A bit about my new work

Where to start? I have lots to gush about, but we are very much in start-up mode so things need to cook a bit before it will make sense or become apparent. On the inside though, I feel I am smack in a phenomenl opportunity, almost as if I just found myself in a movie, at the beginning of an interesting narrative about to happen. I still can't believe I landed the job. Several perfect timing/perfect place situations happened that it seemed almost choreographed.

Anyway, I find myself working for GREE Inc., Japan's largest social mobile gaming network (US market site coming soon). A small group just arrived from the Tokyo Headquarters, renting a temporary corporate office in the financial district. I was the only local hire until a few days ago, and still am the only native English speaker. Everyone speaks super good English, but we all speak Japanese in the office. We know this will change as soon as we hire a non-Japanese speaker, and we are focusing on creating a non-Japanese office ; )

GREE is huge at 24 million users in Japan. Opening an office here is the first step to an international presence. Although they have figured out in detail what works for the Japan market with stunning success (freemium with in-app upgrade/virtual goods purchasing), they are investing to build from scratch specifially for the US market. I like that approach.

So...it's like a start-up, but multiple times better since we have the HQ investment and a solidly established brand in Japan. When we talk to people in the industry here, they know GREE and it's nice to easily get their attention. However, our challenge is building from ground up, meaning we need to hire, grow a local office culture, create great games, and establish our brand in the U.S..

I am new to games. Frankly, I don't play games, and it is a mystery to me how much money people spend on games. However, I'm learning a lot, and have a newfound respect for games. I'm learning games can be a means to an end, an end that can have social implications and social use if applied well. The industry at large is just at the beginning of exploring what makes mainstream people want to play games and be involved. It seems that the next step thereafter - applying games to a deeper use - will come now that mobile technology is more ubiquitous. Whatever happens, getting involved in the mobile space will be great for me in whatever I do in the future.

We are at the start; I'm just enjoying the fact that I get to participate in building the GREE brand internationally. Anyone interested, feel free to ping me! Although 6 months pregnant (and the company is super cool with me about it), I am energized to be involved in what feels like the start of a rare company narrative. Just wish I were able to work longer days since it's so exciting.

: )