Jesper Trodal’s Post

Scale brings advantages, but also disadvantages. I see a lot of game studios rush to scale. They think it will make things go faster, but because they don't have a concept they've aligned around and proven, it ends up slowing everything down. More people means more time spent aligning, more toes that can be stepped on, and more overhead - not to mention more money spent. Don't rush to scale. Figure out what you need to answer before you scale, and hold yourself accountable to it. As the old proverb says, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." Early on in game dev, you need to go fast because you aren't yet sure where you're going. Later on, you'll get more people together and go far. Don't jump the gun, or you'll go nowhere slowly. #gameproduction #gamedevelopment #gameindustry #scale

Most game development studios face immense challenges, from rapidly evolving technology to fierce market competition, even for those with substantial funding and resources. Achieving success in this industry often feels like a miracle, and miracles seldom happen with teams that prioritize stability and shy away from ambiguity. These mindsets can hasten a studio's downfall. True success in game development requires creative problem solvers who thrive in dynamic, uncertain environments, and are unafraid to tackle the complex challenges that arise. #mobilegames #mobilegamedevelopment

The three studios significantly beef up Virtuos' headcount as it focuses on becoming the 'biggest external game developer globally.' #gamedev #gameindustry #gamedevelopment https://bit.ly/3C8zGA3

🚨 New AI builds Indie-to-AAA props and characters 🚨 See the demo : https://bit.ly/m/Kaedim Take-Two's Indie Label, Private Division, Might be Sold or Closed: The earlier news of shutting down Roll7 and Intercept Games is just the tip of the iceberg.  ⭐ The world's best game studios ship 7x faster | Learn more at 🚨 New AI builds AAA characters 🚨 See the demo : https://bit.ly/m/Kaedim - try it today to turn sketches into game assets in minutes. #GDC #GDC2024 #a16z #GamingIndustry #IndieGameDev #unrealengine #GameDevelopment #IndieGames

The big news. Studio Foundations is a company we’ve started to address some of the problem spaces we’ve played in for years. Problems new game studios must spend time to solve. Time is precious, and it should be spent creating amazing experiences for players, not reinventing the wheel when there should be readily available solutions. To that end, we’re building a wheel to improve the iteration speed and feedback cycle in the process of checking in code to being able to playtest. Every game studio should have a core foundation of platforms and technologies to enable them to focus on the creative aspect of their games, to find the fun, to build experiences that give the feels. That foundation is what we're building. Iterate Faster. Find the Fun. Follow along with Studio Foundations as we reveal more! #gamedev #buildinpublic

Wow, here we go again, another AAA studio shutdown after $400m invested, this time it's Firewalk Studios (SONY), the team behind the short-lived Concord project. And here’s the kicker: it was reported that Sony originally signed on to fund Concord with a massive $200 million, only to see the price balloon to an alleged $400 million. That’s hundreds of millions for a game that barely made a dent in the industry. Compared to what indie studios can create on a shoestring budget, we put out polished, innovative games with a fraction of the resources. That's ridiculous. Managers have to STOP reinventing the wheel and just focus on making the game fun, and HEY do it fast because time is ticking... Hours after Sony pulled the plug, Firewalk shared a farewell post filled with proud reflections on their work since 2022. But for all their big talk, what did they actually achieve? Firewalk Studios boasted about "bringing the joy of multiplayer to a larger audience" and "assembling an incredible team." They mentioned surviving startup growth during a pandemic, building a custom FPS engine, managing an acquisition, and ultimately "delivering a great FPS experience." It sounds impressive until you realize that the project, Concord, fizzled before it even found its footing. Firewalk says they took creative risks, mixing card battlers with FPS gameplay, but let’s be real, how can such “innovation” justify such insane costs? AAA studios often pour millions into concepts that flop, while smaller studios manage to push boundaries and reach players with far less. When will the big guys figure out that bloated budgets and sprawling teams aren’t the only way to make great games? This kind of spending might explain why AAA studios keep burning out. #gamedevelopers #videogames #gaming

Finding Hope in a Changing Game Industry! It’s no secret that the game industry has been through some tough times recently. We’ve all seen the headlines about studio closures and job losses, and it can feel pretty discouraging. But there’s another side to the story that’s worth celebrating. More than ever, we’re seeing a surge in indie studios popping up, fueled by passionate developers who are pushing the boundaries of what games can be (I hope to be one of these developers). These smaller teams are bringing fresh ideas and unique perspectives that are connecting with players in new and exciting ways. It’s inspiring to see what can happen when creativity meets determination. And despite the challenges, there’s a real sense of community forming. Players are more involved in the development process, giving feedback that’s helping shape the games they love. It feels like we’re moving towards a more connected and supportive industry, where everyone’s voice matters. Yes, the road ahead might be uncertain, but there’s a lot of hope too. This is a time for reinvention and innovation, and I’m genuinely excited to see where this journey will take us. Let’s keep moving forward, supporting each other, and making the games we’ve always dreamed of. #GameIndustry #IndieDev #GameDev #Innovation #GameDevelopment #Community #gaming #videogameindustry #jobs

Led by our brilliant CTO Joni Vähämäki, our development team is redefining the way you play mixed-reality games. 🕹️✨ Here's a sneak peek at their ways of working! 👇 🙏 They have built an open environment where everyone gets along well and any issues can be openly discussed. 💡 Exchanging ideas is emphasized because developing a game is a process that begins with a flurry of ideas and prototypes. 🧗♀️ They test ideas, gather thoughts, and decide the direction of a project collectively. 🚀 Rapid experimentation and prototyping, give the team a feeling of whether an idea could be turned into a game. 🌟 Everyone in the development team gets to participate broadly, even if they aren't directly involved in a particular project. Also, each game developer takes significant responsibility, often leading a project from start to finish at least once. Sounds good? Well, follow us to hear first about our open positions! 🤩 And now, meet the incredible minds behind our innovative mixed-reality games: Sami Pekkola, Abhishek Jaiswal, Lauri Kuusisto, Joni Vähämäki, Lauri Lehtonen, Lotta Karvonen, and Bernhard Miettinen 🌟 #ValoMotion #GameDevelopment #MoveTheFuture

💡 Game co-development is often misunderstood, and these myths can hold you back from unlocking its full potential. ✅ It’s not about losing control—it’s about enhancing creativity. ✅ It’s not just for large studios—indie developers benefit too. ✅ It’s more than outsourcing—it’s about partnerships. 🚀 At Juego Studios, we believe co-development drives innovation and success. Let’s debunk these myths and create something extraordinary together! Visit: https://lnkd.in/gBwC9EQY 💬 What’s your take on game co-development? Share your thoughts! #GameCoDevelopment #GamingIndustry #GameDev #IndieGames #GameDesign #Collaboration #JuegoStudios