Sam Barberie

Match3 is not the best game economy. I know some who would say it’s not even economy! Also, digital board games are just video games with terrible UX. Listen to the episode for more on these hot takes from me and the fellas.

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Recap of Consensus 2024: why does this event exist? TLDR Thx for the BBQ, Austin! And it was great to meet up with old and new friends including EJ Ayala, Michael Dershewitz, Max Kaufman ⚡️, Erica Hamilton, Ron Cao, Colleen Sullivan, Alex M., Paul Thind, Dante Reminick, Parker Heath, Kiernan Fitzsimons, Conrad Sain, George V., Rodrigo Etcheto, Kelly DiGregorio, and more! In all it was a great time meeting with incredible partners. It's clear that: - Cloud compute and distributed hosting x web3 gaming has a lot of potential - Gaming-focused chains are ready to rock and roll, esp. powered by Sequence - Investments are increasingly sophisticated and focused on sustainability - Traditional gaming is headed into the space in droves, with strong teams with incredible backgrounds who truly understand gamers, data, A/B testing and more But Consensus, as with many generalist crypto or web3 events, is obsolete. Events in new industries are important, but as the space matures and consolidates, I'm not sure that there's a need for several days devoted to basic underlying technology. It's like going to Servers 2024! We all get it, we know what servers are, what they do. How this gets applied, what benefits it brings to developers, players, users, that's what matters. I'd love to see Consensus get a bit more serious around specific tracks or reconsider its focus.

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📢 Attention all Liquid and Grit members! 📢 We are thrilled to announce an exclusive members-only economy roundtable discussion, co-hosted by Liquid and Grit and Game Economist Consulting. This event will feature special guest Phillip Black, who will share his invaluable insights on the groundbreaking monetization strategy employed by MARVEL SNAP. 🎯 Key Takeaways: - Deep dive into MARVEL SNAP's innovative monetization approach - Understand how limiting direct purchases can drive spend - Gain valuable insights from industry experts - Engage in a thought-provoking discussion about the future of monetization in mobile gaming 📅 Date: April 25th, 2024 at 9AM PST DM for an invite. To learn more about MARVEL SNAP's economy, check out the most recent Economy Report: "MARVEL SNAP's Economy Drives Spend by Limiting Direct Purchases." This report provides a comprehensive analysis of how limiting direct purchases can positively impact revenue generation. Don't miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge, network with like-minded professionals, and stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving world of mobile gaming monetization. 🔒 Access is exclusive to Liquid and Grit members only. If you haven't already, join our community today to secure your spot at this groundbreaking event. #MarvelSnap #MobileGaming #Monetization #EconomyRoundtable #LiquidAndGrit #GameEconomistConsulting

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I really enjoyed this conversation with fellow Zynga alum Michael Martinez, founder & CEO of casual mobile studio FunCraft. In this episode of the Naavik podcast, we discuss how Michael built a $35 million revenue run rate company with not one, not 2, but now 3 hit games in the highly competitive casual word game genre on mobile. Some great lessons for any gaming entrepreneur, including: - Bigger is not always better: Funcraft's team size will surprise you! - Speed is of the essence: this is one advantage startups have over larger incumbents - Ad monetization works: Funcraft generates impressive ARPDAUs from ads alone and is able to do LTV-positive UA against them - Remote culture can be an asset: it opens up hiring globally - Failure provides valuable learnings: Michael talks candidly about the failure of his prior gaming startup, Juicebox Games, and what he's doing differently this time around Real talk, with lots of real metrics to benchmark against.

