Monthly Archives

December 2016

Galatron Launches on Facebook Instant Games

By | Announcements, Games, HTML5, Instant Games, Tech | No Comments

facebook_horizontal_banner001Galatron, BVG’s fast-paced space shooter, launches today on Facebook Messenger’s Instant Games platform.

Galatron puts players in the pilot’s seat of the Valkyrie: a sleek, powerful starfighter with the most advanced weaponry in the fleet. It’s up to you as pilot to blast through waves of alien ships, dodge devastating meteors and battle epic bosses in a quest to save the galaxy. Players can upgrade their weapons, customize their ships and rack up bonuses for obliterating whole waves of invaders as they work to achieve high scores and climb the ranks in order to become the best fighter pilot of all.

Play Galatron HTML5 Instant Gaming Big Viking Games

Galatron coming to Facebook Messenger’s Instant Gaming platform means that you can play the game right now: on any device where you’re already using Facebook messenger. We created the game in HTML5 to make it instantly playable, but another benefit is that you won’t ever have to download, install, or update the game. Just open it on Facebook Messenger, and play!

This is precisely why BVG has invested so many years of work in HTML5 instant gaming. Our CEO and co-founder Albert Lai explains it best:

“Big Viking Games has been at the forefront of HTML5 development, and with Galatron we’re able to really showcase that technology and show what a game on messenger can look like. Galatron has features and gameplay that many thought were impossible in an instant messenger game so we’re excited for players to see that and realize that this is really a viable platform for quality games.”

To play Galatron today:

1. Join any chat in Facebook Messenger

2. Tap the Instant Games icon at the bottom of the chat

How to play Galatron

3. Find Galatron and press PLAY

How to play Galatron

Our official press release on the subject of the the Galatron launch can be found below:

Read More

Valiant Partners with BVG for First Major Content Partnership

By | Announcements, HTML5, Instant Games, Partnerships | No Comments

valiant_logo-horizontal

We have some amazing news to share today about our first major content partnership. Big Viking Games has signed a five year mobile content partnership with Valiant Entertainment, the award-winning comic book publisher. As you know, Valiant has a library of more than 2,000 characters, including X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Harbinger, and Shadowman.

The partnership with Valiant will focus on combining their best-selling collection of superheroes with our own industry leading HTML5 development and publishing ability to deliver the Valiant Universe to existing fans and new players alike through a completely new medium.

Our CEO Albert Lai said it best when commenting on how excited our Vikings are to be working with a leading comic publisher.

“We have always been huge fans of their comics, and the executive team has done an incredible job bringing Valiant to the forefront of the comic world over the years. Valiant and Big Viking share a very similar core ideology, which is to ‘make fans,’ and I believe this partnership will make millions of new fans for both companies”

Valiant Entertainment will be bringing their content to a number of new platforms in the coming years. Just last year Valiant announced a five-film deal with Sony Pictures to bring both their Bloodshot and Harbinger franchises to life on the big screen, and they are looking forward to the promise of the ground-breaking new medium that is instant gaming.

“Big Viking is poised to enter the market on the cusp of a game-changing moment for the whole of mobile gaming and, together, we look forward to engaging a massive new audience for Valiant’s incredibly rich universe of characters,” said Russell A. Brown, President of Consumer Products, Promotions & Ad Sales for Valiant Entertainment.

For full details on the Valiant – Big Viking Games partnership, read on to see our official press release.

Read More

The Life of a Game Designer

By | Career Advice, Game Design, Games, Viking Profiles | No Comments

There is a fierce demand for game designers in the gaming industry, but most people are unsure of what, exactly, a game design job entails. To help us better understand this essential role, we sat down with our very talented game designer, Stojan. In this Viking Profile, Stojan shares how he got into game design, what makes a well-designed game, and how aspiring game designers can break into the field.

Game Designer at Big Viking Games Stojan

Q: What is your role at Big Viking Games, and how long have you been with the company?

Stojan: I was hired by BVG as a game designer in February of 2013, so I’ve been with the company for nearly four years now.

“Game Designer” can tend to be a misunderstood role. What does a game designer do?

Stojan: The short answer? A game designer is somebody that creates an experience that succeeds in maintaining the interest of a player for as long as possible, using various game design conventions.

The longer answer is that a Game Designer is the one who is responsible for a game’s core loop and builds out detailed specifications for features in the game. Depending on the type of game, this specification could include an overview of what the effect of certain features will be (short and long term), the proper math, the proper economy balance and impact, and the necessary high-level user experience flows.

The designer also has to verify any features before they are rolled out by ensuring that any new features are consistent with the game’s existing design. And, of course, a successful game designer needs to stay on top of the current trends in game design, particularly Free to Play trends. Read More