102. Inside Bombay Play: Bringing Hyper Social Games From India To The World

🇮🇳 SPECIAL INDIA SERIES 🇮🇳

In this episode, we are joined by Oliver Jones, CEO and co-founder of Bombay Play, one of the leading gaming studios in Bengaluru, India. Oliver shares his journey in the gaming industry before founding Bombay Play, from working at Zynga and Glu to founding his first company Moonfrog Labs (acquired for USD 90 million by Stillfront in 2021).

Oliver talks about the booming gaming ecosystem in India and how companies like Zynga and EA established their studios in the country to leverage local talent. He shares how Moonfrog Labs, his first startup, focused on creating content for the Indian market and eventually gained traction leading to the acquisition by Stillfront.

We dive into the challenges and successes of building a gaming company in India, including the importance of bootstrapping, building a strong team, and focusing on a specific genre. Oliver shares insights on their strategy of creating card games with a social casino twist, targeting a gap in the market. Oliver emphasizes the importance of quick iterations, adapting to the market, and taking bold bets in game development.

Check Bombay Play's latest title ⁠Block Heads⁠ (a Duel Puzzle Game) in Soft Launch.

Topics Discussed:

- The gaming ecosystem in India

- Building Moonfrog Labs and Bombay Play

- Bootstrapping and generating revenue

- Focusing on specific genres

- Cultural differences and working culture in India

- Creating a purpose-driven culture

- Quick iterations and adapting to the market

- The future of the Indian gaming market

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