Games industry roundup: Slight Mad's Mad Box trademark dispute, blockchain fundraising challenges, and India lifts TikTok ban
While PocketGamer.biz focuses on the world of mobile gaming, it's always a good idea to keep an eye on the trends, controversies and opportunities of other sectors.
To that end, each week we round up the hottest stories as selected by our expert editorial team across our network of sites that includes PCGamesInsider.biz, InfluencerUpdate.biz and BlockchainGamer.biz.
Looking for a mobile roundup? You can check out our Hot Five here. You can also catch up on all the news coming out of Asia in our East Meets West roundup here.
Learn more about all these sectors of the games industry at Pocket Gamer Connects Seattle on May 13th and 14th or at Pocket Gamer Connects Hong Kong on July 17th and 18th.
Hottest stories
Over on PCGamesInsider.biz, there's the story that Slightly Mad's Mad Box console has run into some trouble after a dispute over the name from a French casual games publisher, and there's an interview with Keywords CEO Andrew Day about the company's acquisition strategy for the year ahead.
In the blockchain space, IOST has introduced a mobile log-in system as it seeks to open itself up to mass adoption, and the 'Blockchain Braintrust' looks into the challenges of raising funds for a blockchain game.
InfluencerUpdate.biz meanwhile, Tencent-backed livestreaming platform Douyu has filed for a $500 million IPO in the US, India's ban on TikTok has been lifted, and Instagram may be planning to hide likes and engagement numbers.
#1: PC game news and insights
Here are the five hottest stories from our sister-site PCGamesInsider.biz for the last week.
Trademark for Slightly Mad's Mad Box console runs into trouble
Studio withdraws application following opposition from a similarly-named French games firm.
Here is who is working on Google's Stadia streaming platform
We've dug through LinkedIn to find the people behind the search giant's big game play.
What Keywords Studios' acquisition strategy looks like for the coming year
CEO Andrew Day opens up about what the firm is looking for moving forward and what lessons he learnt from taking Keywords public.
V&A curators weigh in on getting gaming on the museum floor
We speak accessible development and bringing games to the masses at the Design/Play/Disrupt exhibition's Dundee opening.
Registered with European IP body EUIPO in March 2018.
#2: Blockchain game news and insights
Here are the five hottest stories from our sister-site BlockchainGamer.biz for the last week.
IOST introduces mobile log-in system to improve mass adoption
IOST has been growing considerably over the past few months, managing to surpass Ethereum with its line-up of dApps. While this list is still in the process of growing on its Olympus network. The team is set upon making itself easily open to mass adoption.
The Abyss successfully launches its Minimum Viable Product
The Abyss team has officially announced the completion of the Minimum Viable product of its digital distribution platform. Along with this, the team will soon be releasing its desktop app in conjunction with its first wave of client game titles.
FreeLoadr introduces invite-only beta of its game platform
There’s a great deal of GPU power that can be made use of for companies, with the right incentive. One of the ways that FreeLoadr intends to do this is through providing its users with its own virtual currency.
Waves introduces its new incubator program for long-term development
The introduction of the Waves Grant Program brought with it a lot of opportunities for aspiring developers. But the team intends to provide more capital in support of aspiring individuals and development teams. How exactly it plans to do this is through its incubator program which was announced this week.
Blockchain Braintrust – fighting out for funding
Taking an idea from some kind of blueprint to place it in front of investors is an uphill struggle. If securing seed capital is a challenge for mainstream games, it gets to be far more complicated with blockchain.
#3: Influencer news and insights
Here are the five hottest stories from our sister-site InfluencerUpdate.biz for the last week.
China's biggest live-streaming platform DouYu files for $500 million IPO in the US
Chinese live-streaming company DouYu has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in the US. The platform is supported by gaming behemoth Tencent and the IPO is set to be worth up to $500m.
Instagram could be planning to hide 'likes' in a new design
Instagram is planning to hide likes and engagement numbers, according to a known reverse-engineering expert. If this change is introduced, it could severely impact how influencers use and grow with the platform.
Influencer fakes attending Coachella to demonstrate how easy it is to lie on social media
28-year-old YouTube vlogger Gabbie Hanna decided to 'fake' attend Coachella this year, in order to demonstrate how easy it is to embellish lives on social media.
India's ban on TikTok downloads has been revoked
The ban on social video platform TikTok has been lifted within India after little over a week.
Ninja makes TIME magazine's top 100 influential people of 2019
Popular Fortnite streamer Tyler 'Ninja' Blevins was included in the list for most influential people of 2019 for TIME magazine, alongside stars such as Taylor Swift and The Rock.