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Sumo Digital announced a 15% cut in its workforce, roughly impacting 250 individuals. Among these 250 individuals was the team of Timbre Games, which also confirmed that the studio was being shut down. Timbre Games was founded in 2021 and made a part of Pipework Studios. Although Timbre had yet to launch any games, its website indicates that it was in the middle of two game projects. Unfortunately, game developers face more loss than the parent company when something like this happens. Who knows how Timbre's team might be coping after putting in millions of efforts to build the games and losing everything in a single blink? In their support, this is list 2 of some of the Timbreeos who were impacted by the closure. Every bit from the community counts, so requesting you all to help this reach recruiters and game studios currently hiring. Sophie Mallinson — In 2017, she was Arkane Studios' (Lyon) Narrative Designer who worked on Dishonored: Death of the Outsider and Wolfenstein: Youngblood. By 2019, she had become a Principal Narrative Designer for Arkane's Deathloop. It is quite interesting to note that after Arkane, she went on to work for EA on Star Wars and later for EA's own studio - Maxis Studios on The Sims Series. Nadia Lohan — With over a decade's worth of experience in Production, before Timbre, Nadia was a Producer at Blackbird Interactive and worked on Minecraft Legends. Notably, she has experience in the VFX industry and coordinated for blockbusters like Mulan, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Maleficent. Vivek Ramkumar — Here's a talented Game Designer who has worked on titles like Sleeping Dogs and Tryst, built his own first-person indie game, and has experience in LiveOps Design. Prior to Timbre, he was a senior Technical Designer for Relic Entertainment. Gerritt Turner — Before Timbre, Gerritt worked at Wizards of the Coast on a lot of Magic: The Gathering's writing, designing and overall creative. They even have an experience in Brand Writing for Hasbro. Yuliia Bocharova — Prior to Timbre, she was a Lead 3D Artist for Blackbird Interactive and worked there for 3+ years. You should check out her ArtStation portfolio: https://lnkd.in/gKEwykG5 Vincent-Gabriel Canadian — A talented VFX Artist who has worked for Studios like Frima, Behaviour Interactive, and Nesting Games. Vincent specializes in real-time VFX for video games! #layoffsupport

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The future of gaming experiences that utilize technological advancements in #AI, #web3, #vr, and #cloudstreaming is rapidly moving towards mainstream adoption. At Mythical Games, we are pushing the innovation in our games and the Mythical Platform. We cannot wait to show you what we have coming soon!

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Governments Target Gaming Addiction with Time Limits & Spend Curbs Is gaming getting out of hand? Governments are exploring: * Time caps to limit gaming sessions (like China's 1 hour rule for minors) * Spend restrictions to curb in-game purchases Read here: https://lnkd.in/dPeGfejh #GamingAddiction #DigitalWellness #GameCloud #LolzSoft

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Are video games the future of entertainment? Yes, but... Also the NOW of entertainment. ◾ $57 Billion in US revenue ◾ $200 Billion in global revenue ◾ 3.09 Billion active videogame players ◾ Bigger than movies & music, combined. [Chart below from article on Sherwood News]

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On Roblox & Fortnite, you can go from 0 to $10 million overnight — meaning top creators can be unincorporated, with no formal contracts. This Friday, we learn how that affects scaling, selling, & ownership for our 4th 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐭: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬: 👤 Adam Gertz, of Morrison Cooper LLP 📆 Friday, July 12th @ 10 am PT / 1 pm ET ⏱️ 1 hour — including time for questions 📌 UGC Creators Discord Invite Here: https://lnkd.in/eJiFQpKV 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫...    🤝 How "contracts" happen via handshake & Discord DM  ❓Who owns a game with no formal agreement in place?  🎓 Best practices + how to fix things after the fact 📝 Crash course on creator contract law  ➕ Audience Questions Whether success for you is defined by investment, sale, or plain growth, as a creator, you're a business — whether you realize or not. Drop by to learn more about what that means, and if we miss you, stay tuned for the VOD later.

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Maximizing ROI on Roblox Activations 🤔 Launching a Roblox activation requires more than just creating an experience. While there's no universal formula, a multi-faceted approach combining these elements can significantly enhance your activation's performance. The key lies in creative strategy, amplifying organic growth, and maintaining agility. Here are some of the ways that I personally love to use. 1. Community Engagement is Key 🤝 - Tap into existing Discord communities - Create in-game incentives for friend invites - Tailor your social media content to resonate with your target audience 2. Creator Collaborations That Count 🎥 - Big names are great, but – small to medium creators often offer huge impact at lower cost - Offer exclusive items, codes, or early access to spark genuine excitement - Don't forget Twitter/X influencers and Roblox news accounts! LOTS of value here 3. Get Creative with UGC (User-Generated Content) 🎨 - Strategically timed drops (e.g., releasing 10% of stock at intervals) - Action-locked items (play with 5 friends to unlock) - Point-based unlocks to drive engagement (you need 5,000 points to get this!) 4. Diversify Your Ad Strategy 📊 - Explore in-game portals with developers (often more effective than traditional Roblox ads) - Target Roblox-focused websites, trading platforms, and value checkers 👉 Remember: go where your target audience already hangs out Make It Fun, Make It Last 🎉🎉🎉 All the marketing in the world can't save a boring game

