Why the time for Broadcast Games is now

So big news!

Broadcast Games has been announced which is our new game development studio co-founded with Dimitri Mitchell and Emmalyn Rynard. We’re about 6 months old and on track to our first game release into Early Access later this year. The funny thing is, I really wasn’t planning on building a new studio at the start of the year, particularly with the present state of the game industry. It actually seemed a little nuts. It turns out it's actually a great time to be starting a new studio, but with a bit of a different twist. Here are my big three bets that have set us forward as a studio.

First off, we’re not just building a game studio, we are building an entertainment company that recognizes the full ecosystem of modern game development. Simply releasing a game alone isn't enough anymore. Competition demands that validating the game concept, testing it against your market, building a community and awareness around the game, and most importantly determining why it's worth being picked up by streamers is just as important as the game development itself. Because we all know, streamers are the new distribution channels for game awareness. So if that is the case, should we not be building that into our game designs?… something that is as much fun to watch as it is to play? That’s one thing we are doing all the way through development, considering what makes our games fun to play and fun to watch. Because every watcher can then become a player.

Secondly, in considering the fully evolved ecosystem of game development today I recognized something pretty clearly. It’s finally time for a television-like model for video games. It's time for intentional short-form games that do not have deep time commitments or ‘live service’ retention but are simply meant to be played over a weekend and then move on. So for cheaper than a movie ticket you and your friends can jump in and have a bit of chaotic comedy fun over the weekend and that's it. Our development is focused on making this a sustainable business model for low budget premium productions.

Finally, I also recognize the timing and rise of friendslop games that is a very clear statement from players. Friendslop is a fantastic genre presently for our television-like model intentions. I see it similar to reality television, where people are drawn to the authentic reactions of people but as seen from the unexpectedness of novel situations. Fun to play. Fun to watch. And the ‘sloppy’ aspect suits the television-like production of content designed for novelty and game play variety rather than long term retention. AAA can be our Hollywood. Friendslop can be our cable television. The more the better for players

So this is my focus with the studio. To pursue a new model of game development that is closer in kin to television production. To build in the symbiotic relationship of player and viewer as core to our games, and finally, to piggy back on the rise of friendslop to help establish our vision into a sustainable game development studio. And this is where we'll hit our stride. Where player created stories are the true entertainment deliverable and the measured value in what we create.

That’s me! Stay tuned for lots of news and content that will be coming your way as we lead up to our game announcement and eventual release that will bring these words into a clear manifestation of our vision.

Written by Ken Thain, President and Co-Founder of Broadcast Games