tales from the trenches - squarespace · tales from the trenches startup advice from a vet ......
TRANSCRIPT
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Tales from the TrenchesStartup advice from a vet
Matt SmallCreative Director
Vector Unit
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Jan 08: Vector Unit founded
Jan-Jul 08: Barracuda prototype/pitch development
Jul-Sep 08: Pitching
Oct 08: Microsoft greenlight
Mar 09: Microsoft agreement signed
Apr 09: HTH development begins
July 10: HTH ships
2008 2009 2010
Oct 10: DLC ships
Feb11: Riptide GP
2011
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Hard-earned lessons
Getting started
Pitching to publishers
Signing a deal
Development gotchas
All that other stuff
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Experience bonus
You know how to make a game
Network Production resources,
contractors, outsourcing
Publisher contacts
Sage advisors
Gabby Hayes
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Taking the plunge
What you need: Team
Company (legal entity)
A game idea (or two)
A pitch and a plan
A playable prototype
Can you do this while you’re still collecting a paycheck?
CasualIsCool.com
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Don’t cross the wires
Develop on your own time
Use your own equipment
No “borrowing”
Leave on good terms
The Hurt Locker © 2008 Voltage Pictures
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The perfect team
Few co-founders
Minimal employees
Plan on contracting
Focus on development
Generalists rule
The A-Team, Stephen J Cannel Productions
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Form your company
Wait – why?
Options – LLC, S/C Corp
Lawyers? We don’t need
no stinkin’ lawyers!
Business plan
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Building your presentation
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Why
prototype?
Ideas are common
Execution is rare
Iron out the kinks
Sweet sweet metrics
Negotiation leverage
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A cautionary
note about
preciousness
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, © 2002 New Line Cinema
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The pitch
High level (details in
your pocket)
Striking visuals
Competitive landscape
Customize per publisher
Be a complete package
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How it works on paper
Internal
ChampionshipPitch
Fact
Finding
Due
Dilligence
Green
LightTerms
Negotiation
Draft
Agreement
More
Negotiation
Signed
Agreement
Kick-off
Payment
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Approaching publishers
Contacts
Agents
NDAs and MNDAs
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What to expect
Technical difficulties
Interruptions
Creative input
Take notes!
Ask questions!
Dragon’s Den, BBC UK
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Common questions
Multiplayer/co-op
Current trends
Team and hiring strategy
Schedule and budget
Man month rate
Knock on Any Door ©1949 Colombia Pictures
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Schedule and budget
Standard man-month rates
What it really costs
Explaining your costs
You have to believe in your plan
Profit margins
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Surviving pitch limbo
Plan for delays
Follow up
Keep records
Keep working!
Image by techoveride. DeviantArt
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Negotiating
The boilerplate deal
Everything is
negotiable
Know your goals
Be realistic (And now maybe we do need
those stinkin’ lawyers…)
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Letting go of IP
Hard to hold IP in first game
Recognize its value
Not just either/or:
First refusal
Sequels and ports
Ancillary rights
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Other stuff to think about
Other stuff you can own: Engine/tools
Pre-existing assets
Generic content
Exclusivity and non-competes
Payment terms
Hidden costs
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Cha-Ching! Oh, Crap
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Big D to small d:
What works
Scheduling
Milestones
Efficiency
Agility
Wile E Coyote, Warner Bros.
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Big D to small d:
Challenges
Resource volatility
Process
Cash flow
Life vs. Work
Wile E Coyote, Warner Bros.
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Managing your
publisher
Treat them like a client
Do as you say
Make your producer’s
job easy
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Lift-off!
Publisher support
(or lack thereof)
Hiring a PR agency
Community
management
Promote yourself
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Keeping it going
Set aside time for
the next thing
Develop your
network
Talk with other
indies
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