How to start an indie game studio using Unity Companies?

Hi,

This isn't a technical question rather its just advice from you guys. So my question is how can I start my indie game studio, I want the team members to use unity companies. More specifically how do I hire people to join, this is the hardest part I think and whenever I look it up on the internet there are only just 'motivational' videos about starting an indie game studio.
Please answer both questions, Thanks!

 

Passion. Use your drive and love for a project and get others motivated and involved. Being just an idea guy won't get you too far; so I advise learning a skill which puts you as a valued member among your team. Either programming, art, animation, etc...

You can set up a collab post in the collaboration forums looking for others to join up with you; as well as other sites like teamups, etc..

 

Umm just start it i guess. Grab a group of beneficial people and call yourself a company or group

 

It depends, do you have a lot of money? Do you have any skills in gamedev?

If you have the startup money, I imagine it's like starting any business. (Tons of books / resources on that. Won't touch it here.) You put out job offerings and take job applications. Although I'd strongly advise having some skills or someone already part of the team with skills (programming) so they can hire good employees. (That in & of itself is extremely difficult.) Or maybe finding a professional that is highly likely to know their stuff, and paying them to go through the hiring process with you (that way you are much more likely to get a competent employee). An initial cost, but more than worthwhile when an average of 199 out of 200 programmer job applicants don't even know how to program.

If you have no money, then I would strongly suggest having a game before you ask others to join your game. Either that, or approach someone else's game, offer your skills, and try to combine to form a team/company.

• You need a gamedev skill so you are useful to others. Many people would be right to think "I would never work with someone unless they are contributing just as much as me to developing the software itself."
• You need a game. Whether that is someone else's game or your own idea, you need to have a prototype and GDD (something to show it's more than just an idea. It's a feasible game that can be completed. Reasons why it's a good/profitable idea.)
• You need money. Unless this is a part-time or free-time effort or you don't have bills to pay (and neither do the others on the team), then you need money to support you & your team while you develop.

If you have no money and no gamedev skills?

To start a company, you need at least one of those things. You're best off learning the latter. Learn Learn Learn.

To find people to join or conspire with, go to places where they are showing off their work or offering their services. Join community / social groups. Get connected.

http://forum.unity3d.com/forums/collaboration.17/

http://forum.unity3d.com/forums/works-in-progress.34/

 

There's no secret to starting a company. You do need a few things, though, and without these things, getting your company off the ground is very difficult, much less keeping it up there.

• Money - Companies have employees. Employees get paid. Otherwise they're just volunteers, and the company is actually more of a club. You may be able to get people together on the premise of revenue sharing, but when it comes time to pay their bills, they'll neglect your work for paid work soon enough. Tied to that is...
• Revenue - Unless you plan on funding the company from your pocket for years, you need to have a way for the company to make money. Producing a finished game can take some time, so if your plan is to release in 5 years, it's smart to have a way of making income to hold you over. Selling assets you create is a good idea, but even non-game-but-still-related tasks like making websites or doing animations for business presentations can work, too. Think of Contract Work in Game Dev Story. Alternatively, keep your day job and run your game business on the side.
• Skill - For a small team, everyone should be an integral part. Unless the idea guy is funding everything and giving everyone a paycheck, he should also write great code, create production-ready art, or something else equally vital.
• Business Sense - It's one thing to make a game in your spare time. It's a totally other thing to do it as a business, especially when other people are involved. You need to be able to separate your passion for your game and look at things objectively. You may want to see your MMORPG game completed more than anything else, but if it's not financially viable, as the business owner you have to be able to recognize that and pull the plug before things get out of hand.

 

I don't know what you mean by this???

 

So much better than what I wrote, I was contemplating deleting my post

 

I'm so hungry right now, I wasn't even sure if what I wrote made sense. Never delete, though! Even your shameful ramblings should be documented for posterity.

 

Starting a company just requires a small fee as some paperwork. Companies are typically vehicles for keeping your personal stuff seperate from your business stuff. It may or may not be what you want to do.

For running a succesful business, see the very good posts above.

 

Fair point. It should also be noted that the process may vary quite a bit depending on the type of company you are forming (LLC, vs Corporation, etc) and where you are forming it. In the USA, for example, companies are formed at the State level, so you must process it through the state in which the company will "reside".

 

Hiring people requires money - convincing people to join your adventure without money requires a silver tongue, promises of grandeur in the near future (which fizzles out very quickly), OR lastly threat of blackmail - which isn't a good way to run a legit business.

 

You can start your company with one person I think. Or put down your parents as the treasurers or something.

I don't think there's much point in starting a company though. The only reason would be if you wanted to take out a loan on behalf of the company, so if you went bankrupt you, personally wouldn't be liable to pay the money back.

But who would give your company a loan in the first place? Nobody unless you had a track record of producing best selling games.. but in that case you would probably have a lot of money anyway.