GamesGrabr is a Pinterest-like social network for gamers

TeePee Games announced a new website and smartphone app today that works like a Pinterest for gamers … well, sort of.

GamesGrabr, which is launching in early 2013, is a pinboard-style social network where gamers can find, create, and manage game collections. TeePee already helps users discover social, online, MMO, and mobile games through its online portal and Facebook app, and its Geronimo engine recommends new content based on each player’s gaming habits. GamesGrabr sounds like a step forward — a bigger and more connected way for both casual and hardcore gamers to share and keep track of their favorite items.

“Initially, yes, GamesGrabr uses a similar U.I. [user interface] to Pinterest in that images and videos can be ‘Grabed’ or ‘pinned’ from across the web and collected in users collections,” said Tony Pearce, the chief executive officer of TeePee Games. “However, we are focused on the users’ passion for games and building the first social network for gamers. We want to create a games social network where you can create games collections and share them with your friends. One of the best things about GamesGrabr is that you’ll be able to browse game collections created by other people and see what your friends are playing or follow other gamers with similar interests. GamesGrabr is a great way of discovering new games.”

Prospective users can sign up now, before the network opens early next year, for a chance to win an iPad Mini or Nintendo Wii U video game console — two hot items on holiday wishlists this year. They can also integrate their Facebook accounts with GamesGrabr and learn how the site works via a quick, interactive walkthrough that resembles a series of comic book word balloons.

Pearce says that members can post anything they like to GamesGrabr. The upcoming iPhone and Android app turns the device’s camera into a barcode scanner, which gamers can use to scan boxed video game products and upload them to their collection for friends to see, comment on, or buy with one click.

“We don’t just ‘pin’ in GamesGrabr — we ‘Grab,'” said Pearce. “Our unique GrabIt button does a lot more than just pull images or a video from a web page into a collection of your choice, but this will be announced at launch.” Pearce also said that users can install this button on their web browsers.

Affiliate deals with sister site TeePee Games mean that users can play thousands of games on the site. A deal with Apple will connect members with iPhone and iPad games, and one with Apple will enable them to easily purchase physical boxed products and accessories. Pearce said that developers and publishers can even create their own collections with screenshots, links, and details about their games, allowing users to follow them. They can also chat directly with members, who can also play or buy their games across any platform.

“We have created a great recommendation engine that will offer cross-platform games recommendations,” said Pearce, adding that it’s open to developers who want to contact them. “For instance, you might Grab a T-Shirt with a Space Invaders image on it. Our recommendation engine will then offer Space Invaders games and products or games similar to [it] to the user.”