Clash of Clans is one of the world's most popular games, boasting millions of players and millions of dollars and millions of hours on YouTube.
Since the game's release on the App Store back in 2012, it has consistently sat at the top of the mobile charts across all applicable platforms. Supercell, the company behind the game, takes in an average estimate of over $5 million a day. Clash of Clans itself is free to download and relies on players spending money to purchase upgrades to fund their addiction.
It is the perfect dissemination of everything you love and hate about mobile titles: free to play, cartoony, relies on In App Purchases (IAP), basically a virtual casino, and the most dreaded of all video game hate speech: 'casual'.
Just don't tell the fans that. They are anything but casual, with some devoting hours of their time to building their own digital fortress, attacking enemies, mining and researching upgrades and strategies. Some even take it a step further and share their wisdom, uploading their replays, hints, cracks and guides to YouTube for all to see. Of the myriad of YouTubers who preach to the ever-growing Clash of Clans community, few are larger, more respected or more entertaining than Galadon of Clash of Clans Attacks.
Fire up any one of his over three hundred videos - he uploads a new one every day between 11 a.m and 3 p.m. EST - and even if you are not familiar with the game, Galadon's enthusiasm and intelligence shines through. He deeply loves the game and is possessed with infectious energy. Whether he's attacking with an untenable troop formation and failing (a 'Galafail' is the accepted term) or wiping the board on to a perfect victory, it's easy to understand why he's at or near the top of Clash YouTubers.
Galadon himself, however, remains a one-game man. "Two years ago, there could be half a dozen games that I could rattle off that I played. I just honestly don't have time to play anything else." he laughs, "I will admit that I have a PlayStation 4, on the way. I finally broke down and bought one. I played since GTA on the PlayStation 3 so it kind of got me thinking that it might be fun to break that out and try it on the PS4."
Not that he is itching to branch out all that much. "Honestly, it's my dream job. I get paid to play video games! My mom is like, 'I should've known that someday [you'd] figure out how to play video games and get paid for it!'"
Being in contact with Supercell (the company regularly shares his videos on their social media sites), I asked Galadon his thoughts as to the future of Clash of Clans. "The Healers in Clash of Clans are probably the most underutilized troop in the game right now. I would like to see and wouldn't be surprised if we saw some major changes to Healers that made them more viable at Town Halls 8, 9 or 10."
If that happens, Galadon will be sure to cover it. Until then, for Galadon, every morning is another chance to do good work. This is, after all, his dream. "Even to this day, with as much time as I spend on it, it doesn't seem like a chore. Like 'Oh, I got to do this,' or 'I got to go answer these comments.' It's like 'No, I get to make another video!' What I am going to cover this time?"
Tune in everyday to Clash of Clans Attacks to find out.
