iWon, the site owned by IAC that attracts people with the promises of instant prizes, is revamping it’s look, going from a very 1.0 portal to a Flashy, casual-games site, complete with spinning wheels, slots, and lots of bright colors. The games are also now going to become widgetizable so they can live on people’s Facebook or MySpace pages. (And you thought you could avoid the shrill marketing come-ons just by avoiding the site).
iWon’s business model is to lure people in with cash prizes, get them to play online games like Sudoku, Slots, or Solitaire, and show them ads. Games can also be created specifically for ad sponsors.
This was iWon 1.0:
and here’s iWon 2.0:
I can’t decide which one’s lamer. Still, iWon needed to do something. According to comScore, its monthly unique visitors dropped from 5.2 million last year to 2.2 million in August. Although average time spent on the site shot up from 33 minutes a month to 53 minutes, that’s what you’d expect as the casual visitors tired of the offerings and the only ones left were the hardcore iWannaBeWinners. In beta testing, the new site has already proved to keep people playing five times longer than before. But is it the same people over and over again, or will the makeover be able to attract enough new visitors to turn things around?
Never heard of this site. I wouldnt mind playing games for free and as for being exposed to ads, arent we all exposed to thousands anyway, so I think its ok
I think the new site’s pretty good– it doesn’t look like a tired My Yahoo anymore… more like one of those tricked-out Vegas video slot machines. anyhow, it’s the kind of thing I can see my mom getting hooked on, playing for an hour a day, just because she’ll want to get her name on the high score list and try to win some money, too…
I think this looks like a great upgrade for iWon. Why not have the chance to win when spending free time at work or home playing games
Anyone who falls for this crap deserves what they get!
Sooooo much spam and popups come through these sites that it is rediculous!
http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com
Quite a big change from 1.0 to 2.0, I will have to visit the site and sample the games offered.
Just because it’s not your cup of tea, you diminish their work with a statement like “I can decide which one is lamer?”. Your review doesn’t really serve any purpose other than to harm this sites chance of success (quite unfairly imo).
I love these new games! Everything old and tired seems to have been updated on this sight… I also like the updated emphasis on these games. I am mostly glad that iWon is no longer the hodge-podge of news, weather, and casino gaming that it was before. Good work guys!
Ouch! The best makeover that site can get is a slap in the face from the back of my Adblock filter’s hand.
For many years I was a member of IWON.COM,but for some reason I am unable to retreve it,please try to help me. D.A.C. Thank you
Whatever did happen to those iWon millionaires?