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#1 "What do games developers want?"

A little piece of mind and knowing all their dreams and work aren't going to blow away on the fickle wind.

#2 The main problem I see is that the services you are providing are not generally the reasons why startups fail.

if they have good product, that means that they probably have a good Producer, and if they have that, then they are golden.

I am a bit suspicious about the premise here too though.. is this "agency" named "EA Games" or something of the sort? Seems like a good way to extract blood a bit more efficiently.

#3 What you describe would be limited to the area in which is was set up and wouldn't be of any real use to the general development community. More useful would be practical services such as dev kits and technical support from a dedicated web site/telephone service.

Development tools such as level editors and art packages would help but, only if the developer had someone trained in their use!

An important question I would have for such an agency would be "What do you get out of this?" I'm willing to bet it's something like first refusal on the product and a stake in the comapny that is et up or something equally leech like.

#4 Yes, we really dont need that kind of stuff.

What most of us probably need the most is:
- A budget to contract out the professional art needed to build a decent looking prototype
- Funding to allow the developers to work full time on the project
- And freedom to build something that might be perceived as a bit of a gamble. (Not a total gamble, just enough of a gamble)

Give us that and we can build you an amazing game.

#5 Bah, I personally find such an idea interesting at least. I really dont understand the mood here. Its not like anyone is being drafted, its a nice option to build a business plan around and test your own strengths and weaknesses. Such an "incubator" would in certain cases help a lot, in my opinion. Its like experimental playground both for investors and development teams.
And of course, investors would want some some return, maybe that's why they're called..dunno...investors? "Leech like" iis a rather silly term for routine capitalist practices. Its like you're waiting for subsidies from angels dancing on a pin, not asking anything in return.

#6 I think its a good idea, just in too much of a mood to elaborate just now :|

#7 Sounds like a pretty good idea. Not too likely to happen in my area of the country though. Oh well.

#8 @Nauris

The post gives the impression that this is to help start-ups by giving them office space, use of servers and business advice.

If you give someone office space then that immediately limits this to the area in which the offices reside. So you and your team would need to travel to wherever and stay there for god knows how long (up to a year if I read the post correctly) and produce a prototype on their hardware (automatically means that unless you sign to the contrary they own the code on their servers!).

In contrast the incubator program from microsoft simply lends the developer some kit and software tools and allows them to create a prototype. Microsoft get first refusal and will even provide some preliminary funding if they think the project is good enough. Microsoft are totally upfront about this and don't even vaguly try to hide that fact from the developer.

My main problem here is I don't see what is being provided here or what the benefits to the provider are. I for one would not put my fate in the hands of an organisation that makes promises without any real information on the whys and wherefores.

#9 I've got to say I agree w/ Peter. The loan of dev kit & tools seems more useful from my perspective precisely *because* it doesn't require quitting your current job and moving somewhere. Of course I'm buried in the midwest with a wife and house, so shifting *anywhere* is a huge risk (read as 'not an option') for me unless I've got a reasonable assurance of long-term employment.

#10

Quote:If you give someone office space then that immediately limits this to the area in which the offices reside.

I see what your saying, but I disagree to a point. You could have a main location while others could still work over th enet... plus if your serious about going full indie then it might not be a bad idea, especially if they help you promote your game and can lead you more towards getting funding.

On the other hand pure indies might not want office space (as you say), so other factors might help, like help lead them towards good contracting and outsourcing, getting them contract game possibly to earn some extra money. Promotion and marketing might be a big plus too considering how little funds indies have to do this. Just general help, motivation, assisted funding, and networking that will help an indie team get their first game out.

I think some of you guys are being way too harsh, the way Aimon phrased it was very respectful and I think some of the responses are a bit uncalled for... I mean hes asking what you think should be added or removed not whether you'd buy into what he has :)

#11 As a game developer, if I were to list a "must have wish list" for when I start production on a new title I would have to list the following:

- Access to hardware: primarily video cards and alternative system such as the Mac for testing
- Network contacts: you need to make relationships early with new sites, hardware vendors and potential publishers, as such being able to at least post somewhere and know that serious people at least know of you and your progress would be great.
- Web Templates: I simply don't have the time or inclination to design a custom web site from scratch as such having a simple to use and modify (simple being the key word here, as I have seen a lot of web templates that are layers upon layers of non sense and crap) to stand in for the site for a few months is helpful.
- Development servers: Getting CVS and some sort of bug tracking server up and running pronto is crucial, thankfully Max Gaming does this thing and can provide the service for a fee, but if you didn't know someone who is doing this you would be SOL or stuck doing it yourself.
- The Trade Show List: Where can I flog my game best that suits my budget and needs?


Logan

#12 @Matthew: I dont think any of these responses are uncalled for.

Aimon asked for people's opinions, and he got them. A few (mine included) are a bit on the negitive side, but what's the point in opinions if no one gives anything negitive?

I actually think that incubators are a GREAT idea... it's just that comming for the private sector, you have to know exactly what the 'angel investors' want in return, or else you get the type of suspicion that was raised in this thread.

I personally plan on leveraging an incubator that is similar to the one Aimon described, but it is government funded, and they dont give you office equipment or money (just guidance and office space)

So yes, it is a great idea, but everyone wants something in return... if it's not disclosed up front you'll always get this type of suspicion.

#13 Usually when someone makes a request in a respectful manner you return the same courtesy :)

#14 .

#15 Wish they had an incubator here in Oregon...

#16 So taxpayers are going to be paying to subsidize game development? LOL, good bye constitution (as if it wasn't already gone).

#17 .

#18 Chris Labombard put forward most points that I wanted to make; The biggest issue for a start up independent game developer is that it's difficult to find the funds needed to be able to do it full time. Sure you can get by working other jobs, but there's really no way to compare it to the amount of things you get done when you don't have to do other things to stay alive.

The tricky part is to find said funding without losing (too much) of the "independent" part of it....

#19 Subsidizing small businesses has the opposite effect of it's stated raison d'etre - it _causes_ poverty and unemployment. Without the profit metric that can only be found in the unhampered free market, government and government sponsored organizations cannot calculate how to properly allocate resources. You want to allocate resources in a way that grows the game development sector, right? You cannot do this with government. You'll simply misallocate resources and have the opposite effect of what you desire. Read Economics for Real People] for exactly why.

#20 Please, let's not side track this discussion about what small/independent teams would need in an incubator with a debate about economics Bryan :)