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‘Shark Tank’ Season 15 fans criticize Overplay founders for 'goofy' video game, call it 'pointless

'Shark Tank' fans insult Overplay for their software designed for 'children and senile old people'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Overplay introduced its revolutionary app on the 18th episode of the 15th season of ABC's 'Shark Tank'. Despite securing a deal in the Tank, viewers seem to be less than thrilled with the app itself.

What sets Overplay apart is its user-friendly interface, enabling anyone to effortlessly transform their videos into playable games and share them with others, all without the necessity for scripting. Their creative approach has attracted notice, as indicated by their successful patent acquisition for "gamifying videos" and the technology that allows for smooth transitions between portrait and landscape modes on mobile phones.

This patent ensures that Overplay stays at the forefront of video game innovation. However, unimpressed fans on Reddit wrote, "Looks like the games you try to avoid on a mobile ad." Another user chimed in, "This doesn't look fun to me."

One user argued, "The idea of it is .... interesting. But Its nothing id try more than once which I think is the case for most people unless they make it significantly better...which they can but I just don't see it rn." Another noted, "only play is to license it to shittok." One user asked, "Is tapping and swiping on top of a video a “game”?"    

On X, a fan wrote, "someone invested in that goofy ass video game company thats gonna melt kids brains even more but NOT a new concept grocery store to minimize food deserts in vulnerable communities? INSANE …" "Yeah. Sorry. This “video game” would maybe entertain two audiences: Children and senile old people. This is the most pointless crap I've ever seen on this show. Congrats," wrote another fan. 

Who are the founders of Overplay?

Dan Projansky, a graduate of Binghamton University with a degree in film, cinema, and video studies in 1991, embarked on a remarkable career journey. He joined Sesame Workshop as an executive producer of Interactive Media, showcasing his talents and quickly ascending through the ranks.

He eventually became the interactive creative and technology head for Sesame Street, demonstrating his unique approach to children's media. Dan first met Caroline Strzalka in 2008 while working at Sesame Workshop.

Caroline, who holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics and International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by an MBA from The Wharton School, has dedicated herself to a career in entrepreneurship and innovation. After working as a consultant for numerous companies, she established Intellitoys in 2005, a ground-breaking platform for technologically enhanced children's toys.

By 2008, Caroline had ascended to the position of Director of Corporate Development at Sesame Workshop. Her expertise in corporate strategy and innovation, coupled with her passion for children's education and entertainment. Despite their closeness, Dan and Caroline did not immediately consider Overplay. They worked hard to further their careers, and each made major contributions to their respective disciplines.

Caroline has held senior roles at prestigious organizations like Scholastic and Sandbox & Co., demonstrating her aptitude for corporate leadership. She also returned to entrepreneurship in 2016 when she founded It's By U, an e-commerce company focusing on floral distribution.

Meanwhile, Dan entered the digital startup sector, launching Mytograph, a photo-sharing software, in 2015. In 2017, Dan set out to create user-generated gaming software that would convert user films into interactive video games. His entrepreneurial enthusiasm and technological expertise, as proven by his Emmy nomination, motivated him to pursue this new notion.

Bringing substantial experience in company development and entrepreneurship, Caroline joined as a co-founder in 2020, significantly bolstering the team. They decided to kickstart their idea by launching a community round on Wefunder, with funding led by Sound Media Ventures.

Where to buy Overplay?

To discover more about Overplay Games from 'Shark Tank', go to overplay.com. Once on the page, there is a "Get Started" button following the films demonstrating the product in operation.

After tapping that option, a person may select whether to utilize Android or Apple on their devices. The game includes a free installation. However, the rating in the Android store is just 3.4, with some users complaining that it does not always operate and is difficult to grasp.

Overplay raised millions before appearing on 'Shark Tank'

This is a new game, thus there will be issues that the devs will ultimately fix. The game was built due to investors on Wefunder.com, who have funded $228,362 to date.

The founders additionally secured $1 million from regular investors and $1.8 million from institutional investors. It is uncertain how much this will ultimately cost players.

'Shark Tank' Season 15 airs on Fridays on ABC at 8 pm ET.

For those who missed the episode, it will be available on demand the following day and on Hulu. Additionally, viewers can explore past seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.