Golf
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Documents about Golf
Playing Will You Snail Mods (Anniversary Stream)
The indie platformer Will You Snail maintains a vibrant post-launch lifecycle through a robust community-driven modding scene.
- The developer is prioritizing the integration of Steam Workshop support for the level editor to streamline content distribution and improve accessibility for community-created mods.
- Community modders are utilizing the Undertale Modding Tool to manipulate the GameMaker architecture of Will You Snail, enabling significant gameplay overhauls like physics-based ball mechanics and time-dilation systems.
- The game has transitioned into a maintenance phase as the developer shifts focus toward new projects such as Thronefall, while still evaluating strategies to support the existing modding ecosystem.
TWIG #178 EA’s acquisition of Glu does not seem to be going according to the plan…
Electronic Arts’ acquisition of Glu Mobile faces significant performance challenges, as evidenced by a decline in the revenue and download metrics of key acquired titles.
- Electronic Arts’ acquisition of Glu Mobile is underperforming, as key titles including Golf Clash, Design Home, Covet Fashion, Kim Kardashian: Hollywood, and MLB Tap Sports show consistent declines in both revenue and user acquisition.
- While EA reported a 68 percent growth in mobile bookings for Q3 2022, this increase was driven by the consolidation of acquired portfolios rather than organic growth within the business.
- The integration of Glu assets is hindered by a significant exodus of leadership talent from the acquired studios, threatening the long-term viability of the portfolio.
Why EA Saw Decline in Mobile Revenue Despite Obtaining Big Hits Through Acquisitions
Electronic Arts experienced a significant decline in mobile revenue during early 2022 despite investing $3.5 billion in the acquisitions of Glu Mobile and Playdemic in 2021.
- Electronic Arts saw a 23% year-over-year decline in mobile revenue for the first quarter of 2022, despite a 22% increase in total downloads.
- In 2021, EA invested $3.5 billion to acquire Glu Mobile and Playdemic, yet all major acquired IPs—including Kim Kardashian: Hollywood and Golf Clash—experienced revenue declines post-acquisition.
- The primary cause of the performance decline is attributed to EA's decision to force the integration of acquired studios into its corporate structure rather than maintaining their autonomy.
Team17 Half Year Results 2021
Team17 achieved record financial performance during the first half of 2021, reporting revenues of £40.1 million.
- Team17 reported record H1 2021 revenues of £40.1 million, with 97% of total revenue derived from digital sales.
- The company’s back catalogue was the primary revenue driver, contributing £36.4 million to the total earnings.
- Profitability metrics showed strong growth, with gross profit rising 10% to £20.2 million and adjusted EBITDA increasing 9% to £16.2 million.
Zynga Reports Record-Breaking Revenue, Buys Golf Rival Developer StarLark
Zynga achieved record-breaking financial performance in the second quarter of 2021, reporting $720 million in revenue, a 59% increase year-over-year.
- Zynga reported record-breaking Q2 2021 revenue of $720 million, a 59% increase year-over-year.
- Zynga announced the acquisition of Chinese studio StarLark, developer of the mobile hit Golf Rival, for $525 million in a deal expected to close in Q4 2021.
- Zynga finalized its $250 million acquisition of Chartboost to bolster its mobile advertising and monetization capabilities.
GameMakers Games Radar
This industry update provides a snapshot of the mobile gaming landscape as of August 2021, focusing on major acquisitions, emerging trends in blockchain gaming, and the evolving discourse surrounding the metaverse.
- Zynga acquired the mobile game developer StarLark and its title 'Golf Rival' for $525 million, consisting of $315 million in cash and $210 million in common stock.
- Golf Rival is currently positioned as the second-largest mobile golf game, with Zynga management characterizing it as a casual, social-focused PvP experience.
- The acquisition valuation for StarLark reflects EBITDA multiples in the mid-to-high teens, consistent with the $1.4 billion acquisition of Playdemic by EA.
Consolidated Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2021
Nintendo Co., Ltd. reported its consolidated financial results for the first quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, covering the period from April 1, 2021, to June 30, 2021.
