Along with other leading app developers professionals, Luc Beaulieu, CTO of Frima Studio, spoke on a panel at Casual Connect USA about what it is like five years after the launch of the iPad and the evolution of kids digital entertainment, current trends and future opportunities. Moderated by industry commentator Jinny Gudmundsen (USA Today, Tech with Kids), the panelists discussed whether we have entered the golden age of kid-tech, or whether the best years are ahead of (or behind) us. For marketing at Frima, Luc mentioned “We have done pretty much all of the models . . . One of the models that is not a traditional model that is not accessible for everyone is to actually have physical product and make money off of the physical product so the app is there to support it.” Tune in below for an article about Luc and many insights too.
It’s a good thing for Luc Beaulieu that he is in the games industry. If he weren’t, he says, he’d be “crying, crawled up in a little ball.” Ever since he was a child Luc has dreamed of being in the gaming industry and by 6th grade he had already started coding games.
And it’s a good thing for Frima that it has Luc. With over 20 years of experience in video games, online communities, and other digital platforms, he is an important asset to have in the games industry. Luc notes that his previous work building online communities has helped him immensely with building online games at Frima.
Chief in Innovation
As chief technology officer at Frima, a company with a passion for digital entertainment boasting more than 350 employees, Luc manages the company’s technical innovation and their smart toy lab.
He is also in charge of the creative team responsible for responding to RFPs (request for proposals) and making proposals to the company’s clients and partners. He considers landing great deals career highlights and says his favorite thing is to work with clients and partners and then see the end result.
The Gaming Process
When it comes to making games, Luc recognizes that there can be many challenges in video game productions and, even more broadly, anything related to technology. However, he combats this by testing games “early … very early.”
He looks for games that are entertaining and have cool game mechanics, pointing out that the ability to innovate in digital experiences has been the most effective form of marketing for Frima.
To that end, the company is currently working on half a dozen projects involving augmented reality or virtual reality, something the company expects to become an even bigger trend than it already is.
When seeking out a new member for his team, he prizes someone who has both autonomy and passion, saying “the rest falls into place.” He has discovered that, although all developers are special, passionate developers who want to push tech forward are hard to come by.
When it comes time to publish a game, Luc notes that while it’s not always beneficial to use a publisher, “if they can market way better than you can, why not?” He emphasizes developers should seek out publishers with marketing power under their belt.
Home on the Range
It’s no surprise that Luc loves games. Whether it’s a big-name title like Portal, Mass Effect, or an indie production like Trine, Limbo, or World of Goo, he loves them all. Currently though, the Witcher series is particularly appealing to him. “The tone and the story makes that RPG great.”
In fact, outside of work you can count on seeing him doing one of two things (or possibly both at the same time): “In my free time,” he says, “I hang out with my wife and two boys and I play video games, of course!”
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