Page 5 - Forbes Magazine-September 30, 2018

ROBLOX
ROBLOX

out with the players and get feedback as tricks. More than 400 people came to this
TOP-EARNING ROBLOX GAMES
they refi ned the platform. THESE FIVE TITLES HAVE EARNED A COMBINED year’s RDC, which was held in San Fran-
Once the pair published Roblox Stu- $16 MILLION FOR THEIR YOUNG CREATORS IN THE cisco in July.
dio—the app that enables Roblox users FIRST SEVEN MONTHS OF 2018. Th e company also has a paid intern-
to create games and simulations—the ship program that works as an incuba-
fl oodgates began to open. By the year tor or accelerator for young devs to create
2012, Roblox had more than 7 mil- games and improve them. Th is program
lion unique visitors per month, making at the company’s Silicon Valley headquar-
it one of the most popular entertain- ters teaches them project-management
ment sites for kids. Th e site continued skills and holds them accountable for the
to grow, but tragedy struck its found- deadlines they set for their projects.
ing team when Cassel was diagnosed Since Roblox doesn’t need to worry
CREATOR
with cancer. TITLE ALEX BINELLO LAUNCHED TIMES PLAYED about making games—or even how to
MEEPCITY
2 BIL
FEB 2016
“He loved what he was doing at Ro- Play mini-games like go-kart racing or just hang out with friends make money from them—it can focus al-
in this role-playing game based in a sprawling city.
blox,” Baszucki says. “And I saw Erik most exclusively on infrastructure. Th e
not change. He kept doing what he company is in the process of moving its
was doing. What for me was so amaz- platform from third-party cloud ser vices
ing to see was that he was already in to its own cloud. It’s hired Dan Williams,
a good state of balance, and it kind who helped Dropbox move off Amazon’s
of made me look at my own life. It Web service.
was an inspiration for the people we Th e next phase? Going internation-
hire—fi nding the type of cultural fi t al. Although Roblox’s users come from
where people have a passion and share more than three dozen countries, the
our dream and make this an amazing JAILBREAK BADIMO JAN 2017 1 BIL platform was English-only and dollars-
Cops and robbers on a grand scale, where kids play either police
environment.” offi cers or criminals. only until just a few months ago, when
As the company grew, it also exper- Roblox launched a Spanish version. Since
imented with diff erent business mod- then, the company has averaged 5 mil-
els. Initially, revenue came from ad- lion visitors a month from Spanish-
vertising and a premium membership speaking countries.
model called Builders Club. But aft er a Th e company has also produced Bra-
few years the company had moved to its zilian Portuguese, French and German
current model: selling Robux. versions. It just hosted its second Euro-
Roblox’s monetization scheme al- pean developer’s conference and is build-
lows young developers to obtain a cut MURDER MYSTERY 2 NIKILIS JAN 2014 1 BIL ing up teams to expand into more regions
Players have to unmask the killer in their midst—before they’re next.
of the money spent on their games. In over the next few years.
2017, developers earned nearly $40 mil- “It’s super-exciting to think that a kid
lion on the platform. Th at number is in Jakarta can make a game that a kid in
expected to surpass $70 million in 2018. Menlo Park would never even imagine
Roblox has also started to make toys— but is really fun and relevant to other kids
think action fi gures and plastic cars— in Southeast Asia—and maybe the kid in
based on popular games. It shares the Menlo Park, too,” says Chris Misner, the
money it makes from those toys with its president of Roblox International.
developers, earning them an additional “Our hope is that we will actually
$1 million in royalties in 2017. WELCOME TO BLOXBURG COEPTUS NOV 2014 425 MIL bring people together around the world,”
A Sims-like game where players work jobs, then use the money to
“We just empower developers to fi g- buy houses, vehicles and more. Baszucki adds.
ure it out,” said Craig Donato, Roblox’s Despite the enormous growth of the
chief business offi cer. “If a dev is too ag- platform, Baszucki still keeps in touch with
gressive with monetization, kids won’t his power users—even if many don’t know
play. If they have a great idea, it’ll get his name. On a Friday-morning compa-
copied.” ny tour for players, a guide asked the kids
Th e company also helps budding if they’ve ever heard of Dave Baszucki—
coders up their game. Its annual devel- they all shook their heads. Th en she asked
oper’s conference draws Roblox devel- if they knew Builderman (Baszucki’s name
opers from all over the world to meet within Roblox).
MINING SIMULATOR RUMBLE STUDIOS FEB 2018 288 MIL
one another and exchange tips and Strike it rich mining gems and precious metals. A loud “Yes!” erupted from the group. F

110 | FORBES SEPTEMBER 30, 2018