Rainel Tan

【Did You Know?】 #SegaSammy's main business areas are the following: - #Entertainment #Content Business: headed by SEGA, #Atlus, and Rovio Entertainment Corporation - #Pachislot and #Pachinko Business: headed by #Sammy - #Gaming business: headed by SEGA SAMMY CREATION As recently announced, we have agreed in principle to acquire #Stakelogic (Stakelogic Live) to further bolster our gaming business. (pending regulatory approval) #iGaming and #Sportsbetting is a huge growing sector (especially in the US) that we are all excited to target! It surely is an exciting time to see our business grow! Below is link to our press release regarding StakeLogic acquisition: https://lnkd.in/g4faPEir Photo is from our corporate website: https://lnkd.in/gsEfqGUE #segasammy #sega #sammy #gaming #igaming #sportsbetting #japan #business #corebusiness

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Infinix: A Rising Star in the Smartphone Industry Infinix, a rapidly growing smartphone brand, has been making waves in the tech industry with its innovative and affordable devices. Established in 2013, Infinix is a Hong Kong-based company under the Transsion Holdings umbrella, which also owns other popular brands like Tecno and Itel. Infinix has carved out a niche for itself in emerging markets, particularly in Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East, by offering feature-rich smartphones at competitive prices. History and Evolution Infinix's journey began with a vision to create stylish and high-performing smartphones tailored to the needs of consumers in developing regions. The brand's early models focused on delivering essential smartphone features without the hefty price tag, quickly gaining popularity among budget-conscious users. Over the years, Infinix has steadily improved its technology and design, introducing new series and models that cater to various consumer preferences. Product Lineup Infinix's product lineup is diverse, encompassing a range of smartphones that cater to different segments of the market. The brand's primary series include: 1.Hot Series Known for its affordability and basic features, the Hot series is targeted at entry-level users. These phones offer essential functionalities and decent performance, making them ideal for first-time smartphone users. 2. Smart Series: This series focuses on providing a balanced mix of features and affordability. The Smart series is designed for users who need a reliable smartphone for everyday tasks without breaking the bank. 3. Note Series The Note series is aimed at users who seek larger displays and enhanced performance. These devices typically come with better processors, more RAM, and improved camera capabilities, making them suitable for multimedia consumption and productivity. Innovation and Technology Infinix has consistently invested in research and development to bring innovative features to its devices. Some of the key technological advancements seen in Infinix smartphones include: AI-Powered Cameras Infinix smartphones often come with AI-enhanced camera systems that optimize settings for better photos and videos, even in challenging lighting condition Enhanced Security: Infinix incorporates advanced security features such as facial recognition and fingerprint sensors to ensure user data is protected. Conclusion Infinix's rise in the smartphone industry is a testament to its dedication to delivering affordable, high-quality devices that meet the needs of consumers in emerging markets. By continuously pushing the boundaries of technology and design, Infinix has established itself as a brand to watch in the years to come. Whether it's through innovative features, strategic market expansion, or a commitment to customer satisfaction, Infinix is poised to continue its upward trajectory in the competitive world of smartphones.

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💭 Insights from the reports of the last week (02.09.24 - 06.09.24) 1️⃣ South Korean Mobile market is changing while RPG revenue is declining, according to Sensor Tower The RPG genre, a historical foundation of the Korean mobile gaming market, has been declining since 2022. And in May 2024, its share in revenue dropped below 50% for the first time in recordings. Changes are happening not only on the genre level but on a sub-genre too. MMORPGs are losing to other subgenres (Idle-RPGs mostly) - they went from 78.8% in whole RPG revenue to 56.2% in 2024. People's behaviors are changing, and time-demanding hardcore games are losing the competition to more relaxed experiences. 2️⃣ Web shops are there, but people still have many problems with them, according to Sanlo While 26 mobile games use web shops in the top 100 by revenue, it can't be named as the best user experience. People are facing many troubles - trust issues, payment methods problems, bad UI/UX. Only a quarter of people prefer buying something in web shops. As I understand it, not because it's convenient, but because of the additional bonuses they're getting. Tricky stuff: to earn more, you need to give away more for the same price. And then comes the balancing issues. 3️⃣ German gaming market declined for the first time in years in H1'24, according to game - German Games Industry Association Both hardware (-18% YoY) and software (-6% YoY) declined in H1'24. This led to the overall market decline in the first half at 6%. Gaming subscriptions are the only growing segment (+25% YoY), but the size of it is too small to change the overall industry direction. Just an interesting fact - 16 million Germans found friends in video games. Friendship is magic! All reports of the week are stored here: https://lnkd.in/d_X2aPnf. Subscribe & share if you like it!

