Download - Encouraging The Game Development Culture
ENCOURAGING
THE GAME DEVELOPMENT
CULTURE
Žilvinas Ledas
Who am I?
Žilvinas Ledas● Teach game development at Vilnius University● Co-founder at Tag of Joy (www.tagofjoy.lt)
● Chairman at Lithuanian Game Developers Association
● Sometimes write stuff at GameOn.lt
Follow: @zledas
Connect: linkedin.com/in/zledas
Summary
● How the community was/is built in Lithuania?● Philosophy in our company.
Part 1Game Development Industry In
Lithuania
Early Days (2002)
● Less than 20 enthusiast game developers.● Some meet-ups.● Second GameJam in the world.
– “Hey, they had this awesome Indie Game Jam in California, lets do one in Lithuania!”
● First companies (e.g. “Ivolgamus”: PS1, PC).
Inspiring Team
● Same guys do stuff:– Win Microsoft Imagine Cup (2005).
– Develop AA-grade RTS game“PSI Syberian Conflict” (2006).
● Then go on their own:– One goes to be 4th employee
at “Unity Technologies”.
– Another goes to DICE.
– ...
Can We Have More People, Please?
● More enthusiasts.– But still < 10 companies :(
● 2009 “LT Game Jam” rebirth.– Again, by the same people, now working in Unity.
– Starts to attract new people.
LT Game Jam
11 participants
~30 participants
~200 participants
Game Jam Is Great For...
● Meeting people in person (aka future team-mates).
● Sharing ideas.● Inspiring people to create games.● Attracting people from other industries.● Creating prototypes with crazy mechanics.
Start-up Culture
● Indirectly useful.● Again:
– Meet people.
– Participate in events.
– Get some mentorship.
– Talk to investors (on this – later).
> 40 Companies
Game Press
● Monthly games-related journals in local language.● Online sites, video and news outlets.● Raising awareness and reviewing local games.
New Problem – Communication
A lot more people develop games now, but knowledge sharing is poor if you only meet them once a year during a Game Jam :(
For new people/companies it's hard to approach older/bigger ones.
Lithuanian Game Developers Association
● Improve communication.● Organize more events.
– Game Jams.
– Conferences.
● Have more international relations.● Educate investors and government bodies.
● Raise awareness.● Local and international speakers.● >300 participants.
● Meet-ups.● 2-3 speakers.● Mostly for students.● Show prototypes and socialize.
● 2014-06-28, Vilnius● Technical talks and experience sharing.● You are invited :)
– Event language – Lithuanian :(
Communication Benefits
● 9 companies got selected to AppCampus.fi.● Universities start offering courses and study
programmes.
Some Recent Games From Lithuania
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyhWOU9jW74
Part 2Developing A Company
The Problem
Want to create a game – need some money.
Available Paths To Choose
● I need no money! I can create games in spare time!
● Have an idea? Search for an investor!● Make a quick prototype, search for a
publisher.● Make “work for hire” projects, create your
games in between.
Spare Time
● Good:– No investors and publishers involved – more creative
freedom.
– Work and rework as you please.
● Bad:– Less time for game development because of your day job.
– Hard to have a dedicated working team.
– Hard to know good practices if you don't have previous experience.
Investor
● Good:– “Quick” money.
– Full time on your game.
– Connections.
● Bad:– Most investors “fear” games as they don't have knowledge of
games industry.
– “Potential investors” ≠ “done deal”.
– Additional people who may want to influence your creative process and your game.
Publisher
● Good:– Usually you can get at least the part of the money for the
development of your game.
– Marketing.
– Ton of good advices and polish.
● Bad:– Still you need to have a nice prototype to show.
– Additional people who may want to influence your creative process and your game.
Work For Hire
● Good:– No investors and publishers involved – more creative
freedom.
– Less strict time-lines.
– You can gather a team and gain (at least teamwork) experience.
● Bad:– Less time for your own games means you may be too late with
your idea.
What We Did
● Started in spare time (3 years ago).● Moved to full time, while trying to
communicate with some investors, but couldn't find ones competent in game development.
● Moved to work for hire while developing own games in between.– Only projects that are games or gamified visual apps.
● A team of 7 people.
Some work for hire projects
Our Strategy
● High quality.● Innovative features.
ABC Book 3D
>70 000 downloadsaverage rating >4.5
Monster Buster
Windows Phone first50 000 EUR grant
Active Participation Is A Must!
● Participate in local and international events.– Yes, it is a time sink and benefits are not immediate.
● Share your ideas and vision with different people.– It helps to work out the details.
– Potential team members.
Active Participation Is A Must!
● Prototype in hackathons.– We tested a lot of ideas and mechanics at
AppCamp/StartupWeekend/GameJam.
– A way try out new technology (Unity3D, AR, VR).
– Get instant feedback from people.
– Validate ideas.
– 2-3 days and you know if it's worth working further.
– Sometimes you get prizes :)
Active Participation Is A Must!
● Submit to various competitions and awards.– Don't be lazy and submit your games everywhere!
– It's a part of marketing.
– Local/global recognition is good for the company and the team (motivation).
● Don't be afraid of the press!– But know how to approach them.
Žilvinas LedasFollow: @zledasConnect: linkedin.com/in/zledas