Exploring Independence: The Pros and Cons of Flashbulb Games – Gamereactor Insights

Flashbulb Games: Navigating Independence in the Gaming Industry

Trailmakers stands out for its unparalleled freedom, allowing players to design and build everything from spacecraft to submarines. This open-world game enables exploration from outer space to the ocean depths.

For Flashbulb Games,the Danish developers behind Trailmakers,this freedom extends to their creative process,a liberty that comes with its own set of challenges.

From University Beginnings to Microsoft Acquisition

Ole Teglbjærg, co-founder of Flashbulb Games, recounts the studio’s journey. Initially known as Press Play,the company’s roots trace back to Roskilde University,where Teglbjærg initially studied journalism before switching to programming where he met future co-founders Rune Dittmer and Mikkel Thorsted.

Press Play initially focused on internet advertising and contract work. Teglbjærg recalls thinking,”If this is the case,than I don’t want to be a self-employed person. I might potentially be my own boss,but that won’t make me happy at all.”

The studio secured a pivotal agreement with DR (Denmark National Public service Broadcasting Corporation) to develop online games for children. This led to Max & the magic Marker, the studio’s first major success. This creative platformer, like Trailmakers, emphasized freedom and creativity, allowing players to draw objects with magic crayons to aid Max in his journey.

max and the Magic Marker was released in 2010, followed by Max: The Curse of Brotherhood. The latter became a launch title for Microsoft’s Xbox One,a result of Microsoft’s acquisition of Press Play.

the Highs and Lows of Independence

A meaningful challenge for self-reliant studios is navigating the competitive sales landscape, particularly against established giants like Minecraft. Teglbjærg notes that this competition has previously led to studio closures. Flashbulb Games strategically focused on influencers to market Trailmakers.

“Influencers are at the heart of everything we do. it also means we have created some systems early on in order to work strategically with influencers,” Teglbjærg stated, highlighting the importance of influencer marketing.

This strategy proved effective, garnering ample attention for Trailmakers during its 2018 Early Access launch. The game officially launched on PC and Xbox One the following year, later arriving on PlayStation. With over 5 million players, Trailmakers achieved considerable success. Though, the studio recognized that it “won’t become Minecraft after all,” leading them to diversify with projects like Rubber Bandits, a physics-based party game released in late 2021.

Creative Control and Pricing Challenges

Teglbjærg emphasizes that independence allows for closer relationships with influencers and fans. Though, marketing their own games presented challenges. Regarding Rubber Bandits, Teglbjærg admits they initially “Screw the price of Rubber Bandits.”

Priced around €17 at launch, the game’s cost was deemed too high, especially given that it is best enjoyed with multiple players. Consequently, Rubber Bandits received a price cut.

“One of the things we learned at Microsoft is that in many cases, they aren’t obviously much better. They just have more money.”

Despite initial pricing issues, rubber Bandits gained traction by being available on Xbox Game Pass from day one. Teglbjærg expressed satisfaction with their presence on the subscription service.

“Microsoft got it on the first day of Game Pass, and the fees are pretty high. of course, it’s a good argument for why it makes sense. Then you can always try to guess how much it cannibalize your sales. Another reason why it makes sense to post on Game Pass is that there are quite a few players in our servers. This means that if you want to play with other people,the waiting time is pretty short.”

Nordisk Games and Creative Freedom

Flashbulb Games is currently owned by Nordisk Games, a subsidiary of Egmont Group, alongside studios like Supermassive Games and Avalanche. Despite this, Flashbulb Games retains full creative control, independently releasing its games.This independence brings both advantages and challenges.

“One thing we learned at Microsoft is that in many cases, they aren’t obviously much better.They just have more money,” Teglbjærg noted. “I was very relieved when we started using Flashbulb again because suddenly there was a marketer in Seattle who thought this or that asset had to be a completely different color to sell our game. Now, it was more about following our hearts and believing in ourselves.”

A key difference is the elimination of formal microsoft processes, where milestones and creative decisions required multiple layers of approval. Teglbjærg explains that their advancement process is now smoother.

This streamlined process allows Flashbulb to regularly update its games. Trailmakers recently received its largest update to date on March 6. Titled Trailmakers – Pioneers, this free expansion adds a 10-hour campaign focused on resource collection, crafting, and battling against corporations.

This emphasis on making, mining, and survival draws parallels to Minecraft, a fitting irony given Flashbulb Games’ journey.

Conclusion

Flashbulb Games’ journey underscores the complex balancing act between creative freedom and commercial realities in the gaming industry. From their origins as Press Play to their current status under Nordisk Games, the studio has navigated the challenges of independence while maintaining a commitment to innovation.Their experience offers valuable lessons for aspiring game developers. Discover trailmakers and Rubber Bandits today, and experience the creativity firsthand.