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My review on the new alpha closed test of Marvel Rivals by NetEase Games (6v6 Team Shooter) Thanks to Pablo Carrera Calero for hooking me up with the invite key 💪 I was super stoked to hear about this game as I am huge Overwatch fan and think of OW but with the Marvel IP and that’s Marvel Rivals I played up to level 10 today so here are my initial thoughts ✅ Game plays super fluid for an alpha game with little bugs from what I seen, impressive for an alpha test game ✅ third person view , yup just like Fortnite and Smite, different than OW which is first person view, I feel like this team format is made for 3rd person view ✅ 6v6 with no forced roles, yup you can have all dps or all healers also different than OW which they went to an unfavorable 5v5 format (OW for the longest time had 6v6) ✅ I love the team synergy buffs you get, for instance Rocket will ride Groot for more armor and damage, plus teams like Strange, Hulk and Ironman ✅ Undoubtfully there are a lot of similarities with heroes like Panther playing like Genji but don’t get it twisted, the marvel heroes are unique enough to be a class on their own ✅ Graphics are beautiful, especially when using Dr, Strange portal really makes it feel like a marvel movie ✅ Difficulty wise? I would say it’s on par with Overwatch , pretty easy learning curve except for Spider-Man , holy smokes that is a unique hero to play but if played right can wreck havoc The Alpha Test is out right now if you signed up on the website and lucky enough to be given one or you can level to 6 and get a free invite to give to a friend May 10th-May20th PC Alpha test, I can’t wait for the console test as that’s how I play overwatch My favorite 3 so far: Strange (Tank), Punisher (DPS) and Rocket (Support) Do I think other shooters should be worried? Yeah definitely especially since this game will utilize all of Marvel’s IP…so many new characters and skins they can do, I just can’t wait for Nightcrawler! Have you played yet?

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Welcome to SUMMER GJ - C&K Summer Splash! Step into a stylish world inspired by Charles and Keith with a twist! — inside this chic bag lies an epic 1v1v1 water gun fight like no other!" Immerse yourself in a miniature beachfront paradise, complete with inflatable islands and palm trees. Gameplay: 1. Choose Your Team 2. Equipped with own team's water gun, aim and hit your target balls to gain a score. Hitting an opponent's target ball will deduct your points. 3. Achieve Victory: The team with the highest score at the end of the game wins! Submerge into the summer escapade with SUMMER GJ - C&K Summer Splash. Enlist your friends, and let the water gun frenzy begin!

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Since Covid19 started, I started playing #mobilelegends introduced by my friends. This sparked my interest as a Recruiter to channel my work and build clients in the Gaming industry. Since then, I am thankful to have worked with multiple gaming clients to hire in the last couple of years. What initially started as just a game, gave me some interesting insights across the years. 1) Teamwork - You could be the MVP and be great at your craft, but without a strong team to support. You won't last! 2) Kills are not everything - One could get the highest kills but totally lose the main objective of winning the game, losing focus on what is most important by gunning for self-glory. 3) Choosing your battles - The game is very fluid, decision making is by the seconds! Do we push the lanes or go for the Lord? Or maybe time to retreat back to base? How do we make this decision as a team? 4) Perseverance - Losing 6-7 Solo ranked games and dropping ranks? How do we pick ourselves up to keep the faith and continue on? 5) Lastly - Leadership. There will be players/ team mates of a weaker skill level. How does one help "carry" or support others to ultimately win the game? Are there other #MLBB players here? Any thoughts to share?

