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Space Station Managing, Post Mortem
M0b1u5 writes "Mistaril is a small company with an intriguing product: Space Station Manager. It's a finalist for the Independent Games Festival and a follow-up game is planned: Luna Base Manager. However, the SSM project has a developer post-mortem which is well worth a read if you're thinking about launching a game development company, or are just interested in game development."
When you are playing the MIR simulator, don't forget to go into the galley and press the "A" key 3 times in a row. It instantly replenishes your vodka-cannon.
Also, due to MIR's rather porous hull, the game is by default set to "noclip ON". Make sure to turn "noclip OFF" if you want to stay inside the ship.
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
Yeah, it's probably because you've never worked in the industry. ;)
... work. At a small startup, everything you do is magnified greatly, because you are such a large percentage of the company (including making decisions on what you are going to do!), and The Rules haven't been established yet.
Really, what you seem to be describing is MUCH more related to small startup companies. Being a small startup GAME company does allow for some more freedom and zaniness to go on, certainly, but there are big, old, monolithic game companies, too. =)
I've worked for both small startup (non-game) tech companies, and game companies of a few different sizes. It's really being a small startup that makes the workplace -feel- exciting. The work at a game company itself is sometimes more exciting, but sometimes it's really just
- Jodiamonds
The sweetest, juiciest quote of the whole article:
The game found an appreciating target audience and managed to generate enough profit to let the company continue developing games.
This goes to show, people are finding indie games, and done right they can generate enough profit to sustain a small development studio. They did have a little help from the IGF nomination, but still its an incredible achievement given they worked full time and risked it all.
Is that a light I see at the end of the tunnel?