Notes from the 8/17 meeting
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Devin Moore
Aug 18, 2010, 7:26:28 AM8/18/10
to Ohio Game Incubator
From talking in the 8/17 meeting, it seems clear to me that we have
enough information to make a pass at pitching a business plan for
games and the game incubator itself. I think we can take an existing
game business plan and just replace the guts of how the game works
with a different game, and we should be able to pitch that. The other
thing we need is the skillset / resource list to be filled out more,
so we can demonstrate that we have the resources to get the game done
provided we had the money.
I'll get started by asking the following: assuming we had the money
right now and a game signed on to develop, where would we be able to
develop the game? Do we have a location or would we be developing the
game as a loosely-knit group of people working from home? I think the
game would be way cheaper to make if we had a single location for a
few people to go, even if it has to be a park or something, just
because the immediacy of communication will make development go much,
much faster.
Let's assume we use the park, and someone has a mi-fi router and a ups
battery so even at the park we can get internet and a good 8 hours of
development in. Barring the obvious contingencies for weather, at
least this gets us something until we have a better idea.
Thoughts? The sooner we can arrive at solutions to these issues, the
sooner we can be building games for profit. I really got the sense
last night that this shouldn't be all that hard, given the amount of
experts of one kind or another that we had in that room.
Devin
enough information to make a pass at pitching a business plan for
games and the game incubator itself. I think we can take an existing
game business plan and just replace the guts of how the game works
with a different game, and we should be able to pitch that. The other
thing we need is the skillset / resource list to be filled out more,
so we can demonstrate that we have the resources to get the game done
provided we had the money.
I'll get started by asking the following: assuming we had the money
right now and a game signed on to develop, where would we be able to
develop the game? Do we have a location or would we be developing the
game as a loosely-knit group of people working from home? I think the
game would be way cheaper to make if we had a single location for a
few people to go, even if it has to be a park or something, just
because the immediacy of communication will make development go much,
much faster.
Let's assume we use the park, and someone has a mi-fi router and a ups
battery so even at the park we can get internet and a good 8 hours of
development in. Barring the obvious contingencies for weather, at
least this gets us something until we have a better idea.
Thoughts? The sooner we can arrive at solutions to these issues, the
sooner we can be building games for profit. I really got the sense
last night that this shouldn't be all that hard, given the amount of
experts of one kind or another that we had in that room.
Devin
Devin Moore
Aug 18, 2010, 8:35:29 AM8/18/10
to Ohio Game Incubator
Another obvious thing to consider right away is continuity of business
issues, meaning making sure that we have a backup person for anything
that is going on. That way, if the main point of contact is
unavailable, we are not stuck completely on something. We already
have multiple admins for the online groups, but as we get involved
with more development work, be aware of anything where you are the
only one who has access, and reach out to the group to make sure we
have someone else who can access that stuff in case you are
unavailable.
Devin
issues, meaning making sure that we have a backup person for anything
that is going on. That way, if the main point of contact is
unavailable, we are not stuck completely on something. We already
have multiple admins for the online groups, but as we get involved
with more development work, be aware of anything where you are the
only one who has access, and reach out to the group to make sure we
have someone else who can access that stuff in case you are
unavailable.
Devin
Todd
Aug 18, 2010, 10:36:50 AM8/18/10
to Ohio Game Incubator
At this point, I don't think we have a location. I do think that
having a single location we could go to would be a huge step in the
right direction.
Another thing that was brought up last night was the lack of focus for
the incubator. Yes, it'd be great if we could do everything and do a
million games and support anyone who comes to us, but right now, we
can't do that. We need to decide on one route to go to start, and
work on that area. Once that is successful, then we could start
expanding into other things. Basically, we have to be focused in one
area or nothing will actually get done.
having a single location we could go to would be a huge step in the
right direction.
Another thing that was brought up last night was the lack of focus for
the incubator. Yes, it'd be great if we could do everything and do a
million games and support anyone who comes to us, but right now, we
can't do that. We need to decide on one route to go to start, and
work on that area. Once that is successful, then we could start
expanding into other things. Basically, we have to be focused in one
area or nothing will actually get done.
Devin Moore
Aug 18, 2010, 10:45:21 AM8/18/10
to Ohio Game Incubator
Let's assume that the first big goal is to win funding for a big
project. I backtracked from that, and
it seems to me that the very first steps we'd need are at least the
following:
select a suitable working location
setup a website
belt out a few small games using something of an unofficial "game jam"
format.
Without at least having a website with some kind of demos that we have
built and/or are still working on, any business plan will seem like a
lot of hot air. Also, without having some kinda location, we will be
seen as an informal group of people who happen to all like developing
games.
It doesn't have to be anything fancy. For example, in the early days
of sites like buy.com, their location was basically a storage locker
with fold-up desks. I think we can do better than that for free or
cheap, depending on the location.
I will get to work on pointing one of our website URL's to something,
but does anyone have a place we can use to work from?
project. I backtracked from that, and
it seems to me that the very first steps we'd need are at least the
following:
select a suitable working location
setup a website
belt out a few small games using something of an unofficial "game jam"
format.
Without at least having a website with some kind of demos that we have
built and/or are still working on, any business plan will seem like a
lot of hot air. Also, without having some kinda location, we will be
seen as an informal group of people who happen to all like developing
games.
It doesn't have to be anything fancy. For example, in the early days
of sites like buy.com, their location was basically a storage locker
with fold-up desks. I think we can do better than that for free or
cheap, depending on the location.
I will get to work on pointing one of our website URL's to something,
but does anyone have a place we can use to work from?
Devin Moore
Aug 18, 2010, 11:27:42 AM8/18/10
to Ohio Game Incubator
I am posting modifications to an index page (see files section) that
will become the actual OGI index page as soon as we can point a URL to
some webspace for it. The page will showcase our games, development
projects, resources and events, and it will be a springboard for
assembling business proposals for additional funding of new projects,
etc. I know the page isn't pretty yet, but it will be eventually.
For now, we just need to add content to it until it becomes what it
has to be.
Devin
will become the actual OGI index page as soon as we can point a URL to
some webspace for it. The page will showcase our games, development
projects, resources and events, and it will be a springboard for
assembling business proposals for additional funding of new projects,
etc. I know the page isn't pretty yet, but it will be eventually.
For now, we just need to add content to it until it becomes what it
has to be.
Devin
Devin Moore
Aug 18, 2010, 1:14:16 PM8/18/10
to Ohio Game Incubator
Links from the 8/17 meeting:
aokwom.com - member project... unbelievable level of detail!
ludumdare.com - 48/72 hour game creation contest/jam. Looks like fun,
I'll probably try it out this time around just to see what I can get
done.
aokwom.com - member project... unbelievable level of detail!
ludumdare.com - 48/72 hour game creation contest/jam. Looks like fun,
I'll probably try it out this time around just to see what I can get
done.
bryan patterson
Aug 18, 2010, 3:50:44 PM8/18/10
to Ohio Game Incubator
On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 7:26 AM, Devin Moore <devinmoore.com@gmail.com> wrote:
From talking in the 8/17 meeting,
thx for sending out a recap.
I think we can take an existing game business plan and just replace the guts of how the game works with a different game, and we should be able to pitch that.
is the plan to pitch one game at a time or is the OGI looking to accumulated funds to help dev "x" number of games?
and are you looking to just work off of new ideas or would you also accept other company's projects that need improving?
i'd image pitching any thing without having the OGI first complete number of games would be harder than asking for money and promising to deliver, but idk the OGI's or any member's relationships are like with any funding sources
I'll get started by asking the following: assuming we had the money
right now and a game signed on to develop, where would we be able to
develop the game?
there's no shortage of coffee shops or meeting rooms @ Panera
Do we have a location or would we be developing the
game as a loosely-knit group of people working from home?
prolly want to find a way to utilize both ways depending on how many resources you have outside of cbus that you want to keep in the loop on projects. i'm not familiar with the whole proprietary game dev process, but code.google seems to be a good way to organize open-source projects.
If you're shooting for the #2 game dev area, which I really like as a goal, I'm certain the OGI should be setup to easily accept and evaluate new game ideas from not only Ohio but from all around as well. How about starting with a way to do that on the web or with a mobile app? Some examples I've seen on the mobile app side - 1, 2, 3.
If captured ideas get shared with the entire group maybe you'll get somebody step up and donate some time on an interesting project in hopes to build credibility for the group. Maybe some ideas were shared at the meeting, in that case my fault for missing out.
