We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Leonard Tatum a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Leonard, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
Tatum Games’ story begins and continues today with a deep commitment to solving some of the most critical problems in the videogame industry. Specifically, we are addressing issues with targeted user acquisition and reducing game developers’ failure risk profiles due to their lack of comparable industry data and difficulty with identifying their most valuable users. I have worked in the tech industry for 20+ years, and identified that independent game developers and small game studios were facing significant barriers. They were struggling to access the same level of data and user insights as larger game studios, which unfortunately leads to a staggering $34B in lost revenue annually. Despite incredible creativity, these smaller game studios have limited access to critical tools for understanding their users—particularly when it comes to user acquisition, retention, and revenue growth.
Myself and Co-Founders, Jordan Lindsey and Kevin Lim, knew this was a problem worth solving. Additionally, as a passionate advocate for underrepresented communities, we saw the intersection between technology, gaming, and social impact. We envisioned a solution that not only helped small game developers thrive but also supported the marginalized voices that have long been excluded in the tech world. This led to the birth of Tatum Tech and our flagship product, MIKROS, a game-changing data analytics platform powered by artificial intelligence and co-developed with Google.
What excites us most at Tatum Games is that we are not just solving technical problems—we are building a community of support and opportunity. MIKROS gives game developers access to the kind of data and insights that were previously reserved for the industry’s elites and largest game studios. By improving user acquisition and retention strategies, we are helping game developers scale sustainably, reducing the risks that have led so many indie studios to fail. In fact, studies show that nearly 50% of indie games fail within the first 2 years due to these very challenges. Tatum Games is flipping the script and increasing the odds for success.
But it’s not just about the tech. It’s about the people. We are committed to creating pathways for underrepresented individuals to break into the gaming industry. Right now, Black game developers make up only 2% of the workforce, and Latinx developers are just 3%. Women comprise about 24% of the gaming industry—a glaring disparity when compared to other fields. Tatum Tech events in South LA are designed to change that. At these bi-annual events, Tatum Games gives away over 100+ computers and offer hands-on workshops led by professionals from major game studios. These events don’t just provide tech; they provide real opportunities for young, underrepresented people to learn, grow, and find careers in gaming and technology. The next Tatum Tech event will be on April 5th (Saturday). RSVP here: https://lu.ma/wfach283
Tatum Games is making a tangible difference in the world of gaming—helping developers succeed, fostering diversity, and giving future game creators the tools they need to thrive. We are creating a community of tech and gaming talent, and are excited to continue this journey, because we understand that we are not just changing the industry—we are transforming lives.
Leonard, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My background is in Computer Science, and I have over 20+ years in software engineering; specializing in developing mobile applications. My Co-Founders, Jordan Lindsey and Kevin Lim have tenured deep experience in Project Management and Finance respectively.
My personal journey into the tech world started with a passion for problem-solving and a drive to innovate. Everyone at Tatum Games is incredibly proud of the impact we have made and looks forward to continuing our mission. We are committed to shaping a more inclusive and innovative future for both the gaming and tech industries.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Tatum Games originally started as a videogame production company, with a focus on mobile gaming. Our initial vision was to create unique, interconnected gaming experiences, and we achieved that through proprietary and patented technologies. Our technology enabled players to carry their achievements across different games, communicate across games, send virtual items across games and more. All of this regardless of the game’s’ ownership. We became experts in preserving gaming history, player progression and behaviors across multiple titles, creating a more unified and personalized experience for players.
However, as we continued to develop and refine our technology, we realized the potential to make a far greater impact. We saw an opportunity to shift from being a game studio to a service provider, offering our innovative technologies to the broader gaming community. Our goal became clear: rather than keep our breakthrough technology limited to our own games, we wanted to help improve the industry as a whole.
This led us to pivot from a game development company to a tech-driven company, and that’s how MIKROS Analytics and the MIKROS Ecosystem as a whole was born. By transitioning our proprietary technology into a public SaaS platform, we have been able to empower independent game developers, small game studios, and even larger companies to enhance their user acquisition, retention, and revenue strategies.
This pivot wasn’t just a business decision—it was a commitment to creating long-term, positive change within the gaming industry. We wanted to enable developers to take their games further and reduce the failure rates that many face. And in doing so, we also opened the doors for greater innovation and opportunities for marginalized groups, who we believe should have more of a voice and presence in the gaming industry.
Looking back, it was one of the best decisions we’ve made, and it reaffirmed our mission to bring lasting impact to the gaming world—not only through the games we create but through the technology we build to support others in the industry.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I believe what has truly helped build Tatum Games’ reputation within the gaming industry is our unwavering commitment to collaboration and community. From day one, we made it a point to not just build MIKROS for game developers, but with them. Our motto, “built by developers for developers,” isn’t just a slogan—it reflects our core approach. We work closely with game developers who use our platform, ensuring that MIKROS evolves in ways that directly benefit their needs and address their pain points.
A key factor in our success has been the open and transparent communication we maintain with MIKROS users through our MIKROS Mafia community on Discord. This space is more than just a forum; it’s a place where developers, artists, animators, composers, and anyone aligned with the gaming industry can come together, share their work, exchange ideas, and build relationships. It’s also where they can provide direct feedback to our team, helping us continually improve MIKROS to meet the ever-evolving demands of the industry.
Our accessibility and our genuine, hands-on approach to solving the challenges faced by game developers have fostered deep trust and loyalty among our users. We don’t just offer a tool, we build relationships, learn about our users’ projects, and work alongside them to craft solutions that are tailored to their needs. Whether it’s solving technical issues, offering marketing guidance, or helping them understand their game’s users, we meet our partners where they are, often working within their budgets to provide the most impactful solutions possible.
It’s this level of engagement, combined with our commitment to delivering the most advanced game analytics platform, that has made MIKROS the fastest-growing and most trusted tool in the industry. Developers know that when they partner with Tatum Games and the MIKROS Ecosystem, they’re working with a team that genuinely has their best interests at heart and will go the extra mile to ensure their success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://developer.tatumgames.com/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tatumgames
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tatum-games-llc
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/tatumgames
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/TatumGamesLLC
- Other: Join MIKROS Mafia:
https://discord.com/invite/6FzqSUDRXQExplainer:
https://youtu.be/8-YXpsTEyAQ
Image Credits
Property of Tatum Games