How good are you at the new game Word Twist?
Some of the players in the large GameDuell community have already spent several hours playing Word Twist. Here’s what "jonas8g" said about the new game: "Word Twist is so much fun and challenging at the same time. It’s great to have a new thinking game at GameDuell!"
Learn how to play Word Twist in two easy steps
Step 1: The basics
The aim of the game is to find the three best words, i.e. the longest and most unique words, in the playing field before the time runs out.
The better your words, the more points you score.
Step 2: Finding, marking and submitting words
Use your mouse to mark the words you find, then submit your words by clicking on the check mark. Each round has a time limit of 75 seconds.
After each round, the words you have submitted will be compared to your opponent’s words and points will be distributed accordingly. The player with the most points wins the game. Find the detailed game rules here.
In the future, Word Twist will detect significantly more words than it does at the moment, as the dictionary will undergo a major update soon.
How many points can you get?
Let us know by commenting on this blog post! Tell us how many points you scored and what your best words were!
Android or iOS – The Future of Mobile Games
These days most people wouldn’t be able to get by without a mobile device of some sort. Many people no longer play exclusively on websites or social networks, but also use smartphones because their mobile phone is always within reach.
Although December is usually known as a slow month for the mobile industry, December of 2011 proved to be "a veritable gold rush," said the co-founder and creative director of GameDuell, Michael Kalkowski, about the start-up scene. At Christmas alone 6.8 million new devices with iOS or Android were activated.
1 Billion App Downloads per Month
During the month of December, app downloads saw a huge increase. A total of 6.04 million apps were downloaded from the iOS store per day in December. This resulted in the average number of downloads within a year being almost doubled.
It’s not only the mobile operating system from Apple, which runs like clockwork, but also Google's Android system that is displaying strong market growth. One billion apps were downloaded from the Android Market in December and since the launch of the Android operating system in late 2008, 10 billion applications have been downloaded in total - according to the Google Blog):
Android is growing a lot: 1 billion app downloads in December
Top App Category: Games
Games occupy a large part of downloaded applications. Therefore, it is not surprising that games are the top application category for iOS, Android and Facebook. Games are also among the category of apps that the user is extensively engaged in after downloading and will not simply go unused on the smartphone.
In the United States, it was discovered that nearly half of the time spent by users of mobile applications was on games.
Android on the Fast Track
In the past, developers and customers most often chose a mobile device made by Apple and thus for the iOS. But times are changing and more and more consumers are inspired to purchase Android mobile devices.
On average over the last three months, there were 500,000 iOS and 700,000 Android phones sold daily; that's 200,000 more Android smartphones sold per day than there were about half a year ago.
GameDuell experienced this trend first hand. At Christmas, accelerated by the new Galaxy Nexus, GameDuell games for Android were installed an additional 100,000 times.
The British firm Ovum, analyzed the latest developments in the mobile market in great detail and came to the conclusion that later this year Android will overtake iOS as the mobile platform with the majority of users. This trend was also confirmed by the market research company IHC. They predict that in three years, nearly 60% of smartphone owners will use an Android device.
GameDuell games for Android | GameDuell games for iOS
Jobs at GameDuell
It is a logical step that GameDuell plans to offer more and more games on iOS and Android. With expansion in progress, our Mobile team needs more hands!
Meet GameDuell at Casual Connect in Germany
Michael Kalkowski at Casual Connect 2011
Web, mobile or social? The Casual Connect in Hamburg, Germany February 7th to the 9th, is all about games. Of course Germany’s largest game platform wouldn’t want to miss this for anything, that’s why GameDuell is a platinum sponsor of the event again this year.
More than 4,000 well-known names from the industry will be represented at Casual Connect 2012. This not only provides a good opportunity to socialize and make new contacts, but also to learn what other companies have achieved and what is planned for the coming months and years.
Be sure to mark this in your calendar: Michael Kalkowski, Co-founder & Creative Director of GameDuell, giving a lecture on "Online-transplatform: Success Factors and Pitfalls of Cross-Platform Gaming" on February 9th at 3 p.m.
