Confessions of an Independent Game Developer

Confessions of an Independent Game Developer: Slide slides (1 MB)

Have you ever thought about starting your own casual games studio? Well all the panelists for this session have! Hear firsthand the ups and downs of running an independent casual games studio from HipSoft, Last Day of Work, Big Splash Games, GoBit Game, and Fugazo. The panelists will share their thoughts on outsourcing, virtual office life, work for hire projects, and other topics pertinent to independent game developers.

Delivered at Casual Connect Seattle, July 2008

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Terri Hardie (email)

Terri Hardie is the Arcade Producer at Reflexive Entertainment and is responsible for evaluating and accepting all of the games launched in Reflexive’s online game distribution portal. Hired to help manage and grow the Reflexive Arcade, Terri has seen the industry, as well as the Arcade, take off like a rocket with more game submissions than are even feasible to launch. Her passion for games is exceeded only by her desire to bring the best games to the people who matter most, the gamers! Prior to working for Reflexive Entertainment, Terri received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She spent too many years in a boring law firm, playing any game she could get her hands on in her free time, until she landed her dream job at Reflexive Entertainment. Now, she plays games for a living and couldn’t be happier!

Brian Goble (email)

Brian Goble was already programming games for profit while earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Computer Science at the University of Washington. After graduating in 1991, Brian worked as a senior software engineer at Edmark developing award-winning children’s educational software. In 1994, Brian left Edmark and co-founded Monolith Productions to develop games for the retail market. In 2002, Brian left Monolith with Bryan Bouwman and Garrett Price to start HipSoft and develop casual games for the growing downloadable market. At HipSoft, Brian wears multiple hats including business development, game designer and programmer.

Arthur Humphrey (email)

Arthur is founder and CEO of Last Day of Work. Arthur started creating games on his VIC-20, including a lovely Pengo clone for ‘public domain’ release. In his spare time he plays even more games, both casual and core. Arthur holds a Bachelor in Business from UCLA and a Bachelor in Computer Science from Hayward State University, and has a level 70 Druid in World of Warcraft.

Duncan Curtis (email)

Duncan Curtis, a 23 year Lead Designer and Senior Programmer, is also the CEO of an Australian based company, 3 Blokes Studios. Duncan received his University Degree in 2006. He can be reached at threeblokes1@optusnet.com.au

Michael Wyman (email)

Michael Thornton Wyman is founder and CEO of Big Splash Games, makers of the hit casual games Chocolatier and Chocolatier 2: Secret Ingredients. Prior to starting Big Splash Games, Michael worked as a Producer and Project Leader at Electronic Arts Canada, Lucas Learning and Maxis.

Jenny Martin (email)

Jenny began her career as an artist at Epyx in the mid Eighties and since then has worked for some of gaming’s top companies including Maxis and Sega of America as Art Director. Jenny moved to Internet based entertainment and was Vice President of Content for Egreetings before founding Red i Studios, a Flash game developer. Jenny heads up biz dev for GoBit, and is also involved in the design and marketing of GoBit’s games.

Andrew Lum (email)

Andrew got his start in the gaming industry by posing naked to get hired for the Nintendo Street Team but now wears clothes to work on a regular basis. Prior to starting Fugazo Andrew worked at Sandlot Games where he was the Lead DesignerProducer of the casual game hit Cake Mania. In addition to his biz dev and game design responsibilities, Andrew is responsible for cleaning the bathroom at Fugazo’s office.

Yaroslav Yanovsky (email)

Yaroslav Yanovsky is a founder of Enkord and has served as CEO since company establishment in 2003. Enkord is one of the most successful casual games companies in Ukraine. In Enkord Yaroslav not only manages business side of things but also takes creative roles from time to time acting as game designer and producer of various titles. He designed most of successful Enkord titles like Clash’N Slash, Jewel of Atlantis, Jurassic Realm, Emerald Tale, and others. Yaroslav holds a MA in Information Management from the Kyiv National Economical University.

