Jean-Francois Vallee

Did you spend your childhood battling Pokémon in games or slinging cards? Pokémon is the No. 1 media franchise. What’s your favourite Generation? 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜 • Region: Kanto • Themes: Science • Years: 1996 – 1999 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗜 • Region: Johto • Themes: Cultural Traditions • Years: 1999 – 2002 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗜𝗜 • Region: Hoenn • Themes: The Environment • Years: 2002 – 2006 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗩 • Region: Sinnoh • Themes: Time and Space • Years: 2006 – 2010 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗩 • Region: Unova • Themes: Truth and Ideals • Years: 2010 – 2013 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗩𝗜 • Region: Kalos • Themes: Life, Death and the Ecosystem • Years: 2013 – 2016 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗩𝗜𝗜 • Region: Alola • Themes: Day and Night • Years: 2016 – 2019 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗩𝗜𝗜𝗜 • Region: Galar • Themes: England and Its Culture • Years: 2019 – 2022 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗫 • Region: Paldea • Themes: Past vs. the Future • Years: 2022 – present My top pick? Generation I ❤️ Oddish /\/\ |\ \ \ \// / o_o\ \____/ /_\/_\ Sources: TITLEMAX®, Wikipedia

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Whatever happened to one interview and a handshake? Some more thoughts on cover letters in Gamedev/Tech Or ‘Yay more hoops to jump through’ 1.Consider your audience. Different teams need different things, is the company big or small, are they a new start-up or well established? Each of these criteria tend to favor different aspects of a personality and skills. It’s vital to be authentic, but there is nothing stopping you from emphasizing certain skills and traits according to your audience. 2. Personalize. Do you need to research the entire 15-year history of the company and name drop their most obscure IP? Probably not. Do you want to include the correct company name and the job title for the role you are applying for? And does it help to show you’ve done a few minutes of research about what the company does? Definitely. Pro-Forma is your friend here. Have a template you use and can very slightly adapt to each role you apply to. 3. Communicate effectively. So much of Game Dev is about effective communication, often in written form – this is a chance to showcase that skill. Be concise, be clear, be professional. Tech hiring managers tend to be analytical by nature so present the facts in as balanced a way as possible, striking a balance between giving a good account of yourself and not overselling. Does first/third person matter? Not really – do whatever makes sense to you. Best of luck people!

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“But you don’t look like a gamer. And I mean it as a compliment.” — Strangers “Then you are not a gamer.” — Industry veteran I grew up playing tons of games in China. I still vividly remember the fun times playing Korean MMORPGs with childhood friends at internet cafes. Can you imagine we had to pay both publishers and internet cafes by the hour? New maps, cosmetic items, creatures, and weapons were dropped with every update. I was always jealous of the kids who could afford monthly subscriptions, giving them unlimited playtime. This was easily 15+ years before the concept of Game as a Service. My first ever online purchase on Chinese eBay was virtual items for Ragnarok Online because little Grace was good at math and knew it was way cheaper to buy a decent beginner set than to grind for crafting materials. When I moved onto other games, I sold my RO account and made a small profit. This was 20+ years before NFTs and discussions around digital ownership. In Asia, video games are a crucial part of our social lives. My cousin, who introduced me to World of Warcraft, Half-Life, Need for Speed, and many other exciting games when I was a little girl, met his wife through Honor of Kings. My sister-in-law jokes that if dating apps fail you, find someone in a game who will carry you - you see their true colors through PvP and teamwork. Gaming has always been fun and positive for me, and I never doubted my identity. Then moving here to the US was a culture shock. On one side, I was told I was too good to be a gamer because I dressed nicely, wasn't socially awkward, and didn't live in my parents' basement. On the other side, an industry veteran said in my face that I wasn't good enough to be a gamer because I didn't play certain genres competitively. I was frustrated and turned to Reddit for answers. Here are some top comments I found: “I remember putting 300+ hours into Skyrim, but feeling like I couldn't call myself a gamer because I didn't play Halo or League. You definitely aren't the only one who feels that way. ♥️ We were just blocked by years of gatekeeping ugh” “I don't refer to myself as gamer and I don't think I ever will. I love video games, but the term comes with so much baggage it wouldn't fit onto a container ship bc most of the dudes who the term was coined for and that unironically refer to themselves as gamers are not people I would like to be associated with.” “𝐈'𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫, 𝐈 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬.” 🥲 ✨ Imagine a world where everyone who plays games can proudly call themselves gamers. ✨ Imagine the breakthroughs in storytelling and game design we could achieve if every gamer felt empowered to contribute their unique perspectives. ✨ Imagine the explosive growth of the industry if we shatter the stereotypes and gatekeeping that hold it back. Gaming is for everyone, regardless of how they look or which games they play. If you love games, you belong in this community. #videogames #inclusivity

