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How to Go from Player to Creator: Tips for Crossing the Gaming Industry Divide

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OK, so you’re a fan of video games but you want to step across the divide and become a creator. How do you do it? Well, first off, you need to define what you mean by "creator". In the strictest sense, this means someone who creates games. However, you don’t need to be a developer to be on the other side of the fence. There are various careers in gaming, such as artist, designer, scriptwriter, composer, tester, and distributor, to name just a few.

If you’re going to cross the divide and move from player to creator, you need to define your role. You can’t do everything. You might not have the skills to do certain things. Think about what you can do and see what opportunities there are to do it. If you need to retrain, do it. If you already have the necessary skills, harness them and go for it.

Let’s say you’re not alone. You’ve got some skilled people willing to roll with you into the creative side of the gaming industry. Now you’re going to need a company so that everyone has a role. How do you start a video game company? It’s not easy. Companies such as Team NINJA, the studio that has produced co-op games including Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, didn’t pop up overnight. In fact, Team NINJA has been honing its games since 1995.

How to Start a Video Game Company

Therefore, the first thing you need to do is set your expectations. The chances of making a hit straight away are low. Once you’re swallowed a dose of reality, here are the initial steps you need to take on your journey towards video gaming greatness:

1. Write a business plan and, if necessary, submit it to prospective investors. A business plan should include the products/services you’re going to offer, the money you need, how resources are going to be allocated, and rough timelines for growth.

2. Set up your business and register it. To register your company, you need a name. Leaning on the power of digital technology is a good idea at this point. AI-powered software can create video game company names in seconds. Not only are these names based on keywords that can help with online search rankings, but they can also be easily linked to a URL so you’ll be able to set up your website with ease.

3. Make sure your company meets the necessary regulatory and financial obligations within your jurisdiction. This step includes things such as registering for taxes.

Map Out Your Ideas

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Once all the business stuff is taken care of, the first creative thing you’ll need to do with your team is brainstorming ideas. A mind map can be a useful strategy to employ at this point. Everyone should feel free going into brainstorming sessions and have the attitude that every idea counts. Nothing should be off the table. The line between genius and madness is a fine one, so you need to throw a lot of ideas into the mix to find out where said line is.

In reality, this is when the hard work really starts. Setting up a business is actually quite easy in comparison. The planning process for video games can take months. Then you’ve got to articulate ideas into something that resembles a game. All of this can take months and even years. However, don’t let that stop you. If you’re a fan of gaming and feel like there’s more in the industry for you than playing, take the leap. With the right plan, people, and resources, anything is possible.