- Bryan
Sean Beeson | Composer for Media
Aug 18, 2010, 8:47:57 PM8/18/10
to Ohio Game Incubator
From the audio side of things, we are used to working as contractors,
so while not to get the cart ahead of the horse, but any audio
personnel would not necessarily need to be involved in the day to day
operations, on location! :-)
On Aug 18, 3:50 pm, bryan patterson <bp22g...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 2 <http://www.appiction.com/quote>, 3 <http://www.appubator.com/>.
so while not to get the cart ahead of the horse, but any audio
personnel would not necessarily need to be involved in the day to day
operations, on location! :-)
On Aug 18, 3:50 pm, bryan patterson <bp22g...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 7:26 AM, Devin Moore <devinmoore....@gmail.com>wrote:
>
> > From talking in the 8/17 meeting,
>
> thx for sending out a recap.
>
> > I think we can take an existing game business plan and just replace the
> > guts of how the game works with a different game, and we should be able to
> > pitch that.
>
> is the plan to pitch one game at a time or is the OGI looking to accumulated
> funds to help dev "x" number of games?
>
> and are you looking to just work off of new ideas or would you also accept
> other company's projects that need improving?
>
> i'd image pitching any thing without having the OGI first complete number of
> games would be harder than asking for money and promising to deliver, but
> idk the OGI's or any member's relationships are like with any funding
> sources
>
> > I'll get started by asking the following: assuming we had the money
> > right now and a game signed on to develop, where would we be able to
> > develop the game?
>
> there's no shortage of coffee shops or meeting rooms @
> Panera<http://www.panerabread.com/cafes/find.php>
>
> > From talking in the 8/17 meeting,
>
> thx for sending out a recap.
>
> > I think we can take an existing game business plan and just replace the
> > guts of how the game works with a different game, and we should be able to
> > pitch that.
>
> is the plan to pitch one game at a time or is the OGI looking to accumulated
> funds to help dev "x" number of games?
>
> and are you looking to just work off of new ideas or would you also accept
> other company's projects that need improving?
>
> i'd image pitching any thing without having the OGI first complete number of
> games would be harder than asking for money and promising to deliver, but
> idk the OGI's or any member's relationships are like with any funding
> sources
>
> > I'll get started by asking the following: assuming we had the money
> > right now and a game signed on to develop, where would we be able to
> > develop the game?
>
> there's no shortage of coffee shops or meeting rooms @
>
> > Do we have a location or would we be developing the
> > game as a loosely-knit group of people working from home?
>
> prolly want to find a way to utilize both ways depending on how
> many resources you have outside of cbus that you want to keep in the loop on
> projects. i'm not familiar with the whole proprietary game dev process,
> but code.google <http://code.google.com/> seems to be a good way to organize
> > Do we have a location or would we be developing the
> > game as a loosely-knit group of people working from home?
>
> prolly want to find a way to utilize both ways depending on how
> many resources you have outside of cbus that you want to keep in the loop on
> projects. i'm not familiar with the whole proprietary game dev process,
> open-source projects.
>
> If you're shooting for the #2 game dev area, which I really like as a goal,
> I'm certain the OGI should be setup to easily accept and evaluate new game
> ideas from not only Ohio but from all around as well. How about starting
> with a way to do that on the web or with a mobile app? Some examples I've
> seen on the mobile app side -
> 1<http://www.medlmobile.com/index.php?page=appincubator>,
>
> If you're shooting for the #2 game dev area, which I really like as a goal,
> I'm certain the OGI should be setup to easily accept and evaluate new game
> ideas from not only Ohio but from all around as well. How about starting
> with a way to do that on the web or with a mobile app? Some examples I've
> seen on the mobile app side -
> 2 <http://www.appiction.com/quote>, 3 <http://www.appubator.com/>.
Devin Moore
Aug 19, 2010, 11:30:24 AM8/19/10
to Ohio Game Incubator
Right, not everyone would have to show up someplace especially if they
have specialized equipment somewhere already that can't move. I think
a hybrid is best, but a place where you can go if you want to and
there will always be other OGI people there if they are anywhere is a
good idea. I am generally available to meet at a coffee shop
depending on my schedule, so that is a good start.