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UMG's Partnership with SoundLabs Brings Advanced AI Technology to Music Production Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced a collaboration with SoundLabs, a music technology company known for its AI tools designed for music creators. This partnership will allow UMG's artists and producers to use SoundLabs' MicDrop plugin, an AI-powered tool compatible with all major digital audio workstations. The plugin can be trained on an artist's voice, enabling the creation of custom vocal models for studio use. UMG, which works with prominent artists like Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Adele, and Kendrick Lamar, highlights that this tool provides artists with full creative control and approval over the generated content. The MicDrop plugin offers several innovative features, including the ability to modify vocal timbres, transform speech into singing, and change the language of a vocal recording. This technology allows artists to release foreign-language versions of their songs without recording new vocals. Additionally, it enables them to perform duets with their younger selves by utilizing archival recordings. UMG emphasizes that these vocal models will be exclusively available for the artists' personal use and not for public access, ensuring ethical application and full control by the creators. This development follows UMG's recent partnership with Roland, where they introduced seven ethical principles for AI in music creation. These guidelines aim to ensure that artificial intelligence enhances, rather than replaces, human creativity. Previously, UMG also explored licensing artists' voices for AI-generated songs in collaboration with Google, demonstrating their commitment to integrating AI ethically in the music industry. SoundLabs, led by Grammy-nominated producer and software developer BT, is at the forefront of AI music technology. BT has a history of working on innovative audio plugins like iZotope's Stutter Edit and BreakTweaker. He expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, emphasizing the potential of AI to democratize creativity and reduce barriers in the creative process. UMG's Chris Horton reiterated the company's focus on keeping artists central to their AI strategy, ensuring that technology serves artistic expression. The MicDrop plugin is set for release later this summer, marking a significant step in the evolution of music production. #MusicInnovation #AIMusic #CreativeTech #FutureOfMusic

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China's gaming regulator, the NPPA, approved publishing licenses for 15 foreign video games on June 5th, according to SCMP. This brings the total number of approved foreign titles in 2024 to 61, compared to 98 in all of 2023. The list, available on the NPPA website, leans towards mobile titles but also includes console and PC games. Here are some highlights: 🕹 Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! 🕹 Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury 🕹 Ultraman Legend of Heroes 🕹 Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage 🕹 Valorant: Operation Primal 🕹 Black Desert Online 🕹 Samurai Shodown mobile 🕹 Railbound 🕹 For The King 🕹 Daemon X Machina 🕹 Dungeon Hunter 6 The most anticipated title is likely Valorant: Operation Primal, the upcoming mobile version of Riot Games' popular shooter. The NPPA approved the base game in December 2022 and greenlit the mobile version on June 5th. Valorant's PC version, launched in China last July, achieved considerable success, generating strong revenue for Tencent (Riot Games's parent company). While the mobile version's global release date remains unknown, its NPPA approval is a positive step. (source: https://lnkd.in/esr_Zf8D)

