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Game Developers Conference
1 Hour Video Game MBA
Key insights
6 takeaways- 01Strip out everything you can from your game idea and still be able to call it by the same name, then start working on this.See it on page 2
- 02Shipping an early prototype gave a morale boost to the team and put ~$30k in the bank.See it on page 2
- 03Unknown Worlds built a Lua IDE (Decoda) for its own use, then realized it could sell it, and has made $100k so far with 0 marketing.See it on page 2
- 04Business owners should aim to identify and execute high-value tasks that yield significant returns for minimal time investment.See it on page 3
- 05The document presents a size/innovation pattern: a small company attracts innovators, success and growth lead to becoming large, attracting risk-averse people, installing bureaucracy, innovative people leaving, and reduced innovation.See it on page 3
- 06Hiring should be treated as a response to operational necessity rather than a proactive measure to reduce workload.See it on page 3
Summary
Charlie Cleveland's '1 Hour Video Game MBA' was presented at GDC 2011. The document includes sections on making a mantra, using the Strategy Canvas (Blue Ocean Strategy) to make your offering's profile different, and defining the nightmare by describing worst-case scenarios. It suggests avoiding traditional business plans, bootstrapping ventures, and shipping prototypes early; an engine test put ~$30k in the bank and energized the community.
He advocates for hiring only when necessary, selling by-products developed during production, and striving to make your company small, fat and happy. The document says passion will give you persistence and is telling you your purpose, and it asks, 'What game do you want to be remembered for?' It ends by asking, 'What game do you want to be remembered for?' and stating, 'You don't have forever.'
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