A decade after Flappy Bird, Vietnam becomes gaming powerhouse

An employee plays the game Flappy Bird at a smartphone store in Hanoi on Feb 10, 2014. Flappy Bird provided a jolt to Vietnamese developers, who saw how successful such simple mobile games, widely known as casual games, could be. — AFP

Not long ago, Vietnam’s government warned parents that too many videogames could lead children to a life of crime – even murder.

But when the first-ever Vietnam GameVerse Day was held in Ho Chi Minh City earlier this year, government officials were front and centre promoting the country as the region’s hottest market for entertainment apps development.