Ben Kvalo

Amir Satvat's Games Community Support Content - Upcoming Schedule All Resources Cited Available @amirsatvat.com 11/8 - Helping Hands  (Resource #4) Spotlight on community members who have been searching for a job for over a year. 11/9 - New Games Jobs Update  (Resource #11) I've held off on loading new roles for a few days due to everything happening in the world, but expect hundreds of new roles to be available for application soon. 11/9 - Full Weekly Update (Resources #1, #2, #3, #5, #6, #7, #8, #16) Full refresh of all resources on the community website. 11/10 - Creator Partner Program Interest Check (Resource #18 - TBA) I will solicit participation interest in our new proposed Creator Partner Program for Amir Satvat's Games Community, highlighting those offering free games support to the community - based on your 94% / 6% in favor community vote. 11/11 - A BIG, BIG, BIG Surprise for Our Games Community Also Coming Soon   - A full study on job cuts by location (and more) from 2022 to 2024 YTD. - A concise one-page reference for all our key games job insights and stats. - Started a full update of the Games Jobs Directory (Resource #10)

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More bad news today with GAMURS Group (the owners of major publications including Dot Esports, Destructoid Video Game News, and Twinfinite LLC) has seemingly cut a number of jobs without warning, with an unknown number of staff affected. Gamurs Group previously made redundancies in July, with teams from the above publications also seemingly affected. To those impacted please check them out here: 🥇First, reach out to us at People Can Fly Studio, we have many roles open right now in Canada, the UK, Ireland and Europe, please check them out here: https://lnkd.in/eWpV5PbA 🥈Next, Discipline Games Jobs Resources: Over the past months I have created 9 (at time of writing) Games Jobs Resources to find jobs in a wide range of disciplines, and I would urge you to check them out, if anything just to see what would be available to you: https://lnkd.in/ePywd2kq You can find over 6,000 jobs there. 🥉 Third, the Ultimate list of Video Games Career Resources: This should be your one-stop shop for all information. My dear friend Amir Satvat maintains these documents, he is a legend for doing this - please check them out: https://amirsatvat.com/ I urge you to check out the areas in particular about CV support and mentoring, as these will help you no matter what industry you are hailing from or are looking into going next. 🎖 Finally, do not give up. Ever. No matter how dark things may look right now, I KNOW you will get through this, you have got this! 👊 Remember you are not alone. If you need help, advice, or even an ear to listen, we're here for you. Always! ➡ A request to my community, please can I ask you to repost this post to your colleagues and friends, so that we can get as many into jobs as possible! And please comment if you or your studio are currently hiring - let's help each other! Much love ❤️ #gamursgroup #twinfinite #dotesports #destructoid #layoffs

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TONIGHT AT 6:30 PM join us for an improvised version of PVP Circuit and help us rebuild our local community brick by brick. I still can't believe I get to work in the video game industry. My 6-year-old would laugh, and then cry once she realized what it means to work in the creative technology sector. That's why IMO everyone could use some levity during these unprecedented times. Join us for a fun evening to raise funds for the Trevor Project. Event link >>> https://lnkd.in/g7tBuP6d Frequently Asked Questions: What if I can't attend the event? - If you can't make it, please consider purchasing a ticket to help us raise money for charity or get one on behalf of someone impacted by layoffs. What if I want to join but can't justify the cost? - If you want to join but find the cost prohibitive, DM me and we'll make it happen (see point above). Do I have to pitch at the event? - No, you don't have to pitch if you prefer to observe. It’s a great way to see how it's done. Will there be another event like this? - We plan to host our community again, but I can't specify if this event will be the focus. #gamesindustry #event #comedy <3

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Simply Sweet Games is thrilled to partner with Spectrum Laboratory in a collaboration that benefits both our organizations and, most importantly, the gaming community. This partnership aligns SSG’s mission to create inclusive, accessible, and fun casual games with Spectrum Laboratory's dedication to fostering innovation for neurodiverse audiences. Through this collaboration: ➡️ Simply Sweet Games gains insight: We’re leveragingSpectrum Laboratory's expertise and working with students on the autism spectrum to ensure our games, like Criss Cross Castle, resonate with and meet the needs of neurodiverse players. ➡️ Spectrum Laboratory expands impact: By engaging in game testing and providing design feedback, they’re offering valuable opportunities for neurodiverse students to influence the development of accessible gaming experiences. Together, we’re championing the importance of inclusivity in the gaming industry and setting a new standard for accessibility. We’re excited to share updates as this partnership unfolds and to continue creating games that truly welcome everyone. #inclusivegaming #neurodiversegames #accessiblegaming #indiedev #gamedevelopment #collaboration #innovation #diversityintech #crisscrosscastle #gametesting #autismcommunity #gamedesign #impactgaming #wordgames #gamesindustry #inclusionmatters

