DCM Ventures’ Post

Reforged Labs (YC W22) has raised $3.9 million in seed funding to transform gaming ads with GenAI. Player acquisition is crucial for game studios but has always been challenging and costly. Marketing is a major hurdle, with video ads being key but difficult to manage due to ad fatigue, rising costs, and complex testing. Founded by Robert Huynh and Oscar Xing Luo, Reforge Labs launched in February to address this problem with an AI-powered platform that simplifies and speeds up ad creation and optimization. Reforge helps studios produce high-quality video ads quickly by automating ideation, storyboarding, and development, allowing developers to create new ads in minutes rather than days or weeks. Pilot customers have already seen significant improvements in ad creation speed, reduced feedback loops, and increased click-through rates and returns on ad spend. The company plans to expand its technology to support more game companies and enhance its AI capabilities, aiming to be an essential tool for game marketing. Congrats Robert, Oscar, and team on the round! https://lnkd.in/gS7MhPa4

Atomic Scaler Case Study: Zynga $0 - $12.7 Billion acquisition Revolutionizing Gaming Through Data In the dawn of social media, when Facebook was just finding its footing, Zynga emerged as a game-changer in the truest sense. Founded in 2007, this social gaming company would go on to redefine the industry, culminating in a staggering $12.7 billion acquisition by Take-Two Interactive in May 2022. The Data-Driven Revolution Zynga's journey began in an era where game design was more art than science. While competitors relied on gut instinct, Zynga's founding team, including Andrew Trader and Mark Pincus, placed their bets on analytics. Their mantra? "If you cannot measure something, don't do it." This philosophy led to a unique hiring strategy. Instead of just game designers, Zynga brought in analytical minds from finance and consulting. The result? A team where everyone, from the CEO down, had their eyes fixed on metrics. And then came, FarmVille, Zynga's flagship game, which became a petri dish for data-driven decision making. Consider this: Less than 2% of FarmVille users make in-game purchases 98% of users are monetized through advertising User acquisition costs range from $8 to $50 per player In this landscape, user retention became crucial. Zynga's solution? Track every user action meticulously. When Zynga noticed players enjoying interactions with decorative animals, they transformed these digital creatures into a revenue stream. Players could now purchase virtual animals with real money, turning pixels into profit. The Buildable Breakthrough Zynga's data analysis revealed a fascinating trend in games like FrontierVille: Players wouldn't pay to start building virtual items As they neared completion, willingness to pay increased dramatically. Players would pay for completion, not progress. Armed with this insight, Zynga crafted "buildables" that were easy to start but challenging to finish without a purchase. This strategy perfectly aligned with user behavior, boosting monetization. Zynga's commitment to measurement was revolutionary. Before launch, every game had to have: 1. Clearly defined metrics 2. Systems in place to track these metrics 3. Rigorous testing of analytics tracking As Roy Sehgal, former VP and GM, put it: "We would delay a launch if we could not properly track the metrics." Zynga's data-driven approach transformed the entire gaming industry: Shifting the industry from gut-based decisions to data-driven strategies and influenced game design to incorporate analytics from the ground up. Today, Zynga's treasure trove of data, accumulated over years of meticulous tracking, is one of its most valuable assets. By embracing data in a world that hadn't yet realized its potential, Zynga didn't just predict the future of gaming, they helped create it. Want to read the in-depth version of this + 17 more case studies? Grab a copy of Atomic Scaling, link in my Featured Section.

At Patron we believe that now is the best time to be building the next wave of consumer startups. There is an entire generation of consumers that have grown up on immersive and interactive products like Minecraft, Roblox, and League of Legends. This audience isn't biased in the same way to using products made by the last wave on consumer companies like Google, Facebook, companies that have built massive businesses by aggregating attention and selling user data and advertising. We believe that new technologies can power new consumer products which re-think from the ground up what it means to use the internet to do anything and everything online, and to connect with the people that matter most to us.

During a routine product launch, a marketing team faced an unexpected challenge when their main advertising platform underwent a sudden update, rendering their planned campaign incompatible. Instead of panicking, the team quickly regrouped to brainstorm alternative strategies. They decided to leverage a multi-channel approach, rapidly adapting their assets for use across different platforms including social media and email marketing. This pivot not only saved the launch but also reached a broader audience than originally planned. The quick thinking and adaptive problem-solving displayed by the team turned a potential disaster into a successful marketing campaign with increased customer engagement. Our Accelium platform is a game-based platform that offers a suite of strategy games designed to enhance your team's cognitive skills. Through engaging and interactive gameplay, participants can sharpen their decision-making abilities, improve problem-solving skills, and foster innovative thinking. These games challenge users to think critically and adapt quickly, reflecting real-world business scenarios that require tactical agility and foresight. Develop your team's problem-solving skills through the power of game-based learning, by reaching out to us marketing@simurise.com or connect with Shweta - 0845-208-4442 / Karan - 0932-498-0145. #Accelium #AcceliumPlus ##LearningJourney

