I’ve often been critical of developers who are too focused on their “awesome idea”, or more generally, lack all-around knowledge of more than just production. Namely, business/financial aspects and marketing/PR. Today, more so than ever, your business model is going to drive the kinds of games you’re going to make, how you need to deliver and market them, production process, etc.

Luckily, there’s a niche conference focused exclusively on finance and biz in games. The GameON: Finance program looks at emerging business models, biz stats and trends, public and private funding, etc. For studios that are just starting up, or scrambling for funding - or even just trying to wrap their heads around the fact that running a studio is more than just worrying about production - this is a must attend event.

I’m somewhat biased as I was part of the advisory/program committee, and I’m moderating the closing panel. But still…