Beyond Blockbusters: The Growing Influence of Non-AAA Games
In an industry dominated by blockbuster AAA titles, could the future of gaming lie in the hands of smaller, more innovative developers? As the gaming market soars toward a projected US$363.20 billion by 2027, non-AAA games are carving out a significant niche. Market insights from Statista indicating an annual growth rate of 8.76% between 2024 and 2027, hinting at vast opportunities for these emerging players. One indicator of this shift is the growth of indie games. According to Konvoy, citing a VG Insights report, indie games accounted for 31% of Steam’s revenue in 2023, up from 25% in 2018. This achievement is particularly notable considering the release of numerous high-quality AAA games in 2023, which traditionally held most gamers’ interest. What Draws Players to non-AAA Games From the outset, indie or non-AAA game developers have carved a distinct niche in the gaming landscape. Unlike their AAA counterparts, who often focus on established IPs through sequels and established formulas, non-AAA developers take a more creative and experimental approach. They prioritize: Unique Gameplay Mechanics: Non-AAA developers are fearless in breaking common practice and experimenting with innovative gameplay mechanics. These can range from fresh takes on existing genres to entirely new concepts that push the boundaries of interactivity. This focus on originality keeps gameplay engaging and avoids the feeling of repetitive experiences often associated with sequels. Compelling Narratives: While not every non-AAA game boasts a sprawling narrative, those that do often present unique and captivating stories. Unburdened by the pressure to cater to established franchises, non-AAA developers can explore diverse themes and storytelling techniques, resulting in fresh, impactful narratives that resonate with players. Artistic Innovation: Non-AAA developers often have more creative freedom regarding art style and visual design. This freedom can lead to visually stunning games that push the boundaries of what’s possible or offer unique aesthetics that wouldn’t be possible within the constraints of a major franchise. A report by Newzoo highlights a trend of overlapped players engaging with breakout titles featuring new IPs. This trend demonstrates gamers’ willingness to embrace “next big thing” titles. Notably, the Action RPG genre has emerged as a consistently popular choice among gamers, steadily increasing total playtime. The report also identifies the top 10 games with the highest Monthly Active Users (MAUs) in 2023. The results reveal that games offering diverse gameplay experiences are crucial to retaining gamer engagement. Agate’s Expertise in Indie and AA Game Development https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/256980998/movie480_vp9.webm?t=1709114510 Regarding action games with unique gameplay, Agate is a co-developer of RIFTSTORM. RIFTSTORM is a Multiplayer Roguelite Shooter featuring, challenging dungeons, and high replayability for solo and up to 3-player co-op. RIFTSTORM has successfully completed two pre-alpha tests, receiving positive feedback from players. Explore Agate’s involvement in more detail here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqYrIkYTong Agate also boasts extensive experience crafting games that deliver varied experiences. In 2023, Agate joined as a Global Growth Development Partner of ZEPETO (Naver Z), a 3D avatar creation app and virtual world platform. Agate’s role in this partnership centers on enriching ZEPETO’s “World” content. We created BFF Signal, a game that revolved around the art of creating profiles, exploring others’ profiles, and discovering potential BFFs through engaging quizzes. See our involvement here. Choosing the Right Partner Agate brings this focus to the table as a development partner. We understand the importance of innovation and fresh ideas in indie and AA games. Creating exceptional games often requires a collaborative effort, leveraging the unique strengths of different teams. The gaming landscape is undergoing a transformation, with non-AAA games gaining increasing prominence. Their focus on innovation, fresh experiences, and diverse gameplay elements resonates with a growing segment of gamers. As an experienced game developer with a proven track record in indie and AA-scale game development, Agate is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend and deliver unique gaming experiences for a wider audience. From initial ideation to the final product, Agate offers collaborative opportunities for developers seeking to craft exceptional games together. The landscape for game development in Southeast Asia just got a significant boost with the Indonesian government’s recent issuance of Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 19 of 2024. This regulation signifies increased support for developers in the region and opens exciting new avenues for the industry’s growth. With 15 years of experience navigating the ever-evolving landscape of Southeast Asia, we’re perfectly positioned to be your partner in this exciting new chapter. Our deep understanding of the regional market allows us to help you tailor your game for maximum impact, reaching Indonesian players and the wider Southeast Asian audience. Do you want to bring your ideas or existing IP into a fully developed video game? Look no further than Agate! Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today and learn more about how we can help you take your project to exceptional heights.
