:CaptainSparklez
{{short description|American YouTuber (born 1992)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox YouTube personality
| name = CaptainSparklez
| image = Jordan Maron headshot 2018.jpg
| alt = A 2018 photograph of Maron
| caption = Maron in 2018
| birth_name = Jordan Maron
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1992|02|10}}
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| height =
| education = University of California, Santa Barbara
| occupation = {{flatlist|
}}
| channel_handle = CaptainSparklez
| years_active = 2010–present
| genre = {{flatlist|
- Let's Plays
- vlogging
}}
| subscribers = 11.4 million
| views = 4.13 billion
| network =
| associated_acts = TryHardNinja
| silver_button = yes
| silver_year = 2011
| gold_button = yes
| gold_year = 2012
| diamond_button = yes
| diamond_year = 2017
| stats_update = December 2, 2024
}}
Jordan Maron (born February 10, 1992), known online as CaptainSparklez, is an American YouTuber and Twitch streamer mainly known for his Minecraft videos. {{As of|2025|March}}, his main YouTube channel has over 11.4 million subscribers.
In 2010, eighteen-year-old Maron created his first YouTube channel to upload Call of Duty gameplay videos. Later that year, he moved to a new channel named CaptainSparklez and started posting Minecraft videos soon after. Maron joined Justin.tv in 2011, where he live streamed a variety of games; he continued to stream on Twitch after the two platforms were merged. On YouTube, he began to develop a fanbase from his Minecraft-themed music videos and then-daily gameplay. He was also popular on Twitch to a lesser extent. At the end of 2011, Maron was successful enough to become a full-time YouTuber. CaptainSparklez reached one million subscribers in early 2012. Maron has been involved in other projects, including a mobile game company and an athleisure line. After thirteen years, Maron decided to stop uploading Minecraft gameplay content on his main channel in December 2023.
Maron is best known for the Minecraft-themed songs and song parodies he created in collaboration with vocalist TryHardNinja. Their animated music videos are the most viewed on his channel and, for a time in the early 2010s, were the most viewed Minecraft videos on YouTube: "Revenge", a parody of "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love", received three Guinness World Records, including the one for the most watched Minecraft YouTube video.{{Efn|Guinness World Records last updated these three records on July 21, 2016.|name=gwr}}
Early life and education
Jordan Maron was born in Los Angeles on February 10, 1992.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TexLwzN_PiU |title=Draw My Life - CaptainSparklez |date=January 21, 2014 |last=Maron |first=Jordan |language=en |publisher=CaptainSparklez |access-date=June 25, 2023 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite tweet|number=1491813802253303809|user=CaptainSparklez|title=Woke up feeling fresh for my 30th birthday|author=Maron, Jordan|date=February 10, 2022|access-date=June 25, 2023}} His parents, who were never married, separated when he was very young. His mother later married another man. Maron spent most of his time with his mother, with whom he moved to Santa Barbara when he was around four. Before University, Maron attended Santa Barbara Senior High School. Maron then went on to pursue higher education at the University of California, Santa Barbara as a chemical engineering major, but switched to computer science during his freshman year because he realized that video games could be a viable career. After the first quarter of his sophomore year, Maron decided that he was doing well enough on YouTube to drop out.{{Cite web |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |date=September 30, 2015 |title=Jordan 'CaptainSparklez' Maron lives the fairy tale life of getting paid to play Minecraft (interview) |url=https://venturebeat.com/business/jordan-captainsparklez-maron-lives-the-fairy-tale-life-of-getting-paid-to-play-minecraft-interview/ |access-date=November 4, 2022 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US |archive-date=September 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914220601/https://venturebeat.com/games/jordan-captainsparklez-maron-lives-the-fairy-tale-life-of-getting-paid-to-play-minecraft-interview/ |url-status=live }}
