Thoughts on Starting a Video Game Company

Hello! I would like to know any of you guy's suggestions for starting a game company. I feel like I wanna start one sometime soon, but I don't know where to start, or how to make it work, any ideas? Thanks!

 

Step 1: Start making a game.
Step 2: Find someone who wants to work on that game with you.
Step 3: Work on the game.
Step 4: Your company is now formed. Optionally, make it official with legal documents.

Alternatively, you may switch Steps 1 and 2 around.

But seriously, what do you mean by where to start and making it work?

 

I mean getting it started.

 

Getting what started?

Legal? Game development? Forming a team? Etc, etc.

 

If you don't know where to start then forget the word company and everything related to starting or running one. You first have to have a product to sell and not the other way around. Make a game or multiple games and if they do well then maybe you could think about company.

 

A company is just a group of people who focus on a combined goal. Unless you're talking about managing people who make games while you just rake in profits, the best way to form a company is to just start making a game with a friend.

If you have no friends, you're probably unlikable and wouldn't be able to find anyone who'd want to work for you anyway.

 

I would start by selling the game you have made. If it generates revenue then you can think about making a company. If not then sell your next game.

You do have a game to sell right? Because no company exists without a product.

 

Unfortunately it's not always that easy. In Poland you are LEGALLY REQUIRED to start a company ("firma" in Polish), even if it's just one person company, before you can sell anything. Including a game. So a little respect, please.

 

Thanks That's a good straight forward piece of advice again, thanks!

 

wow...

 

what about like... claiming a name... to like, put in a splash screen ??? lol

 

I don't know of a 'company' name yet :/

 

oh i meant that as another question to other people .. oops.. i didnt put a question mark lols

like, do you have to register your name? or should register your name?

i have a name i REALLY REALLY REALLY want... lol.. but i dont have a product yet..
i have a HUGE ambitious goal (for like 5 years from now)

 

oh lol nvm

 

Also another question. So I was planning on making a game place, but then the thought of having contracts and all that, What I need to know is, do you get contracted by unity if you somehow become making over 100k? Also, to avoid this, should I start my own GameEngine? thanks for all the answers guys! I means all out

 

Well, since you're planning so far ahead, I think you should focus on designing your corporate headquarters and personal penthouse. Other details can follow.

 

What do you mean? I was just planning on making a simple place that makes games. What should I do you say?

 

Setting up a Sole Proprietorship seems very simple in Poland, just go to the Firma website and fill out the form. Unless there are long wait times it doesn't seem to be something you have to pay attention to until you're almost ready to ship your game.

 

Making game engines is for the big AAA companies. In general it will be cheaper to pay for unity then to write your own.

 

Thanks but my question is still not answered! ;o all i wanna know atm is do you get contracts by unity if it gets 'big'?

 

Your question makes no sense. If your revenue is over 100k you are required to buy pro. That is it. No contracts or royalties or anything like that.

 

Thank you! I was just wondering if you had to have contracts.

 

Yacht first, headquarters later.

 

"believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

 

Swanky places in town to setup an office, fast i7 for developers, Cintiq's for artists...

 

Yacht - try befriending a rich publisher first...

 

You don't have to have a paid game. It can also be a one you made for free to some app market, a game jam or one to show off for friends. If the downloads go good you might be on to something. Forming a company before knowing how much it actually takes to make a game or are you good at it at all is more risky. Depends of the country and company type but after starting one and paying the possible fees you are obligated to do various things every year even if you make no money. And I wasn't trying to be disrespectful, it was just a common tip that is valid for all industry types

 

I think you are struggling to get a straight answer due to the ambiguousness of the question.

For starters, what do you mean by "start a video game company"?

That could mean a studio, a publicist, a retailer, and lots of other things.

For the sake of conversation, let's assume you meant a studio.

Next question, what are you bringing to the table?

Capital? Programing? Art? Management?

If you're a rich kid with some start up cash, awesome. Hire out a team.

If you're not, start making yourself useful to a team and have something to show for it. Work with others. Learn the industry. Horse, then the cart.

In my observations, and this is conjecture, I think that traditional studios are starting to change their dynamic. It's becoming increasingly easier to contract out work than to hire employees. No benefits to worry about. No worries about legal issues with employees for termination or discrimination.

While on the flip side, employees are having less and less need for a company to work as a middle man, since the distributors have made it easier and easier to access their store.

If you are a rich kid looking to start a company, maybe you can think how to work with those issues with a new business model.

 

Thanks mate sorry for making it ambiguous, I was just trying to ask something simple, but it turned into this huge mess of miss understanding.

All say again this time as SIMPLE as I can .

So,

I mean just starting a place that makes them and sells them, kinda like a studio, yes.

I have a HUGE love the Nintendo Entertainment System, and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, I made a game that is kinda like the way you would make an nes game, but it's buggy as heck. so I scraped that, and don't know what else to do, No Capital, Yes Programming, Maybe, Yes Art, I don't have anyone for Management quite yet.

I'm not rich kid lol.

It's just me, and my brother lol.

Thanks for it I really apreciete it!