Brain Sucking
Winning as an Independent Developer
by Gordon Walton (a non-independent developer)
Mr. Walton presented some valuable insight from a non-independent view point.
The differences in the game markets:
You must iterate when making a game. Find people who think your game sucks and listen to them.
"Every great game is an unreasonable proposition."
"Do crazy things". Publishers have filters they apply when looking at game proposals.
"Can it be marketed?" is one of the most important questions. "If we don't know how to sell it - next!"
"Know how to con other people into doing stuff - very important."
Specific advice (Take aways):
Steve Jackson asked, what changes in the next 10 years, particularly with regard to internet's effect on gaming. Mr. Walton explained that bandwidth isn't the problem, latency is. Someone in the audience commented, "You'll be wired into a game all the time."
Mr. Walton: "We compete for people's free time. Our job is to suck every cycle we can out of every brain that we can."
Music/Sound is the most cost effective way to grab a player.
GW is looking for a book that doesn't exist: "The history of martial music and its impact on militancy."
"We do this to mess with people's heads."
"We humans are story creatures. Gaming is more than story. It is the about the illusion of creation/control."
I think the most significant point in Mr. Walton's presentation is that if you try to do battle with the big publishers on their terrain, against their weapons, you're dead before you know it.
by Gordon Walton (a non-independent developer)
Mr. Walton presented some valuable insight from a non-independent view point.
The differences in the game markets:
- PC/MMO: low cost of entry, downloadable/viral distribution
- Next Gen console: *brutal* resource and expertise requirements
- Web Games: low cost of entry, ideal for viral distribution/marketing, but fierce competition
- Handheld/Mobile: low cost of entry, but First Party distributors/manufacturers and fierce competition.
You must iterate when making a game. Find people who think your game sucks and listen to them.
"Every great game is an unreasonable proposition."
"Do crazy things". Publishers have filters they apply when looking at game proposals.
"Can it be marketed?" is one of the most important questions. "If we don't know how to sell it - next!"
"Know how to con other people into doing stuff - very important."
"You've revealed the secret that dare not be spoken!" - Warren Spector.
Specific advice (Take aways):
- read Blue Ocean Strategy
- read Secret of Word of Mouth Marketing
- Shotgun development approach (My handwrititng is unclear here). Make games that are fun. ("Well, duh," says Steve Jackson the next day in his presentation).
- build a like-minded team
- Don't be an asshole. Play well with others
- Educate yourself on marketing and business
- Just do it. Make a game.
- Focus on your 'super powers', but eliminate/minimize your weaknesses so they don't cripple you.
- Make your own playing field.
- You'll win big or die.
Steve Jackson asked, what changes in the next 10 years, particularly with regard to internet's effect on gaming. Mr. Walton explained that bandwidth isn't the problem, latency is. Someone in the audience commented, "You'll be wired into a game all the time."
Mr. Walton: "We compete for people's free time. Our job is to suck every cycle we can out of every brain that we can."
Music/Sound is the most cost effective way to grab a player.
GW is looking for a book that doesn't exist: "The history of martial music and its impact on militancy."
"We do this to mess with people's heads."
"We humans are story creatures. Gaming is more than story. It is the about the illusion of creation/control."
I think the most significant point in Mr. Walton's presentation is that if you try to do battle with the big publishers on their terrain, against their weapons, you're dead before you know it.
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