Charles Forman, Founder of Omgpop
" 6 Years of failures .... 35 attempts ....
Then US$180 Million overnight ..... "
I believe many of you have heard of the game DRAW SOMETHING. 1 of the most popular games on the iPhone now.
The below is a summary of how its founder, Charles Forman, who almost closed his business after having left with only $1700 in the bank, having failed to launch a successful game for the last 6 years.
A month ago he was set to close his business. This week, he sold... it for US$180 million. That's why he's smiling...
After six years trying to figure out how to make games on the iPhone, Charles Forman was about to give up, with his company, Omgpop, set to run out of money by this May. Things changes three days ago. He said in an interview with the New York Times on Monday “I had $1,700 in my bank account yesterday, and now I have a whole lot more.”
So what changed? After 35 attempts at making games that would be successful, the Omgpop team finally found a hit at the beginning of February. The game, called “Draw Something” is like Pictionary for the iPhone. Since it launched on Feb 6th, it has been downloaded 35 million times. It caught the attention of Zynga, the game company behind Farmville and other Facebook game hits. A month after the game launched, Zynga just bought Omgpop from Charles for $180 million.
Do you have the perseverance to try to create a success after 35 failures?
After six years trying to figure out how to make games on the iPhone, Charles Forman was about to give up, with his company, Omgpop, set to run out of money by this May. Things changes three days ago. He said in an interview with the New York Times on Monday “I had $1,700 in my bank account yesterday, and now I have a whole lot more.”
So what changed? After 35 attempts at making games that would be successful, the Omgpop team finally found a hit at the beginning of February. The game, called “Draw Something” is like Pictionary for the iPhone. Since it launched on Feb 6th, it has been downloaded 35 million times. It caught the attention of Zynga, the game company behind Farmville and other Facebook game hits. A month after the game launched, Zynga just bought Omgpop from Charles for $180 million.
Do you have the perseverance to try to create a success after 35 failures?
Is it worth the six years of trying and failing to reach the runaway success?
NO ONE SAID SUCCESS WAS EASY.
IT COMES ONLY TO THOSE WHO LEARN AND PERSEVERES.
Dan Porter, Creator of Draw Something