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📊 Games & Numbers (01.05.24 - 14.05.24) 🎮 PC/console games ▪️Helldivers II sold 12 million copies in 12 weeks, surpassing the previous record holder, God of War: Ragnarok (11 million copies in 3 months). https://lnkd.in/dtaJ7B2e ▪️Hades II topped the chart of paid game sales on Steam from May 7th to May 14th. The peak online player count reached 103.5k. The first part's record was 37.7k. Video Game Insights estimates that the game has already been purchased 831 thousand times. https://lnkd.in/d9SuhviJ ▪️7 million people played Dead Island 2 over the year. These are not sales, as the game appeared on Game Pass in February. 2 million copies were bought in the first month. https://lnkd.in/dppn8vRh ▪️Koei Tecmo reported that Rise of the Ronin's sales exceeded each of the two Nioh parts in the first month (the first part sold only 3 million copies; the second - 2 million). https://lnkd.in/dppn8vRh ▪️Just two days after the release, Gray Zone Warfare sold 400 thousand copies. https://lnkd.in/du34Vxrr ▪️Little Kitty, Big City, a game about a kitten's adventures in the city, was bought 100 thousand times in 2 days. The game is also available on Game Pass. https://lnkd.in/djp44kDY ▪️The Polish team Donkey Crew announced that Bellwright sold 150 thousand copies in 12 days. The game was released in early access on Steam on April 23rd. https://lnkd.in/dy3UzJY8 📱Mobile games ▪️Sensor Tower reports that Summoner’s War has earned over $3 billion in revenue in the 10 years since its release. 30.4% of this amount came from the USA, and 18.1% from Japan. The game ranks 6th in the list of highest-grossing RPGs over the past 2 years. https://lnkd.in/dwbVHAbh ▪️Uma Musume Pretty Derby has earned $2.4 billion in three years, according to Sensor Tower. 90% of the revenue came from Japan. 78% of the audience are men. https://lnkd.in/dAsmj65c ▪️Squad Busters reached 30 million early registrations in 11 days. The company aimed to achieve this figure by the release on May 29th. https://t.ly/NQgW5 ▪️Over 100 million people played AFK Arena. Lilith Games shared this figure in celebration of the project's 5th anniversary. https://lnkd.in/d2akX2nP ▪️SHIFTUP, the creators of Goddess of Victory: Nikke, revealed that the project generated $750 million in revenue over 1.5 years. 61% of this amount came from Japan, 17% from the USA, and 14% from South Korea. https://t.ly/P-6cS

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It has been a common and recurring theme. At some point I want to talk about companies that have been practicing bad practices. Though I believe first step to make and prove that there are alternate ways and they lead to better productivity and work spaces. Other than that, we do need to push for betterment and talk about what that truly means. What you said is truly on point and heart wrenching.

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I often hear people asking what it takes for the Malaysian game industry to really take off. What initiatives and programs are needed to make a significant impact? In exploring all the options—from more grants and incentives to the latest in Generative AI and game development tools like Unreal or Unity—the key isn't just about adopting the new but being Consistent in how we execute these strategies. It’s tempting to chase the latest technology or trend, and while it’s crucial to innovate and protect these advances, the true game-changer is Consistency. This is what allows an industry to create a reliable environment, a safe harbor that can weather any storm. Take the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) for instance (Yes, I am biased 😀). From my perspective, it has been a pillar of stability, consistently supporting the digital and creative content industries. We should continue to appreciate this (for now). Let’s discuss how consistent efforts can drive our industry forward. What are your thoughts and experiences? How can we apply this principle to foster sustained growth? (Attached is a picture from the first Asian Game Developers Summit - AGDS in 2005. The progenitor of LEVEL UP KL)

