Hank Howie

For the amusement industry, I noticed that a lot of FECs dumped their existing VR products when Godzilla was announced last November - other than GZ, I haven't been hearing about positive movement elsewhere within this segment(in terms of new sales or strong earnings, but I might have missed a report since few like to share that data in our biz). Hearing that the AVP is "non-existent" as a force in VR gaming though, reminds me off all the hype we were hearing about it back in January, with grandiose claims that it was going to "replace laptops" and the like. Aside from the quick pivot on that language to "well, it's a dev kit for the future," don't automatically bank on a product's success just because of the company who made it. Apple has had numerous failures over the years, as has every big company. While a strong track record of successes is generally a good guide to use for predicting the future, there are no guarantees. It also doesn't mean that the inherent issues found in face wearable tech just magically go away. https://lnkd.in/gDdfk8_q

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Kudos to both parties (Republicans & Democrats) for protecting our national security & asking Bytedance to divest from Tik-Tok. As a reminder, China is treating all Western social apps with a pure & simple ban enforced by Apple when this is a forced divestment - like Huawei before - despite all the FUD from Tik-Tok spokespersons on this topic. If Tik-Tok truly cares about their users & businesses on the platform, just sell it = problem solved and they will get a lot of cash in the process. https://lnkd.in/egUB2Knu

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Dude Perfect raised $100M for global biz expansion. The deal is getting lots of buzz, but our team’s math signals challenges ahead. Let’s break it down… DEAL DETAILS • $100 - 300M growth capital investment • Led by Highmount Capital • Unclear if 100% invested upfront OR draw down of commitment over time • No previous capital raised USE OF FUNDS • Hire mgmt team to expand biz • More live experiences incl int’l tour, consumer products • Grow content formats, frequency, channels, global localization e.g. animation, TV, movies, streaming • Extend brand beyond 5 founders by building talent network • New HQ in Frisco, TX as prod facility and “family-friendly entertainment destination”: – Retail store, podcasts / gaming / fan UGC spaces, trick shot tower, DP museum, mini golf, restaurants – Original plans for 3-story, 30 acre facility est to cost $100M+, 2 yrs to build COMPANY OVERVIEW: Dude Perfect • Digital-native comedy and sports media brand • Faith-based mission: “We’re about giving back, spreading joy and glorifying Jesus Christ”  • Other YouTube franchises: “Stereotypes,” “Overtime”, “Bucket List”  • Media brand also incl books, mobile games, board games and toys, and merch / retail / food and beverage partnerships • 25 current team members PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS • 60M YouTube Followers, 17B views • Est 2024 revenue: $50M per DP • Est 2023 and 2022 revenue: $25M and $20M per WSJ  • Consumer product partnerships incl Nerf toy line, Columbia Sportswear • Partnered with A Parent Media co to launch a streaming service • ESPN “30 for 30” doc premiering at Dallas Int’l film festival • TV series on CMT in 2016, later aired on Nickelodeon • Alternate broadcasts for Amazon’s Thursday Night Football • 4 live nationwide tours as of 2023 ORIGIN STORY • Founded 2009 by 5 friends at Texas A&M • Cofounders = twins Coby Cotton and Cory Cotton, Tyler Toney, Cody Jones, Garrett Hilbert • Started as YT channel featuring trick shot videos INVESTOR OVERVIEW: Highmount Capital • Growth stage and middle mkt PE fund for tech, media, healthcare • Founded in 2023 by jason illian and David Hawkins • 4 team members on website + advisor • 3 team members have faith-based ties per bios • No other investments listed on website other than DP My takeaway... I really like and support the trend of increased investment into YouTubers and digital-native media brands. But as I wrote about in my 2024 State of Creator x Media capital markets reports (will link them below), investment must match market and opportunity size. To ensure good ROI, and to set good precedent for future investment into our space. The DP bet is exciting, but could be overly optimistic based on our prelim math. My colleague Michael Booth's post breaks the math down (link below). More analysis to come in my Friday newsletter. —- I’m the founder of RockWater Industries. We do m&a and strategy advisory for media, agencies, and creator economy. My dm’s are open. #media #agency #creatoreconomy

