As a game developer or aspiring game developer, especially an indie developer, you'll most likely be faced with the issue of getting funding. Whether you're working on your first project or your 50th, one thing you'll always need is money. Then, with money, you can buy time, especially other people's time. That's why it can sometimes be very hard to get started in the industry when you don't have the funds to do so. Most people will opt for two main things: Either they bootstrap it and try finding the funds on their own, or ask friends and relatives OR they opt for the other option which is look for funding. That is definitely the more viable and the one that leads to most success stories, however, it definitely takes more time and effort to use this one. Sometimes, depending on your stage in life, this might be the only option that would allow you to work on your passion project while still holding your responsibilities, ie. kids, wife, etc. Using this approach also means that you'll have to work on a pitch deck, which is a bunch of fun!
What is a pitch deck?
You can see a pitch deck as a document that you can share that will essentially tell anyone who reads it clearly what your project is about and how you plan on achieving the goals and milestones that you set for yourself. It should be presented in a way that the reader automatically understands what is unique in what you're proposing and what differentiates you from the rest. Usually, this document is shared with potential investors or clients for them to get an overview of your project and what its intended purpose is. Most likely if you're simply looking for funding for a game, you should probably prepare a Game Design Document (or GDD) instead, which will probably get you further.
What should be included in a pitch deck?
All pitch decks are different so you want to look at the ones in your field, in this case, gaming. You should take a look and be aware of the bigger studio companies that have their pitch decks publicly available online. That way you'll see what they've done that was different from the other ones.
Even though the content may vary from one to another, there are some essential parts that are usually found in every single one. You'll always find an elevator pitch of some sort. So a one-liner that really explains what your project is about in a very clear and concise way. Then, you'll find a description of the person or the company. That's a simple way to show the investor who they're dealing with and if you seem credible or not. Make sure to humbly boast there with all the experience and successes that you have under your belt. Then, that'll be followed by a more in-depth explanation of what the project is about. Where it's at now as well as where it's going and the different phases of it. Then, you start with the money talk. You do a financial breakdown that covers anything from how you plan on making your first dollar (or how you made it) to the different phases of income you'll be getting and how you'll be ending at your targeted goal income. At the end, you should also include how much the investor would get back from the initial investment they would've put in. Put it in 'x' fold, it always strikes harder, ie. 3 years after your investment, you would be receiving 5x your initial investment.
It's a numbers game
That's something you'll hear a lot in a lot of industries, but that's because it's true. But it's not the only truth. It is indeed a numbers game but you also need to make sure your content and quality are up to par. The best way to go about it, especially starting for the first time and not knowing exactly how to do it, is to ask for advice. "Ask for money, you get advice but ask for advice, you get money" is the good old saying. That simply means not getting too eager for money, it can be a long process and you have to be ready to persevere and keep the ball rolling until it can roll by itself.
For all the game devs that are not so much interested in getting funding for a studio but rather for their game and rather need instructions on a GDD, stay tuned as we'll be covering that in the next few weeks!
What is a pitch deck?
You can see a pitch deck as a document that you can share that will essentially tell anyone who reads it clearly what your project is about and how you plan on achieving the goals and milestones that you set for yourself. It should be presented in a way that the reader automatically understands what is unique in what you're proposing and what differentiates you from the rest. Usually, this document is shared with potential investors or clients for them to get an overview of your project and what its intended purpose is. Most likely if you're simply looking for funding for a game, you should probably prepare a Game Design Document (or GDD) instead, which will probably get you further.
What should be included in a pitch deck?
All pitch decks are different so you want to look at the ones in your field, in this case, gaming. You should take a look and be aware of the bigger studio companies that have their pitch decks publicly available online. That way you'll see what they've done that was different from the other ones.
Even though the content may vary from one to another, there are some essential parts that are usually found in every single one. You'll always find an elevator pitch of some sort. So a one-liner that really explains what your project is about in a very clear and concise way. Then, you'll find a description of the person or the company. That's a simple way to show the investor who they're dealing with and if you seem credible or not. Make sure to humbly boast there with all the experience and successes that you have under your belt. Then, that'll be followed by a more in-depth explanation of what the project is about. Where it's at now as well as where it's going and the different phases of it. Then, you start with the money talk. You do a financial breakdown that covers anything from how you plan on making your first dollar (or how you made it) to the different phases of income you'll be getting and how you'll be ending at your targeted goal income. At the end, you should also include how much the investor would get back from the initial investment they would've put in. Put it in 'x' fold, it always strikes harder, ie. 3 years after your investment, you would be receiving 5x your initial investment.
It's a numbers game
That's something you'll hear a lot in a lot of industries, but that's because it's true. But it's not the only truth. It is indeed a numbers game but you also need to make sure your content and quality are up to par. The best way to go about it, especially starting for the first time and not knowing exactly how to do it, is to ask for advice. "Ask for money, you get advice but ask for advice, you get money" is the good old saying. That simply means not getting too eager for money, it can be a long process and you have to be ready to persevere and keep the ball rolling until it can roll by itself.
For all the game devs that are not so much interested in getting funding for a studio but rather for their game and rather need instructions on a GDD, stay tuned as we'll be covering that in the next few weeks!