How have independent advancement studios like Flashbulb Games maintained a balance between creative freedom and business viability?

Flashbulb Games: Navigating Independence in the Gaming Industry – An Interview

Today, we’re delighted to feature an exclusive interview with Ole Teglbjærg, Co-founder of Flashbulb Games, the innovative Danish studio behind the acclaimed game, Trailmakers. Ole shares his insights into the challenges and triumphs of maintaining independence in the competitive gaming landscape.

From Press Play to Flashbulb Games: The origin Story

Archyde: Ole, thank you for joining us. Flashbulb Games has a engaging history, starting as Press Play. Can you tell us about the early days and the transition to becoming an independent studio?

Ole Teglbjærg: Thanks for having me! Our journey began at Roskilde University where my co-founders and I met.Initially, Press Play dabbled in advertising, but our passion lay in creating games. The pivotal moment was securing a deal with DR to develop online games for children, wich led to our first big success, Max & the Magic Marker. After being acquired by Microsoft and later regaining our independence, we rebranded as flashbulb Games to fully embrace our vision of creative freedom.

The Independence advantage: Creative control and Innovation

Archyde: Trailmakers stands out for it’s amazing creative freedom. How has being an independent studio influenced the game’s development and yoru approach to innovation?

Ole Teglbjærg: Independence is absolutely crucial. It allows us to stay closely connected with our community, listen to their feedback, and iterate quickly. Games like Trailmakers, which thrive on player-driven creativity, demand this agility. Under Microsoft, we learned that larger entities, while possessing notable resources, can sometimes stifle innovation through excessive bureaucracy. Now, we can trust our instincts and focus on making the best game possible, without layers of approval.

Marketing Challenges: Competing with Gaming Giants

Archyde: Competing against established giants like Minecraft must be a daunting task. How has Flashbulb Games navigated the challenges of marketing Trailmakers and rubber Bandits in a crowded market?

Ole Teglbjærg: It’s definitely a David vs. Goliath scenario! we quickly realized the power of influencers. From the beginning, we developed systems to strategically engage with them. Their authentic enthusiasm for Trailmakers helped us reach a wide audience during our Early Access launch. For Rubber Bandits, we learned a valuable lesson about pricing. Initially, we priced it too high, but quickly adjusted based on community feedback and the exposure we got through Xbox Game pass. Being on Game Pass gave us a large player base, ensuring fast matchmaking and sustained engagement.

Ownership and Creative Freedom Under Nordisk Games

Archyde: Flashbulb Games is now owned by Nordisk Games. How does this ownership structure impact your creative freedom and day-to-day operations?

Ole Teglbjærg: Surprisingly little, actually! Nordisk Games truly values our creative autonomy. We still independently release our games and have the freedom to experiment and make key creative decisions. This arrangement provides us with the stability and resources of a larger organization without sacrificing our core values.

Pricing Strategies and Xbox Game Pass

Archyde: You mentioned the pricing adjustment for Rubber Bandits. Can you elaborate on the strategy behind pricing games and the benefits of being on Xbox Game Pass?

Ole Teglbjærg: Pricing is tricky, especially for multiplayer games. We learned that accessibility is key. Being on Xbox Game Pass from day one was a game-changer for Rubber Bandits. The fees are significant, but the immediate boost in player population is invaluable.It ensures a vibrant online community and increased visibility, which ultimately benefits the game’s long-term success even if it cannibalizes initial sales numbers.

Looking Ahead: the Future of Flashbulb Games

Archyde: What’s next for Flashbulb games? Are there any exciting projects on the horizon you can share with us?

Ole Teglbjærg: We’re always exploring new ideas and pushing the boundaries of creativity. We’re continuing to support Trailmakers with updates and exciting new content. We learned a lot from Rubber Bandits and are actively developing new concepts and looking forward to sharing our next creations soon!

A Final Thought: Staying True to Your Vision

Archyde: what advice would you give to aspiring game developers who dream of creating their own independent studios and how do you retain audience?

Ole Teglbjærg: I think my greatest advice would be to always trust your intincts and learn from your outcomes. In my experience it is better to create a bad games that is authentically yours, rather than to create a good game that doesn’t have you, your vision and passions at it’s core. Find what matters most to you when creating your games and double down on that.

Archyde: Ole, thank you so much for your time and insights. It’s been a pleasure learning about the journey of Flashbulb Games.

ole Teglbjærg: My pleasure. thanks for having me!

Readers, what are your thoughts on the importance of independence in the gaming industry? Share your comments below!