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Jet Set Radio (Dreamcast) (aka Jet Grind Radio) and its sequel, Jet Set Radio Future (JSRF)(Xbox) are two of my favorite games for their pure emphasis on movement, navigation, platforming, tricks, stunts, and exploration. When Sega announced a new Jet Set Radio back in December, I was all in. Yes Sega, we want re-releases, reboots, remasters, sequels, spiritual sequels. anything and all of it. For many of the Sega titles from the mid 90s to the early 2000s that are not called Sonic the Hedgehog, I don't think Sega realizes how much love and good will there is, not just from an aging fanbase but also in potential future fans. Resurrect and grow JSR. Show some love to your fans for the previous games while also building the new. ----- Jet Set Radio in Dev Footage YouTube: https://lnkd.in/g_3VHCfz POWER SURGE: SEGA REVEAL TRAILER - TGA 2023 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gSAV7a8b ----- "Senhorita Kazzy @MSKAZZY69 A remake of the original Jet Set Radio is in the works at SEGA, it is a full remake of the Dreamcast game and it is not related to the F2P reboot." Twitter: https://lnkd.in/gAuCBw_7 ----- VideoGameChonicle: "Footage of Jet Set Radio and Persona 3 remakes has seemingly leaked. NUMEROUS SITES HAVE STEPPED FORWARD TO SUGGEST THE FOOTAGE IS REAL" (Apr 10 2023) VideoGameChonicle: https://lnkd.in/gpqnrBD7 VideoGameChronicle: "Alleged Jet Set Radio remake screenshots and video appears online. SEGA IS REPORTEDLY WORKING ON A REMAKE, ALONGSIDE THE ALREADY ANNOUNCED REBOOT" (JUN 25, 2024 ) "Screenshots and gameplay footage of an alleged Jet Set Radio remake have appeared online. While Sega has previously confirmed that it was working on a reboot of the cult favourite series, it’s claimed that the newly ‘leaked’ assets are from a separate remake of the original Dreamcast title. X user MSKAZZY69 posted four screenshots, claiming that their source was Midori, the Sega leaker who recently deleted their social media account. This was followed by gameplay footage of the alleged game, showing an updated take on Jet Set Radio with more realistic character designs. It’s not yet clear how authentic the screenshots and footage are. Sega already confirmed in December that it’s working on a Jet Set Radio title which reboots the series, rather than remaking the original. “Experience the ‘rebellion’ movement that feels free in a suffocating society,” Sega’s description for the reboot reads. “Make friends, increase your fans, and create a movement.” It also provided details on reboots of other classic Sega series, including Crazy Taxi, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe and Shinobi." VideoGameChronicle: https://lnkd.in/g-UJDqEb #gameindustry #gamepublishing #sega #jsr #jsrf #jetsetradio #jetsetradiofuture

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Check out this insightful interview and walkthrough by Pacioli.ai Lead Architect Jason Meyers! Pacioli.ai is a web3 crypto asset disclosure and AI based external validation #DePIN (decentralized physical infrastructure) protocol. Pacioli.ai enables crypto asset issuers and service providers to collaborate and create machine readable white paper disclosures pursuant to emerging crypto asset regulatory requirements and technical specifications. 🛠️ Pacioli.ai validates and generates regulatory-compliant #iXBRL #crypto #whitepapers✅ in compliance with UAE 🇦🇪 #VARA and EU #MiCA 🇪🇺

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🙏 A Big Thank You to Our Friends at Tekkie Pinas! 🙏 Grateful to Mark Anthony Wagan for this fantastic article on the recent launch of the Kaia Mainnet. 🎉 It’s exciting to see our efforts being recognized as we continue to push the boundaries of Web3 with LINE’s NEXT WEB SDK. Check out the full article to learn more about how Kaia is set to reshape the future of blockchain. 👉 https://lnkd.in/eSKQMyDu #JBlaze #KaiaBlockchain #MainnetLaunch #Web3 #TekkiePinas #Innovation #Blockchain

