SharkJumping

Video game publisher THQ somewhat stealthily launched a casual game website called Slingdot a couple of months ago.  I'm apparently member # 37,500 as of today, so they're definitely keeping it low key while they study it.  Managed out of the company's Valusoft discount software group. Slingdot is a less-developed cousin of EA's Pogo, with a nice set of community features built around about 50 simple flash games with a mild skill-based gaming element.   There is a premium subscription offering as well, but it doesn't look all that built out.   In addition to the online games, there are links to download trial versions of Valusoft's games, although the fit is often a little tenuous since Slingdot seems aimed squarely at women and children, but most of Valusoft's games seem to be aimed at men.

I have to give THQ credit for trying something different, for not over-spending on the initial process, and for running it out of a group used to lower cost structures and faster game development - it's a great way to study the marketplace, especially since it's a growing market.  I'd say the site is a little schizophrenic at the moment since it can't seem to decide whether children or mothers are the target audience.  In addition, even by online casual game standards, the games are pretty early generation Flash.  Finally, the advertising element seems a little overwhelming, with a general feeling that the ads have been dropped from a plane rather than actually integrated into the site.

However, it's another example of larger companies starting to recognize the value of this marketplace, so I can only applaud the trend.