Internet career
Inspired by gaming YouTubers, Maron asked his mother for a PC capture card for his eighteenth birthday.{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Chris |date=May 10, 2014 |title=Ordinary folks who became millionaires on YouTube |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2014/05/10/-folks-who-became-millionaires-on-youtube.html |access-date=July 26, 2023 |website=CNBC |archive-date=July 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726094427/https://www.cnbc.com/2014/05/10/-folks-who-became-millionaires-on-youtube.html |url-status=live }} That month, in February 2010, he created his first YouTube channel, ProsDONTtalkSHIT, to upload Call of Duty videos and "show off" his scores.{{Cite web |last=Maron |first=Jordan |title=ProsDONTtalkSHIT |url=https://www.youtube.com/user/ProsDONTtalkSHIT |access-date=October 17, 2015 |website=YouTube |archive-date=April 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426170730/https://www.youtube.com/user/ProsDONTtalkSHIT |url-status=live }} The channel was small and only earned around ten thousand views per video. Maron decided to find a less vulgar username in case it grew bigger, although he was not confident it would. On July 20, 2010, Maron created a new channel, which he named CaptainSparklez on a dare.{{Cite web |last=Patel |first=Sahil |date=August 24, 2015 |title=Know your influencer: For CaptainSparklez, gaming is not a game |url=https://digiday.com/media/know-influencer-jordan-maron-aka-captainsparklez/ |access-date=June 29, 2023 |website=Digiday |language=en-US |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629073951/https://digiday.com/media/know-influencer-jordan-maron-aka-captainsparklez/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=CaptainSparklez - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/@CaptainSparklez/about |access-date=June 29, 2023 |website=YouTube |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629073952/https://www.youtube.com/@CaptainSparklez/about |url-status=live }} He was introduced to Minecraft by another YouTuber named SeaNanners{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/gameon2018yourgu0000unse |title=Game On! 2018 |publisher=Scholastic |year=2017 |isbn=9781338189933 |page=27 |language=en |url-access=registration}} before it would see widespread success on the Internet the following year. Although Maron was skeptical, he decided to start making Minecraft videos; he posted his first gameplay video (Let's Play) of the game in August.
Despite promising his parents otherwise, Maron became more involved in making YouTube videos after he started university. He began livestreaming his gameplay on Justin.tv in 2011. The platform's gaming content was later migrated to Twitch, where he continued streaming. Maron started doing YouTube full-time in December after it became possible to monetize his videos. He developed a fanbase partly from his then daily Let's Plays, and, in April 2012, his channel reached one million subscribers.{{Cite web |last=Eördögh |first=Fruzsina |date=April 30, 2012 |title=Captain Sparklez hits 1 million subscribers |url=http://www.dailydot.com/entertainment/captain-sparklez-1-million-subscribers/ |access-date=August 31, 2021 |website=The Daily Dot |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304203646/http://www.dailydot.com/entertainment/captain-sparklez-1-million-subscribers/ |url-status=live }} In September 2013, CaptainSparklez became the fifth solo gaming channel to pass one billion views.{{Efn|YouTube personalities PewDiePie, SkyDoesMinecraft, UberHaxorNova and TobyGames were among the other four to reach the milestone.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2013/09/05/youtube-billionaires-captain-sparklez/|title=YouTube Billionaires: All Hail Captain Sparklez|last=Gutelle|first=Sam|website=Tubefilter|date=September 5, 2013|access-date=August 31, 2021|archive-date=August 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831182108/https://www.tubefilter.com/2013/09/05/youtube-billionaires-captain-sparklez/|url-status=live}}}} Maron signed to talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) in 2015.