Editor's note: This year we honored some of the brightest young minds in the Bay Area innovation sector as part of our Inno Under 25 feature. Check out all the profiles from this year's honorees here.
At the onset of the pandemic, when we were all trapped inside learning to knit and cook paella, Anne Shoemaker was building a robust business on Roblox. The sandbox-style video game that allows other developers to build new games within its sprawling platform, was where Shoemaker found an avid following and lucrative pool of customers driving sales as high as $500,000 in one year for a game she produced single handedly. Now she has grown her game developer firm, Fullflower Studio, into a team of 30 contractors and one employee as it develops its next title, aided by a funding from Roblox’s developers fund.
Anne Shoemaker
- Age: 24
- Education: University of Silicon Valley (formerly Cogswell College) dropout
- Residence: San Mateo
- Role: Founder
- Company: Fullflower Studio
How did you get into game design?
I joined Roblox when I was 11 years old. One game my friends and I played broke so I tried recreating it in Roblox Studio. It got around 100 players which was inspiring so I continued making games throughout my childhood.
How long have you been making Roblox games and how many have you made?
I’ve been making Roblox games for around 10-11 years. So far I’ve made 4 games.
Can you describe some of the games you’ve created?
My Droplets is a pet game where you adopt an animated rain drop creature. My Mermaid Life is where you dress up in an underwater kingdom, roleplay, and adopt pet mermaids.
How involved is the production process and how long does it take to develop a game?
My Droplets took around 6 months to launch but games require ongoing live updates. It’s been in production for 5 years now. Mermaid Life took 4 years.
When did you start Fullflower Studio?
I started Fullflower Studio in 2020 and hired my first employee who was a programmer friend looking for work. Now we work with around 30 contractors, mostly full-time.
How have your games on Roblox performed in terms of players?
My Mermaid Life has 87 million visits and My Droplets has 58 million visits.
What was the Roblox Game Fund you received recently?
The Roblox Game Fund selects professional studios to produce a game. They paid us to develop a new game releasing next year.
What do you think of Roblox as a platform and partner?
I think Roblox has a solid grasp on how a virtual social gaming platform should work. Their developer relations and insights teams are great resources for growth.
What advice do you have for young people interested in game design?
Focus on your goals and keep learning along the way.
