Sunshine Coast gaming businesses and individuals reveal success as some crack billion-dollar sector

The Sunshine Coast’s games community is a lucrative sector, with one 27-year-old making $10,000 a month. Find out how he and others are raking in money through games.

From cards and video games to old-school pinball machines, several Sunshine Coast businesses and individuals are tapping into a giant games industry booming in the country.

The digital games industry in the nation – from video games to Esports – reached about $4.9bn in revenue last year, and was expected to hit $7.3bn by 2026, according to the latest report by PwC Australia.

The Sunshine Coast Daily has found a range of businesses and individuals in their respective subcategories of the games industry, with many revealing how and why they’re seeing sales soar.

Kicking off the list is a young man who is dipping his toes in the billion-dollar digital gaming industry.

Daniel Ebbels known as RedOpz

Caloundra professional video gamer Daniel Ebbels, 27. Picture: supplied.

Caloundra professional video gamer Daniel Ebbels, 27, said he could make up to $10,000 a month live streaming himself playing computer games on streaming platform Twitch for his 50,000-plus followers.

“There’s a lot of money to be made … but I just do it to talk to people and get to know them,” he said.

Mr Ebbels – better known as RedOpz by fans – said he generated money through Twitch, sponsorships, and donations. He said it was a full-time gig too, live streaming for up to 70 to 80 hours a week during peak times.

Mr Ebbels said he started live streaming after finding himself walking around in crutches following an injury while in the Australian Army.

While he was a superstar in the gaming world, Mr Ebbels said the online gaming industry was yet to become big in the Sunshine Coast, saying some people barely understood what he did for a living.

“I think it’s just small compared to what it could grow to,” he said

ItsMissBlondie
Sunshine Coast video game streamer known as ItsMissBlondie, 26, is a full-time streamer on Twitch with a mass following of 11,000 fans.

The female gamer can stream for up to eight hours most nights, commonly playing Apex, Overwatch, and Call of Duty.

Aaron Emerson

Sunshine Coast video game streamer Aaron Emerson, 22. Picture: supplied.

Sunshine Coast video game streamer Aaron Emerson, 22, is an aspiring professional streamer who currently live-streams on Twitch for several hours four times a week since starting three months ago.

The Twin Waters resident, who played Fortnite and alternative horror games on his computer, said he had landed a few tips from his humble 50 followers.

Mr Emerson, known as Diemersyn on Twitch, said he wanted to become a full-time streamer amid the gaming industry being popular, especially as some people enjoyed watching streamers if they couldn’t play themselves.

“You can do anything you want now [with] video games,” he said

Heretics Haven

Heretics Haven manager Breana Blackmur, middle. Picture: Supplied.

Heretics Haven is a family-run games store along Currie St, Nambour, offering playing cards, tabletop games, like Dungeons & Dragons, and a tucked away gaming room that customers can book out.

Heretics Haven manager Breana Blackmur, 23, said sales had increased by 25 to 30 per cent this year compared to last year as people sought community after being stuck indoors during the pandemic.

“People were locked up with Covid-19, and are now trying to find that sense of humanity again,” she said. She said the Netflix series Stranger Things also created a spike in demand for their tabletop games.

Arcade Box

Arcade Box owner Andre Cooper with some of his prized pinball machines.

Arcade Box along David Low Way, Coolum Beach offers retro arcade games and pinball machines for customers from age four to 94. The retailer has a skate shop too.

Arcade Box founder and co-owner Andre Cooper, 46, said annual revenue has shot up by 50 per cent since the brand first launched in Noosa in 2017, supported by customers wanting to socialise after Covid-19.

“People have been cramped up indoors because of lockdowns,” he said.

Mr Cooper said a lot of people came in because they got a taste of nostalgia, or because they’re 94 years old and can no longer hold a licence, referring to his oldest customer.

“They won’t let him behind the wheel so he likes to race on Fast & Furious,” he said.

Amazen Puzzles & Games

Amazen Puzzles & Games owner Tim Hall. Picture: Supplied.

Amazen Puzzles & Games is a games company in Caloundra and Montville, selling board games, jigsaw puzzles, and brain teasers.

Owner Tim Hall said he noticed a spike in demand during and after the pandemic as people looked to gather and socialise around tables.

“Boarding gaming is going well and bringing people together,” he said.

He said his games were also popular because they were an affordable option as cost of living tightened.

The Card House

The Card House owner Kevin O‘Connell. Picture: Asa Andersen.

The Card House along Maud St, Maroochydore sells trading cards, such as Pokemon, and tabletop games, and even holds gaming events.

The Card House owner Kevin O’Connell, who has been in the store since 1993, said demand for his place has been fantastic this year, especially after demand went “down the toilet” during the pandemic.

Conversely, he said the pandemic created a refreshed interest for his products as people looked to find new ways to entertain themselves, and because many people worked from home.

Nathan L’Estrange

Sunshine Coast entrepreneur Nathan L‘Estrange. Picture: supplied.

Nathan L’Estrange is the brains behind Sunshine Coast outdoor novelty games company SC Game Hire, and health and wellbeing initiative The Kindness Collective, which sells a social board game called Listen Up.

Mr L’Estrange, 33, said he had sold about 1500 copies of his board game, which were often used by therapists and social workers with their clients.

He said this customer niche spiked when mental health issues rose during the pandemic.

Mr L’Estrange said SC Game Hire sales had grown “exponentially” by about 5o to 70 per cent in total revenue this year compared to last year as business events and weddings started to kick back to life after Covid-19.

HavenXR

HavenXR chief executive and co-founder Tracy Whitelaw. Picture: Supplied.

Sippy Downs hyper-immersive virtual reality software HavenXR is another game and entertainment business making a splash in the region.

HavenXR chief executive and co-founder Tracy Whitelaw said she had experienced a ton of interest in her start-up from investors, universities, and retail spaces.

Ms Whitelaw said the Sunshine Coast was “perfectly positioned” to nurture a booming gaming industry as the region had access to talent and a good culture and infrastructure, like high-speed internet.

“I wouldn‘t even know where to start in terms of what the industry is worth,” she said.

Otaku Longue

Pictured, Isaac Hooper from last year GI Challenge. Photo: Patrick Woods.

Sunshine Coast teen entrepreneur Isaac Hooper, 16, has planned to try his hand at the gaming industry by looking to launch his gaming and cafe, business, Otaku Longue, idea later this year.

He said he wanted the place to bring together like-minded young people who enjoyed gaming and Anime.

In June, Mr Hooper said he was in negotiations with an investor who might inject more than $60,000 to get the idea off the ground.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast gaming businesses and individuals reveal success as some crack billion-dollar sector