DinoLink
Executive Summary
Vision Statement
Empower every Path of Titans player to enjoy seamless, private multiplayer adventures with friends—no technical barriers, just pure gameplay.
Problem Summary
Many Path of Titans players want to casually play with a partner or a small group of friends without the hassle of public servers, toxic communities, or complex server setup. Current options require either renting a paid server (often overkill for 2–5 players), joining large community servers with unwanted mods/rules, or attempting cumbersome self-hosting. This creates a significant barrier for casual, low-tech users who simply want a private, low-friction multiplayer experience.
Proposed Solution
DinoLink is a web-based platform that enables players to spin up a private, temporary Path of Titans server in just a few clicks. Users can invite friends, set basic rules (e.g., password, whitelist), and play together without installing mods or joining public communities. The platform abstracts away all technical details and offers affordable, flexible pricing for small groups.
Market Analysis
Target Audience
The ideal user is a casual Path of Titans player (ages 16–40), often playing with a partner or a small group (2–6 people). They value ease of use, privacy, and minimal setup over deep technical customization. Many are frustrated by toxic public servers, complex modding, and the need to join Discords or navigate server rules. They may have limited technical expertise and are willing to pay a small fee for a frictionless experience.
Niche Validation
The Reddit post and its top comments express strong, recurring frustration about the lack of simple, private multiplayer hosting for Path of Titans. Multiple commenters echo the pain point, and no robust, easy solution is cited. However, the overall engagement is moderate (10 upvotes, 11 comments, top comment score 8), suggesting a niche but genuine pain. Broader web research confirms that while self-hosting and paid servers exist, there is no mainstream, ultra-simple, low-cost option for small, private sessions without technical setup[1][3][4].
Google Trends Keywords
Market Size Estimation
Focusing on Path of Titans' active player base (~50,000–100,000 active monthly users), estimate that 15% are interested in private, small-group play. This yields a SAM of 7,500–15,000 potential customers.
With a compelling product and direct marketing, capturing 2–5% of this segment in the first year is realistic: 150–750 paying groups, assuming an average group size of 3.
The global game server hosting market is estimated to reach $5–7 billion by 2028, with hundreds of millions of multiplayer gamers worldwide. Path of Titans has over 1 million downloads, indicating a sizable player base[1][3].
Competitive Landscape
Current competitors include generalist game server hosts (e.g., Citadel Servers, 4Netplayers, GTXGaming), and DIY self-hosting guides[1][4][5]. These require either monthly subscriptions, technical setup, or both. No mainstream platform targets ultra-simple, one-click, short-term hosting for small, private Path of Titans sessions, leaving a gap for a purpose-built, frictionless solution.
Product Requirements
User Stories
As a casual player, I want to start a private Path of Titans server in under 2 minutes so I can play with my friends.
As a host, I want to invite friends via a simple link or code, without requiring them to join Discord or download mods.
As a user, I want to set a password and basic rules for my server to keep it private and drama-free.
As a group, we want to be able to play together without worrying about server costs scaling with player count (up to a reasonable limit).
MVP Feature Set
One-click private server launch for Path of Titans.
Invite system (link/code) for friends.
Password protection and basic rule configuration.
Simple web dashboard for server status and controls.
Automated shutdown after inactivity to save costs.
Non-Functional Requirements
99% uptime for server orchestration backend.
Average server spin-up time under 90 seconds.
Secure billing and authentication.
GDPR-compliant data storage.
Key Performance Indicators
Number of private servers launched per week.
Average session length per server.
Conversion rate from free trial to paid.
Customer satisfaction (NPS score).
Churn rate of paying groups.
Data Visualizations
Visual Analysis Summary
The chart below illustrates the pricing gap between existing Path of Titans server hosting options and the proposed DinoLink pay-as-you-go model, highlighting the affordability for small, casual groups.
Loading Chart...
Go-to-Market Strategy
Core Marketing Message
Play Path of Titans your way—no toxic chats, no server drama, just you and your friends exploring together. One click, instant private server, no tech headaches.
Initial Launch Channels
- Post in r/pathoftitans and similar dinosaur game subreddits, focusing on pain points from the Reddit thread.
- Partner with small Twitch/YouTube creators who stream Path of Titans for casual audiences.
- Launch on Indie game tools directories and Product Hunt with a focus on 'Play with Friends' messaging.
Strategic Metrics
Problem Urgency
High
Solution Complexity
Medium
Defensibility Moat
First-mover advantage in this niche, combined with a seamless user experience and possible partnerships with modding communities or the Path of Titans devs, can create stickiness. Integrations for one-click friend invites and session persistence could further differentiate. However, technical barriers to entry are moderate.
Source Post Metrics
Business Strategy
Monetization Strategy
Offer pay-as-you-go pricing (e.g., $1–$3 per session for up to 6 players, or $5–$10/month for unlimited sessions). Free trial for first-time users. Upsell longer-term plans and premium features (e.g., session recording, advanced admin tools). Stripe integration for payments.
Financial Projections
Assuming 250 active paying groups at $7/month ARPU, projected MRR is $1,750. With moderate marketing, scaling to 500 groups ($3,500/month) is feasible within 12–18 months.
Tech Stack
Node.js with Express for real-time server orchestration and REST API support.
PostgreSQL for relational data (user accounts, billing, server configs).
Next.js for rapid development, SEO, and React ecosystem compatibility.
Stripe for payments, AWS EC2 or DigitalOcean for dynamic server provisioning, Discord OAuth for friend invites, email delivery via SendGrid.
Risk Assessment
Identified Risks
- Game developer policy changes could restrict third-party hosting.
- Low willingness to pay among the most casual segment.
- Technical challenges in automating server provisioning for a non-mainstream title.
Mitigation Strategy
- Build relationships with Alderon Games and monitor TOS closely; ensure compliance and seek partnership.
- Offer generous free trials and highlight value vs. hassle.
- Start with manual provisioning in closed beta, then automate as demand grows.