Where does a successful game company begin?
To figure out why some studios manage to break through, the author brings together not only his own hands-on experience, but also interviews with more than a hundred founders, CEOs, and top managers—identifying recurring patterns. What really helps teams scale? Why do culture and management break down? What steps can actually pull a company out of a crisis?
“Up, Down, Up” is essential reading for anyone who wants to look at the gaming industry first and foremost as a business.
Examples and lessons from Valve, DICE, Rovio, Starbreeze, Blizzard, EA, and many others will help you understand:
– How to choose leaders and establish roles, areas of responsibility, and decision-making processes (including concrete delegation schemes).
– How to spot and stop a downturn in time: relying on data and reality, making the right changes, and developing the company’s strengths.
– How to prepare in advance for growth: when to expand the team, how to structure communications, and why organizational structure largely shapes the product.