“New Sports” game platform FOUNDRY IV set to create an exclusive casino floor competitive system within the battle royale genre for their first title; expanding traditional video game platforms to include casino floor contests similar to poker tournaments
LAS VEGAS JULY 09, 2018 - and MGM Resorts International today announced an expansion of their partnership to include the first in an array of events “Suite Series”, development of a battle royale genre game, and the addition of a “competitive gaming system” created specifically for casino play. Foundry IV is also expanding the role of its ownership group from simple franchise model to a cohesive federation entitled the “New Sports Federation” (NSF). This federation’s core purpose is to inspire growth in digital competitive entertainment and create products that increase its value with gamers, brands, and media. The NSF will also aid other publishers wishing to enter into the competitive gaming market with a turnkey new sports solution.
“Suite Series” is a range of events that will pit athletes, celebrities, and influencers against each other as they represent a variety of MGM Resorts owned properties. This will be a showcase of the vast entertainment value proposition that MGM Resorts leverages through traditional sports athletes, DJs, celebrity chefs, and more. Suite Series is the first of many new innovative content concepts, and shows Foundry IV and MGM Resorts’ commitment to experiential entertainment for the community. Future events in creation are going to be centered around national amateur participation.
“Suite Series has been in development for close to a year, and while it will feature high level competitive play, there is a primary focus on fun and entertainment. This collaboration will give athletes and celebrities the chance to celebrate gaming with their favorite streamer in a live environment with the community. Where better to celebrate something than in a Las Vegas suite?” - Simon Abitbol
Foundry IV is also announcing the development of a new battle royale title built on EPIC Games’ Unreal Engine. Foundry IV will be working with MGM Resorts and the Nevada Gaming Commission to break new ground by bringing contests to the casino floor. Foundry IV is evolving the genre by developing one game with two separate competitive systems, one for casino play and one for a more traditional competitive approach focused heavily on brand integrations and amateur play.
Casino Floor Product:
“The second I saw the battle royale genre I likened it to poker on steroids. Forced action derived from a shrinking battlefield based on time is the same as blinds increasing. You have limited information on your opponent and you can choose to press them, stand off, or run away which is equivalent to raise, call, fold based on your read. There’s an RNG element associated with weapons similar to cards you draw, and finally there’s the donkeys, the dead money. “Loot delivery systems”, that are just carrying resources or in the case of Poker “chips” around until they are eventually eliminated. Battle royales feature less RNG, more skill, with the ability to go many directions that will allow fans of the genre to experience our game in a unique fashion they can’t get anywhere else. Finally, the genre also allows us to include brands in new and exciting ways. We are currently working with select brands to figure out how best to feature them while being additive to the gameplay experience.” -Tobias Sherman
From competitive integrity standpoint of our general use product:
“The New Sports we design will not feature red blood violence, kill scenes, or replica weapons. We look to ease the tension that parents and children have around competitive video games. Removing the aforementioned elements achieves a game that parents are more inclined to allow their kids to practice and compete in. This ultimately fosters an aspirational environment for parents to say, ‘ok this is my child's passion and I support them in trying to take it as far as they can, potentially even as a pro career’. We also look forward to working with high schools to develop a program that features our games as part of their sports curriculum. An additional benefit is that the brands love that we are safe to support and open to building custom activations in and around the game for them.” -Lilia Russo
The competitive scene is being developed in conjunction with professional sports franchises and leaders from the entertainment and tech industries. Foundry IV, since its inception, has made it a priority to include all segments of what Tobias Sherman has dubbed the “New Sports” market, a necessary evolution of competitive gaming intended to provide a sustainable and robust ecosystem that supports digital competitive entertainment and its rapid growth.
“Tobias is known as the grand unifier in the industry, and will use that vast experience to create the New Sports Federation. The reality is that regional exclusivity has been a necessity for every traditional sports owner we speak with both in the United States and abroad, so in this instance we are going to have to select which partner is best suited and prepared to contribute strategically. The good news is that traditional sports team ownership recognizes this as an opportunity to connect with a new audience. That audience is their future season ticket holder, concert goer, and “New Sport” participant. We are selecting leaders that are genuinely interested in solving current and future challenges in this space.” -Scott Merchant
Lovell Walker, Executive Director of Interactive Gaming Development, said, “One of our company’s current goals is to have a larger stake in the sports and entertainment industry. Partnering with Foundry IV gives us an opportunity to accomplish that goal while contributing to, and playing a prominent role in, the New Sports space. We are open minded in our approach to New Sports projects currently under development and believe they will inspire growth and innovation within our company.”
Foundry IV is a New Sports game development studio and consultancy founded by two-time “40 under 40” winner Tobias Sherman with co-founders Simon Abitbol, Lilia Russo, and Scott Merchant. Leveraging a decade of success in the industry, Foundry IV is taking the main stage in the New Sports ecosystem with a host of products, productions, and new technologies combined with a plethora of strategic partners from the sports world as well as Silicon Valley.
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 28 unique hotel offerings including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. Expanding throughout the U.S. and around the world, the company in 2018 opened MGM COTAI in Macau and the first Bellagio-branded hotel in Shanghai. It also is developing MGM Springfield in Massachusetts. The 78,000 global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies®. For more information visit us at http://www.mgmresorts.com.