How Jackbox Games adapted to a rapidly changing video game industry - Business Insider

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After collapsing in 2001, this small Chicago video game studio adapted to radical changes in the industry for a stunning revival. Here's how it did it.

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Led by CEO Mike Bilder, the revived Jellyvision was rebranded as Jackbox Games in 2013 and successfully launched a hit new series of party games — "The Jackbox Party Pack."has thrived by adapting to constant changes in technology and embracing a comedic style that makes the games fun for everyday gamers and casual players alike.

Like "You Don't Know Jack," the "Jackbox Party Pack" games all carry a comedic spirit and are easy for groups to enjoy together. With about 30 employees, Jackbox Games has found a healthy niche providing funny, accessible games for non-gamers and dedicated players alike. That project provided the inspiration for 1995's"You Don't Know Jack," and Jellyvision partnered with Berkeley Systems, a company mostly known for making screensavers, to make the game a reality.

"The company basically shut down," Bilder said."The founder got out of the game space, the bottom kind of dropped out of the PC CD-ROM space. The emerging home consoles like PlayStation and some more sophisticated stuff didn't work as well for party games."Jackbox Games CEO Mike Bilder helped spearhead a revival of the 'You Don't Know Jack' franchise.

By visiting the Jackbox.tv website, players can turn any online device into a controller for the game."Jackbox Party Pack" games can support up to 10,000 players for a single game this way, and people can even play online if the game is being streamed via YouTube or Twitch. Jackbox's party games have become especially popular with professional streamers and their fans because of how many people can connect and play at the same time.

"The Jackbox Party Pack 6" was released this past year, but the company has developed 30 different games since the series began. Staff members are constantly pitching and working on new game concepts over the course of the year, and the best projects are gradually honed for release in the next party pack.

Jackbox recruits top writers from some of Chicago's most well-known comedy circuits to help give the 'Party Pack' games their essential sense of humor.Bilder said members of Jackbox's staff are involved with Chicago's comedy scene, and the studio brings in writers from famous theaters like The Second City and the iO Theater to work on games in the Jackbox Party Packs.

 

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