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Gaming has exploded from niche entertainment to a mainstream, billion-dollar global industry.  With esports becoming a high-growth segment within gaming, and despite the pandemic challenges impacting Southern California, Los Angeles has remained the North America mecca for esports & the entire gaming industry.

The LAVA Gaming community explores the business & cultural elements surrounding the gaming and esports industries which are driving the L.A. investment ecosystem.

  • Marc Patterson posted an image in LAVA Gaming
    Partnerships take many forms in the gaming and esports industries, whether they be brand sponsorships, celebrity engagement & collaboration, or social advocacy. The importance in genuinely connecting with gaming communities, creating or aligning with lifestyles, or providing a platform for... see more Partnerships take many forms in the gaming and esports industries, whether they be brand sponsorships, celebrity engagement & collaboration, or social advocacy. The importance in genuinely connecting with gaming communities, creating or aligning with lifestyles, or providing a platform for advocacy opens a wide range of opportunities and challenges for new entrants.

    Alisa Jacobs joins LAVA Gaming for a look at the evolution of brand and celebrity partnerships in gaming, as well as a look at the industry as a whole as we kick off our 2022 Webinar Series.
     January 17, 2022
  • Marc Patterson posted a video in LAVA Gaming
    Founded in 2018, Mythical Games is the latest Los Angeles gaming startup success story, and one of the biggest in 2021. Creating gaming ecosystems around playable NFTs, the company is lead by former executives from Activision, Oculus, Electronic Arts (EA), and Zynga. Mythical is driving mass... see more Founded in 2018, Mythical Games is the latest Los Angeles gaming startup success story, and one of the biggest in 2021. Creating gaming ecosystems around playable NFTs, the company is lead by former executives from Activision, Oculus, Electronic Arts (EA), and Zynga. Mythical is driving mass adoption of ownership in games, building on the growth of its first game, Blankos Block Party, and plans to expand to other gaming platforms by enabling game developers to create their own player-owned economies through in-game assets for content creators and brands.

    On June 9, 2021, gaming technology studio Mythical Games announced a $75M Series B financing round led by WestCap, bringing the total raise by the L.A.-based startup to $120M to date. The Series B attracted investment from Gary Vaynerchuk’s VaynerFund as well as existing investors including Galaxy Digital, Javelin Venture Partners, and Struck Capital.

    Blankos Block Party is an open-world multiplayer game with a focus on player-designed levels, styled like a giant block party for collectible digital vinyl toys.
     August 12, 2021
  • Marc Patterson posted a video in LAVA Gaming
    Founded in 2004, Games for Change (G4C) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that empowers game creators and social innovators to drive real-world impact through games and immersive media. Its annual Games for Change Festival inspires youth to explore civic issues and STEAM skills through its Student... see more Founded in 2004, Games for Change (G4C) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that empowers game creators and social innovators to drive real-world impact through games and immersive media. Its annual Games for Change Festival inspires youth to explore civic issues and STEAM skills through its Student Challenge, and showcases leading impact-focused games and immersive experiences through live arcades for the public.

    G4C partners with powerhouses in gaming (including Epic Games) to enable educational initiatives, with a board of directors including industry leaders driving the L.A. gaming community. In this latest episode of the 2021 LAVA Gaming Webinar Series, G4C's President Susanna Pollack and Senior Director of Programs and Partnerships DJ Moreau discuss their recent successes, what to expect at the 2021 G4C Festival, and their plans in Los Angeles to create lasting impact through games and media experiences.
     August 12, 2021
  • Marc Patterson posted a video in LAVA Gaming
    Since 2006, Riot Games has been changing the way video games are developed, published, and supported for players. From the 2009 release of League of Legends (the most played PC game in the world and key to the growth of esports) to the 2020 introduction of VALORANT and three other games, Riot... see more Since 2006, Riot Games has been changing the way video games are developed, published, and supported for players. From the 2009 release of League of Legends (the most played PC game in the world and key to the growth of esports) to the 2020 introduction of VALORANT and three other games, Riot Games continues to evolve gaming while building and enriching its communities through a diverse set of multimedia projects.

    In the latest episode of the 2021 LAVA Gaming Webinar Series, Riot's CMO Jason Bunge will be joined by Nikki Lewis, marketing lead for VALORANT, to discuss Riot's ambitions for the future as it establishes a culturally resonant global footprint in gaming, esports, and beyond.
  • Marc Patterson posted a video in LAVA Gaming
    Non-fungible tokens (NFT's) and digital assets have moved beyond buzzwords to becoming a disruptive monetization opportunity across many industries. Esports teams, gamers, and brands are making early moves which could set the stage for what, and how, NFT's are used in gaming. What are the... see more Non-fungible tokens (NFT's) and digital assets have moved beyond buzzwords to becoming a disruptive monetization opportunity across many industries. Esports teams, gamers, and brands are making early moves which could set the stage for what, and how, NFT's are used in gaming. What are the revenue and valuation implications for game publishers, esports teams & leagues?