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One common misunderstanding that a lot of overseas readers or even industry insiders have is that the manga and webtoon formats were consciously developed. The truth is that each medium is a reflection of the times and culture from which they developed. The paneling and format of webtoons is as much a reflection of Korean culture at the time it gained popularity here as the screentoning and black-and-white colors of manga are of Japanese culture and history. Which is why so many news sites in Korea have honed in on KOCCA's report on the webtoon industry. In particular, the fact that that Instagram is the fourth most popular webtoon platform in Korea. Compared to other platforms on the list, Instagram is (a) not a Korean platform, (b) does not support the traditional scroll view, and (c) does not directly pay creators for their work. Yet, over 20.9% of webtoon users read webtoons on the platform. On the one hand, it makes sense as Instagram was able to penetrate further into the Korean market than Facebook ever did. There were multiple alternatives to Facebook before it arrived in Korea, but there was nothing nearly as popular or as easy to use as Instagram in Korea. But going back to Instagram, it's placement on the rankings should worry every platform primarily because of the differences I listed above. Instagram is so far from a traditional webtoon platform, it's laughable. But it ranks 4th in Korea giving it a solid shot at shifting the industry culture moving forward. Imagine if I-Heart-Radio suddenly ranked as the fourth most used e-book platform in the US. This isn't that far off. That's not even touching the financial reprecussions we're looking at if the industry does shift. I think Yonhap News' headlines puts it best. "Webtoon Audiences Close Their Wallets as the Largest Purchasing Group Spends 1,000 to 3,000 KRW per Month on Average".

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Hearthstone is back in Chinese mobile stores to break its own records! 🇨🇳🚀 In January 2023, Blizzard’s games were removed from Chinese stores after their 14-year licensing agreement with NetEase expired. After 20 months, the Blizzard-NetEase agreement is back in place, and so is Hearthstone — one of the most beloved collectible card games (CCG) worldwide. 🃏✨ And Chinese players couldn’t be more excited! Before the exit, Hearthstone was pulling in an impressive $2.4M/month in China during 2021-2022, according to AppMagic. Fast forward to October 2024, and it’s already brought in over $13.5M — and the month isn’t even over yet! 📈🔥 This is yet another great example of how Western games thrive when entering the Chinese market! I wrote about other games with similar success stories in one of my previous posts, check it out as well: https://lnkd.in/dRnXu3Gg

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Thanks to transmedia, some media franchises have become global powerhouses, with characters like Pikachu and Hello Kitty being instantly recognizable around the world with Japan leading the charge. Japan dominates the world of media franchises, with more than half of the top franchises originating from there. Iconic franchises like Pokémon and Mario make their mark through various mediums, from video games to merchandise to manga and beyond. Franchises like Dragon Ball and Gundam have also made a significant impact. Beyond Japan, Disney stands out with several major franchises in the top 10. This is largely due to key acquisitions, such as Marvel Entertainment and Lucasfilm, which brought in blockbuster franchises like Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Disney's influence extends across merchandise, movies, and television. Recent years have seen a resurgence of movies and TV shows based on popular franchises. From the success of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" to live-action adaptations like "Barbie" and Netflix's "One Piece," media franchises are finding new audiences through film and television. Nintendo has even expanded its reach beyond movies. Mario is now the face of the Super Nintendo World theme park area at Universal Studios in both Japan and Hollywood. Japan and Disney continue to lead the way in global media franchises, with significant contributions from merchandise, movies, video games, and more. These franchises are expanding across different platforms, engaging fans worldwide, and generating massive revenues.

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Rise of the Ronin - my current most favourite game and the one I play almost exclusively on my PS Portal - is performing exceptionally well, exceeding launch sales of the Nioh series according to KOEI TECMO Singapore Pte Ltd's financial report. This open-world action title, published by Sony for PS5, launched in March amidst a busy period with another PS5 exclusive, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. While specific sales figures remain undisclosed, the news suggests a strong start for Rise of the Ronin compared to the Nioh franchise, which surpassed 7 million units globally across both games and the remaster. In tandem with Koei Tecmo’s internal findings of Rise of the Ronin, the financial report also underscored the acclaim the game has received from both critics and players. More specifically, Koei Tecmo cited Rise of the Ronin’s "very high" user and "generally favorable" Metacritic score, which praised the game for its combat, story, and graphics. (source: https://lnkd.in/dM-EXCHT)

