Is Project Masala .......Project Spartan?
AddictiveGames
Member Posts: 105
Interesting Article on Giz/Techcrunch today may have just revealed details about GameSalad's upcoming secret Project Masala?
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GizmodoQuote:
"Facebook is secretly working on an HTML5-based version of its social network that will target iOS devices. Internally, it's called Project Spartan. The project's goal is to undermine Apple's App Store with a web application that can infiltrate millions of iOS devices. Forget the buggy Facebook app, iPhone owners could use a mobile version of Facebook that is lean, mean and outside the reach of Apple's control.
Eighty outside developers are supposedly working on the project including those from companies like Zynga. Games and credits will be included so you can farm to your heart's content. And yes, it will supposedly land on Android, but the first target is iOS."
TechCrunchQuote:
"It’s entirely HTML5-based and the aim is to reach some 100 million users in a key place: mobile. More specifically, the initial target is both surprising and awesome: mobile Safari. It will be entirely HTML5-based and work in Safari. Why? Because it’s the one area of the device that Facebook will be able to control (or mostly control).
The intention is very clear: to use Apple’s own devices against them to break the stranglehold they have on mobile app distribution. With nearly 700 million users, Facebook is certainly in the position to challenge the almighty App Store distribution mechanism. But they need to be able to do so on Apple’s devices which make up a key chunk of the market.
As of right now, there are believed to be 80 or so outside developers working with Facebook on Project Spartan. These teams are working on apps for the platform that range from games to news-reading apps. Some of the names should be familiar: Zynga and Huffington Post (owned by our parent AOL), for example. The goal is to have these apps ready to roll in the next few weeks for a formal unveiling shortly thereafter.
Work has been going on for at least a couple of months, with Facebook putting in a lot of work before that. So some of the apps may not be fully polished at launch. It may be more of a “look what we can do” type thing.
I’ve seen Project Spartan with my own eyes. Imagine loading up the mobile web version of Facebook and finding a drop-down for a new type of app. Clicking on one of the apps loads it (from whatever server it’s on depending on the app-maker), and immediately a Facebook wrapper is brought in to surround the app. This wrapper will give the app some basic Facebook functionality, as well as the ability to use key Facebook elements — like Credits.
One thing the App Store has nailed is an easy payment system. Facebook has been attempting to build the same thing with Credits, but so far hasn’t done much in the mobile space. With Project Spartan, they intend to have Credits built-in to alloy developers to sell apps and offer in-app purchases. This will be vital for a partner like Zynga, for example.
Speaking of Zynga, it has been known for some time that Facebook was placing a huge emphasis on making it easier for game developers to build with HTML5 as opposed to Flash (like Zynga and others currently do). The culmination of this will be Project Spartan.
And while the target may ultimately be Apple, in this regard, they’re somewhat helping Apple by killing off yet another huge piece of Flash reliance on the web: gaming. But again, the real goal is to get people using Facebook as the distribution model for games and other apps, not the App Store (or any other distribution hub).
Much has been made recently about Apple’s partnership with Twitter over iOS 5. It’s widely believe that Facebook was once the preferred partner, but was snubbed — or did the snubbing, for one reason or another. Regardless, the implications are clear: Twitter will be the big single sign-on partner for iOS, not Facebook, even though that’s a key area of focus for them. So they’re taking the fight to the browser.
Android will also clearly be a part of this new platform. But we’re told that the initial target is definitely mobile Safari on iOS devices. Things are about to get a lot more interesting in the mobile space. More to come."
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I'm considering if GS is gonna be able to publish to this new platform and this is what Project Masala is? Maybe GS are one of the 80 3rd parties that have been working on this for the last few months.
It would make sense. Allowing us to publish games to Facebook, iOS and Android devices. No more Apple fee but Facebook do charge the same 30% for their credits system.
........What does everyone else think?
Is Project Masala actually Project Spartan???
