Volley (W18) - YC Tech Talks: Gaming 2020 (November 9th, 2020)

TL;DR

Volley Games is a leading company in the voice-controlled gaming industry, with popular games like Song Quiz and new projects in interactive storytelling and RPG-style games.

Transcript

hey how's it going i'm max um co-founder of a company called volley games for voice control devices like alexa and google home devices um we have the number one most popular game on both those platforms which is sort of a name that tune music trivia game called song quiz um and we also have some kind of rising star games in the areas of like choose... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎮 Volley Games is a company that specializes in creating games for voice control devices like Alexa and Google Home, with their most popular game being Song Quiz, a music trivia game. They are also known for their interactive storytelling and RPG-style voice-controlled games.
• 🚀 As a leader in the voice-controlled gaming space, Volley Games has experienced rapid growth over the past three years, coinciding with the expansion of Alexa and Google Home platforms.
• 🔍 Volley Games is focused on designing for the unique voice experience, without the use of traditional touch or click interfaces.
• 💡 The company's games are not limited to voice-controlled devices without screens but are also playable on devices with screens, including voice-controlled televisions, thereby broadening their reach.
• 💰 With a successful Series A funding round completed about five months ago, Volley Games has been expanding its team, currently consisting of 25 people based in San Francisco.
• 🔧 In addition to their existing projects, Volley Games has exciting tech projects in the pipeline, such as building their own gaming engine for voice-controlled software, which they believe is the most ambitious in the industry.
• 🎮 Volley Games has multiple gaming projects in development, some of which have not yet been released or publicly discussed.
• 🌐 The company is actively hiring across various roles, including engineers, data scientists, and designers, offering the unique opportunity to work on a brand new platform and interface.

Questions & Answers

Q: How has Volley Games become a leader in the voice-controlled gaming industry?

Volley Games has achieved success by being one of the first companies to explore the unique voice-controlled interface, creating popular games like Song Quiz and expanding into new genres like interactive storytelling and RPG-style games.

Q: What sets Volley Games apart from other gaming companies?

Volley Games stands out by focusing solely on voice-controlled gaming experiences, providing a brand new platform and interface for players, and pioneering innovative technologies like their own Unreal Engine for voice.

Q: What type of games does Volley Games develop?

Volley Games has a diverse range of games, including the popular music trivia game Song Quiz, interactive storytelling games, and an upcoming ambitious RPG-style voice-controlled game. They continue to develop new projects in the gaming industry.

Q: How is Volley Games expanding its reach beyond voice-controlled devices?

While primarily focused on voice-controlled devices like Alexa and Google Home, Volley Games also ensures their games are playable on devices with screens, including voice-controlled televisions, expanding their accessibility and audience.

Q: What kind of talent is Volley Games looking to hire?

Volley Games is actively hiring engineers, data scientists, and designers to join their team. They are seeking individuals with a passion for working on a brand new platform and interface, and offering opportunities for professional growth in the rapidly expanding voice-controlled gaming industry.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Volley Games is a successful company specializing in voice-controlled games for devices like Alexa and Google Home.

• They have the most popular game on both platforms, called Song Quiz, and are expanding into interactive storytelling and RPG-style games.

• The company is growing rapidly, recently raising funding and seeking to hire engineers, data scientists, and designers.