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Many seasoned gamers can attest to the huge leaps the video game industry has taken in the last decade or two. From a simple pastime many young kids indulged in by playing various pixelated game titles on handheld consoles or arcade machines to a multibillion-dollar industry, gaming enterprises have become a staple in the entertainment space.
The cornerstone that played a significant role in making the gaming industry what it is today is a success story. These are tales from individuals or indie creators of how they never gave up despite the obstacles and limitations; their dedication to talent, creativity, and determination gave them breakthroughs and allowed them to showcase their innovative ideas to the world or, by luck, make it big by playing games.
In this piece, we’ll share some grass-to-grace stories of people who have left a noticeable footprint in the history of video games. If you’re a game developer or gamer, these tales might motivate you to change your life.
Minecraft: The Birth of the Revolutionary Game
Statistically the biggest game in the world, Minecraft has sold millions of copies globally and is a timeless piece enjoyed by demographics of all ages. Ironically, the story of this massive game didn’t begin in a popular game studio but from the humble mind of Swedish game developer Markus Persson, who had casually written the first version of Minecraft in just a week so he could move on to the next game.
Markus had a simple vision: create an open-world game where players can build and explore unlimited digital space. After some development, Persson released an early version of Minecraft that got gamers talking. By 2011, he had collaborated with Mojang Studios to release the game’s full version, which Microsoft later purchased for a whopping $2.5 billion.
Millionaire From Playing Slots
Spinning slot machines are a relaxing way to test your luck and have fun, but some of the best slots hold the potential to make millionaires. One such story is that of a 25-year-old software engineer who tried his luck at the Megabuck slot machine at the Excalibur Casino in Las Vegas.
While spinning reels, he’d put in about $100 on the machine and glanced away for a second; when he looked back, he was dumbfounded to find that he’d won $39.7 million that had changed his life forever.
Final Fantasy: Square Enix’s Saving Grace
You’ve probably picked up a copy in the series of this JRPG and had a great time, but did you know Final Fantasy was the game that saved Square Enix? Despite having a team of young creatives, Square Enix struggled to make substantial profits for years, releasing various games that flopped in the market.
Hironubu Sakaguchi, the game’s creator, had begun to believe that his team couldn’t thrive in the gaming industry as they faced bankruptcy. He decided that his final project would be the next game he would create. Hence, the game was named “Final Fantasy” as a last bid to make things work.
The first instalment in the series was released in 1987 in Japan (and later in America) after various developmental issues. It was a smashing hit and became the face of Square Enix’s Brand.
From Pixels to Success in the Video Game Industry
Video games are more than pixels on a screen; the industry represents a strong culture and community held together by the unique creativity of its developers and gamers. These success stories testify to the passion, human spirit and luck needed to thrive in video games.
These tales help us remember the journey many gaming creators took to reach worldwide acclaim. Through these stories, developers and gamers are given the drive they need to make their mark in gaming.