---------------------------------------------------
GizmodoQuote:
"Facebook is secretly working on an HTML5-based version of its social network that will target iOS devices. Internally, it's called Project Spartan. The project's goal is to undermine Apple's App Store with a web application that can infiltrate millions of iOS devices. Forget the buggy Facebook app, iPhone owners could use a mobile version of Facebook that is lean, mean and outside the reach of Apple's control.
Eighty outside developers are supposedly working on the project including those from companies like Zynga. Games and credits will be included so you can farm to your heart's content. And yes, it will supposedly land on Android, but the first target is iOS."
TechCrunchQuote:
"It’s entirely HTML5-based and the aim is to reach some 100 million users in a key place: mobile. More specifically, the initial target is both surprising and awesome: mobile Safari. It will be entirely HTML5-based and work in Safari. Why? Because it’s the one area of the device that Facebook will be able to control (or mostly control).
The intention is very clear: to use Apple’s own devices against them to break the stranglehold they have on mobile app distribution. With nearly 700 million users, Facebook is certainly in the position to challenge the almighty App Store distribution mechanism. But they need to be able to do so on Apple’s devices which make up a key chunk of the market.
As of right now, there are believed to be 80 or so outside developers working with Facebook on Project Spartan. These teams are working on apps for the platform that range from games to news-reading apps. Some of the names should be familiar: Zynga and Huffington Post (owned by our parent AOL), for example. The goal is to have these apps ready to roll in the next few weeks for a formal unveiling shortly thereafter.
Work has been going on for at least a couple of months, with Facebook putting in a lot of work before that. So some of the apps may not be fully polished at launch. It may be more of a “look what we can do” type thing.
I’ve seen Project Spartan with my own eyes. Imagine loading up the mobile web version of Facebook and finding a drop-down for a new type of app. Clicking on one of the apps loads it (from whatever server it’s on depending on the app-maker), and immediately a Facebook wrapper is brought in to surround the app. This wrapper will give the app some basic Facebook functionality, as well as the ability to use key Facebook elements — like Credits.
One thing the App Store has nailed is an easy payment system. Facebook has been attempting to build the same thing with Credits, but so far hasn’t done much in the mobile space. With Project Spartan, they intend to have Credits built-in to alloy developers to sell apps and offer in-app purchases. This will be vital for a partner like Zynga, for example.
Speaking of Zynga, it has been known for some time that Facebook was placing a huge emphasis on making it easier for game developers to build with HTML5 as opposed to Flash (like Zynga and others currently do). The culmination of this will be Project Spartan.
And while the target may ultimately be Apple, in this regard, they’re somewhat helping Apple by killing off yet another huge piece of Flash reliance on the web: gaming. But again, the real goal is to get people using Facebook as the distribution model for games and other apps, not the App Store (or any other distribution hub).
Much has been made recently about Apple’s partnership with Twitter over iOS 5. It’s widely believe that Facebook was once the preferred partner, but was snubbed — or did the snubbing, for one reason or another. Regardless, the implications are clear: Twitter will be the big single sign-on partner for iOS, not Facebook, even though that’s a key area of focus for them. So they’re taking the fight to the browser.
Android will also clearly be a part of this new platform. But we’re told that the initial target is definitely mobile Safari on iOS devices. Things are about to get a lot more interesting in the mobile space. More to come."
---------------------------------------------------
I'm considering if GS is gonna be able to publish to this new platform and this is what Project Masala is? Maybe GS are one of the 80 3rd parties that have been working on this for the last few months.
It would make sense. Allowing us to publish games to Facebook, iOS and Android devices. No more Apple fee but Facebook do charge the same 30% for their credits system.
........What does everyone else think?
Is Project Masala actually Project Spartan???
Comments
Cheers.
Apple, itunes and the payment systems are all going to play a big part in this. It might get ugly...
kipper
Even if Project Masala is HTML5 exporting (which is photics prediction) I don't see how it has anything to do with FaceBooks Project Spartan
And I don't get it. Is Facebook opening up their own type of app store? How do they think they can beat Apple with their own device? Im still a little confused on how this is going to operate. Facebook is a little shady already, and I guess time will tell with what they're up to on this one.