{{Cite web |last=Jarvey |first=Natalie |date=February 17, 2015 |title=WME Signs Slew of YouTube Stars, Including Lohanthony, Bart Baker (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/wme-signs-slew-youtube-stars-774051/ |access-date=June 25, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |archive-date=February 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223162852/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/wme-signs-slew-youtube-stars-774051/ |url-status=live }} In 2016, Maron and four other YouTubers voiced their Minecraft avatars in the sixth episode of the spin-off game Minecraft: Story Mode.{{Cite web |last=Skrebels |first=Joe |date=May 31, 2016 |title=Minecraft: Story Mode Episode 6 Release Date Announced |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/05/31/minecraft-story-mode-episode-6-release-date-announced |access-date=November 21, 2016 |website=IGN |archive-date=April 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426170732/https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/05/31/minecraft-story-mode-episode-6-release-date-announced |url-status=live }}
= Content =
Maron is best known for his Minecraft content on YouTube.{{Cite web |last=Fay |first=Kacee |date=May 28, 2022 |title=CaptainSparklez finally wins his first MC Championship |url=https://dotesports.com/news/captainsparklez-finally-wins-his-first-mc-championship |access-date=November 4, 2022 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US |archive-date=November 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104013842/https://dotesports.com/news/captainsparklez-finally-wins-his-first-mc-championship |url-status=live }} His gameplay videos are the focus of his main YouTube channel, while he uses his Twitch livestreams to try out new games, where he has a smaller audience.{{Cite web |last=Dredge |first=Stuart |date=August 10, 2015 |title=YouTube Minecraft star CaptainSparklez starts crafting mobile games |url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/10/youtube-minecraft-captainsparklez-mobile-games |access-date=November 4, 2022 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=November 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104013844/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/10/youtube-minecraft-captainsparklez-mobile-games |url-status=live }} He uploads other types of Minecraft content, such as music videos, as well as fitness content.{{Cite web |last=Kharif |first=Olga |date=April 22, 2020 |title=Inside the $1.5 Billion Market for Streamer-Branded Merchandise |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-22/inside-the-1-5-billion-market-for-streamer-branded-merchandise |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 4, 2023 |website=Bloomberg |archive-date=November 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128165956/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-22/inside-the-1-5-billion-market-for-streamer-branded-merchandise |url-status=live }} Maron previously uploaded once or twice every day, scattering more highly produced videos between his gameplay content. He has created ten additional channels.{{Cite web |last=David |first=Mark |date=February 28, 2023 |title=CaptainSparklez Price Chops Mullet-Style WeHo Aerie |url=https://www.dirt.com/gallery/entertainers/influencers/captainsparklez-house-los-angeles-jordan-maron-west-hollywood-1203621060/ |access-date=June 26, 2023 |website=Dirt |language=en-US |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626084510/https://www.dirt.com/gallery/entertainers/influencers/captainsparklez-house-los-angeles-jordan-maron-west-hollywood-1203621060/ |url-status=live }} In December 2023, Maron announced he was retiring from uploading Minecraft gameplay content on his main YouTube channel.{{cite AV media|last=Maron|first=Jordan|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aZQXfBpk-Y|title=Retiring |work=CaptainSparklez|via=YouTube|date=December 5, 2023|accessdate=December 10, 2023}}
== ''Minecraft'' songs ==
File:CaptainSparklezRevenge.png animated music videos. "Revenge" (pictured) is his most viewed video and set three Guinness World Records.|alt=A still frame from Maron's Minecraft animated music video "Revenge". It shows his in-game avatar singing and dancing to the song.]]
Maron is especially known for the Minecraft-themed songs he produced and uploaded to his channel. The Wall Street Journal dubbed him "the godfather of Minecraft song parodies" because of his status in the fandom.{{Cite web |last=Russell |first=Anna |date=August 12, 2012 |title=Lovers of Minecraft Are Belting Out Odes to Digging and Smelting |url=https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/SB10000872396390443404004577580993745506930 |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 4, 2023 |website=The Wall Street Journal |archive-date=July 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704062949/https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/SB10000872396390443404004577580993745506930 |url-status=live }} In the early 2010s, his animated music videos made up the most viewed Minecraft videos on YouTube,{{Cite web |last=Morton |first=Lauren |date=December 16, 2021 |title=Minecraft videos now have 1 trillion views on YouTube, but the most popular ones aren't actually made in Minecraft |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/minecraft-videos-now-have-1-trillion-views-on-youtube-but-the-most-popular-ones-arent-actually-made-in-minecraft/ |access-date=June 25, 2023 |website=PC Gamer |archive-date=June 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625121807/https://www.pcgamer.com/minecraft-videos-now-have-1-trillion-views-on-youtube-but-the-most-popular-ones-arent-actually-made-in-minecraft/ |url-status=live }} and the most viewed videos on his channel. While many of the songs were Minecraft-themed parodies of popular songs at the time, his team have also created original music. The animation is spearheaded by the pseudonymous Bootstrap Buckaroo, and the vocals by Igor Gordienko, who creates video game-based songs online as TryHardNinja.{{Cite book |last=Allocca |first=Kevin |title=Videocracy: How YouTube Is Changing the World . . . with Double Rainbows, Singing Foxes, and Other Trends We Can't Stop Watching |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |year=2018 |isbn=9781632866769 |language=en |chapter=Niche: The New Mainstream |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VcotDwAAQBAJ&dq=Jordan+Maron&pg=PT164 |access-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-date=September 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914220602/https://books.google.com/books?id=VcotDwAAQBAJ&dq=Jordan+Maron&pg=PT164 |url-status=live }} His songs are high-tempo synth and electronic music.{{Cite web |last=Notis |first=Ari |date=March 9, 2018 |title=CaptainSparklez: Meet the Man Behind YouTube's Minecraft Music Videos |url=https://bestlifeonline.com/captainsparklez/ |access-date=July 2, 2023 |website=Best Life |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630130942/https://bestlifeonline.com/captainsparklez/ |url-status=live }}
On August 19, 2011, Maron uploaded "Revenge", a Minecraft-themed parody of Usher's "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love", to YouTube. {{As of|2025|April}}, the music video has over 298 million views and is his most viewed video.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPJUBQd-PNM |title="Revenge" - A Minecraft Parody of Usher's DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love (Music Video) |date=August 19, 2011 |last=Maron |first=Jordan |type=Music video |language=en |publisher=CaptainSparklez |others=Vocals by Gordienko, Igor |via=YouTube}} It is sung from the perspective of a player who is attacked by creepers.{{Cite book |last1=Goldberg |first1=Daniel |title=Minecraft: The Unlikely Tale of Markus "Notch" Persson and the Game That Changed Everything |title-link=Minecraft (book) |last2=Larsson |first2=Linus |publisher=Seven Stories Press |year=2015 |isbn=9781609805388 |edition=2nd |location=New York |pages=147{{endash}}148 |translator-last=Hawkins |translator-first=Jennifer |url-access=}} In October, Maron released a parody of "Gangnam Style" titled "Minecraft Style", which similarly went viral.{{Cite news |last=Benedetti |first=Winda |date=October 23, 2012 |title=Dig this 'Minecraft'-style 'Gangnam Style' parody |publisher=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/technology/ingame/dig-minecraft-style-gangnam-style-parody-1C6601764 |access-date=November 4, 2012 |archive-date=April 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426170731/https://www.nbcnews.com/technology/ingame/dig-minecraft-style-gangnam-style-parody-1C6601764 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=October 22, 2012 |title=Minecraft parody of Psy's Gangnam Style |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/weirdnewsvideo/9626428/Minecraft-parody-of-Psys-Gangnam-Style.html |url-status=dead |access-date=November 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023075355/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/weirdnewsvideo/9626428/Minecraft-parody-of-Psys-Gangnam-Style.html |archive-date=October 23, 2012}} Maron's parody of Taio Cruz's "Dynamite", titled "TNT", surpassed the UK music video for the original song in April 2019.