Independent game development – Developers’ reflections in postmortems
Suorsa, Noora (2017)
2017
Informaatiotutkimuksen ja interaktiivisen median tutkinto-ohjelma - Degree Programme in Information Studies and Interactive Media
Viestintätieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Communication Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2017-12-18
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:uta-201712202988
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:uta-201712202988
Tiivistelmä
Independent computer games have gained a lot of popularity in the past few years. Digital distribution methods and networks have made it possible for indie games to find more players, and get an easier access to markets, and get noticed by the consumers, than it was during the traditional brick and mortar shop based retail and console game dominant era. The increased popularity and number of indie games and developers has made indie games an interesting research area. Research of independent games has focused on very specific research topics; this study aims to gain a broader view of independent game development with the developers’ perspectives.
The objective of this thesis is twofold. First we take a closer look at the indie games through academic literature: how independent games are being defined and described in academic game studies, we also describe and map out some of the other phenomena such as digital distribution and crowdfunding that have significantly aided in their entry to the game markets. Then we analyse indie game development postmortems using con-tent analysis. What are the most common problems and success factors of indie game development in these postmortems? Are these success and failure factors similar to the defining features and aspects of indie game development outlined by academic literature?
Design & development process was the most common theme in the perceived reasons for success in the postmortems. The most common general reasons for success were technological issues, design process, art, connection and personnel. Production process & project management was the most common theme in the perceived reason for failure, while the most common general reasons for failures were technological issues, resource management, time issues, marketing and release. In general indie developers often suc-ceed in arts and design, but business, process and project management causes problems in the development.
The postmortem analysis results were quite similar to other studies that have analysed postmortem wrongs and rights. The analysis showed that academic literature's defining features and aspects of independent games can be seen in the postmortem analysis results, but often they are not directly the reasons for failures or successes.
The objective of this thesis is twofold. First we take a closer look at the indie games through academic literature: how independent games are being defined and described in academic game studies, we also describe and map out some of the other phenomena such as digital distribution and crowdfunding that have significantly aided in their entry to the game markets. Then we analyse indie game development postmortems using con-tent analysis. What are the most common problems and success factors of indie game development in these postmortems? Are these success and failure factors similar to the defining features and aspects of indie game development outlined by academic literature?
Design & development process was the most common theme in the perceived reasons for success in the postmortems. The most common general reasons for success were technological issues, design process, art, connection and personnel. Production process & project management was the most common theme in the perceived reason for failure, while the most common general reasons for failures were technological issues, resource management, time issues, marketing and release. In general indie developers often suc-ceed in arts and design, but business, process and project management causes problems in the development.
The postmortem analysis results were quite similar to other studies that have analysed postmortem wrongs and rights. The analysis showed that academic literature's defining features and aspects of independent games can be seen in the postmortem analysis results, but often they are not directly the reasons for failures or successes.