Here's a bunch of interesting tips picked up from someone that went to IGC Day 2.
- Business cards are a must, even if you are just a hobbyist
- Microsoft uses interesting phrase when talking about software and computer games like vibrant ecosystems and digital lifestyle
- Xbox live has 2 million subscribers
- Microsoft predicts the PC Game markets expanding from $4 billion (2004) to $9 billion by 2009
- MSN Games players are 70% women
- Xbox 360 has out of the box support for downloadable games, even if they got the model without the hard drive, they call it Live Arcade
- Xbox has seen an average Conversation rate of 8 to 8.5% on its Live titles (this is just insane!) Peak titles doing 21-22% and low titles in the 4% area
- In Korea you can rent games by the hours
- A lot of cash flow in Asia comes from selling power-ups and providing servers not the actually selling of the game (because of piracy)
- It is important to know your story because a good strong story will be picked up by the press
- 21-6 spent two years working on it own game engine in the beginning
- Dont get wrapped up and excited by offer of money for your game, it happens a lot and usually doesnt go any where
- Lawyers are expensive and very important, dont hire one that charges less than $400 a hour
- Make a game you have passion for, consider yourself the target market, youll need the passion to get through the tough spots
- Watch out for feature creep
- A big part of game development is feature creep
- Game development will take Two times longer and three time more expensive than you expect
- Give yourself a couple years to finish a title
- Monster.com is actually a great place to find talent
- Cap royalties and have a vesting schedule for all projects
- Offer ownership in projects NOT the company
- Talk to outsides and get the input on your ideas and work, it is important to find out if what you are doing makes sense
- Usefully tools: IM, CVS, Phone, Conference Rooms in person, Secure forums, Team speak, Twiki, Subversion JotSpot, Dot Projects
- Communication is very very important for a team. Phone conversations and in person meeting help calmly resolve emotional issues
Most interesting for me were the Xbox live Arcade Indie game)conversion rates. and MSN games players demographic. Really interested in Xbox live as MS have shown interest in one of our games for Xbox360.
With the conversion rates I'd really like to know how many people play those games.
- Business cards are a must, even if you are just a hobbyist
- Microsoft uses interesting phrase when talking about software and computer games like vibrant ecosystems and digital lifestyle
- Xbox live has 2 million subscribers
- Microsoft predicts the PC Game markets expanding from $4 billion (2004) to $9 billion by 2009
- MSN Games players are 70% women
- Xbox 360 has out of the box support for downloadable games, even if they got the model without the hard drive, they call it Live Arcade
- Xbox has seen an average Conversation rate of 8 to 8.5% on its Live titles (this is just insane!) Peak titles doing 21-22% and low titles in the 4% area
- In Korea you can rent games by the hours
- A lot of cash flow in Asia comes from selling power-ups and providing servers not the actually selling of the game (because of piracy)
- It is important to know your story because a good strong story will be picked up by the press
- 21-6 spent two years working on it own game engine in the beginning
- Dont get wrapped up and excited by offer of money for your game, it happens a lot and usually doesnt go any where
- Lawyers are expensive and very important, dont hire one that charges less than $400 a hour
- Make a game you have passion for, consider yourself the target market, youll need the passion to get through the tough spots
- Watch out for feature creep
- A big part of game development is feature creep
- Game development will take Two times longer and three time more expensive than you expect
- Give yourself a couple years to finish a title
- Monster.com is actually a great place to find talent
- Cap royalties and have a vesting schedule for all projects
- Offer ownership in projects NOT the company
- Talk to outsides and get the input on your ideas and work, it is important to find out if what you are doing makes sense
- Usefully tools: IM, CVS, Phone, Conference Rooms in person, Secure forums, Team speak, Twiki, Subversion JotSpot, Dot Projects
- Communication is very very important for a team. Phone conversations and in person meeting help calmly resolve emotional issues
Most interesting for me were the Xbox live Arcade Indie game)conversion rates. and MSN games players demographic. Really interested in Xbox live as MS have shown interest in one of our games for Xbox360.
With the conversion rates I'd really like to know how many people play those games.