🤖 First Successful Case with 100% AI-Generated Creative? 🚀 1.5M paid impressions in 2 months of Facebook UA for IGG’s midcore RPG #Doomsday This creative is stunning and fits perfectly into the game’s setting, in my opinion. 🎮 Recently, I conducted market research in the #4XStrategy/ #Midcore genre, analyzing top approaches used by industry leaders. 🧐 In 90% of cases, the famous #slingshot or #gate approach dominates: characters multiply their numbers, upgrade weapons, or gain boosts as they pass through gates - only to face a boss and fail dramatically. This method is eye-catching and so effective that top games like Evony by Top Games Inc. and Last War by First Fun build their FTUE around it. This turns misleading creatives into real gameplay, solving the expectation gap problem. A Different Approach to Doomsday This creative also uses a form of misleading strategy, but it’s more of a meta-mislead. Here’s why: 🎥 The AI-generated video captures the feeling of gameplay: building, developing, and managing a post-apocalyptic shelter. It mirrors how players allocate resources, upgrade weapons, and explore the dangerous world, even if the game looks different. 🧠 The AI style is familiar and distinct, so viewers immediately recognize it’s not actual gameplay but more like a captivating trailer. This avoids visual dissonance and draws players into the atmosphere rather than the visuals. Why This Works: According to Mistplay’s report, the #2 reason players download games is eye-catching visuals. This creative nails that task. 🎨 After watching, I felt genuinely curious to check the game in the store, explore the ASO content, read reviews, and dive into the world presented. And it seems Facebook users feel the same way: 📈 This creative ranked in the Top 5 most-viewed paid ads for Doomsday in the last 30 days (AppMagic data). 🧐 This is the first time I’ve seen such a successful, fully AI-generated ad. What about you? Have you worked with AI creatives successfully? Let’s discuss it! 👇 #AICreatives #MobileGames #UserAcquisition #Gamedev #CreativeMarketing

We scaled Warped Games' social presence by 8x in just 30 days. How? Two foundational marketing elements most overlook 👇 Warped Universe is a groundbreaking Web3 gaming project with innovative mechanics that was struggling to break through the digital noise. They had an incredible project with: ✔️Multiple game modes ✔️Player-driven progression ✔️Blockchain integration But they were struggling with visibility... In a saturated market, how does a lean startup with a revolutionary product cut through the clutter? Most teams blast generic content everywhere, hoping something magically sticks. Our solution? We implemented a two-step strategy. ✌️ First, we deeply researched WHO would genuinely love this game. Second, we created content that spoke directly to them and showcased the best aspects of the game. That’s how we were able to: 👯 Build an organic audience 🤩 Create genuine excitement 👀 Position Warped Universe as a must-watch project Want to transform your marketing strategy and aim for the same results? DM us the word "GROWTH" and let's talk!

Great read! This partnership between PlayersTV and Cloud Media Centre will not only take athletes’ brands to the next level in terms of being more personalized with their storytelling towards fans, but will also pave the way for new advertising and sponsorship opportunities for athletes. 

🎮 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Retention is the key to sustaining the success of any mobile game. But how do you craft ads that don’t just drive installs but also keep players engaged long after download? Here’s your retention-friendly ad guide: 🚀 𝟭. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗵 Highlight features that evolve over time, like unlockable levels, character upgrades, or multiplayer modes. Players are more likely to stick around if they see the game has long-term value. Example: Show the journey from beginner challenges to advanced mastery. 🎯 𝟮. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 Build ads that connect with players emotionally. Use storytelling to showcase moments of achievement, competition, or collaboration. Emotional resonance can inspire deeper engagement. Example: A heartfelt narrative of a player beating a tough level with friends. 🧩 𝟯. 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 Social interaction is a major retention driver. Ads that highlight guilds, leaderboards, or co-op play encourage players to stay for the connections they build. Example: “Join your friends in conquering the ultimate quest!” 🔄 𝟰. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 Retention thrives on consistent player motivation. Ads should emphasize progression systems, daily rewards, and achievements to show players what they can accomplish over time. Example: “Log in every day to unlock exclusive treasures!” 📊 𝟱. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Avoid clickbait. Accurately represent your game’s mechanics and pacing in your ads to attract players genuinely interested in long-term play. Misleading ads lead to churn. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁? Do you have a winning strategy for building long-term retention in your game ads? Share your thoughts below! 💡 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗳𝘂𝗹: 1️⃣ Connect with me Ratul Rahman for more actionable gaming ad tips. 2️⃣ Comment your insights—let's build better ads together! ⚠️ Disclaimer: Used Image generated by AI and is for illustration purposes only.