This video is a short documentary talking about how idTech developers and how they came together to make their own employee-owned indie studio. Good stuff!

  • SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    edit-2
    2 days ago

    Okay but how to pay the employees when the first game hasn’t released yet? Still need an investor especially if you are going to start a studio with people that relied on a salary to pay the bills and have a family and don’t live in a dorm or their parent’s basement anymore. Like with these former idTech devs.

    And the vast majority of investors want to see a return. Not many philanthropists out there who want to fund a game studio. And a loan from a bank is impossible if the studio doesn’t have revenue. A for-profit co-op is a better structure, since it allows investors getting a return. Even if the investors are also the employees they probably want to see their savings they put into the studio paid back.

    • Kaligalis@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      18 hours ago

      It’s not the 90s anymore. Crowdfunding and early access releases have been proven working.
      And you can still get lucky and either be a wale or find one who really likes your specific idea for a game.

    • BigPotato@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      23 hours ago

      Not many philanthropists out there who want to fund a game studio.

      States and even countries offer grants for the arts - start with a proposal, make a small game for startup capital, and continue to operate as a nonprofit?