Kate O'Loughlin’s Post

Fascinating development

From Parents' Basement to Worldwide Sensation: The Epic Journey of Epic Games! 🎮 The Epic tale of Tim Sweeney and the strategic brilliance that turned Epic Games into a global sensation. 🌐 Genesis in the Parental HQ: In 1991, Tim Sweeney founded Potomac Computer Systems, initially crafting custom databases. Unsuccessful at first, Tim pivoted to game development, starting with ZZT. From a meager $100 revenue, this shift laid the foundation for what would become Epic Games. 🚀 The Rise of Jill and the Jungle: Jill of the Jungle, a 2D side-scroller, became a hit, selling 20-30 copies a day. Epic Games expanded to eight employees, prompting a move from Sweeney's parents' house. In 1999, Epic Games relocated to North Carolina and transformed into the iconic name we know today. Epic's Positioning Strategy Unveiled: 1️⃣ Game-Changing Engine: Unreal Engine, born in 1998, prioritized creators. The pricing evolution, from an upfront fee to becoming royalty-free, solidified Epic as a game development ally. 2️⃣ Diverse Genres: Epic explored various genres, from ZZT to Gears of War, Infinity Blade to Fortnite, appealing to a broad spectrum of gamers. 3️⃣ Developer-Focused Store: Epic Games Store disrupted the industry with an 88/12% revenue split, zero extra costs, and waived Unreal engine fees, empowering developers to maximize profits. 🚀 Key Takeaways for Your Business: 1️⃣ Know Your Audience: Epic Games succeeded by understanding and addressing the needs of developers and gamers alike. Identify your target audience and cater to their unique needs. 2️⃣ Innovate Creatively: Epic Games continually provided innovative solutions, from ZZT's DIY game creation to Unreal Engine's powerful tools. Think creatively to stand out in your industry. 🌟 Developing Your Positioning Strategy: Learn about your customers, create buyer personas, and craft a compelling brand positioning strategy. Don't hesitate to seek expert guidance to set yourself apart in a crowded market. Read full article in the comment section #BusinessStrategy #EpicGamesJourney #InnovationUnleashed

🎮🌟 Exciting News Alert! 🌟🎮 We're thrilled to share that Helldivers II by Arrowhead Game Studios has achieved remarkable success, emerging as the top-grossing game of February according to Newzoo! This achievement is a testament to the creators' masterful craftsmanship and the balanced approach to distribution policies, delivering staggering results. And we're proud that Rokky has played part in this success story! Here are some highlights from Newzoo's report: 🚀 In February, Helldivers II outperformed all other games on PC and consoles, with the highest revenue generated. The primary markets driving revenue are the USA and the UK. 🌍 Across 37 markets tracked by Newzoo (excluding China and India), Helldivers II dominated the gaming landscape, captivating audiences worldwide. 📈 Helldivers II secured the 15th spot in terms of Monthly Active Users (MAU) in February 2024, ranking sixth overall among all platforms within its genre. ⚔️ Among shooters, Helldivers II claimed the third spot on PlayStation and the sixth spot on PC in terms of MAU. 🕹️ An impressive 4.8% of the entire PC and PlayStation audience engaged with Helldivers II in February. 🕒 On average, players spent 20.2 hours battling for the future of Super Earth in Helldivers II each month, marking it as the 75th highest player engagement across all games and seventh among shooters. 🔗 Helldivers II also shares a significant player overlap with other popular titles, including Fortnite, Palworld, and Lethal Company. 👥 Additionally, it boasts substantial intersections with other shooter games such as The Finals, Call of Duty series, and Evil West. 💰 Notably, Helldivers II exhibits substantial overlap among paying players with games like Call of Duty series, Lethal Company, and Fortnite. 📺 Lastly, in February alone, the game accumulated an impressive 21 million hours of viewership, securing the 17th spot overall and the seventh spot among shooters in terms of views. Stay tuned for more updates as Helldivers II continues to captivate audiences worldwide and redefine the gaming landscape! 🌍🚀 #HelldiversII #GamingSuccess #Newzoo #GameIndustry #AchievementUnlocked #GamingCommunity

