Mobile gaming has risen to the top of the video game industry, now accounting for 60% of the market, and growing. While the traditional video game industry remains a male dominated category, one of the fastest growing segments of mobile gaming is growth driven largely by women, who enjoy competition.

“The Four” sat down with Big bucks hunter World champion Sara Erlandson and founder of Play mechanic, George Petro to talk about trends and the future of mobile gaming as they look to this weekend’s Big Buck Hunter World Championships

About the experts:

ORGANIC: Sara Erlandson

Self-proclaimed player and new mom Sara Erlandson is a four-time Big Buck Hunter World Champion. For the past 12 years, she has traveled across the country to compete in Big Buck Hunter competitions, which has earned her appearances in a Twitch mini-documentary titled Ironsights, ESPN, Examiner, Men’s Health Magazine, United States today, and many other glossy magazines and local reports. An unexpected player in a way, Sara grew up as a competitive dancer and then put that competitive spirit to use to master the skills of the Big Buck Hunter video game.

When she and her husband opened Clyde’s Corner Bar and Grill in her hometown of Beldenville, Wisconsin, a community of avid hunters, the Big Buck Hunter video game became a staple game in her bar. In 2010, she noticed an advertisement promoting a Big Buck Hunter World Championship on the screen of the arcade machine and she’s been hooked ever since. After watching her husband qualify and compete in the championship this first year, the energy, community and competition was electrifying, and she knew she absolutely had to be a part of it the following year and wanted to win a trophy. She spent the next year playing when she could, up to 30-40 hours a week or more, challenging people to compete, learning tips and tricks from her husband, and when the qualifying time ran out. It was announced the very first ladies only world championship tournament would be held. From that year, she became the very first Big Buck Hunter Ladies World Champion and one of the longest reigning champions in her history.

Its bar is now called “The Big Buck Capital of the World”, serving as the host for many leagues, tournaments and skillful Big Buck Hunter video game shooters. Sara is currently training her 2-year-old daughter, Marion, to become a Big Buck Hunter player and future champion.

BIO: George Petro, founder of Play Mechanix

George Petro is the founder of Play Mechanix, developer of the iconic Big Buck Hunter video game franchise that has become one of the most popular arcade games and a fan favorite pastime among millions of gamers passing by. hours of playing at over 46,000 bars, restaurants and arcades around the world. The Big bucks hunter The franchise includes titles now designed for mobiles, PCs, game consoles, plug-and-play games, social media platforms and pinball machines. Simple to play and difficult to master, it is the world’s best arcade game, boasting a thriving community of Big bucks hunter players that continues to grow through live and now virtual tournaments powered by Skillz.

A veteran of the video game industry, in 1995 he founded Play Mechanix, creator of such hits as the Big Buck Hunter franchise, Minecraft Dungeons Arcade, Halo: Fireteam Raven, The Walking Dead Arcade and Terminator Salvation, to name a few. only a few. Now in his 14th year, he is the visionary behind creating a global competition forum known as the Big Buck Hunter World Championship that attracts over 20,000 of the best Big Buck Hunter arcade players from around the world to compete. qualify for a chance to compete for the title. of the world champion Big Buck Hunter. Over the years, the event has grown into a forum where women and men can participate in a game they love to play and create a community of friends they wouldn’t have met otherwise. It all starts in the spirit of friendly competition. .