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Mastering Retention Podcast

Ep.87: Starting your own game studio

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KKTiSpru1Q⁠

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🎙️ Mastering Retention Podcast: Journey of Game Development with Lior Kardishian

Host: Tom Hammond, Co-founder of UserWise

Guest: Lior Kardishian, Co-founder of Gavra Games

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Introduction

👋 About Lior Kardishian:

Co-founder of Gavra Games, an indie game development studio.

Passionate gamer since childhood, with a background in programming from military service.

Developed games like Airspace Defender and Warriors: Rise to Glory.

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Early Life and Entry into Game Development

🎮 Lifelong Passion for Gaming:

Grew up playing classics like Warcraft, Command & Conquer, and Nintendo games.

Always dreamed of creating games, often discussed this with his cousin and co-founder, Shai.

💡 Decision to Start Gavra Games:

After military service in the Israeli army's medical corps as a programmer.

Wanted to create meaningful games rather than work in data-driven or hyper-casual mobile gaming prevalent in Israel.

Founded Gavra Games with Shai, focusing on passion-driven projects.

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Challenges of Starting a Game Studio

💰 Bootstrapping the Company:

Started with minimal savings, no external funding initially.

Lacked business experience and learned on the fly.

Developed their first game, Airspace Defender, a mobile game inspired by classic arcade titles.

🤝 Seeking Investment:

Gained initial investment through networking, despite a lengthy nine-month negotiation.

Learned valuable lessons about term sheets and investor relations.

Received a small investment (~$40,000) that allowed them to secure office space and salaries.

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Developing Warriors: Rise to Glory

⚔️ Game Overview:

Warriors: Rise to Glory is a turn-based gladiator fighting game with RPG elements.

Inspired by the flash game Swords and Sandals, but expanded with deeper mechanics and multiplayer features.

Gained approval and a bundle partnership with the original game's creator.

🛠️ Development Process:

Initially lacked structured planning or market research.

Began incorporating player feedback after a year of development through conventions and beta testing.

Utilized platforms like Discord to engage with the community and gather insights.

🌐 Cross-Platform Aspirations:

Intended to make cross-platform games, starting with PC and considering mobile and console ports.

Recognized the challenges and risks associated with mobile game development.

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Lessons Learned and Future Plans

📈 Importance of Planning and Market Research:

Acknowledged the need for better initial planning and understanding of the target audience.

Emphasized the value of competitor analysis and realistic time and cost estimations.

🔄 Balancing Game Updates and New Projects:

Continues to support Warriors: Rise to Glory with updates and community engagement.

Considering new game ideas while evaluating market viability and potential publisher partnerships.

🤔 Approach to Niche Markets:

Believes in developing games that the team is passionate about and would enjoy playing themselves.

Recommends against choosing niches solely based on market gaps without genuine interest.

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Insights on Analytics and Player Feedback

📊 Utilizing Analytics:

Uses data to improve game balance and identify issues (e.g., difficulty spikes).

Balances player feedback with data insights to make informed decisions.

🗣️ Community Engagement:

Values direct communication with players, especially through platforms like Discord.

Conducts giveaways and activities to maintain an active and engaged community.

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Advice for Aspiring Game Developers and Co-founders

🤝 Choosing the Right Co-founder:

Recommends partnering with someone you know well and trust.

Emphasizes the importance of mutual respect, clear communication, and legal agreements.

💡 Starting Small:

Suggests beginning with smaller projects to understand team dynamics and workflow.

Stresses the importance of dedication and full commitment rather than part-time efforts.

📚 Continuous Learning:

Encourages learning from mistakes and being open to feedback.

Highlights the significance of planning, market research, and adaptability.

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Tips for Improving Player Retention

🔑 Lior's Advice:

Daily Engagement: Implement features like daily quests to give players reasons to return.

Leaderboards and Rewards: Use leaderboards with regular rewards to motivate continued play.

Respect the Player: Avoid aggressive or manipulative tactics; prioritize fair play and enjoyment.

Future Content Teasers: Keep players interested by hinting at upcoming content or updates.

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Conclusion

🌟 Final Thoughts:

Lior shares a philosophical question: "Are you making games to make money, or making money to make games?"

Emphasizes the importance of passion and purpose in game development.

📞 Connecting with Gavra Games:

Website:

Gavra Games⁠

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Discord: Active community for Warriors: Rise to Glory and company updates.

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