The Publishing Challenge for Independent Video Game Developers: A Practical Guide

Description

Professor Odile Limpach gives independent developers everything they need to succeed in the world of video game publishing. The Publishing Challenge for Independent Video Game Developers: A Practical Guide defines what game publishing means for the indie developer and offers a concise framework to tackle the decision of whether to self-publish or not. Furthermore, the text establishes a catalogue of current known publishers with some salient characteristics and offers a list of useful publishing tools. Along with showcasing testimonials from several young and seasoned developers on their experiences with publishing and partners and recommendations from renown experts of the industry, this book offers tools, platforms, and guides to game publishing. Key features: - Provides a broad overview of the game publishing market - Explores criteria for choosing between a publishing partner or self-publishing - Offers case studies and testimonials from indie game developers and publishers about the process.　 Professor Odile Limpach teaches economics and entrepreneurship at the Cologne Game Lab, TH Köln (Technical University of Cologne). She is also co-founder of the Acceleration Program SpielFabrique 360° and works as a Strategic Consultant for games and serious game projects. Between 2007 and 2014, she was the managing director of the German entertainment software studio Ubisoft Blue Byte. Before, she was the managing director of Ubisoft GmbH. She graduated from business school Institut Commercial de Nancy in France and completed her MBA in the United States. Odile Limpach is also involved as a volunteer in the areas of vocational training and acts as a German partner for Games for Change Europe. Furthermore, she acts as an advisor (Conseiller du Commerce Extérieur) for the French Ministry for International Business Development. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Foreword Acknowledgments Author Contributors Chapter 1 Introduction References Chapter 2 An Overview of The Indie PC and Console Market Looking at Regions Sifting Through Genres Understanding Platforms References Chapter 3 What Does Publishing Mean? No “One-Size-Fits-All” Definition Detailed Structure of Publishing Distribution Funding Development Support Services Communication Who Are The Publishers? First-Party Publishers Online/Streaming Distribution Platforms Developer–Publishers Media Companies Publishers With Small or Mid-Size Development Teams Mobile-Only Publishers Publishers With An Investment Background Boutique Publishers A Closer Look at Boutique Publishers Online Stores Distribution Landscape It Is All About Community Building and Servicing References Chapter 4 Choosing Your Publishing Strategy Checklist To Consider External Publishing Do You Have The Right Team To Develop and Finish Your Game? Are You Ready and able To Produce A Polished Prototype? Are You Ready to Prepare High-Quality Pitching Documentation ? Are You Looking For Project or Company Funding? Are You Ready To Enter a Close and Intense Business Relationship ? Are You Ready To Spend Time Pitching, Negotiating, And Be Rejected ? Are You able To Finance The Gap Until The Contract is Signed? What is Your Cash Flow Situation For The Complete Length of The Project? Are You Ready To Split The Revenue And Recognize The Value of The Partnership? Are You Ready To Eventually Share Your Intellectual Property (IP) and Enter A Long-Term Relationship? Do You Clearly Know Your Objectives For Your Game and Your Company ? Are You Ready To Accept Change Requests According To The Publisher’S Feedback? Are You Ready To Fight Through and Negotiate A Long Legal Agreement ? Do You Know A Lawyer To Support You in Setting Up The Contract? Are You Ready To Manage The Relationship? Do You Have A Long-Term View of The Publisher Sustainability? Do You Understand The Structure and Organization of The Publisher and Their Philosophy ? Are You Ready To Accept Strict Deadlines and Adapt Your Production Pipeline Accordingly? Are You Ready To Maintain Clear Documentation of The Project ? Are You Ready To Follow A Clear and Transparent Communication Schedule ? How Important Is it To Reach as Many Countries as Possible? Do You Have The Workforce and Willingness To Carry Out Marketing Activities? Do You Know Your Target Group, Your Unique Selling Propositions, and Your Objectives? Do You Have The Necessary Budget To Fund A Marketing Campaign? Do You Know How To Best Manage The Lifetime Sales Of Your  Game? Are You Ready To Cooperate And Share Responsibilities For Building Your Community? Do You Already Have a Vibrant Community And Efficient Social Network Management? How Publishing and Financing are Closely Interwoven, By Thierry Baujard Which Financing at Which Stage of The Project? Project Versus Company Funding What are The Different Sources of Financing (Public/Private) Opportunities For Co-Production Position of a Publisher Towards Other Sources Game Publishing Agreement: The Legal Endgame, By Konstantin Ewald Publisher’s Objectives Developer’s Objectives Key Legal Issues In Your Game Publishing Agreement Additional Elements of The Game Publishing Agreement Testimonials by Publishing Experts Managing Partnerships In Publishing Deals: By Søren Lass The Publisher Question: Financial And Strategic Consideration Managing The Collaboration Process The Commercial Results Preparation is Key And After The Deal is Before The Deal Questions To ask Yourself as a Developer When Choosing a Publisher How and When To Make The Right Strategic Decisions For Marketing, By Zoran Roso At The Beginning: Key Strategic Decisions And How To Make Them When You Start: What Do You Need To Think about and How Do You Measure Success? Wrapping Up Case Study: Publishing of Vectronom by Ludopium and Arte Turning a Concept Into a Good Prototype Starting Showcasing and Getting Fee Dback Looking For a Publisher and Finding a Publishing Deal Milestones, Localization, And Qa Preparation For Communication Is The Core of Your Success A Captivating Atmosphere Solve Puzzles At The Speed of Sound Play On Your Own or With Friends Press And Advertising Community Building Participation At Fairs And Fest Ivals Project Plan and Release Timing Distribution, Store Management, Coordination of Marketing Activities References Chapter 5 Gathering of Useful Tools For Publishing General Recommendations By Julian Broich List of Current Publishers List of Tools For PR, Communication, and Community Management, By Pierre Schlömp Self-Publishing Check List Publishing And Distribution Platforms For PC And Virtual Reality Qa And Localization The Marketing Plan Your Own Website And Internet Presence Freelance PR Agencies Content Creators Forums And Other Platforms Hashtags And Bots Game Festivals Reference Chapter 6 Conclusion References Index