We have a fascination with Empire Avenue so when their COO CFO Robert Kallir agreed to an interview we jumped for joy.
Empire Avenue launched to the public in July 2010. Who were the first folks on the game? Are they still part of the game?
Many of the first folk on the game have been on the site actively from the beginning and have been some of our biggest supporters. Many of them were, as we said, Friends and Family, but also Friends of Friends. It’s very gratifying to see so many of them having stuck through with us this long as we made such dramatic changes to the site to bring it to where it is now!
Does the game have to get more intricate to keep a user’s attention or will the social component be enough to make it sticky?
We do not believe that more intricate is better and after all this is a social media game. We do believe that providing useful methods to bridge the gap between Game and Real Life (this is after a game based on Real Life) will be part of what makes Empire Avenue sticky in the long term.
Are people using Empire Avenue in the way that you’d envisioned it? Any big surprises?
This iteration of Empire Avenue is not what we launched with. We were looking much more at scores than this iteration which is much much more social. Obviously the use of the site is up to you and we’re always constantly amazed at the different things people use the platform for. The community external tools as well are just amazing.
If I asked you what business you were in how would you answer?
Our standard answer is the following: “Empire Avenue is a fantasy stock market game that values your online activity and social network influence in a dynamic marketplace where users can invest and profit from their own and their friends’ online social network.” We have created a platform for an economy based on your social capital online. Now, we encapsulate and see it through the lens of a game but the future and potential is unlimited.
Is Empire Avenue a game or a social network or is it something else entirely?
As above, but I think we’re into the something else territory and it will be up to you to decide that particular “bucket”.
Are there any businesses that are using EA particularly well?
Those businesses that engage with Empire Avenue shareholders are truly using it well. Recently we saw Ford send out their Shareholders an message with the actual message to their real shareholders embedded in it. Interacting with users is the best way. If you look on the leaderboards check out how some of the businesses have climbed up there. They are social active and active on EA and engaging people!
We here at Teh User are particularly impressed with Ford’s innovative use of Empire Avenue and we also see that Chris Prillo and Robert Scoble have turned themselves into powerhouses both with highly valued stock and with thesis length discussions about Empire Avenue. We think that Empire Avenue cannot be ignored, and we love that it’s one click to facebook and you’re in the game.
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[...] rest of the interview is at Teh User and if y’all wanted to buy some stock in me, my ticker symbol is [...]
Great interview, now I am hoping that people buy stock in you, JessG, TehUSer and that cute broad in the photo TruthflMommy
LOL BUt seriously, I say 200 shares all the way around!