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Today I want to tell a story. I've been holding onto it for a specific circumstance, but in case that doesn't happen, forgive the rough edges. For the longest time, I wanted to be a games journalist. I've known how to play games and deconstruct their mechanics ever since I spent many school summer holidays playing the same Playstation games over and over. I would be the kid that would read games magazines, mostly for the cheat codes, on occasion spotting an article about the next Pokemon game that I just had to tell my friends about. I was never taught or told that being a "critic" or "journalist" was a career, let alone in games. Media Studies wasn't even a subject my high school taught until sixth form options, so I'd have to get by with learning how to deconstruct the written word - often Shakespeare or "Of Mice and Men" - in English Literature class. Jump forward to 2014/5. I was in University, with the freedom to learn about "the media" and online video (YouTube) as I had experienced through college. Despite being on a TV Production course, and though we students all knew the influence social media was going to play in our careers, games were still part of my plan. Through friendships and unsuccessfully trying out for the Student Union's monthly news series as a "games correspondent", I was able to work on a project with a criminology student who also liked games. He ran his own YouTube channel, as I had done under many brands and guises over the years, but he was more consistent. I came on board as his camera operator during EGX Rezzed and we made a few interview videos together. One of which I want to bring to the attention of Hyper Luminal Games. Yes, happy birthday Hyper Luminal! 🎉 We've both changed since this video about Big Crown Showdown! Congrats on releasing Pine Hearts - a wholesome cosy game that is a love letter to the simple life in Scotland. I can't wait to play the full thing - Melissa kindly showed me it at WASD this year, it really was charming! Things have a weird way of coming back around. I don't believe in karma, but I've been watching the work of many studios that I admire and wondered where I fit, thinking maybe there are some answers in my previous work. So, this little story is tale of never forgetting your roots, and celebrating them where you can! Also, if I may be a bit cheeky: If you ever have the availability Hyper Luminal, I would love the chance to join your team! I can assure you my on-screen presence and ability to manage events & communities is far better than what I could manage 10 years ago. I'm happy to work on a relocation plan up to Dundee, be that to work for the core studio under Melissa's expert & bubbly guidance, or having the opportunity to scout for Little Nook's next great wholesome story to share. Here's to both our next chapters! Video:

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New episode drop! 🚀 I sat down with Ben Kvalo, Founder & CEO of Midwest Games, to discuss supporting underserved developers, his journey into the industry, the Madison game community, some favorite projects, and the challenges of starting a new company. We also got into the importance of networking and building genuine connections, persistence, the advantages of working with a publisher, the future of games, and even Skee-Ball.🔮 Available on all the pod players or below on the GDA YouTube channel. 🎧 Game Dev Advice #gameindustry #gamedev #gamepublishing https://lnkd.in/g4intV_s

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20 Free Tickets To GamesBeat Summit 2024 + Opportunities With Community Partners Midwest Games and Women-Led Games Friends, I’m thrilled to announce our 4th offering within our Ticket To Ride Resource, providing free admission to games events. To date, our donors have enabled 330 individuals to attend 3 events, a value of nearly $70,000. This time, our wonderful partners at GamesBeat are stepping up. Special thanks to the entire team, and THE INVINCIBLE (always in caps) Gina Joseph. GamesBeat is donating 20 tickets to the upcoming GamesBeat Summit, May 20-21 in Los Angeles. The theme of the event is "Resilience and Adaptation," a profound exploration not just of the games industry, but the broader entertainment sector as well. Attendees will delve into a range of critical topics, including: - Generative AI - Challenges & Opportunities - Hollywood & Games - Innovation & Creativity - Gaming Economy - Growth Strategies - Metaverse - New Gaming Tech - Creator Economy - Diversity & Inclusion - Mental Health & Games This summit will explore how innovation, creativity, resilience, and collaboration are shaping the future of these vibrant fields. If selected for the giveaway, you will receive a complimentary pass, though you will need to cover additional expenses. Our criteria for this giveaway, tailored to the event and our donors’ preferences, are: 1. Priority will be given to those who have been laid off from the games or entertainment industries in the past 2 years and are still seeking employment. 2. Due to the scope of the event, we are also looking to include directors and senior-level professionals in these industries. While these are our preferred criteria, all members are welcome to enter. The drawing will run from now until MIDNIGHT @ April 22nd. You can enter at amirsatvat.com/category6 under Resource 14 - Ticket to Ride. I will be speaking on a panel at the summit and look forward to meeting many of you there. I also want to acknowledge Women-Led Games and Midwest Games, for being community partners at GamesBeat Summit. They are helping increase opportunities for women in games, indie developers, and supporting GBS mission of growing diversity and inclusion in industry events. For Midwest Games, through their partnership with the GamesBeat Summit 2024, they are offering an exclusive discount code (40%) for the community to attend. This code is gbs24mwgpartner and you can secure passes here: https://lnkd.in/e4Jgnef7 For Women-Led Games' opportunities, including a discount code, as well as speaker, judge, and sponsor opportunities for the event, please fill out their form here: https://lnkd.in/gGpzsUvN Thanks again to the GamesBeat team for their incredible generosity and to Midwest Games and Women-Led Games for their collaboration in amplifying professionals in our industry. We can't wait to see the connections and partnerships that will be made and the learning that will occur.

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You know what's better than one #NickyHilton game? TWO #NickyHilton games!! 🎮 In today's SECOND "Our Love Language is Bite-Sized, Branded Video Games" post 💖 👗 We created a fan game for Nicky and Kathy Hiltons' Printfresh holiday PJ's collection!! 👚 Join the festive fun with these adorable Christmas pajamas from the exclusive Printfresh x The Hiltons collection. ⚡ The game was created on Breshna.io's template "Bounce Pounce" with no-code and in 45 minutes! Breshna.io (by GRID) Playable game link in comments ⬇ 🎮 CPG brands are using Breshna to create snackable video games for enhanced user engagement, attributable conversion and lead generation. 🎮 Breshna games can be fully customized with brand IP and embedded into social media posts, websites, apps & QR codes on physical products as simple URLs. Hope you're game: Leo Voloshin Amy Voloshin - we're hiring Kristin Weber Eliza Reinhardt Molly McNamara Alayna Giovannitti Perry Zavetz Mo Karimi

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Come learn about Xsolla's strategies to improve your mobile games revenue.

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Amazing list of practical game design principles from Warren Spector, one of our industry's great. Appreciate how he frames some of the magic we feel playing his games. Can't wait to play his next one! Wonderful peek into Warren's design mind. His Deus Ex is stuff of legends. While I'll argue that there are operable definitions of fun (humbly suggest The 4 Keys to Fun ;) I agree wholeheartedly that a team needs more than a single word "make it Fun" to guide the design. In fact that's kind of the whole point. In our extensive player research players favorite games support multiples of their favorite play styles. From a Psychology perspective it's vital for an exceptional game to offer players new playstyles. The exploration of novelty, cause and effect relationships, and especially new kinds of strategy to get to a goal are vital to what human beings (and all mammals) call play. Definitely worth a read! Here's a list of company values for Warren's company Other Side also worth a look https://lnkd.in/gpq-qusR

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A Final Word on Job Finding Rates for Gamers Friends, over the past few days, I've shared two posts about extended modeling on job-seeking rates for gamers, based on two years of hard data collected from our community. This update introduced two new insights we hadn’t explored before: 1. Beyond just the odds of finding a job in games, we looked at the likelihood of securing any type of job for games jobseekers.    2. Instead of only offering a "point-in-time" statistic for finding a job within 12 months, I attempted, for the first time, to chart the monthly odds of finding a games job, a non-games job, or any job over a span of 1 to 22 months. You can check out those posts in my history - it’s the first time producing them, so like everything else we’ve developed together, I’ll continue to iterate and improve them over time. One surprising takeaway, that has gotten the most attention, was that, over a 22-month period, the odds of games jobseekers finding any job was just 71%. I’ve been trying to explain this and wanted even to provide a bit more context today with some illustrative scenarios. Note: the figures below aren’t actual data points but serve as hypothetical examples. These scenarios reflect the kind of data I’m continuing to refine, with the goal of making it more precise. Imagine, hypothetically, that 15,000 people secure games jobs in 22 months. Let’s say in healthier times, 25% of jobseekers find roles in games, before recent layoffs. With 60,000 games jobseekers, 15,000 find games jobs, while the other 45,000 need to find work outside of games. In more stable times, let’s assume 95% of people achieve full employment by month 22 - this means 42,750 find non-games roles, leaving 2,250 unfulfilled. In this scenario, the games industry and adjacent fields are absorbing enough talent to minimize slack. Now consider a more stressed scenario: imagine an influx of 33,750 more jobseekers into the pool over 3 years - which is not hypothetical at all (some sources estimate 32,000, but I believe it’s closer to 33,750). If the same 15,000 games roles are available, the placement rate in games drops to 16%, leaving 78,750 games jobseekers. If we assume a hypothetical 71% of jobseekers find employment in 22 months, then 55,913 people secure non-games jobs, with 22,838 remaining without a role. Over time, as jobseekers become more flexible or shift markets, this "slack" could diminish, and one would see a return to the healthier scenario on top. Again, these figures are illustrative, but they highlight why 71% is not surprising given the shock to the system. In normal times, the games placement rate over 22 months could be much higher. Historically, the games industry averaged 1,000-2,000 layoffs a year, not 10,000+, so until recent years, the first scenario was more typical. I believe, and hope, that things will return to that norm sooner rather than later. I hope this helps add more color!

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Just finished "Measure What Matters: Succeeding with Objectives and Key Results (OKRs)" by Measure What Matters, John Doerr, and Ryan Panchadsaram! Check it out: https://lnkd.in/eigRzG_d #objectivesandkeyresults.

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Exciting news from Runway! They've just introduced Advanced Camera Control for their Gen-3 Alpha Turbo model, enhancing our ability to direct AI-generated videos with greater precision. 🎥✨ This new feature allows creators to specify both the direction and intensity of camera movements within their scenes, enabling more intentional and dynamic shots. Whether you want to execute horizontal pans to arc around subjects or apply zoom effects to unveil new contexts or narratives, the control is now in your hands. Plus, you can combine various camera movements and adjust speeds to create truly engaging and customized video outputs. Keep in mind, Advanced Camera Control is exclusive to the Gen-3 Alpha Turbo model. To access this feature, you'll need a subscription to Runway's Standard plan, priced at $12 per month. This is a game-changer for anyone looking to elevate their AI-generated content! 🚀

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When I started Combat Waffle Studios I didn’t have a roadmap, just a vision and a relentless drive to make it a reality. I raised $1.2M from a single investor—non-ownership shares—and got to work. Two years later, we’ve turned that into $20M in sales, and I still own 100% of my company. Call this cliche; but success isn’t about taking the easiest route. It’s about betting on yourself when no one else will. It’s about refusing to sell your soul for the promise of “easy money.” Stop taking “dumb money” from investors looking for a quick buck in a rising industry. I’ve turned down two acquisition offers for insane amounts of money because I refuse to let someone else dictate my future. I didn’t work this hard to build someone else’s dream—I built mine. If you’re grinding right now, wondering if you’ll ever break through, let me tell you this: keep going. The path isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. The reward isn’t just in the money or the numbers; it’s in knowing you stayed true to yourself, your vision, and your values. Be your own boss. Write your own story. Take the risks that matter and stop selling your soul to people who don’t understand your worth. Whether you succeed or fail, make sure the story is yours. No one else can live your dream but you. You’ve got this. Keep pushing. #Motivation #BetOnYourself #Entrepreneurship #BeYourOwnBoss

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📊 Games & Numbers (29.05.24 - 11.06.24) 🎮 PC/console games ▪️ Star Citizen fundraising has surpassed $700 million, with more than 5.2 million donations. In August 2023, the news broke that $600 million had been raised. https://shorturl.at/XuONK ▪️ Blizzard Entertainment boasted that over 100 million people have played games from the Diablo series. https://lnkd.in/dPDsH_Px ▪️ Dragon’s Dogma 2 sales have reached 3 million copies. The first 2.5 million copies were sold within 2 weeks of release (the game was released on March 22 this year). https://lnkd.in/dei96Wyp ▪️ Content Warning has sold 2.2 million copies in 2 months. The total number of players has exceeded 8.8 million (the game was initially distributed for free). https://lnkd.in/dxfMx345 ▪️ Marvel Rivals already has over a million wishlists on Steam and EGS. https://lnkd.in/dZktsvVx ▪️ The Octopath Traveler series has surpassed 4 million copies sold. Both parts of the game were recently launched on Xbox Game Pass. https://lnkd.in/dUigFRr9 ▪️ Fallout 76 has reached 20 million users. In December last year, the number of players was 17 million. The DAU for Fallout games has soared by 600% following the success of the TV series. Todd Howard said he had never seen such a growth before. https://lnkd.in/d6rWbc6t ▪️ MultiVersus successfully returned to Steam with 153,000 concurrent users at launch. Now, the CCU has stabilized at 17,000. https://shorturl.at/feeTB 📱Mobile games ▪️ Rise of Kingdoms revenue has exceeded $3.5 billion. 25.6% of all money came from the USA; 14.4% from China; 12.6% from South Korea. South Korea is the leader in RPD (revenue per download) ($142) and ARPDAU (average revenue per daily active user) ($5). Following are China (RPD - $6; ARPDAU - $4.6) and the USA (RPD - $62; ARPDAU - $3.3). https://lnkd.in/dbx2FCUh ▪️ Dungeon & Fighter Mobile successfully launched in China. In the first week starting from May 21, the game earned $66 million on iOS alone, and revenue from both platforms exceeded $140 million (according to Niko Partners); the game was downloaded by 2.4 million users. In South Korea, the game has been available since March 2022, and in just over two years, it has earned more than $185.6 million. https://shorturl.at/gyxgb ▪️ Squad Busters earned $1.1 million on its first day (data from Sensor Tower). On the same day, the game was downloaded 8.8 million times. According to AppMagic, in the first week, the game earned $10.66 million (excluding platform fees and taxes). Yet, Eric Seufert doesn't believe those numbers are real pointing out that Squad Busters had 40M+ pre-regs. https://shorturl.at/iCeUL

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The recent Steam update is part of Valve's ongoing efforts to support the game development community and provide a richer experience for players. Key features include better visibility and discoverability for demos, as well as new tools for developers to gather feedback and analyze demo performance. Btw, it's important to stay cautiously optimistic and monitor how these updates perform over time. The new era of demos is coming 👹 https://lnkd.in/duqiuei7

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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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Friends, tonight, I want to address an important topic regarding the future of our community. There have been discussions and concerns about the potential slowdown in the volume of layoffs within the games industry and what this might mean for our community's focus moving forward. First and foremost, I want to emphasize that I remain cautious about the notion that these cuts are over. Even if the industry is starting to recover, the need for support and assistance for those affected by job losses remains critical. Nearly 9,000 to 10,000 people are still seeking employment and facing hardships. Their challenges don't disappear simply because the rate of layoffs may decrease. Secondly, I anticipate that there could still be significant layoffs this year. Even if the frequency and scale of these cuts diminish, there will always be some level of job losses in the industry. Our community must continue to provide support and resources regardless of these fluctuations. It's also essential to recognize that career planning and job search support shouldn't be viewed solely as a crisis response. These are vital aspects of professional development that should be ongoing. Engaging with roles, coaching, events, and other services should be part of a continuous effort to grow and advance in one's career. In the first half of 2024, only about 40% of our community content has focused on games careers. While this is a substantial portion, it’s not even the majority of what we do. Our community already encompasses a broad range of topics, including industry trends, life, and fun, uplifting content. Many of you have provided feedback expressing a desire for new types of content. Based on your input, I plan to introduce new features and to build on existing ones. For example, the recurring content on games I'm playing has now resumed, and I will produce more analytical content like Project Flagpole and other industry analyses. Our community has changed so much over the past two years and will continue to change, always driven by member input. Above all, our community thrives on the sense of support, positivity, and belonging. This is the greatest value people derive from being part of our group. When I ask members what means the most to them here, it's not a post, analytics, or a jobs resource. They say it's a sense of positivity and belonging that makes them happy to come here and feel better about being a gamer. That's all I hope for each day with what we do here. While we will continue to evolve and adapt, there is no need for a major pivot away from discussing games careers, based on your input. It's embedded in our DNA, alongside all the other enriching content we offer. Thank you for your valuable feedback. Together, we will keep building a community that supports and uplifts everyone involved across all industry states and situations.

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