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On GameLynx: Gamedev studio targeting mobile device platforms with an emphasis on hardcore, competitive league style play. Backed by "one of the largest game c

by indescions_2017 9y ago

On GameLynx: Gamedev studio targeting mobile device platforms with an emphasis on hardcore, competitive league style play. Backed by "one of the largest game companies in the world." Honor of Kings, Clash Royale, Vainglory, Hearthstone and Supercell's upcoming Brawl Stars create a crowded marketplace. Interested to hear what will differentiate GameLynx's game? How is it planning to innovate and compete? What is the strategy for capturing market share in China, India and the rest of Asia? What exactly is the "next gen" in mobile eSports? Revenues that these games generate is astronomical. And at some of the highest margins possible. Supercell hit the $2B per year mark recently. And Tencent's profit last quarter was close to $3B. Best of luck to the team and can't wait to play!

bpicolo 9y ago
I'm somewhat surprised there's no demo/preview/marketing for any game yet. Seems like it would be hard to approach YC with "we want to make a game that makes tons of money", because there are a crazy amount of variables involved in that. Perhaps they applied with more info, but it's not public yet?
- Kpourdeilami 9y ago
  They don't have any games on their website currently but as far as I remember, they published their first game in January this year and generated a good amount of revenue
  - bpicolo 9y ago
    Their original goal of online microtransaction boardgames is a far cry from very popular eSport. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Oed9nM7MFA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Oed9nM7MFA
    - dyarosla 9y ago
      This is their more recent pitch, but still no eSports: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6GWa2NyEKw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6GWa2NyEKw I'm guessing this is a pivot they've made recently- surprised they pitched it when so early: doesn't look like they are even at proof of concept yet with this new idea.
matt_s 9y ago
A lot of those games make money by time-gating content with the option to buy your way past that. I don't think hardcore gamers like games with pay-to-play features. How can that be competitive if people can purchase their way past things? If they aren't building the game platform that way (time gated content w/pay-to-play) then its hard to even compare against companies that make a fortune that way. Also, hardcore gamers like to be in control. Mobile platforms don't have fine controls since they are touch based. Accidentally swipe or touch the screen the wrong way and game over.
- hood_syntax 9y ago
  > I don't think hardcore gamers like games with pay-to-play features They do not. They really do not. I, along with several of my friends, would easily be considered part of the "hardcore gaming" audience and everything I know of the people on the forums I frequent and the games I play points to the fact that dumping cash into a game in order to progress is just about the most despised trend in video games among that section of the gaming community. A lot of people will happily pay for cosmetic purchases to support the developers and have some extra fun, but anything affecting the balance of the game is a strict no-no.
  - Kpourdeilami 9y ago
    Games like Fifa generate lots of money from selling "packs" in their ultimate team mode. When you buy a player pack, they have a guarantee of containing a fixed number of gold, silver, or bronze players but since the gold, silver, and bronze players can have vastly different ratings, it doesn't disturb the balance of the game. People spend hundreds of dollars buying packs in that game and end up winning not a single useful player while someone can win the best player of the whole game through a free pack they received from an in-game tournament
    - hood_syntax 9y ago
      I appreciate your reply, because sports games are actually something I have little to no experience with. I wasn't aware of the current trends in that area.
georgeecollins 9y ago
This is a great business, but typically game companies don't make good startups. They are typically about cultivating teams that can create compelling content, and not defensible technology. They typically don't need capital as much as they need talent.

bpicolo 9y ago

I'm somewhat surprised there's no demo/preview/marketing for any game yet. Seems like it would be hard to approach YC with "we want to make a game that makes tons of money", because there are a crazy amount of variables involved in that. Perhaps they applied with more info, but it's not public yet?

Kpourdeilami 9y ago
They don't have any games on their website currently but as far as I remember, they published their first game in January this year and generated a good amount of revenue
- bpicolo 9y ago
  Their original goal of online microtransaction boardgames is a far cry from very popular eSport. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Oed9nM7MFA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Oed9nM7MFA
  - dyarosla 9y ago
    This is their more recent pitch, but still no eSports: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6GWa2NyEKw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6GWa2NyEKw I'm guessing this is a pivot they've made recently- surprised they pitched it when so early: doesn't look like they are even at proof of concept yet with this new idea.

matt_s 9y ago

A lot of those games make money by time-gating content with the option to buy your way past that. I don't think hardcore gamers like games with pay-to-play features. How can that be competitive if people can purchase their way past things? If they aren't building the game platform that way (time gated content w/pay-to-play) then its hard to even compare against companies that make a fortune that way. Also, hardcore gamers like to be in control. Mobile platforms don't have fine controls since they are touch based. Accidentally swipe or touch the screen the wrong way and game over.

hood_syntax 9y ago
> I don't think hardcore gamers like games with pay-to-play features They do not. They really do not. I, along with several of my friends, would easily be considered part of the "hardcore gaming" audience and everything I know of the people on the forums I frequent and the games I play points to the fact that dumping cash into a game in order to progress is just about the most despised trend in video games among that section of the gaming community. A lot of people will happily pay for cosmetic purchases to support the developers and have some extra fun, but anything affecting the balance of the game is a strict no-no.
- Kpourdeilami 9y ago
  Games like Fifa generate lots of money from selling "packs" in their ultimate team mode. When you buy a player pack, they have a guarantee of containing a fixed number of gold, silver, or bronze players but since the gold, silver, and bronze players can have vastly different ratings, it doesn't disturb the balance of the game. People spend hundreds of dollars buying packs in that game and end up winning not a single useful player while someone can win the best player of the whole game through a free pack they received from an in-game tournament
  - hood_syntax 9y ago
    I appreciate your reply, because sports games are actually something I have little to no experience with. I wasn't aware of the current trends in that area.

georgeecollins 9y ago

This is a great business, but typically game companies don't make good startups. They are typically about cultivating teams that can create compelling content, and not defensible technology. They typically don't need capital as much as they need talent.