The Builder's
Playground.

The story began when the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce decided to host their Christmas Party and needed a venue that felt warm, social and a little different from the usual halls and hotels. When Launchpad was suggested, the idea felt both surprising and exciting. A co-working space turning into a festive party venue? It sounded ambitious, but everyone could picture the potential.

The First Signs of Christmas

Weeks before the party, Chamber and us put up the Christmas tree in the lobby to support the Chamber’s charity drive. Clay, one of our members, joined in by 3D-printing custom ornaments which added personality to the tree. The decorations sparked conversations and gave the space a warm holiday feel long before any party setup began. LIBT agreed to sponsor the Christmas Party!

The Transformation Begins

Two days before the event, the team rolled up their sleeves. Launchpad and Chamber members worked together, turning a normal workday into a decorating session.

• Desks were moved aside to clear a dance floor.
• Lights were draped across desks, walls and even the water filter.
• A disco ball was mounted above the central workspace.
• The sound system was tested from every corner.

The Launchpad felt different already. The Christmas tree glowed softly at the entrance, reminding everyone why it had started. And with each decoration added, the space shifted from workplace to party venue.

Party Night

When guests arrived, they paused. Launchpad looked familiar, but not really. The disco ball scattered reflections across the walls. Pizza from Just Pizza & Pasta filled the air. The Wine Cellar set up a bar where founders normally hold coffee meetings. We moved our tables to give DJ Kim Bezance the space to set up the DJ booth and the dance floor.

People danced where they had worked before. They chatted under strings of lights that had gone up only hours before. The Launchpad felt alive.

What Made It Special

The story of this party is not just about decorations. It is about collaboration.
The Chamber brought the idea.
Launchpad brought the space.
Volunteers brought the energy.
Clay brought creativity with their 3D-printed ornaments.
Our providers brought the food, the drinks and the soundtrack.

Together, they shaped a night that felt personal and memorable.

The Memory That Stays

If you were there, you know the moment when the music, the lights and the atmosphere clicked into place. Launchpad didn’t just host a party. It became part of the story—part of the celebration and part of the community that made the evening happen.

And if you missed it, picture a room lit by a glowing charity tree and a spinning disco ball, filled with people who came together to turn a co-working space into a festive kitchen disco for one unforgettable night.

More photos in the Chamber website: https://www.iomchamber.org.im/photos/chamber-christmas-party-2025/

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The Isle of Man tech community filled the Launchpad event space last week to learn how a local creator built one of the most-played games on Roblox, and what this means for digital talent on the island.

Cameron Scott, developer of Restaurant Tycoon 3, walked the room through his journey, his design choices, and the systems that helped his game reach millions of players.

He built much of this work while living on the Isle of Man. That point alone captured the room.

Why it matters

Roblox is now the world’s largest gaming platform, reaching hundreds of millions of players each month.

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Every game is built by creators and small teams. No big studios required.

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This matters for the Isle of Man because it shows a clear path for local creators. If global platforms reward small builders, the island can grow its own digital talent faster than ever.

What Cameron shared

1. A local journey to global reach

Cameron started small.
He discovered tycoon-style games in 2006.
He earned his first money from game creation in 2016.
By 2025, he was a full-time developer.

Restaurant Tycoon 3 went on to reach:

• 150m+ play sessions in 4 months
• 8M monthly active users
• 500k daily active users
• 67k concurrent users

These numbers surprised many in the room.

2. Why small creators often win

Roblox gives independent developers:

• Low entry barriers
• No server costs
• Auto-compatibility across devices
• Strong recommendation systems

This makes it possible for local creators to compete with global brands.

3. What makes a game work

Cameron broke game design into simple loops:

• Core loops: the basic actions players repeat
• Progression loops: earn, upgrade, expand
• Depth: new items, creativity, discovery

Students in the room understood this right away.

4. Retention drives growth

Only 14% of new players return the next day.
Creators must add:

• Daily tasks
• Surprise events
• Social features
• Quick rewards

These small touches keep players active and returning.

5. Global reach comes from simple design

Less than 25% of Cameron’s traffic comes from the US and UK.
Many players use older mobile devices, so simple visuals and smooth performance win.

This is a key point for new creators on the island.

6. Data shapes everything

Cameron showed how small changes in thumbnails and tests can double results.

Retention benchmarks and A/B tests guide updates and feature choices.

7. Games stay alive with updates

Weekly updates, seasonal events, and random moments keep players engaged.

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What the community saw

The room included students, parents, founders, and developers.
Students asked direct questions.
Parents wanted clarity on safety, which Cameron explained using Roblox’s moderation tools, ID checks, and account settings.
Developers asked about analytics and scaling.

The mix of ages showed the strength of the Isle of Man tech community and its interest in digital creation.

Three clear takeaways for the Isle of Man

1. Local creators can reach global audiences.
Cameron proved this with real numbers and transparent details.

2. Young people care about digital skills.
Many of the best questions came from students.

3. The island needs more spaces like this.
People want practical, honest sessions about real digital work.

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Here is the recording of the session.

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Cameron has made his slide deck available for anyone who wants to revisit the session.
Access it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RWyx3POmLsf0lYN6IGHFNwDdEOY0gCTa/view

What’s next at Launchpad

Launchpad will run more sessions that support digital creators, founders, and young talent on the island.
We want more people to share their work, teach skills, and speak to the community.

If you want to run a session, get in touch with us.
Our focus is simple:
Bring people together.
Help local talent grow.
Strengthen the Isle of Man tech community.

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We finally did it.

Launchpad now has its own LinkedIn newsletter called The Startup Club.
If you work on a startup, want to start one, or simply enjoy learning how founders think, this is for you.

The newsletter is simple. Everything we see inside Launchpad that can help you build better and move faster will be included there.

What you’ll get each month

• Stories from early-stage founders
• Hard lessons you can copy
• Tools worth trying
• Fundraising tips
• Product ideas we see around the island
• Mistakes founders keep repeating
• Community wins
• Events you should join
• Resources for Isle of Man founders and anyone building remotely

We built this because many founders keep asking the same things:

• How do I validate an idea?
• How do I get my first users?
• Where do I find support on the island?
• What are other founders doing right now?
• What should I focus on this week?

Instead of keeping all these conversations inside Launchpad, we’re sharing them with everyone.

Why this matters for the Isle of Man startup scene?

Startups grow faster when people learn from each other. More visibility brings more talent. More talent brings more good ideas. Good ideas create momentum.

The Startup Club gives you a front-row seat to what’s happening. You’ll see who’s building what. You’ll see what’s working, what’s not, and what you can try next.

Want to join?

Subscribe on LinkedIn and you’ll get the next issue straight to your feed.

Subscribe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7398728899477585920

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If you’re building something new, this is your place. If you’re thinking about starting, this will help you take the first step.

What would you like us to cover next?

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