{{Cite web |last=Scott-Jones |first=Richard |date=April 10, 2019 |title=Taio Cruz's people want you to know a Minecraft parody only passed *one* of the Dynamite videos on YouTube |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/tnt-minecraft-dynamite-parody-taio-cruz |access-date=August 6, 2023 |website=PCGamesN |archive-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806021758/https://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/tnt-minecraft-dynamite-parody-taio-cruz |url-status=live }} Later that year, "Revenge" received renewed attention as an internet meme which challenged group chats to type the lyrics one-by-one and in order.{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Sage |date=July 30, 2019 |title=The 'Creeper Challenge' has group chats fighting to finish song lyrics in the right order |url=https://mashable.com/article/creeper-challenge-group-chat-game-minecraft-parody-song |access-date=June 27, 2023 |website=Mashable |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626162836/https://mashable.com/article/creeper-challenge-group-chat-game-minecraft-parody-song |url-status=live }}
From 2012 to 2022, Maron released five interconnected Minecraft music videos which form the main Fallen Kingdom series.{{Cite web|title=Fallen Kingdom - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSUHnOQiYNg3lFwtTzo_f0bY2IF5T9TqA |access-date=June 29, 2023 |via=YouTube|archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629073951/https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSUHnOQiYNg3lFwtTzo_f0bY2IF5T9TqA |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Perera |first=Joshi |date=April 22, 2021 |title=The Best Ever 'Minecraft' Songs, Ranked |url=https://junkee.com/minecraft-songs-ranked/293065 |access-date=June 29, 2023 |website=Junkee |language=en-US |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629073951/https://junkee.com/minecraft-songs-ranked/293065 |url-status=live }} "Fallen Kingdom" is a parody of Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" sung from the perspective of a king who loses his castle, while "Take Back the Night" debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart because of its YouTube views.{{Cite magazine |last=Murray |first=Gordan |date=January 3, 2014 |title=TryHardNinja Debut Novelty Song On Dance Charts |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/tryhardninja-debut-novelty-song-on-dance-charts/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=June 25, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}} The storyline continued with "Find the Pieces", "Dragonhearted", and "Rising Kingdom". In 2017, Maron collaborated with producers Seven Lions, Illenium, and Said the Sky, and vocalist Haliene for "Rush Over Me".
Other ventures
= Mobile games =
Maron and Activision co-founder Howard Marks co-founded mobile game company XREAL. Marks first contacted him through a mutual friend of his grandmother. They released their first game in May 2015 for iOS and Android. In Fortress Fury, players craft weapons and items to build tile-based 2D fortresses before attempting to destroy others' in real-time multiplayer battles.{{Cite web |last=Conditt |first=Jessica |date=July 14, 2015 |title=YouTube fame to game developer: A chat with CaptainSparklez |url=https://www.engadget.com/2015-07-14-captainsparklez-howard-marks-youtube-game-developer.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZW5nYWRnZXQuY29tL3RhZy9jYXB0YWluc3BhcmtsZXov&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAN7ZIDNTH7WqZIprR8FsBWJkl6Wo7Bb3C5T0NBFdfEhzb2TooEoAA1U14bEhFGcDvCCq5xi3QINHcOUl97PhTHAvyrWIXx5ePbbZftxohYmTyLfwAXXHdYkElGq5AyNBnPeWM3ixDbbOvtw3OOWrxW7luaGsneCXl3s3Y2NuPfWb |access-date=July 4, 2023 |website=Engadget |archive-date=July 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704052751/https://www.engadget.com/2015-07-14-captainsparklez-howard-marks-youtube-game-developer.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZW5nYWRnZXQuY29tL3RhZy9jYXB0YWluc3BhcmtsZXov&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAN7ZIDNTH7WqZIprR8FsBWJkl6Wo7Bb3C5T0NBFdfEhzb2TooEoAA1U14bEhFGcDvCCq5xi3QINHcOUl97PhTHAvyrWIXx5ePbbZftxohYmTyLfwAXXHdYkElGq5AyNBnPeWM3ixDbbOvtw3OOWrxW7luaGsneCXl3s3Y2NuPfWb |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=February 17, 2015 |title=Bethesda parent forces Fortress Fallout developer into name change |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/02/bethesda-parent-forces-fortress-fallout-developer-into-name-change/ |access-date=November 27, 2016 |website=Ars Technica |publisher= |archive-date=April 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426170731/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/02/bethesda-parent-forces-fortress-fallout-developer-into-name-change/ |url-status=live }} Fortress Fury was developed by a contracted studio, but the production moved internally after its launch. The studio aspired to create games for a potential mobile esports scene.