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Live service updates in a narrative driven expansion? Now I’ve seen it all. The Elden Ring DLC, "Shadow of the Erdtree," received a "Calibration Update" to balance its difficulty. - Despite positive critic reviews, some players found it too difficult, resulting in mixed reviews on Steam. - The new update strengthens early upgrades in the Shadow Realm Blessings system, providing more damage and damage negation earlier on. - The final upgrades in the system are also slightly more impactful. - Future patches will include further balance adjustments and bug fixes. These changes should make the DLC's early stages less challenging.

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Dear Stretch Network Partners, Please allow me to inform you about additional changes that will take place in the global network on July 8. 🍀 All Heads-up tables will be removed 🍀 Badugi cash tables will be removed 🍀 Sonic cash tables will become 6-max 🍀 The minimum buy-in for Sonic Omaha cash tables will be 20 BB 🍀 Sonic Omaha 7 card cash tables will be added These changes apply only to cash tables and only to our Global Network. In your local networks, you decide your product strategy, but we would be happy to assist you in managing your local networks as well. If you need our help, please contact us. The above-mentioned changes are part of the new strategy for the Stretch Network Global Network, which prioritizes the comfort of novice players and casual traffic to maintain the proper balance of our ecosystem between amateurs and professionals. Caring for the ecosystem of the Global Network is our priority. The changes we are implementing now and will continue to implement will significantly improve the user experience for your players, extend their LTV, ARPU, and, of course, Revenue.

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As traditional sports navigate through myriad challenges and evolve—demonstrated recently by the Jontay Porter scandal in the NBA—esports, too, must tread a path toward greater maturity and recognition. As discussed in an enlightening article, embracing regulated betting within the industry is a critical component for the growth of Esports. Integrating regulated betting into esports aims to boost engagement and viewership significantly and brings about a framework of clarity and regulation that mirrors the operational models of established professional sports. This move could ensure better governance and more transparent operations, fostering trust and legitimacy among fans, players, and regulators. When embraced by the esports industry, regulated betting can serve as a robust economic engine. This not only drives profitability but also sparks innovation across the esports ecosystem. By aligning with the practices that have long supported the growth and sustainability of traditional sports, esports can leverage betting to fund development, enhance prize pools, and, most importantly, attract a broader audience. The esports industry is at a crucial juncture where the adoption and adaptation of regulated betting strategies are not just beneficial but necessary for its growth and integrity. This evolution is not just about securing its future but also about upholding the integrity of its competitions, ensuring that esports continues to thrive as a respected sector in the global sports arena. #Esports #SportsBetting #ProfessionalGrowth #Viewershipgrowth #Sustainability https://lnkd.in/ee8RTGYa 

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Calling Investors: Invest in the original Xbox “Duke” controller… I am working with a new gaming peripherals company set to take the world by storm and they are looking for investors to join the team. Founded by Duke Schnepf, son of gaming visionary, and Xbox founder, Brett Schnepf, backed by multiple founding fathers of the Xbox, this company is pushing the boundaries of the gaming peripherals sector. Their journey began with Brett Schnepf, a luminary whose contributions to gaming history are etched in stone. As a founding member of the Xbox console team, Brett's design prowess shaped modern gaming, with iconic creations like the Sidewinder PC controller and the legendary Duke controller. Today, Duke Schnepf carries forth his father's legacy. Upside and a half! In late 2024, a major streaming platform will release a series chronicling the founding of a pioneering gaming console (can you guess which one) and the launch of Duke's ground-breaking products, offering an intimate look at the visionary minds behind this revolution. Looking for investments of $10K, $20K, $50K, $100K, $250, $500K, and $1M. Higher investments with equity shares are available for discussion. We foresee full returns and profits delivered within 1 year. If you're interested in being part of this exciting journey, please get in touch to set up a call ASAP. #Gaming #InvestmentOpportunity #Innovation #GamingPeripherals #TechInvestments #gamedev #investors #angelinvestors #gameinvestor #PEinvestment #AngelInvestment