- Nintendo reported a year-over-year decline in Q1 FY2022, with net sales falling 9.9% to 322.6 billion yen and operating profit dropping 17.3% to 119.7 billion yen.
- Hardware sales for the Nintendo Switch platform decreased by 21.7% to 4.45 million units, while software sales fell 10.2% to 45.29 million units compared to the same period in 2020.
- Digital sales experienced a significant contraction of 24.9% year-over-year, totaling 75.9 billion yen for the quarter.
Plus: The Post-Summer Sale (Semi)-Rush of Game Hype
This analysis examines the state of game discovery and market performance following the Steam Summer Sale, focusing on upcoming releases and recent launches across Steam, Nintendo Switch, and Twitch.
- Construction and management sims are high-performing categories, evidenced by The Immortal Mayor securing over 15,000 followers and 150,000 wishlists prior to its July 2021 launch.
- Established franchises like F1 2021 maintain strong market momentum, building on a predecessor that achieved 20,000 Steam reviews and estimated lifetime sales of 500,000 to 1 million units.
- Marketing strategies involving free 'prologues' are effective for indie discovery, as demonstrated by the traction gained by SuchArt: Genius Artist Simulator.
Mobile Game Store Asset Optimization Trends 2021
Strategic store asset optimization is a critical driver for increasing conversion rates and reducing user acquisition costs in the mobile gaming industry.
- The release of iOS 15 in late 2021 introduced native A/B testing for up to 90 days and the ability to create 35 unique Custom Product Pages, enabling highly targeted audience acquisition.
- Top-performing publishers are aligning App Store screenshots and icons with high-performing ad creatives—such as Playrix and Nexters' 'Pull the Pin' ads—to reduce user acquisition costs and minimize conversion friction.
- Successful mobile game publishers treat store assets as dynamic marketing tools rather than static elements, frequently updating them to reflect seasonal events, anniversaries, and live operations.
The 2019 Experimental Gameplay Workshop
The 2019 Experimental Gameplay Workshop serves as a vital platform for exploring the boundaries of interactive design, advocating for a shift away from traditional genre conventions toward systems-driven, unconventional experiences.
- The 2019 Experimental Gameplay Workshop advocates for a shift from traditional genre-based progression loops toward systems-driven, unconventional design experiences.
- Innovation is driven by opportunistic learning, where designers transform daily observations, technical constraints, or unique physical properties into core gameplay mechanics.
- Successful experimental titles like 'Carto' and 'What the Golf?' demonstrate the value of deconstructing established mechanics, such as tile-based map manipulation and sports physics, through constant iteration.
iOS/Android/Steam Sales Case Study: Golf Peaks
This case study examines the sales performance and discoverability of the puzzle game Golf Peaks across iOS, Android, and Steam.
- Securing editorial featuring from platform holders is the primary driver of sales for premium mobile-first indie titles, with store features and updates consistently correlating to significant unit sales spikes.
- North American markets accounted for over 50% of total sales on both iOS and Android platforms for Golf Peaks between its November 2018 launch and late 2019.
- The developer recouped all development costs within one month of launch by maintaining a disciplined five-month development cycle and low operational costs.
Overview of the Current Mobile Sports & Racing Games Market
The mobile sports and racing games market represents a niche but stable segment of the broader gaming industry, accounting for slightly over 5% of in-app purchase (IAP) revenues in the United States as of early 2019.
- The Sports & Racing category is a niche segment of the mobile market, accounting for slightly over 5% of total in-app purchase (IAP) revenues in the US.
- Revenue in both genres is highly concentrated, with 'Golf Clash' (Sports) and 'CSR Racing 2' (Racing) each generating nearly 50% of their respective genre's total IAP revenue as of Q1 2019.
- Market dominance by established titles is increasing; 'Golf Clash' grew its revenue share by nearly 12% and 'CSR Racing 2' by 9.5% year-over-year.
Companies behind it
As the documents state it.