Fortress Fury was originally going to be titled Fortress Fallout until ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Fallout series developer Bethesda Softworks, sent a cease and desist letter to XREAL ordering them to rescind a trademark application for the game and cease using the title in future promotional material. Both Maron and several media outlets believed that it was unlikely the drastically different mobile game would be associated with the franchise. However, the small company lacked the resources to fight ZeniMax.{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Colin |date=February 16, 2015 |title=Bethesda hits Fortress Fallout maker with legal name-change demand |url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/2/16/8046579/bethesda-hits-fortress-fallout-maker-with-legal-name-change-demand |access-date=November 27, 2016 |website=Polygon |archive-date=April 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426200623/https://www.polygon.com/2015/2/16/8046579/bethesda-hits-fortress-fallout-maker-with-legal-name-change-demand |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=LeJacq |first=Yannick |date=February 16, 2015 |title=Fallout Publisher Sends Legal Threat To Game With 'Fallout' In Title |url=https://kotaku.com/fallout-publisher-sends-legal-threats-to-game-with-fall-1686111272 |access-date=June 26, 2023 |website=Kotaku |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626044649/https://kotaku.com/fallout-publisher-sends-legal-threats-to-game-with-fall-1686111272 |url-status=live }} Maron said in a later video that the letter was sent to prevent competition for their mobile game Fallout Shelter (2015), which Bethesda kept a secret until its release.{{Cite AV media |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=HyNx1YWZdIc |title=What Ever Happened To Fortress Fury? |date=October 31, 2016 |last=Maron |first=Jordan |language=en |publisher=CaptainSparklez |access-date=July 13, 2023 |via=YouTube}}
Fortress Fury was downloaded over two million times in its first three months, but did not make a proportional amount of revenue or enter the 200 top-grossing iOS games in the United States. Tasos Lazarides of TouchArcade suggested that this was because of Maron's attempt to make the game player-friendly by lessening in-game purchases, as well as the competitive App Store market, while Stuart Dredge of The Guardian speculated it was because many of his followers were children. Maron let his followers vote on the title, logo, and icon art.{{Cite web |last=Lazarides |first=Tasos |date=August 10, 2015 |title=CaptainSparklez's Popularity Hasn't (Yet) Translated Into High Revenue For His 'Fortress Fury' Game |url=https://toucharcade.com/2015/08/10/fortress-fury-2-million-downloads/ |access-date=June 26, 2023 |publisher=TouchArcade |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626044650/https://toucharcade.com/2015/08/10/fortress-fury-2-million-downloads/ |url-status=live }}{{Efn|
His fans chose both the original name Fortress Fallout and the renamed Fortress Fury.}}
= Merchandise and partnerships =
Maron signed a partnership deal to Maker Studios' Polaris in 2013.{{Cite web |last=Gutelle |first=Sam |date=October 29, 2013 |title=Captain Sparklez, KSIOlajidebt, Ali-A Among New Polaris Gamers |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2013/10/29/captain-sparklez-ksiolajidebt-ali-a-the-bajan-canadian-polaris-maker-studios/ |access-date=July 4, 2023 |website=Tubefilter |archive-date=July 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704072809/https://www.tubefilter.com/2013/10/29/captain-sparklez-ksiolajidebt-ali-a-the-bajan-canadian-polaris-maker-studios/ |url-status=live }} After signing a similar deal with PocketWatch in 2017, Maron received an equity stake in the company and was one of the children's content creators featured in their first book, titled Watch This Book, which was released the following year.{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=November 22, 2017 |title=YouTube Creators CaptainSparklez, EvanTube Sign With Kid-Media Startup Pocket.watch |url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/captainsparklez-evantube-pocketwatch-1202621779/ |access-date=June 29, 2023 |website=Variety |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629020802/https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/captainsparklez-evantube-pocketwatch-1202621779/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Gutelle |first=Sam |date=May 8, 2018 |title=Kids Creators Like Ryan ToysReview, EvanTube, Captain Sparklez To Be Featured In Upcoming Book |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/05/08/watch-this-book-pocket-watch/ |access-date=June 29, 2023 |website=Tubefilter |language=en-US |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629075736/https://www.tubefilter.com/2018/05/08/watch-this-book-pocket-watch/ |url-status=live }}