    In this latest episode of the 2021 LAVA Gaming Webinar Series, legal, financial and gaming industry experts join LAVA Gaming to discuss where NFT's fit in the gaming industry, and who will profit or face pitfalls in this next phase of digital currency.
  • Marc Patterson posted a video in LAVA Gaming
    Episode 2 of the 2021 LAVA Gaming Webinar Series is an incredibly insightful discussion with Ateyo's Rachel Feinberg and Bryce Blum, board member and founding partner at ESG Law.
  • Marc Patterson posted a video in LAVA Gaming
    Watch the replay of the 2021 LAVA Gaming Webinar Series kick-off episode, featuring Lance Mudd, Sport Director of the U.S. Esports Federation, and Boban Totovski, Secretary General of the International Esports Federation. Is Esports viable for the Olympics and other international sports... see more Watch the replay of the 2021 LAVA Gaming Webinar Series kick-off episode, featuring Lance Mudd, Sport Director of the U.S. Esports Federation, and Boban Totovski, Secretary General of the International Esports Federation. Is Esports viable for the Olympics and other international sports federations? What role do esports federations play in education, diversity, and mental health? Those questions and many more are answered in this highly informative webinar.
     March 08, 2021
  • Marc Patterson posted an image in LAVA Gaming
    LAVA Gaming is kicking off its 2021 Webinar Series on Thursday, February 25th @12:00pm PT with Lance Mudd, Sport Director of the U.S. Esports Federation. We'll be covering a range of topics including the convergence of esports and Olympic sports, the various federations and organizations... see more LAVA Gaming is kicking off its 2021 Webinar Series on Thursday, February 25th @12:00pm PT with Lance Mudd, Sport Director of the U.S. Esports Federation. We'll be covering a range of topics including the convergence of esports and Olympic sports, the various federations and organizations creating governance, and the emergence of collegiate leagues and programs.
     February 21, 2021
  • Marc Patterson posted a video in LAVA Gaming
    In a year defined by the disruption and hardships resulting from the COVID pandemic, esports & gaming have thrived. By all measures, 2020 has been particularly successful for FaZe Clan, with a $40M series round and expanded celebrity shareholder list topping the marketing maverick and esports... see more In a year defined by the disruption and hardships resulting from the COVID pandemic, esports & gaming have thrived. By all measures, 2020 has been particularly successful for FaZe Clan, with a $40M series round and expanded celebrity shareholder list topping the marketing maverick and esports innovator's many accomplishments. Lee Trink, FaZe Clan's popular CEO, talks about his company's success in receiving the LAVA award.
     December 29, 2020
  • Marc Patterson posted an image in LAVA Gaming
    Christie St. Martin and Robb Chiarini of Gamers.Vote joined LAVA Esports & Gaming to discuss the 2020 election, mobilizing the 130M+ gamers who are eligible to vote, and how collaborations with several L.A.-based esports & gaming powerhouses drove record numbers of registrations and early... see more Christie St. Martin and Robb Chiarini of Gamers.Vote joined LAVA Esports & Gaming to discuss the 2020 election, mobilizing the 130M+ gamers who are eligible to vote, and how collaborations with several L.A.-based esports & gaming powerhouses drove record numbers of registrations and early voting. Check it out at bit.ly/lava-gtv
     October 30, 2020
  • Marc Patterson posted an image in LAVA Gaming
    The replay of LAVA's Women in Gaming panel with Irene Scholl-Tatevosyan of Nixon Peabody LLP, Ann Hand of Super League Gaming, Wendy Lecot of HyperX, and LAVA's Kim Salzer, is now available. Check it out at bit.ly/lavaeg-Ep4
     October 21, 2020
  • Marc Patterson posted a discussion in LAVA Gaming
    The replay of LAVA's discussion with Daniel Engelhardt (Lionsgate Interactive Ventures & Games) & Taehoon Kim (nWay Inc.) exploring the powerful crossover of interactive gaming with film & television franchises is now available. Check it out at bit.ly/lavaeg-ep3
     September 26, 2020
  • Marc Patterson posted a discussion in LAVA Gaming
    Building upon our discussion with Immortals Gaming Club (IGC), LAVA E&G’s next webinar on Thursday, September 10th at 12:00Noon Pacific Time will explore the crossover between the film & television industries and gaming. Lionsgate Interactive Ventures and Games partners with world-class... see more Building upon our discussion with Immortals Gaming Club (IGC), LAVA E&G’s next webinar on Thursday, September 10th at 12:00Noon Pacific Time will explore the crossover between the film & television industries and gaming. Lionsgate Interactive Ventures and Games partners with world-class developers and publishers to adapt Lionsgate’s film and television properties into the world of games. This includes original titles like John Wick Hex and integrations of properties into existing games such as the iconic Fortnite X John Wick crossover. Lionsgate's Daniel Engelhardt and nWay's Taehoon "TK" Kim (the masterminds behind top mobile game Power Rangers: Legacy Wars) join us to discuss the gaming's impact on franchises, and their respective companies' approaches towards gamification.
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     September 03, 2020
  • Marc Patterson posted an image in LAVA Gaming
    Join LAVA E&G on Thursday, August 27th at 12:00PM PT for the latest webinar looking at investment and the business ecosystem surrounding esports & gaming in Los Angeles. Our latest episode delves into the esports team ecosystem from the perspective of Immortals Gaming Club (IGC). IGC's... see more Join LAVA E&G on Thursday, August 27th at 12:00PM PT for the latest webinar looking at investment and the business ecosystem surrounding esports & gaming in Los Angeles. Our latest episode delves into the esports team ecosystem from the perspective of Immortals Gaming Club (IGC). IGC's Chairman (and Griffin Gaming Partners Managing Director) Peter Levin and IGC's CEO Ari Segal will provide insight into the state of esports, and the opportunities they envision for the IGC powerhouse in the future.
     August 14, 2020
  • Marc Patterson posted an image in LAVA Gaming
    On behalf of LAVA, I'm excited to announce that Kim Salzer has joined me as co-chair for the Esports & Gaming Community. I'm looking forward to working with Kim on our ever-expanding webinar series, pulling upon her deep marketing expertise within the gaming community!
     August 06, 2020
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