Develop:Brighton is going to be fantastic. Not only because we’ll be able to actually meet people in person again. But because there are plenty of excellent talks throughout the event. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone, and if you’d like to book a meeting you can drop a time in our calendar.
In the meantime, we thought it’d be worth pointing out a few of the talks that caught our eye. If you’re creating a multiplayer game, we think these sessions could be really interesting. So let’s have a look at the top 8 talks to check out.
1. Community-Driven Development 101
By Russ Clarke from Payload Studios. Tuesday 26th October: 14.00–14.45.
We’ve already mentioned why it’s important to build a brand around your multiplayer games. But part of the reason is that you’ll want to create a community. This is the ideal talk to cover off exactly how to do that.
According to Clarke, this approach not only builds loyalty with your audience and keeps your game growing for longer, but actually reduces your risk. A practical and insightful talk, with plenty of specific examples.
2. Creating a Thriving Work Culture in a Remote World
By Jenny Muhlwa from Sumo Group. Wednesday 27th October: 12.00–12.45.
This talk from Muhlwa looks at how to build a company culture and how technology can strengthen that culture. We’re all remote now, and we’re needing to find new ways to build the office rapport we once had.
It’s a topic we feel very strongly about, ourselves. A healthy company is one that communicates and socialises together, where the team feels comfortable with one another. It’ll be fascinating to see how Muhlwa thinks we can achieve that.
3. There’s a New Way to Develop and Thrive
By Mike Gamble from Talenthouse Media Foundry. Wednesday 27th October: 12.00–12.45.
We’re all about learning here at Gameye. Investing time into training and progressing your people isn’t just the right thing to do, it helps your business. So it’s no surprise this session jumped out at us. Mike Gamble (former European head at Unreal Engine), is tackling how developers think about their own development and commercial options.
There’s more than one way to take your game into the market. And in this talk, Gamble will shine a light on just how and why you rethink how you publish your game: from creative control through managing discoverability.
4. Why Marketing Your Studio is Just as Important as Marketing Your Games
By Abbie Dickinson from Rebellion. Wednesday 27th October: 14.00–14.45.
With multiplayer games, it’s really important to build a community and attract long-term fans: those players that’ll love all your games. If you can create a dedicated following, all your games benefit.
This talk from Abbie looks like a great way to start building that reputation by establishing your studio as a brand, not just individual games. So if you’re developing a multiplayer game, this seems like a must watch.
5. A Modern Development Culture for a Modern Development Process
By Whitney Burner from Darewise. Wednesday 27th October: 15.00–15.45.
Crunch time. I think we can all agree that it’s a toxic idea that no individual developer wants to experience. At Gameye, we believe in prioritising our employees’ health. It’s a key tenant of our business, in fact. So this is a topic close to our heart.
Burner will be looking at how you find a balance: creating high-quality games in a limited timeframe, but without sacrificing your culture. It seems to be largely about how to reuse modules and systems across your games, so you’re not duplicating efforts. A very practical solution.
6. Pandemic-Proof Play: Adapting local multiplayer games for post-Covid socialising
By Jo Haslam from Snap Finger Click. Thursday 28th October: 11.15–12.00.
The pandemic has really shifted how people work and play. Everyone has gotten used to virtual meetings and even socialising online. As it’s going to be here to stay, how’s that going to affect games with local multiplayer.
Aside from needing to think about how you’ll host the matches, it also seems to open up an entirely new genre. Games that feel local, but that you play remotely. An inspiring talk, we hope.
7. From Classroom to Boardroom
By Ashley Wharfe from Waving Bear Studio. Thursday 28th October: 15.00–15.45.
If you’re just starting out, there’s a lot you won’t know. How do you get funding? How do you stay motivated? How do you figure out how many servers you need for your multiplayer game?
Wharfe, from Waving Bear Studio, is going to talk through their experience from graduation to professional game developers. What do they wish they’d known at the start? A talk for all the aspiring developers, for sure.
8. How To Support Learning in Multiplayer Games
By Joseph Hesketh from University of York. Thursday 28th October: 16.00–16.45.
We’re always interested in any talk about multiplayer games. This talk from Hesketh is going to drill down into the academic side of creating a multiplayer title: the literature and research around how to help newer players get into a game.
One of the key takeaways is getting some practical guidelines to follow when introducing new players to your game. How do you create the tools?
Want to know our thoughts?
We’ll be around at the event, too. So if you’d like to hear our views on any of the topics above, need a hand figuring out how to host your multiplayer game or just want to meet us in person, book a meeting in our calendar. Feel free to just pop by our stand as well. We’re at B35.
Looking forward to seeing y’all.