PITCHING TO PRODUCTION

Following on from the internal five-week Release Jam, the residents set their sights on the possibilities for their residency projects. All ideas were pitched internally, identifying team requirements and scope before putting each potential to the test in a rigorous validation process, seeing which would rise to the top. The residents utilised their learnings from the Jon Cartwright Pitching Workshops to summarise their projects and persuade their peers. They received support from industry movers and shakers Zea Wolffe (Midnighters, Cult of the Lamb) and Meredith Hall (Wings, Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical) to thoroughly analyse the concepts for viability, identifying which ideas should progress and which ones should be left behind, and why. 

From there, the residents have now formed groups and begun development on the best of the ideas. Incorporating their learnings from the Games Residency program so far, the teams have created production plans, scoped out their project requirements and forecasted funding opportunities. 

Resident Junebug Seymour recently released their semi-autobiographical game, which they completed through the residency program, The Walks We Used to Take. Players are invited to walk through a landscape of metaphor while listening to voice messages discovered scattered along the way; voice messages recorded by Junebug for their father, attempting to convey a difficult but important truth. 

It’s been an exciting period with some of the new game ideas already attracting investment opportunities from publishers through residency connections, pitching opportunities and exhibiting at Queensland Games Festival—a first for games still in the residency! 

• Dakoda Barker and Chad Toprak (Screen Australia) stepped the residents through funding opportunities from Screen Australia and the application process 
• Julian Beiboer (Momento, Games Residency alum) explored the value of market validation for Momento and shared critical insights about budget management through independent development 
• Sarah Collier (Queensland University of Technology, Aquaman, The Jungle Book) shared insights into transferrable skills across all creative industries and how to best put your foot forward to engage in contract work 
• Andrew Dowsett (Games Residency alum) delivered feedback and advice on the residents’ application materials, offering insights on how to clearly explain concepts and common pitfalls to avoid 
• Katie Eiby (Screen Queensland) delivered a 3-part marketing workshop on understanding the market, building an audience, analysing competitors and creating a marketing strategy  
• Briar Francis and Monica Nery (Thomsons Legal) advised on best practices for setting up independent work groups and agreements, and the benefits of legal support when running your own projects 
• Terry Greisbach (SMG Studio, Snapchat, Halfbrick) shared his approach to playtesting games including analysing feedback and observations to make data driven decisions 
• Anthony Hansen (Tantalus North, Snapchat, Halfbrick) discussed gameplay programming and how to quickly build concepts of games to prove a concept 
• Dave Heironymus (Riot Games, Team Bondi) provided feedback on materials and advice on applying for funding, focusing on knowing who you are building the game for and what they would want or need 
• Dr. Scott Hocknull (Central Queensland University, Australia’s premier Palaeontologist and Palaeotourism expert) shared how he approaches building compelling digital game-like experiences to educate the public on Australia’s dinosaurs and mega-fauna 
• Matt Knights (Protostar, Halfbrick) shared insights about life in the independent game development space and co-founding Protostar 10 years ago 
• Ashley Ringrose (SMG Studio, Soap Creative, LEGO® Party!) discussed running and building a games studio and cautionary tales for managing projects and people 
• Josh Sanderson (Gameloft Brisbane, Mr. Shifty, The Phantom Abyss) gave perspective on the differences between working in a small indie team compared to larger established studios and shared practical advice on looking after yourself through challenging periods of development 
• Meg Summers (Tantalus North, Damsel, Defiant Development, Krome) talked quality assurance and preparing for console release, including the certification/approval processes and production planning requirements 
• Leanne Taylor-Giles (Gameloft, Eidos, Ubisoft) told the group about her experiences working in narrative for a range of games and requirements 
• Louis Van Dyke (Queensland University of Technology, MAXART, Dungeon Pizza, Games Residency alum) shared insights into life after the residency program, and how to put your best foot forward for Games Grants applications.