A strong marketing strategy is often the key to a game’s success. Marketing is not just about promotion but about leveraging data-driven strategies to reach a broader and more engaged audience. Under the leadership of David Guo, the US-based independent game development company uCool used a bold and creative approach to expand its reach. The company’s game, Heroes Charge, gained significant attention through a Super Bowl ad campaign, reaching millions of viewers. With over 10 million players, uCool aimed to maintain the growth of its 2D squad-based, side-scrolling action RPG into 2015.
The 15-second commercial aired during the Super Bowl and was later repeated on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. It was also broadcast across US cable and broadcast channels. This campaign not only reached US audiences but also had a global impact, bringing awareness to uCool’s games worldwide.
David Guo: A Bold Marketing Strategist
After founding Top Games Inc. in 2016, David Guo replicated this strategy with the company’s popular game Evony: The King’s Return. The game made its Super Bowl debut, and the marketing campaign succeeded in converting more strategy game enthusiasts into loyal players. This pivotal step marked a major milestone in the game’s success. Following the campaign, Evony capitalized on its deep strategic gameplay and robust social features, which significantly improved player retention. Over time, the game accumulated over 200 million downloads and generated annual revenues exceeding $300 million.
uCool: A Key Player in the Golden Age of Browser Games
Founded in 2012, uCool thrived during the golden age of browser games, most notably for creating Tynon, a hybrid-style free-to-play game. The company also developed Commanders of Evony and published the pioneering hardcore online games Evony: Age I and Evony: Age II.
uCool first made a mark with the release of Tynon, a strategic action RPG. In this game, players help the elite knight Rosaline rescue the King, who is under the spell of an evil wizard, while protecting the thirteen kingdoms from dark magic. The game allows players to collaborate through social networks to build, upgrade, and customize their cities, adding a strong cooperative and strategic element to the gameplay.
The game received praise from various media outlets. Inside Social Games called it “an impressive game,” while MMO Game Central described it as “one of the most approachable browser-based games currently available.”
The experiences and insights gained from this period laid the foundation for the later success of Top Games Inc. David Guo’s background as a passionate gamer played a key role in shaping his approach to game development. He is known for his ability to gather talented professionals, align personal and organizational goals, and prioritize user experience in game design. Whether in interviews, award speeches, or public talks, he has consistently expressed his team’s mission: to create fun games for players around the world.
As 2024 comes to a close, David Guo and his team at Top Games Inc. are already gearing up for 2025. This year, they have launched a new casual game project—Aquarium Crush. It’s a match-3 puzzle game where players collect rare fish and decorations to enhance their aquariums. With the same dedication to user experience, this new project reflects the ongoing evolution of David Guo’s vision for engaging, entertaining games.
