Green Tomato founder & CEO Arthur Chang is optimistic that Hong Kong can develop rapidly as a regional mobile content hub

A fledgling Hong Kong mobile game and application service provider is proving a hit in one of the world's largest markets, the Chinese mainland, pointing the way for Hong Kong to be a mobile content hub.

Two-year old Green Tomato won the Outstanding Start-up Award and the Best Mobile Entertainment Software Award for Fish Bo Bo, the first mobile game with cross-platform capabilities in China, at last year's Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Excellence Awards.

Launched with one of the mainland's largest service providers Sina Mobile, the game accumulated more than 100,000 subscribers in less than two months. Besides China, more than 30 mobile operators in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan and Singapore are using Green Tomato mobile games and content.

Green Tomato's founder and CEO Arthur Chang said: "Our games are a mixture of creativity and digital entertainment, combining user experience and existing technology. What we are good at is delivering an interesting end product to the user."

Leading edge advantage

He said Hong Kong has the advantages to be a mobile content hub. Its East-West blend breeds creativity and innovation, and free access to information provides a leading edge.

"Hong Kong's free society and exposure to all types of news is a definite edge for the infotainment industry. The easy access to all types of information means we can get content out faster than anywhere else in the region. Hong Kong is also used as a product launch pad and a reference showcase. It certainly is the case in 3G which launched here first before the mainland," added Mr Chang. 

Green Tomato relies on a team of over 30 - based in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, southern China - to come up with the first interactive movie game (IMG), a new 3G game genre. This includes the dating game "I-date U Vgirl", combining over 500 video clips in a role-playing game, and a racing game where users own their dream cars and challenge other players. They are played across all common mobile channels including SMS, WAP and Java.

Rich design talent

"We have good designers in Hong Kong and the mainland who combine graphics and technology, and a game architect who design the storyline and the whole theme. Hong Kong historically and culturally has rich content and a tradition in film-making and other forms of entertainment, which is very important for a mobile content hub," Mr Chang said.

Green Tomato intends to concentrate on Asia and the mainland. "These markets are big enough for us. The mainland has over 300 million mobile users while Hong Kong with nearly seven million people has 100 per cent mobile penetration. India has more than 100 million mobile users and the Philippines has a very high usage on SMS." 

However, the IT entrepreneur who has worked previously with IBM and General Electric would not rule out the US and Europe for future expansion. "If there are potential partners, we can think about expanding to the west at a later stage."

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