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Exciting times ahead as the gaming world gears up for the early-access launch of "Gray Zone Warfare" tomorrow (4/30)! 🎮💥 Picture this: Diving deep into the action alongside fellow gamers, surrounded by the buzz of hardcore gameplay, all within the walls of a LAN Center or Collegiate Gaming Arena!💡💻 The adrenaline, the camaraderie, and the thrill of real-time action unfolding right in front of you. Could this be the ultimate gaming experience? We're always on the lookout for the next big thing in gaming. Could MADFINGER Games, a.s. 'Gray Zone Warfare' be the game that takes LAN gaming to the next level? We think this style of FPS would be incredible to experience in-person, do you? #GrayZoneWarfare #LANcenter #GamingRevolution

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Netflix's Nextworld could be better... Why web3 will transform how transmedia benefits core businesses like subscriptions 👇🏼 Full read: https://lnkd.in/gwSfYXMu It's at this point proven that games-to-movies/TV and movies/TV-to-games can be artistically and commercial successful. Netflix's latest launch with Roblox is a step in the right direction, but we're still not leveraging the full potential of these activities. Here's why: 1️⃣ The old way Historically, most branded games have been a marketing stunt or a licensing incremental revenue play. They were activations that were typically on-and-done, over there with that audience,” not “ here with our audience.” This sounds like a small distinction, but it’s the difference between a game that has only a unilateral connection with its original IP (i.e. movie becomes game), and a bidirectional, interactive relationship (e.g. players’ in-game actions could impact the show narrative for the next season; buying a movie ticket makes X happen in-game; etc.) Historically, these games have struggled to serve both purposes of marketing fodder and accelerating core business strategies. This is starting to change, and can be improved on even more quickly. 2️⃣ The intermediate step Nextworld is a step in the right direction. This isn’t a single-use or limited-time destination, but part of a dynamic, ongoing interplay between stuff on Netflix and stuff in Nextworld, including IP-based minigames and even previews of upcoming shows. But this is still an indirect tie to Netflix's core business, which is subscriptions. I can play in Nextworld all I want, but there’s no direct link between what I do in-game and my proclivity to purchase or keep a subscription. 3️⃣ The future potential This is what the blockchain excels at: it connects worlds through a common technology backbone and universally readable database.  For example: a player who climbs to the leaderboard in a bunch of Nextworld minigames could earn points, emblazoned on-chain, that reward her with the ability to watch episode one of a new show 24 hours earlier than others. The blockchain allows for what web2 doesn’t (or at least with any efficiency): with the player’s wallet holding the points, both Nextworld and Netflix’s platform can track and recognize the accumulation and redemption of those on-chain points. A user who binges an entire season of a show could receive a unique achievement badge or avatar that could be displayed or worn in-game, or unlock a bunch of coins to then spend in the game. This rewards the user for actions taken in an otherwise passive ecosystem, and evangelizes the show and the benefits of watching to others in Nextworld (“Woah, I also want that unique avatar and more money, guess I’ll have to keep my subscription for another month and watch that show!”). As a bonus, Roblox gets more user engagement on its end.  Read the full piece for more.

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At Liquid and Grit, our hiring testing system was inspired by Van Halen's playbook. You might have heard of the infamous "no brown M&M's" clause in Van Halen's concert contracts. While it sounds like a frivolous demand, it actually served as a clever safety check to ensure that stagehands had read and followed every detail of the contract, ensuring the safety of the band, crew, and audience. Similarly, our tests always include a few intentional mistakes or omit key information. This was our way of testing a candidate's diligence and attention to detail. We want to hire people who aren't afraid to go the extra mile, do additional research, and find solutions to problems on their own. The candidates we end up hiring are the ones who spot the issues, fill in the missing information, and demonstrate their commitment to thoroughness. They understand that the devil is in the details and that small oversights can have big consequences. Just like Van Halen used brown M&M's as a warning signal, we use these hidden tests to identify the candidates who have the right mindset and work ethic to thrive in our company. It's not about catching people out, but about finding those pearls who will go above and beyond. #hiring #recruitingtips #attentiontodetail #vanhalenmethod

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