#gaming has typically and exclusively catered to the young. However, the release of a specific game late last year proved that notion wrong. This old-school single-player narrative, rich with complex themes, has been a massive hit and one of the highest-rated games of all time. It even earned the Game of the Year title in the USA and Great Britain in 2023. The game was called #baldursgate3. While inclusive of #genz values, it was designed for someone that loved, and missed the classic RPG experience -Gen X or older Millennial. Many industry gurus proclaimed that this would make it a modest success at best, as it ran counter to every single trend. But, it ended up being a game changer. 1. BG3 showed that games can be a shared experience between generations too. I never liked dolls so what the #barbiemovie was to some, this game was to me. My son and I enjoyed sharing player experiences, and discussing rule sets and lore. 2. It demonstrated that the highly cinematic multiplayer games with monetized content was not the only way to go. The era of the single player, story-rich, character-driven RPGs is far from over. 3. It proved a 35+ audience strategy is viable, even in an industry that seems laser focused on the 16-25 year old male demographic. 4. It was a wonderful example of #testandlearn. Larian, the developers, used feedback from extensive early access to optimize the game for launch. 5. It did not consider its job done at launch. They continued to refine plot gaps and their epilogue after release through hotfixes and patches. #postlaunchoptimization is a vastly underleveraged tool but a very important one in #innovation. As one of the early testers (and a serious RPG enthusiast), it was magical to once again step into this world and interact with characters that were part of your adventuring crew nearly two decades ago. Clearly, I was part of a big group that was hungry for this feeling of #nostalgia and helped an incredible IP gain the visibility and traction it deserved. Now, if I could just find some time to finish the game! #disruptiveinnovation #audiencestrategy #genx #millennials #throwbackthursday

Legendary rapper Snoop Dogg and his son, Cordell Broadus, have made an unexpected entry into the gaming world with the launch of 'Death Row Games.' This ambitious venture aims to support minority creatives within Fortnite's UEFN ecosystem, with the goal of expanding the narrative of content creation in the gaming industry. The announcement reveals that Cordell Broadus has been actively pursuing opportunities in the gaming industry for several years. Death Row Games, inspired by the iconic Death Row Records label founded in 1991 and now owned by Snoop Dogg, is set to be a platform for diverse creators. Snoop Dogg, known for his collaborations with titles like Call of Duty, has ventured into gaming before, having been part of FaZe Clan. Cordell Broadus expressed their background in game creation, emphasizing that Death Row Games aims to be a home for diverse creators in the gaming ecosystem. The project's focus is on being part of decision-making processes and telling stories from underserved communities. Through Death Row Games, creators will have the opportunity to leverage Fortnite's UEFN to develop and showcase games, contributing to the ongoing explosion of creativity in the UEFN in recent months. #SnoopDogg #DeathRowGames #FortniteGaming #GamingDiversity #ContentCreation #UEFN #FortniteCreators #GamingNarratives #DiverseCreators #GameDevelopment

🚨 Important Update 🚨 Yesterday's UEFN updates and associated issues and crashes has thrown a curveball our way, impacting Creators on the Fortnite platform, including us. Our most successful games have unexpectedly broke down, causing a setback in the midst of crucial client pitches and brand integration efforts. We're actively addressing what we can on our end, tirelessly working to restore normalcy. However, certain elements are beyond our control, and we're relying on Epic Games to swiftly resolve these issues. This situation prompts important questions regarding the near future: 1️⃣ Rediscover Challenges: Will our games get another chance in Discovery, so they can regain their popularity once the technical glitches are sorted out? 2️⃣ Epic Creator Support: How does Epic plan to support all Creators - especially those heavily relying on the platform monetization - during and after such unforeseen challenges that are beyond our control? We're navigating these challenges with optimism and dedication. Stay tuned for updates as we work through this together.🛠️🚀 #FortniteCreators #EpicGamesSupport #UEFNsupport #CommunityStrong Creators Corp.

