101. Jenny Xu's Grit Diary: Lessons From Building A Fitness Game For GenZ
Dec 12, 2023
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CEO of Talofa Games, Jenny Xu, discusses her journey in the gaming industry and the creation of their unique fitness RPG game, Run Legends. They dive into the details of Run Legends, aiming to surpass existing fitness gaming options. Learn more about the fitness habits and preferences of Gen Z, and what it takes to create a game experience for GenZ.
Perseverance and resilience are key in the gaming industry, as staying committed to one's goals can lead to positive outcomes.
Creating a successful fitness game requires merging gaming with fitness in a fun and engaging way, while addressing barriers and creating an inclusive experience for all users.
Deep dives
Staying in the game and pushing through challenges
The speaker reflects on the theme of their career, which is staying in the game long enough for something lucky to happen. They share personal experiences of wanting to quit multiple times but persevering and experiencing positive outcomes right after reaching their breaking point. They emphasize the importance of pushing through pain and sadness, as there will eventually be a moment when it all becomes worthwhile. They encourage listeners to stay committed to their goals and not give up.
The journey of starting Tarofai Games
The speaker discusses their journey of starting Tarofai Games, sharing their background as an independent game developer and their experience with their previous company, JCSoft Inc. They mention their accomplishments, such as winning a contest sponsored by Niantic and having 10 titles with over 9 million downloads. They introduce Tarofai Games as a co-op fitness RPG company and explain the inspiration behind the name. They also highlight the importance of bringing people together through wholesome social games.
Creating a fitness RPG and challenges faced
The speaker explains the vision behind Tarofai Games' fitness RPG, Run Legends. They discuss the desire to merge gaming with fitness and create a game that is fun and engaging, making people forget they are working out. They emphasize the importance of rewarding consistency rather than focusing solely on skill or speed. The speaker also addresses the challenges faced in motivating people to download and engage with fitness apps, and highlights the need to address barriers to entry and create a relatable and inclusive experience for all users.
The role of the CEO and future goals
The speaker reflects on their role as the CEO of Tarofai Games, sharing the evolution of their understanding and responsibilities. They discuss the challenges and excitement of recent fundraising efforts and the need to bring in new team members while ensuring cultural and skill fit. The speaker highlights the importance of setting a clear vision, making key decisions, managing finances, and being the company's biggest advocate. They also express their aspirations for the future, hoping to create a game that becomes a household name and seeing people playing their game in public.
This episode is about the inspiring journey of a resilient young entrepreneur, who is committed to cracking the puzzle of fitness to mobile games for GenZ.
In this episode, we interview Jenny Xu, the CEO of Talofa Games, to discuss her journey in the gaming industry and the creation of their unique fitness RPG game, Run Legends.
Jenny shares her background in the industry, including her previous solo-founded company, JC Soft Inc., and being part of the Niantic Kickstarter Program leading to the creation of Talofa Games.
We dive into the details of Run Legends, a co-op fitness RPG game that combines modern gaming with fitness, aiming to surpass existing fitness gaming options. Learn more about the fitness habits and preferences of Gen Z, and what it takes to create a game experience for GenZ.