HOME \| LECTURES & ARTICLES \| BUSINESS OF DEVELOPMENT \| Confessions of an Independent Game Developer slides (1 MB) Have you ever thought about starting your own casual games studio? Well all the panelists for this session have! Hear firsthand the ups and downs of running an independent casual games studio from HipSoft, Last Day of Work, Big Splash Games, GoBit Game, and Fugazo. The panelists will share their thoughts on outsourcing, virtual office life, work for hire projects, and other topics pertinent to independent game developers. Delivered at Casual Connect Seattle, July 2008 DOWNLOAD Terri Hardie (email) Terri Hardie is the Arcade Producer at Reflexive Entertainment and is responsible for evaluating and accepting all of the games launched in Reflexive’s online game distribution portal. Hired to help manage and grow the Reflexive Arcade, Terri has seen the industry, as well as the Arcade, take off like a rocket with more game submissions than are even feasible to launch. Her passion for games is exceeded only by her desire to bring the best games to the people who matter most, the gamers! Prior to working for Reflexive Entertainment, Terri received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She spent too many years in a boring law firm, playing any game she could get her hands on in her free time, until she landed her dream job at Reflexive Entertainment. Now, she plays games for a living and couldn’t be happier! Brian Goble (email) Brian Goble was already programming games for profit while earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Computer Science at the University of Washington. After graduating in 1991, Brian worked as a senior software engineer at Edmark developing award-winning children’s educational software. In 1994, Brian left Edmark and co-founded Monolith Productions to develop games for the retail market. In 2002, Brian left Monolith with Bryan Bouwman and Garrett Price to start HipSoft and develop casual games for the growing downloadable market. At HipSoft, Brian wears multiple hats including business development, game designer and programmer. Arthur Humphrey (email) Arthur is founder and CEO of Last Day of Work. Arthur started creating games on his VIC-20, including a lovely Pengo clone for ‘public domain’ release. In his spare time he plays even more games, both casual and core. Arthur holds a Bachelor in Business from UCLA and a Bachelor in Computer Science from Hayward State University, and has a level 70 Druid in World of Warcraft. Duncan Curtis (email) Duncan Curtis, a 23 year Lead Designer and Senior Programmer, is also the CEO of an Australian based company, 3 Blokes Studios. Duncan received his University Degree in 2006. He can be reached at threeblokes1@optusnet.com.au Michael Wyman (email) Michael Thornton Wyman is founder and CEO of Big Splash Games, makers of the hit casual games Chocolatier and Chocolatier 2: Secret Ingredients. Prior to starting Big Splash Games, Michael worked as a Producer and Project Leader at Electronic Arts Canada, Lucas Learning and Maxis. Jenny Martin (email) Jenny began her career as an artist at Epyx in the mid Eighties and since then has worked for some of gaming’s top companies including Maxis and Sega of America as Art Director. Jenny moved to Internet based entertainment and was Vice President of Content for Egreetings before founding Red i Studios, a Flash game developer. Jenny heads up biz dev for GoBit, and is also involved in the design and marketing of GoBit’s games. Andrew Lum (email) Andrew got his start in the gaming industry by posing naked to get hired for the Nintendo Street Team but now wears clothes to work on a regular basis. Prior to starting Fugazo Andrew worked at Sandlot Games where he was the Lead DesignerProducer of the casual game hit Cake Mania. In addition to his biz dev and game design responsibilities, Andrew is responsible for cleaning the bathroom at Fugazo’s office. Yaroslav Yanovsky (email) Yaroslav Yanovsky is a founder of Enkord and has served as CEO since company establishment in 2003. Enkord is one of the most successful casual games companies in Ukraine. In Enkord Yaroslav not only manages business side of things but also takes creative roles from time to time acting as game designer and producer of various titles. He designed most of successful Enkord titles like Clash’N Slash, Jewel of Atlantis, Jurassic Realm, Emerald Tale, and others. Yaroslav holds a MA in Information Management from the Kyiv National Economical University.