Developer vs Publisher: 3, 2, 1, Go!

What the talk is about

Oleksandr Sienin and Igor Tymoshenko share their practical experience of working with publishers: finances, contracts and administrative issues. They cover what a publisher can offer beyond money (marketing, expertise, business development) and the main types of publishers. Key contract points include how costs are split, how the advance is recouped (from total revenue or from the developer's share), franchise rights, minimum marketing spend and approval of expenses. They advise modelling pessimistic, realistic and optimistic scenarios, checking a publisher's portfolio, keeping the budget realistic, and building a flexible milestone plan where each stage can be shown. The speakers also describe their own signed and failed deals, including drawn-out negotiations and console ports. Useful for indie teams looking for a publisher.