Hello HN,
We recently just completed our AR Drone Simulator and are working hard to innovate upon it. We all know that without depth sensors and a better viewing device, AR is somewhat limited to mobile. Would love to hear some ideas generated for all of us to innovate the AR space.
Wow, timing is everything. I had booked my ticket 2 days ago for Berlin. I am finishing up my time at StartupChile and heading to Berlin after being convinced by many at SUP, that Berlin has many things happening. I needed a high quality affordable city, that was startup friendly and supported my photography addiction. Berlin hopefully will allow me the time to focus and finish my two iOS games.
As a recent indie game developer Kickstarter does somewhat look like a viable model to fund your development.
But like Hollywood, there is great stuff and there is crap with a lot of gray in the middle.
In my situation I am making a very small iOS twitch game built on the Unity3d platform. As most know the advantages of Unity is it's ability for delivery to a variety of platforms and rapid iteration of development. Our project will have 2 month development.
Our team is comprised of myself (Ex-EA, ex-Squaresoft and serial startup guy) a pair of outsourced programmers, a optimization and art integration programmer (ex-UBI) and a 3d artist. I will handle many of the art and sound tasks as well as the final call on things.
The budget is under $30k. I know this is doable and possible because I have a clearly defined budget, and experience to quantify this budget.
This game is to provide hopefully two things:
To quantify that a financial success can be built from this model. Positive Revenue versus Negative Revenue.
Build a core following of player who like our work.
To use the potential revenue to build a bigger project.
There will always be scammers and people who want to rig the system.
I have thought closely about using KS for our second game which will require a budget of $100k, but at this time I don't have the followers and the public cred (in my mind to validate the success of a kickstarter campaign) although we do have great a prototype, art and a working business plan and design doc.
Hopfully this first game/risk will allow us to grow into what we desire as a viable business model for all involved.
Excellent info Benl. Having been on the startup ropes many times, your above points are key. I find that exercise has been a real boost to my mental health and allowing me new clarity of focus to problems.
Startups are very, very hard, the percentage of success is very small. The media and techcrunch make it look so easy...but there are many that do not make it any where close to the big liquidity. Mix in questionable investors, that are motivated by greed, salaries that need to be paid and a girlfriend that needs to get....
Well, I had applied to StartupChile and got accepted, but wanted to see how my luck would turn if I applied the same startup to YC. I would of prefered to be in SF with the great mentors and angels, but hey StartupChile give you $40k with no take of equity.
I applied and got rejected. But, I have also gotten accepted to StartupChile but would prefer to be in the valley. Getting into YC is like winning the best of the best. Many come, but few are chosen.
Having lost both of my older brilliant brothers to HIV AIDS this passing of SJ conjures up many many emotions. Life is fleeting, live it fully in all you do. For the reaper does come, always unexpectedly.