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#Gamescom24 Its been a super rough year in the gaming industry, 2 insanely hard 2.5 years for me and my mom (RIP), and tough 2 weeks. But as the bards of the new age (Yes, us storytellers and game developers, designers, artists) the show must go on. Proud to announce i will be attending this year Gamescom, for 5 good reasons: ❤️ To represent as part of the Indie Arena Booth and Board 💙 To support Styrax Studios (Where i moved to Strategic advisor position after almost 4 years, its all good, and we are working on a blast of a game - "Button Man" to be launched Q1 2025, with its accompanying printed comics!!) - Styrax has a booth at hall 10.2 indie area, check it out!! 💚 Showcasing my new label which I'm building for supporting games, board games, TV animated shows (See Monsterworld, our new game world and upcoming TV series!) and Toys (talk to me to see our new in development UGC platform for game developers connected to our branded physical toys!) 💜 to Support anyone who needs advise, consultation, connection to publishers and investors, help in starting a studio, or just to listen and pour our hearts. my time is free if you were let go from your Job or need a hand. 💗 Social impact : Our new label is currently working on couple of interesting projects around Mental health and AR, VR Horror, game around fake news for mobile, a whole game and platform to teach and learn Finance and Economics, AI educational platform for sciences, and new down to earth conflict resolution gamified app. Wanna meet? DM or ping me so i can add you to calendly, MeetToMatch, or Whatsapp! don't wait up since these slots are vanishing in a heartbeat. I hope for a better world for all of us - lets help make it more educated, knowledge based ( and not social media "what if" speculations), and empathic for all of us (Yes, AI, you too!) #gamedesign #socialimpact #AI #UGC #gamedev #buttonman #spreadgood https://lnkd.in/dxNwMS7R

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Games Org Support Post #98: Singularity 6 Dear Friends, today we support individuals impacted by layoffs at Singularity 6, highlighting 28 incredible individuals across various domains. I thank Mao Yanagawa for her efforts in bringing this data together. For more detailed profiles, please visit the following link:  https://lnkd.in/e6U-gchG For all past support posts:  https://lnkd.in/ewemUtC9 OUR 28 AMAZING CANDIDATES TODAY BY DOMAIN, FUNCTION, YEAR EXPERIENCE, AND LOCATION: Art (8): - Becky C., Lead 3D Environment Artist, 5 years, Los Angeles, CA / Orange County, CA - Wesley P Eldridge, Sr. Technical Artist, 8 years, Henderson, NV - Jeremy Fenske, Art Director, 10 years, Los Angeles, CA - Chris Mathews, Sr. Environment Artist, 7 years, New York City, NY - Sophia Nelson, Sr. Concept Artist, 6 years, Los Angeles, CA - Jacey Robinson, Game Capture Artist, 4 years, Seattle, WA - Lee Scheinbeim, Sr. Lighting Technical Artist, 6 years, Seattle, WA - Luiza Roth Tanaka, Sr. Environment Artist, 5 years, Los Angeles, CA Design (4): - Eileen Shiue, Design Director, 12 years, Los Angeles, CA - Nikhil Kashyap, Sr. Game Designer, 7 years, Bay Area, CA - Gary Platner, Principal Level Designer, 15 years, Orange County, CA - Sean Wissler, Lead Gameplay Designer, 9 years, Los Angeles, CA Engineering (7): - Rob Harris, Senior Engineering Manager, 14 years, Las Vegas, NV - Daniel Hogberg, Sr. Game Engineer, 10 years, Bay Area, CA - Casey K., Staff Game Engineer, 9 years, Bay Area, CA - Joseph Zabriskie, Game Engineer, 4 years, Boise, ID - Michael Pulis, Sr. Game Engineer, 11 years, Seattle, WA - Stephen Rubio, Game Engineer, 5 years, Los Angeles, CA - Aqeel Tapia, Game Engineer, 7 years, Salt Lake City, UT Operations / HR (2): - Arun Storrs, Sr. Executive Assistant, 6 years, Los Angeles, CA - Mao Yanagawa, Manager, Talent Acquisition, 9 years, Los Angeles, CA Production (1): - Candace Corrales, Live Ops Producer (Release Management), 4 years, Los Angeles, CA Community (1): Lyn D., Sr. Community Manager, 5 years, Los Angeles, CA / Orange County, CA. Communications / PR (1): Javi Carlos, Sr. PR & Communication Manager, 6 years, Los Angeles, CA. QA (3): - Dragon F., Sr. QA Analyst, 6 years, Orange County, CA - Alex Medina, QA Expert, 5 years, Los Angeles, CA / Orange County, CA - Kenneth Polly, Sr. QA Analyst, 7 years, Dallas, TX Writing / Narrative (1): - Olivia Frias, Lead Narrative Designer, 8 years, Los Angeles, CA Join us in making a difference in the lives of these talented gamers! To those gamers affected, we invite you to join our three supportive communities: LinkedIn, Discord (at discord.gg/amirsatvat), and our resource hub at amirsatvat.com. Use these platforms to aid your job search!

