Koprol, Elasitas, Bouncity Now Integrated with BlackBerry’s BBM6

We just received some great news from RIM that three Asian developers have integrated their apps into BlackBerry’s latest messenger service, BBM6.

Apart from chatting with other BlackBerry users, BBM6 enables users to use the app, share it, and connect it with other users. Three additional Asian apps/developers – Koprol, Elasitas, and Bouncity – are now ready to entertain Blackberry lovers in the region.

But aren’t all three from Indonesia? Yes, they are. And on the surface, it may seem like a strategic move by BlackBerry to serve its loyal customers in that country. But a RIM representative tells us that in fact, it was just by chance:

Over the next few weeks, we will see more BBM 6 connected apps on App World. Also, other developers from across Asia have, are, and will continue to create apps for BBM6. The list on our blog features some BBM6 connected apps that are produced in and for the Indian market, as well as a Hong Kong based developer who created the Photobooth app.

Given Blackberry’s popularity in Indonesia, it is fascinating to see RIM moving to integrate more closely with developers in the country. Elasitas and Bouncity are members of the BlackBerry Developer platform while Yahoo-owned Koprol is the most popular location-based service in Indonesia to date, and this latest integration with BBM6 will help all three services extend their reach.

Fun and Games

We got in touch with Elasitas to find out more about its partnership with RIM, as well as how three of its apps – Menoo, Gamemachi and MiMoMachi – which will be part of BBM6. Calvin Kizana from Elasitas took time to explain each of the games:

Gamemachi is a social mobile game platform. Gamemachi enables third-party game developers to integrate its games into the Gamemachi platform and community. Gamemachi games consist of WAP games, in-chat games (text-based) and client games. On all the games, players can compete and interact socially – even multi-player – through the platform, check the high-score table, and share with friends at Facebook and Twitter. Players gain points and experience as they play the games. Currently, there are five in-chat games, eight WAP games and one client game available on the Gamemachi Platform

Menoo is an application to help users find the best food and places nearby through features such as a menu directory, venue information, integrated maps (BB Maps and Google Maps), user reviews, user ratings, social feeds, daily deals, and integration with Facebook and Twitter. The highly-anticipated restaurant and dish finding app uses augmented reality (AR) on the BlackBerry and features deep integration with BBM 6 and OS 7. Collecting stamps, badges, and titles such as ‘Addictood’ and ‘Menoor’ adds a fun factor for Menoo users.

MiMoMachi Arena is an online mobile game that we produced in collaboration with Agate Studio, in which you can fight against your friends and other players’ characters asynchronously. Users can customize their MiMo Fighters with equipment and magic powers, and set their strategy to win battles. Also, they can solve the mysteries of MiMonesia through ‘quest mode,’ or compete against other players in weekly tournaments.

Besides extending the app to more users. Calvin explains that it is the social features that made it logical for Elasitas to integrate within BBM6. Features like custom profile box integration, automatic profile status updates, invites, and challenges make the whole gaming environment more social and viral.