Through project-based engagements and longer-term retainers, IDG’s consulting and custom research provide a “secret weapon” for clients across a wide range of skill sets and research areas.
Case Study #1: Market Gap and Opportunity Assessment for Top PC Game Publisher
Performed a 3-month Strategic Market Gap/Opportunity Assessment for a Top PC game publisher, looking to pivot/diversify beyond PC into other platforms and business models.
Advised client on competitive landscape, with analysis across 10+ competitors, identification of strategic partners, while modeling out future revenue opportunities. This project helped the client to ramp up expansion and diversification faster than anticipated.
Result
One game title accounted for over 90% of revenues prior to this project. Several years later, using IDG’s recommendations, the company’s portfolio has much wider diversification across multiple platforms, genres, and business models, thus reducing the client’s revenue concentration risk while opening the company up to new market opportunities.
Case Study #2: M&A/Investment Due Diligence for a Leading Private Equity Firm
Conducted due diligence on a game development studio, advising the Private Equity firm on a potential investment in the studio.
Performed valuation analysis on the target’s IP, a portfolio audit, and a competitive landscape assessment, while serving as the industry subject matter expert during negotiations.
Result
IDG laid out the risk factors on pursuing the deal, including a weakened manufacturer partner who eventually declared for bankruptcy. The client saved a significant sum of money by following IDG’s data-driven advice.
Case Study #3: Title Forecast and Sales Optimization for Top 10 Console Publisher
As part of IDG’s title forecast/scenario analysis, an in-depth competitive window analysis was performed.
Using seasonality and comparables analysis, along with industry channel checks with retailers and publishers, IDG recommended a new release window for the game, which went against the client’s initial plan. IDG also provided marketing and launch advisory.
Result
By following IDG’s recommendation set, the client’s game launched in the IDG-recommended window and outperformed its internal sales forecasts by over 2x.