I agree with the idea submission, we are currently doing both
accepting ideas and trying to grow games, but it is a lot to try to
tackle from a starting point. We have a few games whose development
we have helped launch, so we do have something to promote on a webpage
as soon as we have the URL pointed somewhere. I advocate launching
game development projects pretty much as quickly as we get them, and
only slowing down when we are at 100% "capacity". as long as we are
still bringing in talent and not everyone is fully utilized, then we
are not at 100% capacity yet.
have specialized equipment somewhere already that can't move. I think
a hybrid is best, but a place where you can go if you want to and
there will always be other OGI people there if they are anywhere is a
good idea. I am generally available to meet at a coffee shop
depending on my schedule, so that is a good start.
I agree with the idea submission, we are currently doing both
accepting ideas and trying to grow games, but it is a lot to try to
tackle from a starting point. We have a few games whose development
we have helped launch, so we do have something to promote on a webpage
as soon as we have the URL pointed somewhere. I advocate launching
game development projects pretty much as quickly as we get them, and
only slowing down when we are at 100% "capacity". as long as we are
still bringing in talent and not everyone is fully utilized, then we
are not at 100% capacity yet.
Wes
Aug 20, 2010, 1:25:15 PM8/20/10
to Ohio Game Incubator
Game Projects:
Been looking for work to beef up my portfolio and as a
graphic artist, I can provide 2D, 3D, and animation work.
Would like to be credited.
As for projects (which I may suggest we start a new thread(s)),
I can recall vaguely 6 as of now:
1. Todd has a Sim Tower game version he's implementing:
http://www.barchok.com/2010/06/30/isotower-pre-alpha-official-relew/
I currently may be doing some 3D rendered 2D images for him.
2. Ian has a game for Facebook that he discussed at the meeting.
He may be more heavily involved in Sept-Oct espcially with the Flash
user group.
3. There were two individuals (whom I do not remember names, sorry!),
I heard working on a game currently together.
4. I have a game in started called "Staccato: Reprise of the Chords."
Very very basic demo here: http://vimeo.com/11724586
If you want a synopsis and more info, I have concept
art, story, animatics, etc. WAd...@wescg.net
5. The OSU Chinese language learning game. I think
Robert Maynard would be the one to contact but not
sure if I got the name right.
6. The A-OK The Wings of Mercury simulation.
These are just a start. Any other ideas would be great.
I had a few people who were interested during the summer
to do a game project from CCAD. Some will be going back
to school in the fall but some are grads
and I can give a heads up if we get games started.
As for a meetup place, I'm fine with anyplace that has internet
access and outlets.
Been looking for work to beef up my portfolio and as a
graphic artist, I can provide 2D, 3D, and animation work.
Would like to be credited.
As for projects (which I may suggest we start a new thread(s)),
I can recall vaguely 6 as of now:
1. Todd has a Sim Tower game version he's implementing:
http://www.barchok.com/2010/06/30/isotower-pre-alpha-official-relew/
I currently may be doing some 3D rendered 2D images for him.
2. Ian has a game for Facebook that he discussed at the meeting.
He may be more heavily involved in Sept-Oct espcially with the Flash
user group.
3. There were two individuals (whom I do not remember names, sorry!),
I heard working on a game currently together.
4. I have a game in started called "Staccato: Reprise of the Chords."
Very very basic demo here: http://vimeo.com/11724586
If you want a synopsis and more info, I have concept
art, story, animatics, etc. WAd...@wescg.net
5. The OSU Chinese language learning game. I think
Robert Maynard would be the one to contact but not
sure if I got the name right.
6. The A-OK The Wings of Mercury simulation.
These are just a start. Any other ideas would be great.
I had a few people who were interested during the summer
to do a game project from CCAD. Some will be going back
to school in the fall but some are grads
and I can give a heads up if we get games started.
As for a meetup place, I'm fine with anyplace that has internet
access and outlets.
Devin Moore
Aug 23, 2010, 10:34:13 AM8/23/10
to Ohio Game Incubator
I say we go ahead with these to start with, and just have the
projects' originators start threads here in the group in order to help
drive the development process. Just create a "Project: xyz" thread
with the name, and then put all project-related work there (i.e. to-
do's, etc). That should get us going for now.
Devin
projects' originators start threads here in the group in order to help
drive the development process. Just create a "Project: xyz" thread
with the name, and then put all project-related work there (i.e. to-
do's, etc). That should get us going for now.
Devin
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