Some GameDev Newsletter Resources
If you work in games development (or are seeking too/just interested) then these are newsletter’s that I’d suggest worth following. Sorry, but there’s a UK focus here, some some are global. These are main ones I subscribe too.
Practical GameDev
- Simon Carless’ GameDiscoverCo – Excellenty newsletter focused on the core issue of getting people to see the games you make. Vital reading.
- Game Conferences Guide – Networking is a vital part of making it, so finding out where to go to meet those contacts is key.
Industry Commentary
- Nathan Brown’s Hit Points – Ex-Edge magazine’s editor gives you news and insights into the industry. Good way to see what else is going on.
- George Osborn’s Video Games Industry Memo – Not the ex-Tory chanecllor but another George Osborn who’s been in the industry a long while, worked at places like UKie, knows lots of people and it a lovely person.
- Exploring Game Development – This is my newsletter looking at the challenges and opportunities in game development. I hope sharing my perspective of 25+ years in the industry can help make sense of a complex and ever changing industry.
Business Development
- Colin Macdonald Games Opportunities newsletter – Great summary of the grants and awards available currently.
- UK Games Fund – Sign-up to the newsletter via the site. A great fund run by lovely people!
Oh and also I write on specifically on Warhammer 40K Rogue Trader and what game developers can learn from it, here and I’ve got one on game development too, Exploring Game Development.
A few #GameDev Videos
These are ones that I thought were really helpful!
General Advice – running your venture means balancing a lot of differnet things!
Pitching – a key skill as a game developer and something that you get better at with preparation and practice.
Writings about Climate Hope
Just a note to say that I’ve started another writing project, on hope and positive news regarding climate change over here.
A newsletter focused on stories of hope in the global fight against climate chaos. While there is much to be angry, sad and disappointed about, here we’ll focus on the good news – the hope! We aim to use hope to power action!
Plymouth & Exeter Games Dev Meet-up Slides & Info
We were hosted this week by the lovley people of Not Evil Studios in Plymouth and then Tech Exeter, in Exeter.
The two Auroch talks we did can be found here (as PDFs)
If you want to sign-up to the Bristol Games Hub mailing list, which will cover events here in Plymouth/Exeter too, you can do so here.
TIGA Awards 2023 – Auroch Nominations!
Exciting news, the team at Auroch Digital have been nominated for a bunch of award categories in the TIGA Awards;
- BEST ACTION AND ADVENTURE GAME – Auroch Digital: Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
- BEST EDUCATIONAL, SERIOUS OR SIMULATION GAME – Auroch Digital: Brewmaster: Beer Brewing Simulator
- BEST AUDIO DESIGN – Auroch Digital: Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
- BEST LARGE STUDIO – Auroch Digital
We’ll find out on 17th November 2023 if we’ve won any!
Oh and Boltgun also has a physical Switch version!
Mars Horizon (& Auroch!) has a TikTok!
We’re taking a few steps into the world of TikTok, with ones for Auroch Digital and also Mars Horizon
Here’s an example video
Why are we doing this? Its clear this is a key platform:
Q: Some people say that popular games have popular TikTok videos, and so it’s more correlation than causation when it comes to creating interest. What do you say to them?
A: It’s undoubtedly much easier to get TikTok views if your game is already popular. However, there are numerous examples of games that gained much more visibility through TikTok. You’ve covered a number of them in your newsletters already.
The inverse also doesn’t hold up. A big game definitely doesn’t automatically lead to success on the platform. There are AAA studios with wildly successful titles that are outshown by indie teams and solo devs.
But that also brings up the common question, “how valuable is TikTok visibility”? This is almost impossible to measure, but I fall back on the Rule of 7 from old-school marketing. It suggests that a potential customer will need to hear an advertiser’s message 7 times before they’ll take action to buy a product. A viral social media post on any platform adds to that number, and brings many people one step closer to buying your game.
https://newsletter.gamediscover.co/p/tiktok-how-data-changed-one-devs
Speaking Engagements in Jan/Feb 2023
So 2023 is getting off to a busy start and I’m booked into to speak at 2 events so far:
PG Connect London on 23rd/24th Jan 2023. Main site is here. Details on my contribution to follow.
Then in Feburary, I’m talking at Bristol Game Lab. Here’s the info:
Save the date! On Friday 24 February, The Bristol Digital Game Lab is delighted to be hosting a public lecture by Dr Tomas Rawlings, Studio Director of Auroch Digital.
Dr Rawlings will speak about ‘Authenticity in Game Development – Mars Horizon and the experience of working with real space agencies when making a game about running a fictional space agency’.
The lecture will be held in the Reception Room, Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol, and is free to attend. It will run from 17:30-19:00. There will be a Q&A as well as a drinks and networking session facilitated by the Lab, which will also be hosting the first UK Digital Game Lab Summit that day.
Full details and booking link to follow. You can also find details of other upcoming Game Lab events on our website.
Hope to see you there!
Our Games Workshop Themed Podcasts
Here they are, to date!
- Warhammer 40,000: Back to The Beginning | S7 E3
- Deep Dive: Chainsaw Warrior | S2 E4
- A brief history of non-Warhammer Games Workshop Games | S5 E3
- The Road to Hell: A History of Car Combat | S3 E1
- The Dark Future… in cardboard! | S3 E2
- How to make Dark Future, the video game | S3 E3
- Dark Future: Blood Red States in now live | S3 E4
- An interview with… James Swallow | S3 E5
Getting into nerd-history: Warhammer Quest
I’ve been getting into a bunch of videos/books that dig into the history of various nerd things that I’m into and one of them I’ve enjoyed has been a three part YouTube series on Warhammer Quest. (Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3). Warhammer Quest, if you’re not sure what it is, is a hybrid dungeon-crawling RPG/miniatures wargame from Games Workshop. I’ll not say much more as the videos do a great job of that history. What I will note though is this little nugget from Part 2 at 17.32 in;
Which noted that an origin of the great Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay Game’s classic campaign, The Enemy Within, which in-turn is referenced in Warhammer Quest: Shadows Over Hammerhal, was in-turn riffing of the classic RPG, Call of Cthulhu. Apparently GW wanted some RPG adventures that had more of a horror/investigation type vibe that the more hack’n’slash of D&D.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – announced!
Very, very excited to announce a new title – Boltgun! Trailer below and some commentary here.
As ever, please do wishlist the game!
A Great Becoming... 