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From Idea to Income. How to be successful at independent games. Who is this guy?. Daniel Menard Co-founder and CEO. Big Action Mega Fight!. First Cohort. Founded. Creative Expression. No Limitations. Innovation. The Indie Dream. Creative expression No limitations Innovation
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From Idea to Income How to be successful at independent games
Who is this guy? Daniel MenardCo-founder and CEO
The Indie Dream • Creative expression • No limitations • Innovation • Push the industry forward
The Indie Reality • Entrepreneurship first • Probably won’t make you rich • ~90% of new companies fail
The Indie Reality • Failure is part of the game • Passion alone isn’t enough • Releasing is only half the battle
Your Battlefields Financing Scope/ Time Right project Right market Hiring Management
Party of Sin • Puzzle-platformer
Party of Sin • Puzzle-platformer • Local coop
Party of Sin • Puzzle-platformer • Local coop • Steam release
Party of Sin • Puzzle-platformer • Local coop • Steam release • Originally meant for consoles
Party of Sin • Team of ~8 • Working remotely • Revenue share deal • Kickstarter
Party of Sin • 3.5 years • Part time • I quit my job in April 2012 • Released in December 2012
What we thought would happen • Decent reviews • Massive Steam sales • Profitable over time (~1 year)
What actually happened • Mixed reviews • Marketing and store placement not great • Mediocre sales • 98% piracy
Most important lesson It’s okay to failIt is a necessary step toward success
Five Whys • From Toyota • Ask “Why?” at least 5 times • Get to the root cause
The great postmortem • Honest picture of our game and process • Mistakes we would never make again • Crankshaft Games Code of Conduct
Professionalism • Is this going to be your hobby or your career? • Party of Sin started as a hobby • Must be accountable to your players • Constantly learning
Business Model • Be clear on how you will make money • Pricing is complicated • Keep in mind the expectations of anyone giving you money
Build a solid team • Hire talented people you will trust
Build a solid team • Hire talented people you will trust Hire people when you know they’re the one
Build a solid team • Hire talented people you will trust • Good teams don’t need managers
Build a solid team • Hire talented people you will trust • Good teams don’t need managers • Give everyone a stake
Build a solid team • Hire talented people you will trust • Good teams don’t need managers • Give everyone a stake • Generalists Breadth Depth
Leave your ego at the door • Keep an open mind • Share creative freedom, it will be good for you • Party of Sin was too centralized • Take feedback as an opportunity to learn • Acknowledge your weaknesses
Work-Life Balance • Sustainable Development
Work-Life Balance • Sustainable Development • Eliminate crunch and burnout
Work-Life Balance • Sustainable Development • Eliminate crunch and burnout • Give people control over how they contribute
Work-Life Balance • Sustainable Development • Eliminate crunch • Give people control over how they contribute • Work-Life Balance
Mind your time / scope • Common pitfall: put everything you think is cool in your first game • Don’t fall in love with your project • What if you were paying someone? • Don’t build an engine unless you sell engines
Studio Thinking • Think beyond just one project • Have a unifying vision • Most studios will not display it publicly • It’s important to stick out
Hit Driven Business • You will be defined by the games you make • How you make those games is more important • Your first few will be bad • Focus on the process • Build your company culture
Execution Labs • Incubator program for mobile indie games in Montreal • Funding for 9 months • Mentorship from industry experts
Mentorship • Amazing Network • Feedback all through the process
How Incubators Can Help • Shared experience • Leadership / vision coaching • Someone on your side
Make the best of incubator • Nurture your team • Be ready to learn • Speak out, give feedback • Think as a company, not a product • Evolve your process • Mind the schedule
References • The Lean Startupby Eric Ries • Four Steps to the Epiphany by Steve Blank • Valve Handbook for New Employees • Ideas per Second by Nathan Marts (GDC 2013) • http://mashable.com/2013/02/28/indie-game-statistics/ • http://indiegames.com/2013/04/the_8_keys_to_indie_success.html • http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/ThomasSteinke/20130415/190484/Reponse_to_quot8_keys_to_indie_successquot.php
Thank You! www.doublestalliongames.com@dblstallion