Ready for Lift-Off: Vertx Break Aims for Global Opportunities in 2024
“Throughout 2023, we restructured our internal team, devised innovative internal training plans, and development systems. Now, Vertx Break, is ready for global projects in 2024.” – Ar Cahyadi Indra, Head of Vertx Break powered by Agate ————————— Last month, Agate was thrilled to introduce Vertx Break, Agate’s new sub-brand focusing on offering game-ready 3D Stylized Art for AA Game Developers. This time, we’d like to delve deeper into the dynamics of art services development at Agate over the past year and our targets for 2024 from the perspective of Ar Cahyadi Indra, Head of Vertx Break powered by Agate. About Ar Cahyadi Indra Adi, as he usually called by his teammates, graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering from Universitas Indonesia. His passion for technology and game development continued to thrive, leading him to embark on a career at Agate. His journey at Agate began in 2015 as a Jr. Game Programmer, swiftly climbing the ranks to become a Game Programmer within a year. During his tenure, Adi played a pivotal role in project development, notably contributing to the creation one of Agate’s flagship games at the time, Metal Brave Arena 76, an action-packed solo gaming experience where players construct powerful robots to conquer galactic battles. In his capacity, Adi’s involvement encompassed various facets of game development, including game design, logic, rendering optimization, the integration of key game systems, and the implementation of technical art solutions. The User Interface of Metal Brave Arena 76 Recognizing Adi’s proficiency in technical art and leadership skills, Agate promoted him to Head of the Art Department in 2021. In this role, Adi was tasked with building the Art Department from scratch, including recruitment processes, devising growth plans for team members, and financial planning. Additionally, Adi actively represented Agate at numerous events, providing valuable insights into the gaming industry. By the end of 2022, as Agate expanded into new business areas such as art services, Adi’s impressive track record and skills prompted Agate to name him as the Head of Vertx Break powered by Agate. As he moved into this new position in early 2023, Adi worked hard to adapt and ensure optimal productivity for Agate and its partners. Now, he is here to share his reflection on 2023 and outline ambitious goals for Vertx Break in 2024. Q: Could you tell us the excitement and highlights of 2023? A: 2023 was certainly transformative for me as the Head of Art division, necessitating continuous learning and innovation. Throughout the year, we focused on restructuring our team to align with the art services business. By adopting modern pipelines and flexibility, we successfully managed diverse A-AA projects, ensuring that our services met our clients’ visions and industry standards. Q: Could you tell us about some exciting projects you worked on in 2023? A: Our team internally developed the concept to create stylized buildings using only real-life photos as references. We preserved iconic silhouettes and key elements, ensuring seamless alignment with the project’s stylized art direction. Despite challenges, the Vertx Break team’s collective efforts and ingenuity led to successful project completion! Q: Could you tell us about your thoughts after the unveiling of Vertx Break powered by Agate last month? A: Following the introduction of Vertx Break last month, I feel incredibly proud and excited about the direction we’re heading in 2024. Vertx Break, our latest sub-brand, is dedicated to providing top-tier, game-ready 3D Stylized Art specifically designed for AA game developers. This launch underscores Agate’s position as a trusted global game development partner, committed to seizing opportunities in the global market. Our team is ready and equipped to collaborate closely with clients, helping them bring their artistic visions to life with optimized assets. Furthermore, Vertx Break elevates Agate’s internal art standards, facilitates knowledge sharing, and fosters collaboration with art teams in diverse business segments. Vertx Break’s role extends beyond our efforts to seek opportunities in the global market. We believe that Vertx Break will play a crucial role in Agate’s continued commitment to nurturing the Indonesian gaming industry’s ecosystem, as Agate has done over the past (nearly) 15 years. Q: As we move forward into 2024, what are your hopes and goals for this year? A: We hope the Vertx Break team will make significant contributions to exciting projects and play a key role in advancing 3D art in Indonesia’s gaming industry. We are also set to introduce innovative strategies in our training and internal growth systems, aimed to refine and elevate our team’s technical abilities. This initiative is designed to keep us at the forefront of competitiveness and to ensure we bring additional value to our partner’s projects. Eager to develop amazing 3D Stylized Art for your unforgetable stories? Craft together with Vertx Break powered by Agate
