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Indie GDC - Guest Speaker: Mike Enoch - 29th April 2014
The document summarizes key points about indie game development in 2014 based on discussions at the Game Developers Conference (GDC). It notes that development has gotten easier and cheaper with tools like Unity and GameMaker. There is increased competition as more developers enter the indie space. New markets like Steam and mobile are popular but discoverability remains a challenge. Crowdfunding through sites like Kickstarter has grown but may see a backlash. Different business models are being explored beyond free-to-play. Overall it describes an exciting opportunity for indies but also greater challenges around competition and visibility.
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Indie GDC - Guest Speaker: Mike Enoch - 29th April 2014
- 1. Indie Development in2014 What I learned from GDC Mike Enoch
- 2. Welcome! What is indiein this context? About me: • Background in console development • Portfolio manager for the Prototype Fund • Still developing on the side • About to go indie full time
- 4. Related GDC content •Independent Games Summit • Independent Games Festival • Indie MEGABOOTH • Alt Ctrl GDC • Experimental Gameplay Workshop Plus side events, parties, etc…
- 9. Development is gettingeasier • Never been as cheap or easy to build games • Wide array of cross-platform tools and technology available • Unity 3D is very popular, GameMaker too • Price drops from Unreal and Crytek may drive indies towards higher-end 3D • Adobe Creative Cloud and other cheap subscription tools driving down costs and opening up access
- 10. Increased competition • Accessibilityis leading to a massive influx of new developers at the bottom end • Consolidation of AAA development combined with risk-averse creativity is pushing a lot of experienced devs to go indie too • More traditional developers and publishers are also increasingly moving into the indie marketplace
- 11. New markets • Mobileand tablet markets increasingly taken over by big business • Indies are starting to target other markets first – PC and Steam getting very popular • Niche targets also tend to be more viable as the market expands • Consoles are opening up again, even providing funding without taking IP • A lot of indies getting excited by VR, still talk of Apple TV and other micro-consoles
- 12. Opening up Steam •A lot of debate as to whether Valve opening up the Steam market will save or kill indie PC gaming • Right now it’s a good opportunity, easier to pass Greenlight, also easier to get a deal that puts you straight on Early Access • In 6-months time though? Could go the way of the AppStore, but no-one wants to write off Valve
- 13. New funding • Massiveuptake of Kickstarter and other crowd-funding sites • Also a lot of interest in alpha funding (the Minecraft model) – especially through Steam Early Access • However, many are predicting a backlash as more people jump in and developers take advantage
- 14. Discoverability • Still thenumber one problem for most indies • Importance of events, competitions, and communities – building your profile and networking with the in-crowd • Teams and individuals collaborating, pooling resources – the indie take on consolidation? • Today’s indie, tomorrow’s publisher? • Trend towards micro-publishers like Devolver Digital, accelerators like Execution Labs • What’s your story? Tell it!
- 15. Business models • Indiebacklash against free-to-play as players get abused by unscrupulous businesses • Free no longer a differentiator, virality no longer assured, increasing costs of the model • Excitement around alpha and crowd funding making indies rethink relationship with the player and what that means • Some creative approaches – reverse sales, live development, patronage
- 16. Golden opportunity? • Manydescribing the current situation as a golden age for games, especially indies • Expanding market and rapid rate of change leading to many new opportunities • Indies that do well can become the new leaders in games development • I’m in, how about you?
- 17. What this meansfor me • Collaboration – artist wanted • Moving away from mobile / tablet • Paid digital, early access or similar • Going to take a look at Unreal, but probably sticking with Unity • Fast turnaround, but too big to clone • Events, networking, publishing
- 18.
Editor's Notes
- #2 Hello!
- #5 At GDC there’s quite a lot of indie stuff on show:IGS – this is a two-day summit that happens on Monday and Tuesday of GDC (the main conference starts on Wednesday). You can get a separate (cheaper) pass.IGF – pavilion on the show floor, and an awards ceremony. Indies should submit their games to as many competitions as possible.MEGABOOTH – seriously, that’s how they write it. These guys club together to buy space at various shows, GDC includedAlt Ctrl GDC – an alternative controller exhibit on the expo show floor, I didn’t spend a lot of time there, but it’s worth knowing aboutI probably missed something important here, feel free to look it up yourselves.