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METANOMIC LAUNCHES ‘THUNDERSTRUCK’ – 1st gamer analysis tool powered by AI

Published

3 years ago

September 6, 2022

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Metanomic, the complete game economy and player analytics company, today proudly announces the global launch of its Thunderstruck player analytics platform; which is poised to revolutionise game developers’ use of behavioural data to improve retention and monetisation.

Thunderstruck is the first ever video game analytics platform to leverage AI-powered behavioural analytics. It makes use of Bayesian inference-backed AI to understand data from real in-game events, drawn directly from game servers. Thunderstruck analyses player motivations, play styles, and reward preferences, providing developers with live information on who their game is for, what types of players have the highest retention, and which players spend the most in-game. Until now, game creators have had to rely on outdated player classification models combined with market research, and plug gaps in insight with assumptions and guesswork.

Metanomic was founded in 2021 by veteran game designers, AI experts, and professional economists, and has successfully secured USD $2.9 million pre-seed funding to-date. Thunderstruck is launching with 7 player types – Killers, Achievers, Explorers, Socialisers, Speedsters, Conquerors, and Scientists – which can be tailored to the priorities of individual game titles. Player types will be refined and added to as the platform analyses data from more titles, while its Bayesian AI means Thunderstruck can even identify the series of events that lead to specific player actions.

Announcing the launch of Thunderstruck, Theo Priestley, CEO and Founder of Metanomic, said:

“For too long, game developers have relied on blunt instruments to understand their players. It’s no exaggeration to say that the bulk of the games industry’s framework for player classification dates back to a 1996 essay by Richard Bartle. A generation later, Thunderstruck is the next big leap forward, taking just a few days to generate more insight than a team of analysts could in a month. We understand that players can straddle multiple personas or even change persona based on their motivations, and use custom AI and live data to accurately anticipate how they’ll respond to metagame changes. Thunderstruck is all about empowering game developers with a better way to identify, acquire, and impact the right players for their game.”

Thunderstruck is equally suitable for mobile, console, and PC; existing as well as new games; and web3 as well as traditional web2 games. It works in tandem with Metanomic’s free Economy Engine platform, which was launched earlier this year to help studios to build, simulate and monitor their game economies.

Thunderstruck is launching with 7 player types.

Killers

These players enjoy killing, creating chaos, and competitive elements most of all. They focus on winning, climbing player rankings, obtaining status, provoking, and imposing drama onto others.

Achievers

These players are competitive and enjoy overcoming difficult objectives, whether set by the game or themselves, in order to obtain prestige, prizes, and other types of material possessions.

Explorers

Those that like to learn as much about the game as possible, Explorers seek to understand the finer details of game mechanics. The thrill of discovery and uncovering hidden areas or objectives motivate these players over points or prizes.

Socialisers

Players that experience fun in interacting with other players through social systems like using chat, managing guilds, or role-playing rather than playing the game itself. They tend to collaborate or join forces with others to achieve objectives than they could on their own.

Speedsters

Cheetahs race to objectives in order to be among the first to reach the end-game content or the highest level. They spend most of their time grinding experience and playing for long hours.

Conquerors

Conquerors enjoy the struggle against adversity and beating impossibly difficult odds. They are persistent, forceful, and repetitive in their pursuit to overcome their objectives.

Scientists

Commonly referred to as ‘Crafters,’ Scientists seek to improve their skills by gathering resources and creating or improving items for themselves and to sell to others. They find enjoyment in more passive forms of game mechanics and objectives.

The Thunderstruck player personas are also influenced by ‘passion’ – how often and how well they play.

They can also be tailored by the game developer or publisher depending on their priorities. For example, in different types of game, ‘Achiever’ could mean the highest skilled, the richest, or the players with the most wins.

In future, Metanomic will frequently add additional and more granular player types to further studios’ understanding of their players.

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Evoplay’s premium titles hit SkillOnNet platform in multiple markets

Published

36 minutes ago

March 18, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Global entertainment brand SkillOnNet has bolstered its already diverse platform by rolling out Evoplay’s cutting-edge games across multiple regulated markets worldwide.

Players at SkillOnNet’s flagship gaming sites like PlayOJO, PlayUZU, and BacanaPlay can now sink their teeth into Evoplay’s award-winning portfolio, including fan-favourite slots such as The Greatest Catch Bonus Buy and Hot Triple Sevens, as well as engaging instant games such as Penalty Shoot-out.

Instant games are especially popular in Brazil – a key market for both companies. SkillOnNet recently entered the newly regulated jurisdiction with its BacanaPlay and PlayUZU brands and sees the Evoplay deal as an opportunity to offer high quality content to the burgeoning Brazilian market.

Jani Kontturi Head of Games at SkillOnNet said: “Evoplay has redefined online gaming with its next-generation instant games and visually stunning slots. Their content is a perfect addition to our platform as we continue expanding into new regulated markets. With Brazil now a big focus, we’re confident that Evoplay’s innovative titles will resonate strongly with players there.”

Ihor Zarechnyi, CCO at Evoplay said: “SkillOnNet is a powerhouse in the industry and shares our passion for innovation and quality. We look forward to a successful partnership that will bring exceptional gaming experiences to players around the globe.”

The post Evoplay’s premium titles hit SkillOnNet platform in multiple markets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Former Entain exec Jez White joins BetComply

Published

2 hours ago

March 18, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: < 1 minute

BetComply, iGaming’s most trusted technical and regulatory compliance firm, has hired the former Entain executive Jez White in a new role overseeing safer gambling and sustainability.

White joins BetComply as the firm’s first Safer Gambling & Sustainability Specialist, following more than eight years at Entain, where he served as Director of Player Protection Systems and Analytics. His expertise across responsible gaming, risk management, and player protection technology has been instrumental in shaping industry standards.

In his new position, White will design and implement safer gambling strategies, audit existing safer gambling models and design CRM strategies for BetComply clients.

Daniel Brookes, CEO of BetComply said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Jez, who has been at the very cutting edge of regulated online gaming for many years now. Few, if any, can match his level of expertise, and this is a major coup for BetComply and our partners. His insights and experience will be invaluable as we continue to set new benchmarks in compliance and sustainability.”

Jez White, Safer Gambling & Sustainability Specialist at BetComply, added: “I’m incredibly proud of the advancements made in player protection during my eight years at Entain, and I’m now excited to join BetComply. They have very quickly emerged as the leading compliance firm in our industry, and I’ll be contributing to their vision of creating a safer and more sustainable gaming sector.”

While at Entain, White led the implementation of an industry-leading safe gambling strategy that incorporated pattern recognition models and real-time interaction technology.

BetComply has been expanding its senior team over recent weeks. In February, Paola Menchem was brought in to lead its legal and regulatory compliance services.

The post Former Entain exec Jez White joins BetComply appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Darts Player Prakash Jiwa Gets Eight-year Ban for Match Fixing

Published

2 hours ago

March 18, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Darts player Prakash Jiwa has been banned from all Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) events for eight years after being found guilty of match-fixing and betting on darts.

The UK Gambling Commission’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU) supported the investigation by facilitating information gathered in the course of its enquiries.

Following a hearing before the DRA Disciplinary Committee on 21 January 2025, Jiwa was found guilty of fixing four matches and betting on darts. He was found not guilty of obstructing the enquiry.

The Committee has suspended him from playing in or being involved in any DRA-regulated events until 6 November 2031, provided he pays costs of £17,741.46 in full.

There is no suggestion that the other players in these matches were involved.

John Pierce, Commission Director of Enforcement, said: “All betting customers in Britain should have confidence that bets placed with licensed gambling businesses are on markets that are fair and free from betting-related corruption.

“Our Sports Betting Intelligence Unit works closely with partners such as the Darts Regulation Authority to support sporting integrity investigations and combat match-fixing. This decision sends a clear message that betting-related corruption in sport will not be tolerated.”

The post Darts Player Prakash Jiwa Gets Eight-year Ban for Match Fixing appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.