Gaming by the Numbers
The 2018 numbers are in, and according to the entertainments software association:
- More than 150 million Americans play video games
- 60% of those players play every day
- The average household has two gamers
In 2016 alone, the industry sold over 24 billion games and made 30.4 billion dollars in revenue.
These numbers include everything from PC gaming to casual gaming on smartphones. There are virtual reality games, motion control games, simple puzzle games, building games, action games, shooters, strategy games and the list goes on. There is something out there for everyone, and judging by the number of people playing video games these days, most of us have found something we like.
Custom video game coins are a fun way to share that excitement and experience with others, and designs are only limited by imagination. Call of Duty and Battlefield players may want a design inspired by our authentic military challenge coins, whereas competitive League of Legends players may want original art of their preferred champions. It comes down to what kind of design you are looking for, and for what game.
Who Uses Video Game Challenge Coins?
Game Developers
Development teams collect custom coins as they finish titles over the years. They also use them for promotion before game releases. AAA developers have coins struck for press conferences and demo events like E3 and San Diego Comic-Con. They hand them out to fans and encourage people to share them and collect them like pins or patches. They are fun and memorable gifts that keep a gaming title at the forefront of everyone’s mind. The most sought-after coins involve huge developers like:
- Nintendo
- Blizzard Entertainment
- Naughty Dog
- Valve Corporation
- Rockstar Games
Similar to corporate coins, some development teams mint coins and keep them in-house. Studio directors and team leaders hand out the coins when a project has wrapped, commemorating years of work to create a unique and thrilling experience.
Esports Venues
Whoever said that video games are a lonely occupation was crazy. According to statista, Blizzard Entertainment’s Overwatch reached 40 million active users as of May 2017.
What?!
Yeah ... 40. Million. To put that number in context, more people play Overwatch than there are people who live in all of Canada.
The most competitive Overwatch players join the Overwatch League for a chance to win cash prizes and become a world champion. But there is more in competition than just Overwatch. According to PC Magazine, there are dozens of high volume esports tournaments, as well as hundreds more local and regional tournaments around the country. The International is a tournament focused on the game Defense of the Ancients (DOTA) and has a prize pool of over 10 million dollars! Professional gamers from all over the world come together for a chance to win.
The venues and hosts of these tournaments use video game challenge coins to celebrate the opening of competition and to recognize teams that have advanced to the final rounds. They sometimes depict dates, sponsorship logos or references to the games in competition.
In tournaments, video game challenge coins celebrate the opening of a competition and recognize the teams that have advanced to the final rounds. They may depict dates or sponsorship logos as well as references to the games in the competition like League of Legends and Counter-Strike, or fighting games like Mortal Kombat and Tekken. It depends on the venue and the games featured in the competition.
Retailers & Casual Gamers
Retailers stock custom coins to sell and/or include with purchases. Designs are used to promote a store’s brand and can easily incorporate information like location or services that a store offers. Coins exchange hands quickly and capture the attention of potential clients. Some stores give out video game challenge coins to patrons who join membership programs or rewards programs instead of putting them up for sale.
Casual gamers collect coins from their favorite titles, competitions and expos. Some gamers also have personal coins designed from scratch. They are an excellent way of showing pride and passion for any game title or gaming platform. Professional gamers have video game challenge coins made with custom artwork incorporating team names, gamertags and call signs as well.
Why You Should Get a Video Game Challenge Coin
Gaming has created a diverse culture and an infinite amount of worlds to discover. They are a place to find comfort, to relieve stress and to have fun. You could be an esports champion or just a parent playing a round or two with your kids on a Saturday afternoon; video games bring people together and that alone is something worth celebrating. Challenge coins are a means of sharing gaming experiences with those people you are closest with.
They are a special means of supporting your favorite titles, they symbolize shared experiences and shared passions, and they become talking points for new acquaintances and old friends to share. Video game challenge coins bring people together, and making custom coins means that in the sea of 150 million American gamers and countless developers, you can still stand out.