A CaptainSparklez action figure was part of the initial Minecraft-themed Tube Heroes line, which was released on May 22, 2015.{{Cite web |last=Brian |first=Matt |date=May 20, 2015 |title=YouTube gamers are getting their own 'Minecraft'-inspired figures |url=https://www.engadget.com/2015-05-20-youtube-gamers-minecraft-figures.html |access-date=July 4, 2023 |website=Engadget |archive-date=July 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704052753/https://www.engadget.com/2015-05-20-youtube-gamers-minecraft-figures.html |url-status=live }} In February 2020, Maron launched an athleisure clothing brand called Quality Content.
Awards and recognition
"Revenge" set the Guinness World Records for the most watched Minecraft YouTube video, the most watched machinima on YouTube, and the most viewed fan film based on a video game.{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2016 |title=Most watched Minecraft YouTube video |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/385347-most-watched-minecraft-video |access-date=June 26, 2023 |website=Guinness World Records |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626091518/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/385347-most-watched-minecraft-video |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2016 |title=Most watched machinima on YouTube |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/421521-most-watched-machinima-on-youtube |access-date=June 26, 2023 |website=Guinness World Records |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626093020/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/421521-most-watched-machinima-on-youtube |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2016 |title=Most viewed fan film based on a videogame |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/109905-most-viewed-fan-film-based-on-a-videogame |access-date=June 26, 2023 |website=Guinness World Records |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626094523/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/109905-most-viewed-fan-film-based-on-a-videogame |url-status=live }}{{Efn|Guinness World Records last updated these three records on July 21, 2016.|name=gwr}} In 2015, Maron and SethBling uploaded Verizon-sponsored videos demonstrating a working phone in Minecraft, which holds the Guinness World Record for the first working mobile phone in Minecraft. The server-client architecture instantly converts the phone software onto in-game blocks, using a web application developed by Verizon, Blockworks and Wieden+Kennedy called Boxel.{{Cite web |last=Grubb |first=Jeff |date=December 1, 2015 |title=Minecraft gets cellphone coverage thanks to Verizon — check out these blocky video calls |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/minecraft-gets-cellphone-coverage-thanks-to-verizon-check-out-these-blocky-video-calls/ |access-date=June 26, 2023 |website=VentureBeat |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626084510/https://venturebeat.com/games/minecraft-gets-cellphone-coverage-thanks-to-verizon-check-out-these-blocky-video-calls/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=December 3, 2015 |title=Minecraft's "real" mobile phone supports texting, browsing, and video calls |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/minecrafts-real-mobile-phone-supports-texting-browsing-and-video-calls/ |access-date=June 26, 2023 |website=PC Gamer |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626084510/https://www.pcgamer.com/minecrafts-real-mobile-phone-supports-texting-browsing-and-video-calls/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=December 1, 2015 |title=First working mobile phone in Minecraft |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/518752-first-working-mobile-phone-in-minecraft |access-date=June 26, 2023 |website=Guinness World Records |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626084511/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/518752-first-working-mobile-phone-in-minecraft |url-status=live }} In 2016, Maron was listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 in Games and was nominated for the Shorty Award in Gaming.