Fueling Progress: Agate Confident in Leading Gamification Services in Indonesia
”With continuous framework development, market education, and internal improvement, we aim to lead gamification services in Indonesia in 2024”. – Junialdi Dwijaputra, Head of the Level Up powered by Agate.————————— January marks a period of exciting possibilities for leaders at Agate. Engaging in thorough meetings, our leaders assess the previous year’s achievements and strategically plan objectives for the upcoming year — among them is Junialdi Dwijaputra, Head of Level Up powered by Agate, who has recently been immersed in this strategic planning phase. About Junialdi A lifelong learner, who is usually called Jun by his teammates, began his professional journey with a degree in geophysical engineering in the mining field before transitioning into the technology and subsequently, the gaming industry. Jun starts his role as product manager at Agate, specifically within the gamification division. His duties encompassed designing the product roadmap, identifying and understanding the challenges faced by prospective users, and maintaining ongoing coordination with the game development team. One of the standout projects he managed is Batique, Indonesia’s First Game Designed for Child Uniqueness Assessment. Far from being merely a “game,” Batique’s assessment questions adhere to standards validated by the Department of Psychology at Universitas Gadjah Mada. Batique revolutionized the perception of assessments from a mundane task to an engaging activity, making it easier for children who were hesitant to engage with psychologists to have a novel assessment experience. During his tenure as product manager, Jun has shown remarkable resilience, diligence, an intense desire to learn, and superior quality, culminating in his appointment as the Head of Level Up powered by Agate. Junialdi is here to present the accomplishments of 2023 and establish the expectations for 2024. Q: Could you tell us the excitement and highlights of 2023? A: 2023 was full of lessons, opportunities, and achievements. Our primary objective during this period was to revitalize the gamification division. Throughout the year, we embraced the challenge of supporting seven partners from diverse industries, each with unique backgrounds. This required us to stay constantly updated with the evolving business landscapes of these sectors. Q: Could you tell us about some exciting projects you worked on in 2023? A: Well, actually, we worked on several interesting projects in 2023, but I’ll tell you about the two projects that left the most significant impression on me. Junialdi Dwijaputra, Head of the Level Up powered by Agate at the Tech in Asia Conference 2023 First, we rebranded our gamification services with the new title, ‘Level Up Your Business,’ to demonstrate our commitment to providing innovative business solutions through gamification while focusing on global partnerships. Our goal is to enhance business performance using gamification. The User Interface of Eraversary Pop Quiz Another remarkable project was developing the Eraversary Pop Quiz game for the 27th Anniversary celebration of Erajaya Group. This project left a lasting impression as the game we created had a significant impact on the success of the partner’s event. When our Pop Quiz was integrated into Erajaya’s platform named Eraspace, we successfully boosted user traffic by over 50%. As a result, our partner gave us a project satisfaction rating of 8/10. Kudos to all the members of the Level Up powered by Agate team who were involved! Q: As we move forward into 2024, what are your hopes and goals for this year? We are highly optimistic that in 2024, we can take the lead in the gamification service industry in Indonesia. This achievement will be realized through the implementation of a research-backed Level Up Framework and market education via the ‘Level Up Your Business’ webinar series. Additionally, we will strengthen strategic partnerships and continuously improve internally for optimal efficiency and value delivery. Ready to take your business to new heights with Agate? Contact us now for exclusive details!.