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PSA for CEOs: It’s your job to understand what potential acquirers want. Even if you’re not looking to sell yet. This idea was top of mind for me during GDC, where I met with several bigger studios. I took every opportunity to ask how they think about acquisitions: - What makes a potential acquisition interesting to them? - What thresholds do studios have to meet? - What metrics do they value most? This type of forward-looking market exploration is a shift for me. My primary focus for the last four years has been building FunCraft into a successful business. But my role needs to evolve. While FunCraft is growing and thriving independently, it’s still my responsibility to gauge what could make us an attractive acquisition down the road and understand how we build toward it. My advice to other CEOs: If an acquisition is something you can envision for your company down the road, don't plan for it in a silo. Talk extensively with potential acquirers and let their input inform your strategy early on.

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How does one of the best studios in the industry stay at the top of the game? This sitdown between Michail Katkoff and Javier Ferreira on Deconstructor of Fun digs into how Scopely has thrived during a period when gaming has been especially challenged. Great insights on #productdevelopment, #intellectualproperty and #strategicpartnerships on this pod. https://lnkd.in/g2uuBSCG

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In one click you can get the license for even 500 Copyrighted Movies/Sports/Music brands directly to your FAST/SVOD/Mobile app/AVOD/CTV/Payment & Billing Systems. Many companies have Raised Funds or made Exit based on our content. #entrepreneurship #Innovation #Management #HumanResources #DigitalMarketing #Technology #Creativity #Future #Futurism #Entrepreneurship

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Measure What Matters: Tracking Digital Promotion Success Your digital promotions are working hard, but are they paying off? Learn how to track & measure: * Conversion rates, click-through rates & engagement * Customer acquisition cost (CAC) & return on investment (ROI) * Advanced techniques like multi-touch attribution & cohort analysis Read here: https://lnkd.in/dSYQKhnk #DigitalPromotions #Marketing #ROI #Analytics #Promocious #Gamecloud

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This is unfortunate. Humanoid Origin is closing down. These are ex-Bioware devs (and others) trying to build an exciting new sci-fi series. Funding is very tough for indie game studios right now (that are not spewing unsustainable 'gen' AI nonsense to investors). Publishers and investors are both being more conservative, more scrutiny, more due diligence, more questioning. Funding is not automatically being reupped. And game devs are getting hit hard. The one observation I would make is that nobody as an indie or independent developer should be making a Triple A budgeted game right now, especially not with new IP. Leave the Triple A and Quadruple A to internal dev studios of publishers using it for existing IP. Or to independent studios making sequels and franchise extensions with comfortable funding. New IP has to start smaller and prove itself in the market in a Single A to Double A range. What "Triple A" means has grown so much in the last 25 years that it has stopped meaning just "make a high-end, quality game". And it has become, "make a game for $30 to $50 to $100 million". The market, (and publishers) cannot bear or justify $50 million games for new IP. I don't want to keep seeing studio closures. We have to start smaller. Put simpler Humanoid Origin needs to build a new single player. character driven. narrative game not with the budget of a Mass Effect 4 or even a Mass Effect 1, but with what BioWare would have made Mass Effect 1 with if BioWare hadn't been bought by JR's VGH holdings. Indie studios have to build indie games on indie budgets. Because the market and economy are unforgiving right now. Good luck all. My heart goes out to them. This sucks. Keep trying to make that game, but make it smaller to start. Make what the market can bear. ----- VideoGameChronicle: "Mass Effect trilogy director Casey Hudson’s studio is shutting down. Humanoid Origin is closing due to “an unexpected shortfall of funding” (Tom Ivan) (Nov 25, 2024) "Humanoid Origin, the studio led by former BioWare general manager Casey Hudson, has announced it’s shutting down. In a post on LinkedIn, the Canadian studio said it was closing because of funding issues. “Earlier today, we informed our staff that Humanoid Origin will be shutting down,” it said. “Despite efforts to shield the studio from broader challenges in the industry, an unexpected shortfall of funding left us unable to sustain operations. “Thank you to everyone who supported us throughout our journey.” Humanoid Origin was founded by Hudson and a team of game industry veterans in 2021. Its first game was going to be a multiplatform AAA title focused on character-driven narrative. During almost 20 years at BioWare across two stints, Hudson directed and produced the original Mass Effect trilogy and Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic. He left the company for the second time in December 2020." VideoGameChronicle: https://lnkd.in/g3jPXheC #gameindustry #gamedev #indiegames #studioclosure