Congrats on 6,000 players on the first day of launch and sold out UGC, to our publishing team at Game Crafters Guild. This Roblox title allows MVG to test a few new products, including Valor Roblox SDK and Roblox Studio Plugin that is coming soon to Roblox Developers, for the first scan to redeem experience in Roblox powered by Valor. The Backrooms Obby is a Speedrun title by MVG Gaming Studio owned GCG community, where players can earn UGC via scanning and redeeming codes on Valor, or buy upgrades to Speedrun through this impossible puzzle obstacle course. Users can find the game here: https://lnkd.in/gvTu2mXp Users can follow GCG on Roblox here: https://lnkd.in/g6QvzvZk GCG is a wholly owned publishing brand and creator community built and sponsored by MVG. Follow us on TikTok for more: https://lnkd.in/gdi_KFRR

🚀 Excited to Announce the Launch of the Mobile Version of Epic Gaming Hub! 🎮 After successfully creating the Epic Gaming Hub website for PC, I've taken the next step and optimized the experience for mobile users! 📱✨ Using Wix Studios, I have redesigned the website from the ground up to ensure a seamless and engaging experience on mobile platforms. Now, gamers can easily explore the latest in gaming news, reviews, and content on the go! Check out the mobile version and let me know what you think! Your feedback is always appreciated. 🙌 More features and pages are to be added, here's just the home page. #WebDevelopment #GamingWebsite #MobileDesign #WixStudios #EpicGamingHub #UIUX

(EN) Xbox Game Studios Announces Closure of Four Game Studios, Including Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks Microsoft and Xbox have made the decision to shut down four game studios, as reported by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier. The affected studios include Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog Studios, and Roundhouse Games. Arkane Austin and Roundhouse Games were both responsible for the development and launch of Redfall in 2023, a game that has garnered mixed reviews since its release. Tango Gameworks, known for titles like Ghostwire: Tokyo and The Evil Within franchise, most recently released the well-received Hi-Fi Rush in 2023. Meanwhile, Alpha Dog Studios primarily focused on mobile game development. In an email obtained by IGN, Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty explained that the decision stems from a "reprioritization of titles and resources" at Microsoft. Booty emphasized the company's commitment to investing in Bethesda's portfolio of blockbuster games and beloved worlds. As a result of these changes, some members of the Arkane Austin team will be relocated to other studios within Bethesda. The development of Redfall will cease following its most recent update. Booty acknowledged the disruption caused by these decisions and expressed gratitude to the affected teams for their creativity and dedication. Following the announcement, Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks released statements expressing appreciation for their employees and players. While the Roundhouse Games team will transition to ZeniMax Online Studios, there was no mention of relocation plans for employees from Tango Gameworks or Alpha Dog Studios. #Xbox #GameStudios #StudioClosure #ArkaneAustin #TangoGameworks #Redfall #GamingNews #Bethesda #Microsoft #GameDevelopment #IndustryChanges #GameStudiosShutdown #GamingCommunity

Why Zynga/Peak's new game, Match Factory, has a long way to go to reach the heights of the former Peak team, Spyke Games. Spyke game recently launched Tile Busters, which is a top 25 revenue WW game in the Match genre! They (and I) attribute their success to the following... ✅ Great Async PvP Gameplay ✅ Ease of onboarding into more complex modes ✅ Compelling Meta with Streak bonuses ✅ Option to choose modes with time pressure Match Factory announced the WW launch last week, but the Data.ai numbers, the lack of an Android SKU, and the lack of any Meta game would suggest otherwise. 🔊 Some unsolicited advice for Match Factory is to find a way forward in a crowded (and generic) genre…. ➕ Don't leave soft launch without liveops events and Meta Systems ➕ Find ways to make time pressure optional (turn off for some casuals) ➕ Identify a theme/wrapper/brand to differentiate As a fan of Toon Blast, I'm hoping Peak can make it work! Good luck. For more on this topic... 🎧 Listen to this This Week in Games Podcast in the Deconstructor of Fun podcast feed. Check it out for all the big news in the game industry each week with fellow co-hosts Michail Katkoff, Eric Kress, Laura Taranto, and Phillip Black. Link in the comments 🎧