In this presentation Kalkowski will highlight how GameDuell for the past two years has not only been talking about cross-platform games, but how they have managed to create and actually offer a cross-platform experience. He will reveal why this topic is becoming increasingly important to GameDuell, explain more about the advantages and disadvantages, and how it was implemented.
If you’re interested in meeting some of the GameDuell team members, be sure to visit the GameDuell stand at Casual Connect either before or even after the presentation. We’re looking forward to meeting new friends and having lively discussions, so please stop by and join us!
GameDuell at Casual Connect 2011
Casual Connect 2011: "GameDuel is cool"
Interview: Why GameDuell develops cross-platform games for the web, Facebook and mobile devices
GameDuell is not just about cross-platform. For about a year now, the company has been actively developing numerous games which can be played directly on the GameDuell website, on , Facebook and on mobile devices, such as the iPhone and iPad.
In this interview, Kai Bolik, the cofounder and CEO of GameDuell, reveals just what cross-platform means to GameDuell, why it provides a great added value for players and what GameDuell plans to work on from the new GameDuell office in 2012.
If you would like to experience cross-platform first hand, the game Fluffy is a great way to start:
Play Fluffy on the GameDuell website
Download Fluffy for iOS
Download Fluffy for Android
Play Fluffy on Facebook
Facebook Starts Testing Games Only News Feed
Gaming is booming these days. According to mobile app site Fisku, in December a new daily record was reached concerning iOS app downloads as the number of daily downloads peaked at 6.04 million. Even more interesting here is the fact that half of the time U.S. consumers spend in mobile apps is with playing their favorite game.
Facebook wants their share of the cake and started testing yet another way how it promotes, presents and makes games even more social. Games are already massive on Facebook: some titles manage to get nearly 8 million new likes a week. Now the social network is putting even more emphasis on creating a greater discovery of and engaging experience with games on Facebook
Here's what’s new:
- After introducing games stories on mobile, the same is now happening on the Facebook website. Games that are being played by your friends will be displayed in the News Feed allowing you to discover what they are currently playing.
- It is now possible to display on the Timeline which games a user is playing and likes most.
- When a friend sends an invitation to a game, it will be displayed in the right hand navigation in the new “app requests” menu.
- A new activity feed is being tested that exclusively features games related content your friends shared. In the screenshot below is a preview of what it looks like on Facebook:
Try out the new features
To try out those new features, simply go to Facebook and play one of GameDuell's games.
GameDuell has moved: Photo gallery of the new office
As previously announced, GameDuell has moved into the former Sat 1 TV studios in Berlin, Germany. Our new address is: Taubenstraße 24/25, close to famous shopping street Friedrichstrasse.
Tables, monitors and coffee machines are already installed. Table tennis and billiards are coming soon! We would like to share a brief insight into the new office.
GameDuell is moving and showing that television was yesterday, online games are today
Change is in the air at GameDuell! Not only because a new year has just begun and our resolution is to continue to work with full dedication to be the best gaming platform in the world, but also because we moved to a new location!
This is the third relocation in Berlin for our beloved game company. You may have visited our previous home in the stately loft offices in Prenzlauerberg. We are now enjoying a more “corporate style” in the heart of Mitte, a stone's throw from the famous Friedrichstrasse and the beautiful Gendarmenmarkt. We proudly announce our new address: Taubenstraße 24/25, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
As of January 23rd, we have replaced the old tenants, employees of "Sat 1", a well-known German TV channel, and the popular football magazine "Ran." It is a perfect fit, considering the work ahead in GameDuell's newly renovated building is to drive growth.
Bright, spacious, and featuring a large lounge area with table tennis, billiards and a karaoke bar, are just some highlights of the new soundproofed offices. Every effort was made to ensure the workplace was warm and comfortable and that all of the equipment was up and running on time. These facilities were important in order to further support the GameDuell motto: "Those who work hard win the right to have fun!"
