GCAP 2017

The collapse of the big game studios in Australia has led to a renaissance of creator-driven studios, but the aftershocks of that collapse are still being felt. One unexpected consequence has been a rejection of big studio culture and a desire to stay small, nimble and lean.

But for the Australian games industry to not just survive, but thrive, it needs to have studios operating at every scale, from AAA console development to smaller indies and everything in-between. If we want to win back federal support for our industry then we need the power of thousands of voices. We need to stop the talent drain that occurs when people are forced overseas to advance their careers. We need to be seizing those opportunities that only present themselves at scale.

But how can we get bigger whilst still retaining the core values that have been so fundamental to the resurgence of gaming in Australia?

Growth has always been a key component of Mighty Kingdom's strategy to rebuild the industry in South Australia, and that means I spend a lot of time thinking and tinkering with strategies to support that growth.

In this talk I will go into the good, the bad, and the ugly of our journey to grow Mighty Kingdom into the largest studio in Australia (WIP). I will highlight some simple processes that can be implemented to remove barriers for your employees, and how you can retain the small studio culture as you grow.

Even if you decide that growth is not for you, I will show you how and why you should support those studios who do want to grow. Bringing AAA back to Australia will have a knock on effect throughout the industry. By being actively involved we can avoid the mistakes of the past, and ensure we build a resilient and thriving industry for everyone.