BackerKit’s Post

I've put 1,000+ hours into all kinds of games (AAA/Indie) this year, what's crystal clear: -large budgets can create more content, but not better gameplay -new/advanced gameplay is mostly coming from focused indie teams who have zeroed in on the fun -the "big" games marketing playbook is dead and losing to lean social and community teams -devs who understand content/creators are winning not only leading up to launch, but long afterwards -steam is a game in itself -there is an entire universe of short form gaming creators who are slept on by people who've been glued to twitch/youtube the last 10 yrs Importantly, still a large majority of devs I've spoken to don't know much about raising money - we have created A16Z GAMES SPEEDRUN as an accelerator to help new/indie teams not only get funding but providing help across all other areas (hiring, marketing, partnerships). This is not a one size fits all program and not to just fund a single project. Applications for our next cohort close this week. If you know any talented devs/teams, a signal boost or tag would be appreciated!

💖 In today's "Our Love Language is Bite-Sized Video Games" series, we wanted to show our gratitude and respect for Mantis Venture Capital! 🎵 Over the past several months, I've watched Alex Pall share exactly how they deliver on their promise of "being the most helpful investors on the cap table"! In their own words: "We set out to prove to the world that we were going to be much more than just another celebrity fund" 🎮 Even though we aren't a Mantis portco, we're grateful for the role they play in the tech ecosystem! Here's a fan game celebrating Mantis' gaming portfolio! ⚡ The game was created on Breshna.io's "Tap & Tumble" template with no-code and in 25 minutes! Play game in comments below ⬇ Mantis Venture Capital Alex Pall Emlyn Thompson Jeffrey Evans Milan K. Stephen O'Brien Jason R. Johnson Breshna.io (by GRID) Sound on for this one! #MantisVC #Closer #GamingVC #Breshna #BitesizedGames #Memegames

#fundingalert 💼Company: Mixer Games 💰Funding: Undisclosed Amount ⚡Round: Bridge Round 👥Investors: Diffusion Capital Partners, WePlay Ventures and angel investors for its new app Fundle. Mixer Games specialises in producing a wide range of games that place a special emphasis on encouraging social engagement. Their main product, Fundle, functions as a mobile gaming platform, offering gamers all over the world a service and the greatest possible experience when playing single- or multiplayer games. John Wright, a vice president of the gaming business Kwalee in the UK, was one of the angel investors in the round. Wright has led gaming enterprises during the fifteen-year boom. Wright is now a member of the advisory board of the business. Alican Karaman Eren Erenoglu Buğra Yahya Arasıl   Read more - https://lnkd.in/gAzaZyKf To share your startup story write us on - contact@startuprise.co.uk #MixerGames #gamingstartup #bussiness #platform #socialengagement #funding #startupnews #fundingnews #news #startuprise

Business of Games: 3 biggest funding rounds, partnerships, and trends (8) from the last week (investment round-up details from April 2nd week) 1. New studio: Cave Bear Games 2. PowerWash Simulator dev FuturLab acquired by Miniclip 3. OKX Ventures announces pre-seed round investment in Cellula Top Trends: 1. Roblox partners with PubMatic to power video ads 2. Supercell’s Squad Busters heads into soft launch on April 23rd 3. Koei Tecmo sues mobile dev Youzoo for repeated copyright infringement 4. ByteDance overtakes Tencent in annual profit and revenue for first time ever 5. (missed this news) Embracer CEO says restructuring is over, no other studios for sale 6. Royal Match races from $2 billion to £3 billion earnings faster than any other game (5M) 7. International Game Developers Association calls for studio leaders to do more to protect jobs 8. Gamers for Giving raised over $1.25 million for charity during its annual LAN party & streaming marathon dubbed. #gamedevelopment #gamedesign #businessofgames #gamedev