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Join us tomorrow for an exclusive economy roundtable from 9:00 – 10:00 am PST, co-hosted by Liquid and Grit and Game Economist Consulting. Our special guest, Phillip Black, and I will delve into the success of Brawl Stars' revamped battle pass and the strategic changes that drove significant revenue growth and increased player engagement. We'll be discussing insights from this report: Brawl Stars' New Battle Pass Greatly Increases Depth of Spend (https://lnkd.in/gnUmENSm). Key points will include: - Transitioning to cash purchases instead of premium currency - Introducing a lower-priced premium pass and a new plus tier - Shortening the season length and reducing the number of milestones - Adjusting the XP system and rewards structure - Offering instant progress for higher-tier pass buyers - Providing early access to upcoming heroes through in-app purchases These changes have led to a 61% increase in U.S. iOS revenue and record-high daily active users. This roundtable is exclusively available to subscribing members of Liquid and Grit, and a recording will be provided for those who cannot attend. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into these successful strategies. DM me directly for an invite. #GamingEconomy #MobileGaming #GameDevelopment #RevenueGrowth #PlayerEngagement #EconomyRoundtable #BrawlStars

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https://lnkd.in/gW4jifNH #ai #falseadvertising #ftc #government #artificialintelligence #agi #artificialgeneralintelligence #machinelearning #ml #openai There is going to be a crackdown soon on products labeling themselves as artificially intelligent. They may be artificial, albeit, not one of them is intelligent. We know what that means, and none of them are in that class. You've been warned.

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In one click you can get the license for even 500 Copyrighted Movies/Sports/Music brands directly to your FAST/SVOD/Mobile app/AVOD/CTV/Payment & Billing Systems. Many companies have Raised Funds or made Exit based on our content. #raisingcapital #developmentfunding #commercialrealestate #syndications #brokerdealers #equityinvesting #tradepaltform #venturecapital #growthcapital #familyoffice #mergeracquitision #mining #preciousmetals #financialadvisor #lineofcredit #realestatefinance #hotelinvestor #oilandgas #greenenergy #carboncredit #consultant #privatedebt #limitedpartner #equityinvestor #privatejet #yachts #hospitality #opportunity #success #privacy #development #investing #hnwi #assetmanagement #capitalmarkets #moneymanagement #patriarchy #bankingandfinance #structuredfinance #privateplacement #offmarket #mergersandacquisitions #generalpartner #corporate #institutionalinvestor #assetsfinance

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- Hard drives from the 1990s are failing at a high rate: Roughly one-fifth of hard drives from the 1990s sent to Iron Mountain for archiving are unreadable. - Archiving digital media is complex: The music industry faces challenges in archiving due to factors like proprietary file formats, separation of samples and finished tracks, and the inherent limitations of hard drives. - Hard drives are not designed for long-term storage: Standard hard drives are not built to last, and their failure can be catastrophic. - Other storage media are also unreliable: Optical media, magnetic media, flash storage, and even floppy disks have limitations and can deteriorate over time. - Regular backups are essential: The article emphasizes the importance of creating multiple copies of important data to mitigate the risk of data loss. https://lnkd.in/gsGDWVpy

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