Backing the essence of intentionality | Opinion

gamesindustry.biz:

Vic Bassey

Thursday 5th May 2022

If there was ever any doubt as to what period the games industry had sauntered into, the first quarter set the tone.

With robust acquisitions ushering us into an age of content consolidation, the question for any publisher, investor, or VC looking to accrue a return on their investment is how to find games and their creators outside established IPs, but with a strong chance of establishing a foothold and community to build off.

However, most (but not all) investors tend to take a well-worn path as a way to offset their financial investment. It's what has seen the usual publishing houses build a reputation for adhering to one template, because it has and continues to pay off. However, as one looking to support new ideas either by way of small funds or through bolder financial outlays, the need to look beyond the traditional has become increasingly essential.

Christopher Dring's insightful look back at the first quarter of heavy hitters reflected on the resurgent success of the premium games market. Making games is hard so celebrating the financial and human investment ploughed into them is warranted. Whilst some might highlight the risk aversion of big publishers and investors into the AAA space, I wanted to touch on the merits of supporting first time commercial developers and studios looking for their raison d'être.

Vic Bassey, Games Industry Africa

In my current role as the editor of Games Industry Africa, as well as an investor within the South East Asian game development ecosystem, I see a lot of first-time studios trying to make their way in the industry and some common traits among them and their situations have stood out to me.

From the studio side, the fear factor that comes with securing