Ever felt that exhilarating mix of excitement and fear? Obelisk Studio just raised $2 million from The Games Fund to bring us Displacement, a psychological action-horror game that's sure to leave you at the edge of your seat. Imagine a game that blends the adrenaline rush of Call of Duty, the immersive storytelling of Fallout 76, and the chilling ambiance of Sons of Forest. That’s what Obelisk Studio is crafting. Here's why this is huge for you: 1. Unique Experience: Prepare for a game like no other, combining action and horror in ways that will keep you hooked. 2. Top Talent: With industry veterans from blockbuster titles, expect nothing short of excellence. 3. Supportive Ecosystem: Backed by The Games Fund, Obelisk Studio has the resources to deliver a groundbreaking game. Get ready to dive into a world where every decision counts, and every shadow hides a secret. What’s your all-time favorite horror game? Artem Dorokhin,  https://lnkd.in/dFpy4U9w #GameDev #HorrorGames #IndieGames #MondayFunding

Hey LinkedIn, it’s been a while! I’ve been deep in the trenches, plotting and planning, but I’m excited to share my vision with you all. My goal is simple: to change the gaming industry for the better. I want to create innovative games that focus on fun and total immersion, offering players an experience that goes beyond just playing. The dream? To build a gaming studio filled with creative, passionate individuals who are driven to push boundaries and craft unique gaming experiences that make a lasting impact. Yes, it's ambitious, but that's the type of challenge worth taking on. That’s where you come in. I’m launching a crowdfunding campaign to help bring this dream to life. With your support, we can lay the foundation for a new type of game studio—one that focuses on collaboration, innovation, and breaking the mold. Every contribution, whether big or small, helps us get one step closer to making this vision a reality. Let’s build something amazing together and create games that not only entertain but inspire and immerse. I’m all in, and I hope you’ll join me on this journey! https://gofund.me/4a456ee5

If you’re a video games startup, here are some useful organisations to help you with your business. There are lots of people out there willing to help and these are some great ones so here’s a list to get you started 👇🎮   UK Games Fund, The Content Fund, Epic MegaGrants (Epic Games, Scottish Games Network, Barclays Eagle Labs, Ukie, TIGA, British Film Institute (BFI)    #VideoGamesStartup #SupportAndResources  

🎉 Kraken’s Cove is 47% Funded After Week 1 on Kickstarter! 🎉 We’re thrilled by the support for our family-owned business’s newest game, Kraken’s Cove: A Treacherous Fishing Adventure! In just one week, we’re nearly halfway to our funding goal, and we’re so grateful to everyone backing this journey. Here’s a look at what’s on the horizon: ⚓️ We’re finalizing a Kraken’s Cove play-through video to showcase the gameplay experience. ⚓️ More about Squash Banana, our first game, included in the Captain’s Catch reward bundle! ⚓️ Game testing with age-specific focus groups to refine every rule for maximum engagement and fun. If you’re able to share or support our project in any way, it would mean the world to us. Thanks to everyone who’s been a part of Kraken’s Cove’s first week—we’re excited to keep the momentum going! #Kickstarter #Crowdfunding #BoardGames #TabletopGaming #GameDevelopment #FamilyBusiness #OddDuckGames #KrakensCove

This card game raised $8 million on Kickstarter (...it’s just a simple card game — anybody can do this): You've played every card game out there. Nothing surprises you anymore. Games night is always a bore. But then you discover Exploding Kittens. Players draw cards hoping to avoid the dreaded Exploding Kitten. The creators knew a viral video alone wouldn't fund Exploding Kittens. To raise over $8 million, their video needed to: - Tell the engaging origin story of the game's creation - Showcase the hilarious, unconventional gameplay - Appeal to players tired of the same old card games Before launch… They captured feedback from a tester group, which shaped their winning video. So before you launch your next campaign, tell an irresistible story. Show how you'll transform your audience's experience. That's how you crowdfund the next big thing. Even if it's just a simple card game. Look at this:

A good game concept is crucial but it won’t sell itself. 🎮   Many underestimate the power of effective marketing and distribution. Colin Anderson sheds some light on publisher negotiations and finding the right one for your video game.🚀   Download the Henderson Loggie Guide for Games Startups using the link below 👇 https://lnkd.in/eWJMSUS7    #VideoGames #GameSuccess #GameStartupSupport