Acquisitions, a Publisher

1
Acquisitions, a Publishers Perspective
Getting past the initial selection process

• Andrew Wafer
• Lead Games Designer
• External Development Studio
• Andreww_at_codemasters.com

2
Who Are Codemasters?

• Codemasters is an international developer and
  publisher of quality video games for Console and
  PC. Codemasters currently employs over 380
  personnel with plans for further expansion. We
  have offices in the USA, France, Germany, Spain
  and Holland. Headquarters are located in central
  England.

3
Why Should You Listen to Us?

• Established in 1986
• More than 1000 weeks at number 1 in various UK
  Charts
• Over 60 No.1 hits across Europe
• Continuous sustained growth throughout company
  history

4
Recent and Future Games
5
Codemasters Development Philosophy

• Understand what gamers want now and in the
  future.
• Constantly examine the evolving marketplace.
• Maintain our commitment to gaming excellence.
• Strive to ensure each title is a worldwide hit.

6
What a good Publisher Should Provide

• Continual development support and quality
  assurance facilities
• Established branding
• Strength in the international market place
• Financial backing
• Project management assistance
• Game design guidance
• Comprehensive marketing, advertising and Web
  package
• Maximum exposure for your company and game
• Global distribution

7
How to get Your Game Signed

• Part 1 The Concept

8
The Importance of Theme

• How popular is the basic theme of your concept?
• Is it a license?
• Is it a fresh and unique idea?
• How accessible is the theme?
• Will the average gamer be familiar with it?
• Who is your target audience?
• Have you done any market analysis?
• Why will they want to buy into this theme?

9
Obvious Pitfalls

• Your idea might not be cool just because you
  think it is
• How many people have you discussed it with?
• What has been the general response?
• Will your idea work as well outside your own
  country?
• Many themes are only popular within specific
  territories.

10
The Competition

• What are your concepts direct competitors?
• Have you played all other relevant titles?
• Have you looked at whats on the release schedule
  for the next year?
• What are you going to be doing thats different
  to them?
• More importantly, what are you going to be doing
  thats better than them?

11
A Vision for Your Game

• The Vision Document
• Do you have a short concise vision document for
  your game?
• Can you explain the hook in a few words?
• Do other people get excited about your game?

12
Unique Features

• What is going to make your game concept stand out
  in a meeting?
• Publishers may see hundreds of games in just a
  few months. How will they remember yours?
• What are the unique features of your game?
• What can your game do that no one elses can?

13
What Type of Game are You Making?

• If your game has a story have you considered
• An act structure or other narrative discipline
  (story arcs etc).
• How much depth there is to it.
• How much freedom you give the player within the
  story.
• Is central character a person players will want
  to be.

14
What Type of Game are You Making?

• If your game is an action game have you
  considered
• If your concept is different from the rest of the
  crowd.
• At the time of release can it compete with the
  best in terms of graphics and gameplay?

15
What Type of Game are You Making?

• If your game is a sports game
• If there is an available license for the sport
  you are simulating.
• If so have you pursued that license?
• If your physics model can accurately re-create
  this sport.
• How much you and your team actually know about
  this sport. Do you have access to an expert?
• Does the sport translate well to a video game?

16
Other Important Considerations

• Is your concept one that would be immersive? Will
  it draw the player in?
• Have you considered potential for sequels?
  Obvious scope for sequels can be attractive to a
  potential publisher as it gives greater long term
  potential to the game.
• Is your concept fun?
• Dont get too rapped up in the theme to forget
  this!
• Can you explain whats fun about it?

17
How to Get Your Game Signed

• Part 2 The Design
• and Technology

18
Why Do We Need a Design Doc?

• So you can plan your project and allocate
  resources to your team
• So your team has a shared vision of what you are
  trying to make
• So the publisher can accurately market and
  position your game

19
The Design Document

• How complete is your design documentation?
• Does it contain enough detail?
• Setting and/or plot
• Characters?
• A.I. Specification
• Physics
• Game mechanics
• Control systems
• Aesthetic look
• Mission design
• Sound design
• Menu flow and OSD structures

20
Which Format?

• Have you considered what platforms your game
  would suit?
• Is the concept tailored for that specific
  platforms user base?
• How scaleable is code between different platforms
  if you are considering a multi-platform
  development?

21
Technology Demonstration

• If youve never had a published title before
  you will need to demonstrate some technology,
  even if its just a prototype.
• What we want to see
• A solid core gameplay mechanic
• Great Graphics (or potential for)
• Innovative features
• An example mission or part one

22
How to Get Your Game Signed

• Part 3 The Right Team

23
Studio Tour

• If a publisher is interested in what you have
  to offer they will want to see your studio and
  meet your team. Your team may need to show what
  they are working on and demonstrate a level of
  expertise. You should prepare your team for this.

24
Staffing Plans

• Have you considered your staff requirements for
  the duration of the project?
• Are your staff qualified and experienced enough
  to make the game you want to make?
• Do you have a dedicated project manager to run
  your project?

25
Additional Resources

• What do you think your weak areas are?
• Do you have a solid understanding of the
  development process?
• Milestones etc,
• What areas of development (if any) do you need
  assistance with?
• Music
• Voice-overs
• FMV out-sourcing
• Video footage licensing

26
Codemasters External Development

• Project planning assistance
• Dedicated full time development manager on your
  project.
• Dedicated Assistance Development managers.
• Game Design expertise
• Dedicated game designers to work with your team,
  strengthening your games appeal.
• Development support
• Capable of dealing with a wide variety of
  different products.