Data Realms’ business development manager Vlad Micu will also be speaking during the GIC conference on the roadway to launching Planetoid Pioneers in the wake of increasing discussions on Triple I.
3. Who is Data Realms?
This is a talk by
Vlad Micu
Business development manager at
Data Realms
Data Realms has
12 developers in 9 countries on 4
continents
Previously created
Now working on
@DataRealms
@DataRealms
5. Pros and Cons
• Unexpected modding
community
• Incredibly fun to watch
• Lot’s of lessons learned on
game design
• Resulting in extended
shelf life, HR talent pool
and more vision for next
game
• Suffered from initial bad
PR strategy and unclear
messaging.
• No online multiplayer
• Lack of community
management
• Unclear messaging
6. Harnessing a Modding
community
• Amazing talent pool
• Hired from them
• Structured the ‘Pioneer
Program’ around lessons
learned.
• Admitting and embracing
the creativity of our
audience.
7. Dan found the Right People for the
Right Responsibilities
“You know in a startup, you only need three people.
You need someone who can make something. You
need someone who can sell it. And you need someone
to collect the money. That’s the only three roles in a
startup. So which one are you?”
– Guy Kawasaki
8. Different Attitude & Vocabulary
• Sustainable traction
– who’s ever used that word?
• Cash flow positive
– or this one?
• Share holders/Revenue share
agreement
• Business plan!?
• Go-to-market strategy?
• Product/Market fit
Recommended by @derkdegeus
10. Proprietary Tech still matters
• With publishers, platforms
and other potential
partners
• Unique look and feel vs.
Unity or Unreal Engine
• For PR & Marketing
purposes
• Even potential
commercialization &
licensing options (id
Software, Crytek, etc.)
11. User Generated Content is
everywhere
• YouTube & Twitch
• Fan Art & Fan
Fiction
• Modding
• Game Assets
12. REALLY having Everything
Written Down
• Meeting minutes, e-mails
& contracts.
• Use team communication
platform Slack!
• Get your licenses straight:
https://tldrlegal.com/
• Find a lawyer for
equity/rev share
Watch Dmitri Dubograev’s talk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXL79-rmvjw
13. Learn with (Comic) Relief
And squeeze in that Work/Life balance
in there while you’re at it!
14. Find Veterans & Advisors
Let them give you much needed perspective
15. Pitch all the Time, Everywhere
• Know who you are and
who you aren’t
• Know what the other
person wants and doesn’t
have
• Use that to disarm your
opponent and put
him/her in the defensive
• Make yourself rare/scarce
Learn from Eminem!
http://techcrunch.com/2014/01/18/how-to-get-an-mba-from-eminem/
16. Managing expectations
• Communities are made up of fans because they love
what they see and its potential.
• Important to communicate YOUR vision of the
potential clearly - setting expectations.
• You will never be fast enough for people.
• Steam Early Access is about managing all of these
expectations and more.
Watch Jeroen’s talk on the launch of The Flock:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbqMjCPmaa8
17. The #1 Skill is still Resilience
The Fins have ‘Sisu’ (perseverance)
18. Summary:
What ‘Triple I’ means for us
• Long term goals & plans
• Proprietary technology and
modding community
• Unique vision and business
attitude
• Advisors and veterans on board
for legal, design, business, etc.
• Looking for unlikely partnerships
• Strong PR & Marketing effort and
significant budget
• Being ready for anything from
Worst to Best case scenarios
19. Contact me
• @vgvisionary
• Mail me at v.micu@vgvisionary.com
• Slides: www.slideshare.net/VGVisionary
#imlonely
20. Sign up for the
Pioneer Program!
signup.planetoidpioneers.com
PP Test Builds, Slack community, content sharing!