So if GS can publish to HMTL5, in theory then GS apps can be sold on this new network using Facebook Credits. Because its on Safari, Apple couldn't be involved in the process. It also provides an Android solution too.
It would be awesome if GS can allow us access to a facebook appstore.
Well if it is, here is a quote;
"When deep space exploration ramps up, it'll be the corporations that name everything, the IBM Stellar Sphere, the Microsoft Galaxy, Planet Starbucks."
Remember that apple's cut is 30%. So maybe I should have used the word "profit" and not "revenue." I get my biz terms mixed up
I don't see this as a bad thing tough. What is the worst thing that can happen..
A GameSalad/Facebook alliance could be considered face-melting, as Facebook is the second largest website. So, is project Masala some type of export to Facebook? That could be interesting, but how would people get paid? ...Facebook credits? ...advertising? It's something to watch and we should know soon if this is it. The timing does seem to line-up.
Do we need Facebook accounts? If so, is it a business or regular account?
I hate social networking sites, but GameSalad games on Facebook is exciting!
Maybe this is what they mean by Android support?
http://techcrunch.com/2011/06/15/facebook-project-spartan/
http://gizmodo.com/5812430/facebook-is-armed-with-html5-and-gunning-for-apple
That's the exact reason why Facebook created Facebook credits in the first place and then made Zynga use Credits as the sole purchase option instead of PayPal etc. This way Facebook now gets 30% cut on all transactions (Farmville Cash, Poker Chips etc) just like Apple.
I think as a publisher In-App purchasing is definitely the way for us to all make dollar from a new HTML network. Its all very interesting...
"We've always had a great relationship with Apple and could not be more pleased with a development environment than that provided by Apple products. We want GameSalad to be the best it can be, and that starts with making it the best development tool available on Apple hardware."
- Jeff
Also re Gamesalad .. since it is suggested that Disney is an investing partner .. I don't think they would be working with Facebook on an Appstore killer ... after all it suggests certain companies are in on the secret deal ... (don't forget who's Disney's biggest shareholder). And if you think Jobs wouldn't know about a small Disney investment in GS .. think again, he knew how many buses Apple has in Cupertino to bus his staff around (20 ... as he shared with the Cupertino planing board the other week).
- Jeff
Facebook is doing it because they don't like apples control over their app. and it will allow them to offer their Facebook Games without having to pay apple. But that is not going to be a huge draw for Developers. The developers are still going to have to pay someone to have their Game Available somewhere.
@netojose
GameSalad has already said Masala is just a random word they used for the project name. Nothing to do with the project at all.
So, it would be a different way to play an app, it would be hosted in a server not in the device itself. That would be the big difference. FB might even make that technology open so that it would kill a lot faster apple market (and any chance to keep the apps with a minimum quality).
If you think about it, the technology around internet points that way, I am not sure if it is for the best but certainly it would be more "democratic".
On the other hand, I think it would not take a lot to block it from working. It might work for safari as is set now but Apple, and afterwards Google (they could join in this effort), might come up with safeguards to prevent that. The "solution" would be FB release a phone... but then, they would join the club.
I dont see Apple stopping HTML 5 support on safari after all there efforts promoting it...
My own opinion on a new Facebook app store thing...
PROS:
- Be great to be able to make apps that can be played on any of your devices, PC, android, apple, mac and know it is always the same game your continuing...
- Being able to do html 5 versions of our games that we can allow people to play for free (like Canabalt did), and then if they want they can purchase the 99 cent app version,
CONS:
- It wont allow support for the iphones accelerometer, gyrosccope, multi touch, gps, etc etc... so so many apps are not going to be suitable for a HTML based app store... obviously a lot of single touch ones could be though.
- Also the fact you could only use it when you have signal would be a large draw back for games too... (no playing them on the tube, in a car where signal comes and goes oe in flight mode.)