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Navigating the complexities of porting to Apple Vision Pro? Unity's guide offers 6 essential tips to streamline the process, from leveraging Unity's AR Foundation to optimizing your app's performance on Vision Pro. Check out the full guide for expert insights and practical advice to ensure your app shines on Apple's latest platform - https://lnkd.in/dCcxYKem. #AR #VR #AppleVisionPro #Unity #realtime3D

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[Announcing Kolektif Gamedev, a medium publication from various game devs in Indonesia] What I love the most about the game industry in Indonesia is the spirit of helping and sharing so that we can collectively grow the industry faster. There are many initiatives born from grassroots movements, starting from the GamedevID Discord/FB group where there's SemakFM for us to hang out, and meetups in each regional community like in Tangerang, Bandung, Malang, etc. The Indonesian Game Association also has a Skilltree webinar every Thursday. Now, there is a super interesting new initiative where game developers in Indonesia share their lessons learned, tips, and experiences in Medium posts that we aggregate in "Kolektif Gamedev". So, for those of you who want to learn or share knowledge, use this platform as a one-stop learning material from fellow game developers in the industry. Some posts are in Indonesian, and some in English. Enjoy :) Link: https://lnkd.in/gbfX2_4p

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NETFLIX RELEASE ”LUDO KING” After its partnership with the GTA franchise, Netflix has published a version of one of the most downloaded games in the history of the mobile games market. 🏅 🎲 “Ludo King™” by Gametion Technologies Pvt. Ltd. 👑 Released on June 12th, “Ludo King NETFLIX” is available only in Malaysia. 🇲🇾 However, we can access information about the game, such as its trailer. 📺 👇 You can watch it below. 👇 With over 1 billion downloads, "Ludo King™" stands out for its gameplay that appeals to socialization, based on a world-famous board game. I'm waiting for its global launch. 🤩 This could be an opportunity for a change in the streaming giant's editorial line on games. - X - This research was supported by Cost Center. Cost Center is a tech company that offers a powerful suite of tools for Mobile Publishers to optimize UA campaigns. 💪 Its portfolio includes amazing clients such as Amanotes and Lihuhu. 🏆 Do you like it? 🤩 Call my friend Yi Ting Ho. She'll show you a demo. 😉 #netflix #gaming #gamedevelopment #HypercasualByCarlosPereira