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At Razer, innovation isn't just a buzzword—it's in our DNA. Over the years, we've introduced features that were ahead of their time, often stirring debates and even facing bans. Yet, time and again, these innovations have become standards in the gaming industry. The Razer Boomslang, the world's first gaming mouse that pushed boundaries so far it got banned in competitive play because of high-DPI, which is now pretty much a feature in every gaming mouse on the planet. The Razer Blade: Pioneered the slim, high-performance gaming laptop, proving that power can come in elegant, slim form factors when people questioned the need for the existence of gaming laptops. Now, pretty much the reference for all gaming laptops. The Razer Naga MMO mouse with the industry defining keypad - again, a standard for all multi-button mice today. The Razer Onza controller that was banned by the competitive leagues until it was lifted after all the many esports athletes swore by theirs. And the list goes on... Today, we face similar debate in the industry when we launched Snap Tap Mode on the Huntsman V3 Pro line. Much like our early high DPI mice and HyperPolling technology, Snap Tap will be called cheating, the unfair advantage - but I'm pretty sure the industry will follow as yet another benchmark established by Razer. As always - we continue to push the limits of hardware and software and bring the unfair advantage to our esports athletes and gamers all over the world - the #RazerAdvantage

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Asia and MENA regions are on the cusp of a new era for Gaming. https://lnkd.in/gtFZ9hd4 https://lnkd.in/gu_K7Acn

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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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It's been awhile since I've spoken about #gamedev in public. Will be doing a short sharing session on game development and what Twilight Foundry Games has been up to! Details in post 👇

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Interesting news about Sony and Bungie this evening, according to Forbes: Sony President, COO and CFO Hiroki Totoki has now revealed what exactly is happening with a Bungie restructuring in a recent briefing. Among the details: ▶️ All of what remains of Bungie itself, about 850 people, will be contained and concentrated into Destiny 2 and Marathon development only. ▶️ There are no plans to stop development on Destiny 2 despite recent issues, though as behind the scenes reporting from Forbes has revealed previously, content will shrink in scale for the foreseeable future. ▶️ Everything else besides Marathon and Destiny 2 will move under SIE. ▶️ This includes back office functions at Bungie, including many roles that were hit by layoffs, and also “other title development” at Bungie will move under SIE. ▶️ This includes Bungie’s “Gummi Bears” project which is reported to have 40 people moving to SIE in a new sub-studio, but this is the first Forbes have heard that this will apply to other projects Bungie is incubating, of which there are a few more. ▶️ The briefing also mentioned more general talk about “cost restructuring, portfolio optimization, optimizing studio structure and enhancing efficiency” at Bungie as part of this. Source: https://lnkd.in/eibXUp5w

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Bucket list check : Executive producer🪣 ✅ In Q4 2024 Gold Standard Gaming got to execute our first high budget ad. I shot my first ad back in 2020 with about a $300 budget. 💯 By now-we've shot and delivered over $400,000 in ads ✅ But this one was special because GSG creative.. Created 🧠 Wrote ✍🏾 Storyboarded/Scripted 📑 This project. What an incredible experience AND case study this was! 🔥 The message behind the ad was about showcasing the behavior that people of ALL backgrounds deal with while playing games in online multiplayer. As someone who's been in the competitive scene since 15 yrs old. It was amazing meeting different people from all walks of life talking about their experiences and how we can continue to make gaming a safe, inclusive space for everyone. 🎮🌊 While we were addressing a serious topic that will take ALL of us to make change, being on set and learning more about both production AND different perspectives was an incredible experience. As we continue to grow as professionals, it's important to make sure we share our experiences and key learnings. 🔑 We've re-signed this client and we're going EVEN bigger this year. Calling all industry talent 📢📢 If you want to change the gaming culture and leave the industry better than how you found it. Hit my DM! 📩 We start next month. Don't wait. We can all Shine our light in our own ways😎🎮 P.S. shoutout to Adam S. Hacker and the Havelyn House team for making the experience smooth and professional. 🎥 #Esports #Entrepreneurship #Gaming #Marketing #Production

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