In the summer time, the terrace is spacious enough for a few barbecues. With the air conditioning installed, the 170 GameDuell employees can keep a cool head, aspiring to give you more enjoyment of the game.
Television was yesterday, online games are today
The move is also symbolic one. Today, the question is no longer which new TV channel will take the place of the old studios of "Sat 1," but rather which Berlin internet start-up company? Since online games are the new television, it is a logical progression that the platform for the most popular online games in Germany moves into the former location of the best known German TV channel.
Taking that into consideration, it is not a coincidence that GameDuell moved into the office complex of a previous television studio, because the last few years have shown: Online games are the new TV.
Today, some studies show that television is losing its appeal and online games are becoming increasingly popular. And for good reason: when playing online, there is a similar comfort in watching TV, but with the added benefits of remaining active and staying in touch with friends.
Television has lost its fascination and become, especially for young people, something used more for background atmosphere. On the other hand, online games are becoming more popular because it is always engaging and simultaneously provides social contact with friends. According to a study by TV magazin "TVSpielfilm," when asked the question what most disturbs the viewers about their favourite pastime, almost 50% of respondents replied:
- The program is not interesting enough
- I can only watch television when I am at home
- There is absolutely no interaction
Interestingly, online games just do not have these drawbacks. In order to play the available skill games on GameDuell, staying active is a necessity.
For those who would like to develop their skills, having an opponent to measure against is a real asset: the "challenge" factor is prominent. If trouble rears its head, simply change the game. The choices are seemingly endless!
In addition, you learn to solve problems, find solutions and develop strategies. At which time and on what game, is left up to you! You can literally play online 24/7/365.
Games connect people
It is important to note that online games today are often more popular than TV programs running on prime time television. The record holder to date, America’s “Dancing with the Stars,” could attract 21 million viewers. But at the same time, 33 million people are playing online games with their friends.
In conclusion, television was yesterday and online games are today! GameDuell is looking forward to thriving in the new office! Pictures will follow soon.
You can play online at GameDuell here.
Many Christmas bonuses in GameDuell’s Holiday Special!
A wonderful tradition: the GameDuell Holiday Special!
Were you left off the Advent calendar Christmas list this year? Well, don’t fret! Once again, GameDuell is celebrating the holidays with the popular Holiday Special. You can clear away tons of great prizes. Which one will you choose? How much will you win? It's up to you!
Upgraded players at GameDuell are automatically included in the Holiday Special. It’s really easy: by playing duels with entry fees, no matter which game, win or lose, you collect snowflakes. Your snowflake balance is displayed after each game in your personal snowflake braometer. Once a new stage has been reached on the barometer, a new stand, with more rewards, is opened in the Holiday Shop. You can redeem the snowflakes you collected for festive prizes in the Shop.
Christmas spirit at GameDuell - The excellent prizes that are offered are playful and wrapped with cheer! Whimsically disguise yourself as Santa Claus, a reindeer or even as a Christmas tree to impress your friends or make your opponents jealous. There are also several great backgrounds images to choose from, sure to brighten up your profile picture! In addition, exciting free games await you starting at level 2.
Or would you rather have a game bonus? No problem! Among the awards are also several free bonuses.
The Holiday Special is simple and intuitive. If you would like to find out more, check out the detailed conditions of participation. You can collect snowflakes in the Holiday Special from December 8th through January 5th. The Holiday Shop will conveniently be open one week longer so that you can redeem as many snowflakes as you like. Have fun playing, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!
GameDuell’s Puzzler Bubble Speed is a Pop Hit with Facebooks Gamers
Launched one year ago, Bubble Speed resolves enthusiasm among the players. Read here!
Learn all about our Bubble Speed game and play now!
Fluffy Becoming a TV Star in Great Britain!
Check out this TV Ad starring Fluffy Birds, one of GameDuell's most popular games on mobile.
Want to know more about GameDuell games to go? Here's an overview!
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Jobs at GameDuell
GameDuell Corporate Website