{{Cite magazine |date=2016 |editor-last=Ewalt |editor-first=David M. |editor-link=David M. Ewalt |title=30 Under 30 2016: Games |url=https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30-2016/games/#7699488d6500 |magazine=Forbes |chapter= |access-date=August 14, 2016}}{{Cite web |date=2016 |title=Jordan Maron |url=http://shortyawards.com/CaptainSparklez |access-date=October 17, 2015 |website=Shorty Awards |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923173800/http://shortyawards.com/CaptainSparklez |url-status=live }}
Personal life
In October 2015, Maron received media attention after he purchased a mansion above the Sunset Strip for $4.5 million.{{Cite web |last=David |first=Mark |date=October 6, 2015 |title=YouTube Star Jordan Maron Nabs Sunset Plaza Pad |url=https://www.dirt.com/more-dirt/real-estate-listings/youtube-star-jordan-maron-buys-sunset-strip-house-1203505509/ |access-date=June 25, 2023 |website=Dirt |archive-date=June 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625115124/https://www.dirt.com/more-dirt/real-estate-listings/youtube-star-jordan-maron-buys-sunset-strip-house-1203505509/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=October 14, 2015 |title=Inside the £2.9m mansion paid for by Minecraft |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/11930952/Inside-the-2.9m-mansion-paid-for-by-Minecraft.html |url-access=limited |access-date=June 25, 2023 |website=The Daily Telegraph |archive-date=June 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625115123/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/11930952/Inside-the-2.9m-mansion-paid-for-by-Minecraft.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=October 9, 2015 |title=Minecraft streamer buys $4.5M Hollywood home, not far from Notch's mansion |url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/10/9/9490109/minecraft-streamer-buys-4-5m-hollywood-home-notch-captain-sparklez |access-date=June 25, 2023 |website=Polygon |archive-date=June 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625115123/https://www.polygon.com/2015/10/9/9490109/minecraft-streamer-buys-4-5m-hollywood-home-notch-captain-sparklez |url-status=live }} He moved to Pasadena, California, in 2023.{{Cite web |last=McClain |first=James |date=May 2, 2023 |title=YouTuber Buys Hilltop Post and Beam Midcentury in Pasadena |url=https://www.dirt.com/gallery/entertainers/influencers/jordan-maron-house-pasadena-1203634512/ |access-date=June 25, 2023 |website=Dirt |archive-date=June 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625115124/https://www.dirt.com/gallery/entertainers/influencers/jordan-maron-house-pasadena-1203634512/ |url-status=live }}
Appearances
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
= Primary sources =
Further reading
- {{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/gameon2018yourgu0000unse |title=Game On! 2018 |publisher=Scholastic |year=2017 |isbn=9781338189933 |pages=26{{endash}}29 |chapter=Meet CaptainSparklez |url-access=registration}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/user/CaptainSparklez @CaptainSparklez] on YouTube
- [https://www.twitch.tv/captainsparklez CaptainSparklez] on Twitch
- {{IMDb name|6466957}}
- [https://techland.time.com/2013/05/23/google-hangout-the-future-of-minecraft-with-captainsparklez-block-fortress-and-will-blew/ Google+ Hangout: The Future of Minecraft with CaptainSparklez, Block Fortress and Will Blew] (Time, May 24, 2013)
{{Authority control}}
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Category:American company founders
Category:American gaming YouTubers
Category:American music YouTubers
Category:American Twitch (service) streamers
Category:American voice actors
Category:People from Santa Barbara, California
Category:University of California, Santa Barbara alumni
Category:Video game commentators