How to maximize your chances of winning the gamedev lottery

What the talk is about

Anders Hillestad talks about how to improve your odds in the gamedev "lottery", when thousands of games reach Steam every year. First, you should be able to explain your game in one sentence and say why anyone besides you should care; think about marketing from the start of design. Second, don't postpone the business side: contracts, roles and money splits need to be settled early, because team members often leave and partner disputes can stop a game from shipping. Third, nobody in the industry fully knows what they are doing, so impostor syndrome is normal, and a network of friends helps; behave responsibly at parties and be kind to people. In the Q&A he comments on new digital stores, exclusivity deals, VR, and work-life balance. Useful for indie teams and newcomers to the industry.