to receive items that can be valuable when the game in question actually goes live.
There are currently 3,050 players testing 89 different social games.
Screenshot of the dashboard:
Submit comment or bug:
