Brendan Iribe

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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Jon Jordan with a good read on how value accrues on TON vs Ronin. On both so far, game app tokens are down since launch while the chain's own tokens have benefitted. Interestingly on Ronin, SLP (the Axie token) continues to perform much better than RON (the chain token). I think there's a STRONG argument that game tokens are launching too soon, or in the wrong way, and that both chains and games might be better off to drive their own ecosystem tokens vs launching their own. Of course, this undercuts a lot of the rationale for founders in doing web3 in the first place - they want token exits. But right now its value extractive for game token investors, and they are figuring that out, hence the better performance for ecosystem tokens.

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From GamesIndustry.Biz's Vikki Blake: Valve generates $6.5 billion annually with a workforce of 350 people. She cites this table of Microsoft's estimate of Valve's revenue in 2021 as the source for that figure: https://lnkd.in/e5VYQ_g8 The 350 employees figure comes from non-redacted public information as part of the Wolfire case. I decided to graph this against the top 20 tech companies in 2022 to compare revenue per employee, assuming the information reported is accurate. Valve's data is from 2021, as cited in the article. https://lnkd.in/eD7eFEAj Can I interest you in nearly 8 times the revenue per employee of Apple? Surely if we evaluated just Steam as a standalone operation, the figures would be much higher. Incredible!

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I did another one of the deeper articles for PocketGamer.biz about all of the Supercell Action RPGs, (3 of those 😅) for those that like a little bit more detailed read. Its really fascinating seeing all of the iteration, especially with R.I.S.E. which is a rogue-lite with extraction elements. On the other hand, notice how Supercell is not really going for the "easy" path of making Clash of Clans 2 or Hay Day 2, which it could already, but rather trying to expand the Clash IP over different genres and sub-genres. I think we have seen a lot of diminishing returns of that "more of the same" strategy, especially with Zenless Zone Zero these days, having a rough time not only competing with its portfolio bigger brothers, but also many big Anime RPGs released this summer 😅. #gamedev #gamedevelopment #gamedesign #gameindustry #mobilegames #mobilemarketing #mobileadvertising #userexperiencedesign #userexperience #gamedeveloper #games #gameart #midcore #RPG

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When I predicted the rise of Hybridcasual back in 2019, I didn't realise it would take four years and one IDFA deprecation for Hypercasual to finally make the transition. Hybridcasual has truly come a long way from the days of Archero, but we're finally here. And Voodoo's pivot into Hybridcasual has been particularly stunning to watch from the sidelines. More specifically, "Mob Control" from Voodoo's Barcelona-based Mambo Studio is leading the charge and under the helm of the very talented Miguel Santirso. Some key outtakes about Mob Control from this conversation: - A staggering $200M lifetime revenue (3 years) - It makes up ~25% of Voodoo's total revenue - A very aggressive 160% 4-Month ROAS - Actively working on 500 creatives per week - Revamping the progression system drove a +20% LTV uplift - And most importantly, unlimited ambition to crack the top-20 grossing That's really just a sneak peek of how insights-packed this conversation is, and truly is a must listen for anyone building casual games. Also, a huge kudos to Aaron Bush for flying out to Barcelona from Texas super last minute to make it happen live. Usually, I'd say "listen in". But this time, watch it on Naavik's YouTube (link below). Voodoo worked their signature black magic on the production values of this episode ;)

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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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We just uploaded a new demo video showing off how Mudstack works. If you're at a game studio, and you're involved somehow in managing game assets or a game pipeline, you should check this out!

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😎 Next up on the Sombra Labs AI pipeline tests is DeepMake. We tested it against Meta's SAM 2 model from this week. We love DeepMake for the added controls it has in the roto isolation and the integration of SAM2 and other models that allow for some unique results. 👏 We def recommend you contact Nima Mehdian to give it a spin and see what you think! Rotoscoping is a big part of what we need as a foundation at ALONGSIDE/ Global, Sombra Labs, Hero Next Door, Saddington Baynes, and Bonfire as it allows us to start our VFX journey. Bad roto ruins all comps and projects. I had to learn the manual trade of rotoscoping in combustion back in the day, then Nuke, then flame and it surely is a tricky art form to master. 😰 Knowing the complexity of process and importance of the work its a breath of fresh air to see such a time consuming process be automated so we can focus on the real work at hand which is creative compositing and look development. Check out DeepMake in the comments! 🔔 Subscribe to me and 👉 Sombra Labs 🧪 for more insights into AI production tools for VFX. #ai #vfx #genai #ml

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We are launching the first Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) for live services game infrastructure. Our goal is nothing short of a total disruption of the way live games are built, provisioned and scaled--all in a way that dramatically reduces costs, lowers risks and reduces dependencies. According to Griffin Gaming Partners, 95% of game studios are already operating or plan to launch a live services game. But while most (65%) would prefer to buy rather than build technology themselves, live services is a mission-critical service that can control the destiny of a studio. What if some of these dependencies and risks could be eliminated? That's the goal of the Beamable DePIN network. https://lnkd.in/gptqvXQG

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Please join us tomorrow for an insightful roundtable discussion on how Jackpot Party’s economy enhances player spending. This exclusive event is co-hosted by Liquid and Grit and Game Economist Consulting, and is available only to our subscribers. We’ll explore the key factors driving revenue and player engagement. With special guest Phillip Black, we will delve into the critical aspects shaping Jackpot Party’s economy, including: - Slots as the app’s biggest faucet, despite being a net negative - Bonuses as the app’s only net positive faucet - The Star Power feature, which rewards players for increased betting over time - The use of two soft currencies that are limited to specific features Additionally, we will share our comprehensive Economy Teardown Spreadsheet, providing in-depth data on Jackpot Party’s economy. If you are a subscriber to Liquid and Grit, please DM for an invite. The full research insights can be found here https://lnkd.in/guaVicFG.

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First Impressions - KINGDOM COME 2 Exclusive Open World Demo | by Warhorse Studios 0:05 pretty graphics 0:10 The #enemy soldier climbs up the ladder so slowly, like he doesn't care for his own survival. He looks lethargic and careless. 0:22 Enemy #archers don't take cover while reloading #arrows - they're sitting ducks. 🦆 This game is marketed as "realistic/simulation" so its fair expect much better combat #Ai than this, especially considering that its a #combat focused game. They should have the archers crouch behind cover or hide behind walls when possible, only popping out momentarily to shoot. This will force the player to tactically reposition. They're #fighting like its an open field - but its not. This game is lacking "emergent decision making" due to lack of Ai depth. My overall sense is that the combat Ai is lethargic and un-exciting. Needs to be much better. Enemies need to have basic #survival instincts to make an immersive combat experience. As it stands currently, its a dis-service to the touted realism of the franchise. They're still a year out from release so there's hope. I hope they have a dedicated Ai designer or #encounter designer to compliment their combat design. 0:15 the transition to the #death animation was... very glitchy. I know this is an early demo but.... its a renowned franchise... Why show the glitch on video? https://lnkd.in/gCEDfVae

