Let the Games Begin: ModSquad at PAX South and Beyond
As we kick off a new year, we asked one of our veteran gaming experts, SVP, Global Operations Rich Weil, about what he sees on the gaming horizon as he prepares for PAX South in San Antonio, Texas, on January 18–20. Here’s what he has to say:
In thinking about the year ahead, it’s always humbling to reflect on the privilege I’ve had working with the game industry yet another year. Throughout ModSquad’s history, we’ve always worked closely with many of the top companies in the video game industry, and we’ve been there for all of the advancements and breakthroughs in the industry over the years.
2019 marks my ninth year working for ModSquad and my fourteenth year working with the video game industry. When I started, MMOs ruled the landscape and no one had heard of a MOBA or a battle royale game. Like any tech-driven industry, today’s hot new development becomes old hat in a few short years, and players are always hungry for the next big thing.
In 2019, the next big thing may be coming to your door faster than you’d expect. I expect to see shorter release cycles for new games, which doesn’t leave as much time for marketing to build up hype for the game. But we’ve seen other industries like music, film, and streaming try this angle with success; the stunned reactions that the announcement of an imminent release can create equals lots of good publicity. Also this year, look for the trend of game company consolidations and acquisitions to continue unabated. And we’ll likely see more major players (excuse the pun) from the Asian market expanding their operations in the West, which to me is a win-win for everyone, with increased markets and expanded options for players.
It’s imperative to keep up with the rapid pace of change in this field, and many industry veterans will be the first to acknowledge that it’s tough to predict what’s going to strike a chord with players. That’s why it’s always been important to be able to adapt to the ever-changing gaming landscape, to have the ability to quickly adjust to opportunities and problems.
I’m proud that ModSquad has been a part of helping game companies like Konami, Wooga, Zynga, and Hutch Games make smart yet fast-paced adjustments for the past 11 years. We work with our clients to be proactive in addressing player and gaming trends and technology, and we’re looking forward to another year of partnering with the best organizations in the game industry to provide optimal player experiences, from QA testing to customer support, moderation, social media, and other player-facing services.
And that brings to mind another ModSquad constant for 2019. As always, we’ll be attending many of the awesome game-related conferences in the new year, starting off with PAX South in San Antonio, Texas, on January 18-20. We’d love to have the chance to chat about ModSquad’s digital engagement services and game industry expertise, if you’ll be in the area as well.
I hope our paths cross in 2019 — at PAX South, another game conference, or even online. If you’re attending the show, let’s meet! Otherwise, feel free to drop me a line!
Rich Weil
SVP, Global Operations