Member Article

Teenage entrepreneur is playing a winning game

Teenage entrepreneur Jordan McGreevy has launched his own online gaming business and is registering players from all over the world. At only 16 Jordan, from Walkergate, turned his hobby into a business and launched his online game Future RP in March 2006. Just over a year on, he now has over 7,000 registered players – many from across the globe, with loyal players predominantly from the US and the UK.

Future RP is an online roleplaying game set in the future, where players can create their own virtual character and train to complete missions by interacting with other players.

Jordan said: “I was always interested in online games and having acquired some experience in programming, I thought I would have a go at making my own. I created the game myself which has taken a long time but all the hard work is definitely worth it in the end. I love being my own boss but the only downside of running my own business is that I rarely sleep – the userbase is scattered across time zones so as some players go to bed others are waking up to play!”

After drawing up his initial ideas, Jordan’s careers teacher at Walker Technology College suggested he to speak to Newcastle City Council’s enterprise support team. They in turn put him in touch with Business Link and they both helped him to establish the game as a business, and introduced him to video game developers Eutechnyx.

Chris Pay of Business Link said: “Age shouldn’t be a barrier to starting a business. I knew with the right contacts and a bit of mentoring Jordan would be able to develop his passion into a profitable business. The management at Eutechnyx were so impressed with Jordan that they have given him paid work so that he has an income whilst further developing his own games.”

To play Jordan’s game Future RP, log on to www.futureRP.net.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .