Arkadium Games has done as other indie developers do and created its own publishing label. Its titular "Publishing Fund 1" will provide $1 million worth of financial support and resources to third-party studios of casual web games.The developer is so confident in what it can provide that it's also guaranteeing partners will have one million game starts in the first 90 days of their game's launch.Development director Dan Butchko noted how the fund builds on its 'Arkadium for Developers' program launched this past April. He added that AFP1 has "even more support for game developers to succeed on browser.""This is the next step in our continuing growth as the leader of the browser-based game sector as we build the world's best gaming platform …
Riot Games scrapped an unannounced fighter codenamed Pool Party in May 2024 after executives became concerned it would struggle to win over consumers.That's according to a new report from journalist Mikhail Klimentov, who spoke with current and former Riot employees familiar with the situation.It's claimed around 70 to 80 staffers were developing the project, which was envisioned as a platformer-brawler set in the League of Legends universe. The project took some cues from Nintendo's flagship Super Smash Bros. franchise and was viewed by Riot as a means to bolster its presence in the esports scene.Riot reportedly pitched the title as a hardcore fighter, but eventually shifted the goalposts to incorporate party game mechanics and more casual elements. Those changes reportedly…
Nonprofit Global Game Jam (GGJ) announced Maria Burns Ortiz has been confirmed as the organization's new executive director. Director of partnerships Charly Harboard is leaving the group, after serving as the interim leader since former executive director Tim Cullings stepped down in February.Burns Ortiz comes to the group with plenty of accolades: she was a co-founder and CEO at 7 Generation Games, has extensive experience in the educational game space, and has taught at universities such as Tufts and Emerson College in Boston, and the Loft Literary Center.“I deeply believe in the transformative power of video games and that game development should be accessible to anyone anywhere,” Burns Ortiz said. “It is an honor to lead Global Game Jam, an organization that embodies that mi…