Game Overview
‍Eroblast is a dating simulator developed by Vivid Games and Gamularity, where players engage in virtual relationships by chatting with characters. The game combines blast mechanics (a subset of match-3) with a midcore metagame, attracting over 5 million players across mobile platforms and Nintendo Switch.

The game's success inspired the publisher to create a follow-up title, LoveNest, leveraging similar mechanics and themes. Eroblast shares gameplay and thematic similarities with popular titles like HuniePop and Crush Crush, offering a unique mix of puzzle mechanics and character-driven storytelling.

‍My Role
‍As the Product Owner for Eroblast, I played a pivotal role in its development and strategic direction. My responsibilities spanned product operations, metagame design, and overseeing core mechanics such as retention, progression, and monetization. I worked closely with both internal and external teams, including developers, artists, and writers, ensuring seamless collaboration across multiple disciplines.

One of the key challenges I tackled was adapting core gameplay mechanics, originally developed by Gamularity, to a new niche in the dating game market. Recognizing an underused opportunity on mobile platforms, we expanded the game’s character roster and narratives to resonate with a broader audience. I also led themed live-ops, monthly updates, and special events within the game’s Discord community, including NSFW content for dedicated fans.

Key Responsibilities

• Product Management & Operations
  • Led the 3-way collaboration between the internal team, external developers, and outsourced artists/writers
  • Oversaw metagame design, including retention, progression, and monetization systems
  • Managed the product roadmap and budget to align with business goals
  • Collaborated with internal departments such as marketing, analytics, and user acquisition (UA) to drive the game's success
  • Navigated the balance between SFW (Safe for Work) and NSFW (Not Safe for Work) content, ensuring appropriate market segmentation
• Team Leadership & Development
  • Managed and mentored team members, guiding them through hiring processes and fostering their professional growth
  • Coordinated agile practices, including sprint planning and backlog management
  • Defined and tracked OKRs to ensure alignment with strategic objectives
• Data-Driven Decision Making & Market Research
  • Applied a data-driven approach to content development, using player analytics to identify which characters and storylines resonated most with players
  • Conducted extensive market research to identify underrepresented niches and align the game’s strategy with emerging trends
  • Explored AI-supported content creation processes, anticipating the AI-driven shift in game development
• Business Development
  • Drove the business development efforts for the product, identifying new market opportunities and strategic partnerships
  • Worked closely with external contributors, including freelance and community-driven NSFW artists and writers, to bring diverse content to the game

Notable Achievements

• Successfully established the studio's foothold in a new game genre and theme, creating a distinct product that resonated with players
• Led community-driven development by collaborating with a wide array of solo artists and hobbyist writers, particularly from the NSFW space, contributing to the game's unique appeal

Key Insights
‍Eroblast was one of the most engaging and rewarding projects I worked on, allowing me to rapidly adapt to a new market and genre. The project presented unique management challenges, especially in overseeing the hand-crafted content produced by a large number of contributors, many of whom were hobbyists. The game's continued success, including the development of a sequel and its port to Nintendo Switch, is a testament to the strength of the product and the excellence in execution of the team. This experience solidified my ability to innovate and lead in a fast-evolving, niche market.

Links
‍Eroblast - Google Play
Eroblast - AppStore ‍
Eroblast - Nintendo Switch