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November
2003
Q:
We're a small game
developer on the East Coast. Being budget-minded we are
trying to decide the best way to spend our money in
terms trying to make good contacts. In budgeting for
2004 we feel we should make a decision between going to
GDC or E3? What is your advice?
A: If your main
objective is to meet people and make contacts, I would
recommend GDC. It is a much smaller (and quieter)
atmosphere and you have a much better chance here of
getting real face time with the publishers you need to
meet. Make sure you plan ahead and start scheduling your
meetings well in advance, though, as the publishers will
fill their agenda rapidly. E3 is great for the
experience and to see what the industry will be doing in
the next year, but it is not a show to pitch titles to
publishers unless you have a long history and a good
relationship with them already though.
Q:
We're a new indie
developer and we're trying to sort out a profit-sharing
plan for team members. Any suggestions? Anything we
should avoid?
 A:
A good resource for
this subject and other indie developer topics would be The Indie Game Development Survival Guide by
David Michael (Charles River Media, ISBN 1-58450-214-2).
The book covers pretty much everything a new independent
game developer would need to know and, with regard to
your question specifically, there is a chapter on "Team
Member Compensation" which includes a section on profit
sharing. This may not hold all the answers, but it would
be an excellent start. The book was published in August
2003, so the information should be relatively timely.
About Jay
Jay Powell is an
agent at Octagon
Entertainment, a full service agency catering to the
needs of game developers, specializing in the creation
of domestic and international opportunities for game
financing and publishing and finding opportunities in
other medias. Jay has arranged and negotiated numerous
deals in Europe and North America for Octagon's clients.
He has also proven a key evaluator of projects, having
secured some of Octagon's most successful games. With
gaming experience in excess of fifteen years, Jay's
industry insight has been immensely beneficial to
Octagon's clients and publishing partners. Jay's
experience has allowed Octagon to create and maintain a
property evaluation and acceptance methodology that
exceeds the standards and expectations of the
interactive industry. Now, Jay brings his knowledge and
experience to you.
Need more Jay?
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