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*peep-peep* Yep, you heard it right. The half time whistle for the 2024 working year has sounded, so I am traipsing off the pitch for a quick half-time break in San Sebastian. And after a brief glance at the half-time score, I'm relieved to say that my year proven at least slightly better than England's performances at Euro 2024 (a low bar to clamber over, I know). 🤝 I've been lucky enough to work with 8 new businesses in 2024 via Half-Space Consulting to help them learn about the video games market, build a plan to engage with it and then tell their stories in the sector. 📰 I've popped out 26 (!) editions of Video Games Industry Memo, growing its audience to a tasty total just shy of 2,000 subscribers and rolling out the paid VGIM Insider programme for the first time ever. 🎤 I've popped up in public as the curator of London Developer Conference, hosted a couple of private events for businesses and turned up in the press in The Guardian, BBC News, The Independent and even The New York Times 😲 💰 I am on course to miss my punchy revenue target for the year (boo) but I am on course to hit my Pretty Darn Good forecast - as long as I keep doing enough biz dev (😬) 🏃‍♂️ I've even completed six half-marathons for GamesAid as part of a very silly charity challenge to run one every month this year. That's not to say this year has been entirely plain sailing. I nearly burned out in Spring from working stupidly. I definitely need to get better at selling what I'm doing (including packaging up what work I can do better). And the fact that I've got the phrase "establish a routine" underlined repeatedly in my notepad suggests I may, in fact, need to establish a routine. But those are what I'm calling July problems. I'll be back next month with a first VGIM event, a trip to Develop and a very exciting announcement to ease my way into the second half of the year. Otherwise, I'll round this off with a big thank you to my clients, my newsletter subs (especially the VGIM Insiders), sponsors/advertisers and - most importantly - friends and family who've kept me going. To celebrate my holiday, please enjoy this photo of me being ambushed outside a local supermarket by a member of my five a side football team earlier this month. Truly, it was a food shop that'll echo through eternity.

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🎮 SHIFTUP, the South Korean developer behind the acclaimed action game Stellar Blade, has made a record-breaking entrance onto the stock market! The Seoul-based company's initial public offering (IPO) soared nearly 50% on its first day of trading, raising a whopping 435 billion won ($320 million). This marks the largest IPO for a video game company in South Korea over the past three years. 📈 Shift Up's achievement is especially impressive considering it surpasses the $50 million mark, a feat not seen in the Korean gaming industry since PUBG developer KRAFTON Inc.'s $3.8 billion IPO in 2021. Overall, Shift Up's IPO stands as the second-largest in South Korea for 2024, only behind HD Hyundai Marine Solution Co.'s offering. Shift Up plans to leverage the IPO proceeds to diversify its game portfolio, paving the way for exciting new projects. Founded in 2013, the company boasts a strong foundation under Hyung-Tae Kim, its current largest shareholder, and with Tencent Holdings as the second-largest. Analysts cite Shift Up's proven track record, promising future prospects, and financial stability as key reasons for their success. Stellar Blade, released for PlayStation 5 earlier this year, has already achieved critical acclaim, selling over 1 million units worldwide and receiving praise for its exceptional combat mechanics. Shift Up's impressive IPO debut highlights the studio's potential and positions them for continued success in the ever-evolving gaming landscape. (source: https://lnkd.in/eZg5sZ52)