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Path of Exile 2 by Grinding Gear Games launched into early access last Friday with a peak of 580K Steam concurrent users 2 days after 😁 and still going strong. It is still sitting as #1 top selling game 🤑 on Steam currently, even though it will be a free to play game in full release. More than 1 million players, who bought into one of the supporter packs ($30 dollars being the lowest price point) and still rising. Keep in mind that the game released on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, Xbox and native PC client simultaneously, which probably means that the real peak will far bigger than 1 million CCU even as you are reading this 😅. And those are all paying users, as early access is not free to play for now. Just to get a comparison, when Diablo 4 launched in July last year it had a Twitch viewership peak of 941K viewers. PoE2 had 1,2 Mil. viewers 👀 during last Friday with out the big budget marketing that Activision Blizzard put behind Diablo franchise. And this scale is still not full release as the game has only half of the classes, half of the single player campaign and half of the bosses/ skills in the game. Once it releases in full next year, it will largely increase its content and will go fully free to play. We will do a full review of the game soon (once I get to endgame 😅) on the two & a half gamers podcast 😎 with Felix & Matej 🦩 as it has one of the most unique Free to Play business models in the industry and it is growing like crazy through out its whole 11 year old lifetime, hitting a CCU record during its latest expansion in July, which is unheard of in the current industry. #gamedev #gameindustry #gamedesign #gameproduction #games #gamedevelopment #userexperience #RPG #PC #Steam #PCgames #console #computergames #ARPG #PathofExile2 #GrindingGearGames

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The Next Billion-Dollar Merge Games: Innovation Meets Depth 🚀🧩 Merge games have proven their staying power with Travel Town and Gossip Harbor blending solid grid management with narrative-driven building layers. In terms of the future, next hits could emerge by leveraging key vectors in #gamesdesign and #systemsdesign that are theme-independent, appealing to female, male, and mixed audiences: 🏗️📊 Simulation and Tycoon Mechanics Imagine SimCity, Railroad Tycoon, or RollerCoaster Tycoon fused with #mergegames #gameplay. Adding tycoon-like depth could revolutionize Merge, offering strategic, long-term #engagement. --> Travel Town’s city-building layer could expand into dynamic economies, where merging fuels resource generation and upgrades. --> Ability to draw in players seeking meaningful, management-driven progression, boosting #retention and #LTV; and/or teaching this to existing players. 👪🕹️ Life Sims #Games like BitLife, Business Empire: RichMan, and Pick Me Up - Idle inspire the potential synergy between life sims and merge, as well as The Sims. --> Imagine merging through a character’s life—managing careers, relationships, and possessions. --> This emotional engagement could drive #monetization, with microtransactions tied to life events or choices. --> A “#merge your way to success” mechanic would unlock new creative gameplay possibilities. ⚙️🧪 Prestige and Ascension Adding prestige systems and economic ascension mechanics could deliver replayability while rewarding long-term investment. --> Merge games could introduce "prestige" resets that unlock powerful bonuses and/or evolve gameplay. --> Travel Town and Gossip Harbor could gain depth through narrative-driven rebuilding tied to prestige mechanics; and/or have this as side event / #minigame on a tie-in. Why These Vectors Matter. These innovations elevate product and live-ops #KPIs like retention and monetization while transforming #distribution strategies: --> #UA Creative Opportunities: New mechanics open #creatives and messaging means that e.g., appeal across demographics. --> Deeper LTV: Simulation, #lifesim, and prestige layers extend player engagement and spending. Merge's Evolving Potential 🚀📈 If implemented well, these innovations could allow Merge to surpass even #Match3 in revenue per download. Games like Travel Town and Gossip Harbor have shown how grid management and narrative depth succeed taking the genre further—and, adding systems like above ones could elevate the genre further. I would be glad to work on something like this, #OpenToWork. Merge games aren’t limited by themes or audiences. Whether targeting male, female, or combined demographics, these vectors can unlock long-term success by combining innovation with proven systems. #MobileGames #GamesMarketing #FreeToPlay #F2P #SimulationGames #Growth #MonetizationDesign #EconomyDesign #GameDev #GameDevelopment #TycoonGames #Marketing #GamesUA #GamesMonetization #GamesBusiness #GameBusiness #VideoGames

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How fair is reward-based playtesting? 🎮💡 Explore the ethics behind rewarding players for feedback, balancing fairness, motivation, and privacy. Let’s build better games together—ethically and responsibly! 👉 Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/d7iSGGPr #GamingEthics #FairPlay #PlaytestingRewards #GameDevelopment #GameCloud

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🌪 Fast Tips to Enhance User Feedback: Independent studios are often time and money restricted. One easy change that can instantly make a game better overall is to improve its user feedback. This involves providing immediate, clear, and satisfying responses to player actions. Here are (relatively) easy and inexpensive ways to enhance user feedback: 🎆Visual Effects: Add particle effects, animations, and screen shakes for significant actions or events, like scoring points or defeating an enemy. 🎵Sound Effects: Use high-quality sound effects for player actions, ambient sounds, and background music to create a more immersive experience. ✅HUD and UI: Ensure the user interface is intuitive and provides instant feedback for player inputs, like changing colors or highlighting buttons when interacted with. Also ensure rewards are clearly stated. 🎮Responsive Controls: Make sure controls are tight and responsive, so players feel directly connected to the game. Ensure players don’t ever feel like they are failing by “accident” ⚠️Feedback for Errors: Clearly indicate when and why something went wrong, helping players understand where they went wrong and empower them to improve their gameplay. Is there additional items I am missing or that should and could be added to the list?

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Roblox just released a ton of great new features, specifically major updates to their safety systems, including default user protections, parental controls, and policies. Here are some of the key changes straight from Roblox: "- Increased built-in protections for younger users including additional communication restrictions and default access restrictions to certain categories of content. For example, a new built-in setting restricts users younger than 13 from directly messaging other users in experiences or messaging others through Roblox (platform) chat. - Expanded suite of Parental Controls including remote management to monitor activity even when parents and caregivers aren’t physically together with their kids. New controls also allow parents to create/adjust important settings from their own devices – for example, set a daily screen-time limit (new), spending controls, view friends’ list (new), set content access restrictions, and more. - Updated Content Labels: We have renamed “Experience Guidelines” to “Content Labels,” which now include default restrictions for younger users’ access to more mature content (Moderate/Restricted) based on the following maturity levels: Minimal, Mild, Moderate and Restricted." You can read the entire newsletter here - https://lnkd.in/e7BWc2zw

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Pondering Meta's latest move with Avi Bar-Zeev! Which seems more about blocking Google, than encouraging an open ecosystem. What I’d really love to see Meta foster is a cost-effective, HIPAA-compliant HMD for medical use, as in therapy for the millions of patients who could benefit from it; sadly this move probably doesn't get us any closer to that. https://lnkd.in/gAHyuBU3

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Excited to learn how AI games and movies creators intersect during the “AI on the Lot” event with industry experts including Katja Reitemeyer from NVIDIA, Andrew Wallenstein from Variety Intelligence Platform, Joanna Popper, Dana Harris-Bridson from IndieWire, Ed Ulbrich from Metaphysic.ai, Meagan Keane from Adobe, and @Gregory Schiff from Dell Technologies It was unreal to meet David Slade, Director of Bandersnatch, Black Mirror, Twilight Saga, Eclipse, Breaking Bad and others in person! Kathryn Brillhart Virtual Producer of Fallout and Rebel Moon on Netflix! Congratulations to Nem Perez and peers who worked on "T2 Remake," a pioneering AI parody of "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." This project, produced entirely with AI tools, represents a bold step into the future of blending creativity and technology. Although somewhat similar with the process of creating games, I noticed how difficult is still for creatives in film to juggle AI tools and incorporate them in the filmmaking processes ! That gives a great sense of validation that CINEVVA engine with its latest state of the art generative AI tech can be applied in episodic narrative stories, 3D shorts, animations, lights, SFX, music and publishing in just one place. Happy to extend an invitation to any movie director interested in using app.cinevva.com for any creative projects. Our team will be happy to provide tech, custom AI and real time publishing support for the entire pipeline. #AILA #AIontheLot #artificialintelligence #entertainment #technology #gamedev #generativeAI #AIgames #genai #blackmirror #3D #Hollywood

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