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I was talking to one publisher last year on the subject of wishlists. They told me they won’t launch a game unless it has over a specific number. I told them how many we had when we launched PlateUp! and I was told that wasn’t enough. We sold over 200,000 units in the first month, which was significantly more than predicted. And they subsequently issued a profit warning.

There’s no hiding the fact the game industry is going through an implosion. From the biggest studios to the smallest indies, layoffs and studio closing have been going on for 1-2 solid years now with no end immediately in sight. It’s not just bad for developers, it’s been really bad for indie publishers too. Publishers are trying to navigate stiff competition from competitors and over-investment that has flooded the market with games and tons of free content. While there have been some breakout hits, publishers say there is almost no rhyme or reason to it.

Publishers are finding the old ways don’t work. The industry is going through what one person calls ‘organizational disruption’. Amazing talent is now freely available on the market and seems to be finding success in embracing new niches and sub-genres.

Devolver’s Lowrie adds that although it may seem counterintuitive, risk aversion is actually the riskier approach. “Those that are willing to experiment and remain agile will find their hits and build an engaged audience,” he says. “Playing it safe isn’t going to be very safe at all.”

Instead, new studios are staying close to the developers and the nitch games they are developing to, as one dev said, “put themselves in the best places to get lucky”.

The main argument for the Oregon Supreme Court’s ruling in Bagley v. Mt. Bachelor, Inc. (356 Or 275, 2014) was that the liability waiver signed by Myles Bagley was unconscionable under Oregon contract law, making it unenforceable for claims of ordinary negligence.

Bagley v Mt Bachelor (356 Or 275, 2014)

Because legislators could not pass House Bill 3140 nor Senate Bill 1196, Oregon’s recreational industry is being decimated as insurance carriers exit the state due to a “broken recreational liability system.”

A 2014 state court ruling that effectively nullified all liability waivers signed at ski resorts – which makes the resort or recreational provider liable for all costs in case of injury or death. Since that ruling, the majority of recreational insurance companies have stopped offering coverage in Oregon.

Timberline is no exception. They have reported their previous insurance provider has now just left the state too. They have secured a new insurer, who’s premiums are 166% greater with 10x larger deductibles. Since 2020, Timberline’s cost of insurance has gone up by 586%.

This obviously doesn’t just affect skiing or snowboarding – but any paid recreational activity in Oregon such as rafting, mountain biking, boating, snowmobiling, climbing, and even hiking. Sadly, as is the case in the decade long completely Democratic controlled run Oregon, nothing will likely be done until major sectors of the recreational industry leave the state or simply close down.

High Yield does a great job of walking over the physical design of a modern CPU and connecting what they see with the known features.