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Next week is special: it's time to see the GamesBeat (GB) family again. Alongside my Tencent Games home team, it's hard to think of another organization that has meant more to me. Everyone knows my love for games. Inches away is my love of reading and journalism. As a young adult, I went to the library to read columnists in the Boston Globe and Washington Post. A number of family members are in journalism. What to do when making a business in journalism is so tough? GB's answer: everything, smartly, starting with community. Last October was the biggest intimate event I've attended. Next week's attendance was over 800 last I checked, yet it feels like a gathering at a friend's house. At a GB event, all my worlds come together. Social media friends are welcomed and get their own events. This year my Tencent family is coming. Others I care about in games are there too. The GB team gives everybody chances. After last year, I wanted to get more amazing people on the boat. THE INVINCIBLE Gina Joseph and THE GREAT Dean Takahashi (both always in caps) are so trusting and encouraging. Everybody I've suggested, because they know I vet carefully, is going to be on a panel. Many bigger events don't give our community anything. When I mentioned things to Gina, she gave 2x the tickets I hoped for. Dean is right there with the most down-to-earth superstars. Everybody knows and likes him. Between social media and the GB site, he can post dozens of stories in a day. But I love most Dean's vulnerability. In the stories he shared about his mom or his opening words last October, my breath was taken away. This is the heart more games leaders could show. Everybody else on staff is exceptional. With Jordan Fragen and Rachel Kasar, everybody is unleashed to have their own style. I love seeing picks and recommendations for games alongside serious reporting, where in other settings they wouldn't mix. Catherine Simpson keeps everything as smooth and calm as the Spirit Tracks. Gina seems to receive an honor every time I blink because she champions change and inclusion and knows how to mix that with traditional business engagement. Every time I've asked Gina or Dean to talk to someone, they gave time. Every time I recommended someone to Dean for a story, he gave it serious consideration. There's also a lot that happens behind the scenes with GB. They want to know more about analyses. They ask me interesting questions and follow up. You have to attend these. At what other event do we have discussions of layoffs alongside inclusion breakfasts and chats for diverse groups, alongside cutting-edge industry talk, and luminaries to boot? I'm proud Tencent stepped up as a platinum sponsor for OUR INDUSTRY'S TREASURE. GB, you bend the curve by having real engagement, pulling everybody in, and winning them over one at a time. I'm so excited for Monday and to see all my friends again. I'm bringing my GB foam finger this time. Show some GB love, will you?

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🎉 Today is special for me because (i) it's my birthday 🎂, and (ii) we're officially launching Nocturne Games! 🚀 ✨ My friend and co-founder Arnaud Aubry and I embarked on a new chapter a few months ago alongside our fantastic Partners, Bobby Wertheim, and Jason Della Rocca, all driven by our shared passion for gaming and entrepreneurship. And we’ve already had a front-row seat for some seismic shifts reshaping the gaming industry. 🎮 Gaming, a $185B market, outpaces movies, on-demand video, and music combined, engaging nearly half the global population every month. 🎨 Indie gaming, propelled by AI, cheap game engines, digital distribution, and community-led marketing, democratizes success. The potential is immense, with 2023 seeing four indie titles among the top ten earners. ✌️ But there are some big challenges to take on. The studio-publisher relationship often suffers from unbalanced revenue shares, opaque terms, and IP conflicts, stifling creativity. Equity models falter with premium games, lacking clear exits and necessitating tangible publishing support. The gaming landscape needs innovative models that respect the unique dynamics of indie game development. 🎯 At Nocturne, we invest in unique, replayable games through revenue sharing. We provide capital and self-publishing support to indie studios, prioritizing fairness and community-validation strategies. We aim to transform promising concepts into blockbuster hits, offering up to €1.5M per game for a share of the game's revenue. 📝 Since January, we've received around 700 game submissions, in no small part thanks to our amazing Game Scout, Magdalena Buss 🔜 Mad Games Show, reflecting the vibrant creativity in the indie game community. We're in due diligence with 4 of these games and are about to sign our first title. We aim to invest in one new game monthly, quickly bringing fresh titles to gamers worldwide. 💡 In addition to the bright future of indie gaming, I’m also a big believer in building in public, so after this initial quiet period, I’m eager to start showing people what Nocturne is all about. 📘 You can start finding out more in our first article in the comments below (thanks, LinkedIn algorithm!). This piece begins an exciting series where the Nocturne team and I will share our journey, insights, and progress. 🙏 I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Joël Schillio, Caroline Raimbault, and the entire Alasta team for their incredible work on our brand identity and website! A special shoutout to Jean de La Rochebrochard, Nicolas Essayan, and Fabrice Grinda for being early believers, along with over 50 investors, including Yoann Lopez, Paul Guillemin, Alexandre Berriche, Marie Brayer, Pierre Mugnier, Francescu Santoni, Nicolas Steegmann, Virgile Raingeard, and Guillaume Moubeche. And, of course, my deepest gratitude to Francois Masciopinto for his unwavering support, kindness, and dedication since day one. 📸 Team picture by the fabulous Corentin Grange

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