Opti Games, a video game company co-founded by Silas Talley, a Marquette native and a graduate of Northern Michigan University, has successfully secured $2 million in funding for their new action-packed sports brawler, "Sparkball." The game, which blends elements of League of Legends and Rocket League, has garnered significant interest and praise from the gaming community, and the funding marks a pivotal milestone in its development.

Unlocking the Next Level of Adrenaline-Fueled Sports Brawling

Passion-Driven Beginnings

Opti Games, formerly known as Ambitious Games, was co-founded by Silas Talley, Chandler Thomlison, and Alvin Lee. Talley, a Marquette native, earned an associate's degree in computer science from Northern Michigan University and has been an entrepreneur-client of Innovate Marquette Smartzone for the past five years. The company's origins can be traced back to Thomlison's passion project, which he has been working on for the past nine years. Recognizing the game's potential, Talley and Lee joined forces with Thomlison, and together they have assembled an impressive team of talented individuals to bring Sparkball to life.

Securing the Funding Milestone

The $2 million funding round was led by L1D, with significant contributions from CMS Holdings, Impossible Finance, YGG, and others. Notably, the round also included prominent Monad angel group 'Purple' and Monad CEO Keone Hon, who expressed excitement for the game's future and its integration with the Monad Protocol. This funding represents a pivotal milestone for Opti Games, as they prepare to unveil Sparkball 2.0 during the upcoming "Season Zero" campaign.

Innovate Marquette's Unwavering Support

Innovate Marquette Smartzone, a nonprofit organization that provides resources to innovators, entrepreneurs, and business owners in the Marquette area, has been a steadfast supporter of Talley and the Opti Games endeavor. The organization has offered guidance, resources, and introductions to investors, helping the team navigate the early stages of building their game studio. Talley's entrepreneurial journey has been closely intertwined with Innovate Marquette, and he credits the organization's support as instrumental in the company's growth.

Sparkball: A Unique Blend of "Ballin' and Brawlin'"

Sparkball is a 4v4 "sports brawler" that challenges players to carefully balance both ballin' and brawlin' to score in the enemy team's goal. The game's unique blend of high-intensity action and endless replayability has consistently received praise from gamers, who have likened it to a fusion of League of Legends and Rocket League. The team at Opti Games has poured their passion and lessons learned into the development of Sparkball 2.0, which they believe represents the culmination of their efforts.

Gearing Up for "Season Zero" and Beyond

Sparkball 2.0 is set to be officially unveiled during "Season Zero," a massive one-month campaign where players across the globe will compete to earn rewards and become world-famous Sparkball athletes. This campaign is scheduled to launch in late November through Steam, with the full release of Sparkball on PC and Xbox expected in Q3 2025. The Opti Games team is excited to share their passion project with the world and witness the growth of the Sparkball community in the months and years to come.