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From Idea to Income: Navigating Success in Independent Game Development

Join Daniel Menard, co-founder and CEO of Big Action Mega Fight, as he shares insights on thriving in the indie game industry. This comprehensive guide explores the journey from concept to profit in independent game development, touching on the importance of creative expression, team building, and understanding the market. Learn from real-life experiences in launching the puzzle-platformer Party of Sin, including key lessons learned from failures, the significance of accountability, and the need for sustainable work-life balance in game development.

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From Idea to Income: Navigating Success in Independent Game Development

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Presentation Transcript

  1. From Idea to Income How to be successful at independent games

  2. Who is this guy? Daniel MenardCo-founder and CEO

  3. Big Action Mega Fight!

  4. First Cohort

  5. Founded

  6. Creative Expression

  7. No Limitations

  8. Innovation

  9. The Indie Dream • Creative expression • No limitations • Innovation • Push the industry forward

  10. The Indie Reality • Entrepreneurship first • Probably won’t make you rich • ~90% of new companies fail

  11. Crowded Market

  12. The Indie Reality • Failure is part of the game • Passion alone isn’t enough • Releasing is only half the battle

  13. Your Battlefields Financing Scope/ Time Right project Right market Hiring Management

  14. Party of Sin • Puzzle-platformer

  15. Party of Sin • Puzzle-platformer • Local coop

  16. Party of Sin • Puzzle-platformer • Local coop • Steam release

  17. Party of Sin • Puzzle-platformer • Local coop • Steam release • Originally meant for consoles

  18. Party of Sin • Team of ~8 • Working remotely • Revenue share deal • Kickstarter

  19. Party of Sin • 3.5 years • Part time • I quit my job in April 2012 • Released in December 2012

  20. What we thought would happen • Decent reviews • Massive Steam sales • Profitable over time (~1 year)

  21. What actually happened • Mixed reviews • Marketing and store placement not great • Mediocre sales • 98% piracy

  22. My career is over!

  23. Most important lesson It’s okay to failIt is a necessary step toward success

  24. Five Whys • From Toyota • Ask “Why?” at least 5 times • Get to the root cause

  25. The great postmortem • Honest picture of our game and process • Mistakes we would never make again • Crankshaft Games Code of Conduct

  26. 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

  27. Business Model • Be clear on how you will make money • Pricing is complicated • Keep in mind the expectations of anyone giving you money

  28. Build a solid team • Hire talented people you will trust

  29. Build a solid team • Hire talented people you will trust Hire people when you know they’re the one

  30. Build a solid team • Hire talented people you will trust • Good teams don’t need managers

  31. Build a solid team • Hire talented people you will trust • Good teams don’t need managers • Give everyone a stake

  32. Build a solid team • Hire talented people you will trust • Good teams don’t need managers • Give everyone a stake • Generalists Breadth Depth

  33. 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

  34. Work-Life Balance • Sustainable Development

  35. Work-Life Balance • Sustainable Development • Eliminate crunch and burnout

  36. Work-Life Balance • Sustainable Development • Eliminate crunch and burnout • Give people control over how they contribute

  37. Work-Life Balance • Sustainable Development • Eliminate crunch • Give people control over how they contribute • Work-Life Balance

  38. 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

  39. Studio Thinking • Think beyond just one project • Have a unifying vision • Most studios will not display it publicly • It’s important to stick out

  40. 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

  41. Execution Labs • Incubator program for mobile indie games in Montreal • Funding for 9 months • Mentorship from industry experts

  42. Team Catalyst

  43. Support Resouces

  44. Mentorship • Amazing Network • Feedback all through the process

  45. How Incubators Can Help • Shared experience • Leadership / vision coaching • Someone on your side

  46. 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

  47. 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

  48. Thank You! www.doublestalliongames.com@dblstallion

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