The State of the Nordic Development Scene på Gamasutra

[Gorm]

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/4 ... ordic_.php

Kommentarer?

[TeisAnker]

Pretty much spot-on I would say (unfortunately). (I do however disagree with the lack-of-proper-education comment. I think that all Nordic countries have very high educational standards for all game relevant professions with DADIU leading the way.) It is very difficult to change the settings (such as funding, tax breaks etc.) although several great initiatives such as Computerspilzonen are definitely trying.

Only a few Danish companies focus on the business side of game development and even fewer have someone with an economic degree or similar in their company (or working with them on a consultant basis). How many Danish companies even have a person dedicated to doing market research, business analysis’s, strategic plans etc.? When I mention this to game developers they all say “we can’t afford it” but I believe that focusing on the business aspect will more than pay for itself in terms of increased sales, better leverage in contract negations with publishers, investors (including banks) and when applying for funding through the various sources. When talking to companies outside the industry they can’t in any way understand how you can create a product without properly researching the demand and market for it prior to development. But still that is what most game developers do while relying solely on the “Let's just make a great game and that will solve all problems' attitude” that Thomas Puha points out in the article. You will be surprised how few game developers actually estimate how much their game will sell and at what price-point before starting development.

Of course not all companies need a fulltime CEO/CFO/BizDev/NewBiz guy/girl (like if you’re a one-man company) but the company focus needs to be there. When I worked at Deadline our magnificent QA Department handled a lot of the market research (together with the designers and managers of course) as QA in many ways already represents the end user. This was extremely helpful both in our work internally and in negotiations with publishers.

I don’t think that we are in any way doomed. On the bright side we have now discovered the problems and are doing something about it. I am sure that the sensible game developers that focus on the business aspect will overcome and set the standards for everyone else.

[vonknut]

but I believe that focusing on the business aspect will more than pay for itself..... When talking to companies outside the industry they can’t in any way understand how you can create a product without properly researching the demand and market for it prior to development. But still that is what most game developers do while relying solely on the “Let's just make a great game and that will solve all problems' attitude”

-what he said

Most in here probably know my feelings regarding the need for balancing "game" with "business", or should I say: "game" with "realities surrounding the game production", which I have in spite of being primarily a game designer / director.


But to focus on another point "Of course not all companies need a fulltime CEO/CFO/BizDev/NewBiz guy/girl" - that got me thinking - how about working with shared CEO's for smaller companies?
-for companies not in competition offcause

It would also make sende in regards to sales efforts, as most CEO's selling solutions are often asked for related products, which the company is not making.
-if they could take that contract as well, instead of passing it on for free / for a kickback / outsource it and deliver shitty quality, then that would truly be synergy...