Google Play has provided a platform for me to distribute my apps and games not only nationally, but internationally.
Jason Stock
Founder & CEO
Jason Stock had put his dream of creating games on hold and was working as a telecom engineer when he bought his first Android phone. “I quickly learned that there’s a low barrier to entry to create games on Android,” he says. “So, I began re-pursuing my passion project.” His first release, a bubble-shooting game, didn’t do well, but then a brush with Words with Friends led him to the world of anagram solvers. His first solving app, Word Breaker, was an overnight success, and Jason founded Firecracker Software in 2011. Today, the company has a team of eight working in Spokane Valley and has hit nearly five million installs of more than 40 apps for mobile gamers on Google Play.
Ninety percent of Firecracker Software’s revenue comes from advertising. Using Google AdMob as a mediation and monetization platform, Firecracker is able to compare ad networks and find the highest-earning impressions, maximizing their income. Meanwhile, Google Analytics and Firebase help them understand app performance to identify bottlenecks and make improvements, and Google’s Crashlytics tool alerts them to glitches in their apps. “We’ve worked with Google for over 10 years,” Jason says, “and we’ve had some really excellent account managers who have helped remove barriers to developing, advertising, or monetizing our apps.” With its latest release, Firecracker takes a swing at a real-world app: CoachView lets coaches see their players’ athletic performance in slow motion and record feedback. And they continue to make strides in the gaming world with more stat-tracking apps and community-driven helper tools. “Word games aren’t going anywhere,” Jason says, “but there’s a lot more opportunity out there.”