The primary goal of Indie Games Starter is to break down barriers in the world of game development for young, ambitious creators who want to create innovative video games. Finding their first job in the gaming industry can be challenging – companies often seek experienced professionals with extensive portfolios. However, like any creative industry, gamedev needs fresh ideas and new talent. This is precisely why Indie Games Starter was created.
Our incubator not only discovers new talent but also creates a space where beginner developers can gain their first professional experience, experiment, and refine their skills under the guidance of mentors. Creating your own game in the incubator is different from working or interning at a large studio, but we believe that the heart of independent gamedev lies in small, passionate teams and these are the ones we want to support.
What is an incubator?
The incubator is the first stage of support for newly formed game developer teams. Although full of passion and dedication, young teams often lack key skills, such as effective work organization or the ability to validate ideas.
Participation in the incubation process allows them to acquire these competencies in a safe and controlled environment, where mistakes are not failures but a natural part of the learning process. With the support of mentors and the opportunity to experiment, beginner developers can test their skills and gain valuable experience that will help them in their future careers.
How to start?
The first step in the incubation process is forming a team. Individuals are assigned to teams based on their skills while existing groups can join as they are. Teams then start working on the game by ideating on the projects they want to make, based on guidelines from their mentors. Such an approach gives the teams time to get better acquainted while also looking for creative solutions. Their ideas are reviewed by specialists in game design, graphics, and marketing. After feedback, teams refine their ideas and begin developing a vertical slice (a demo) using Unity or Unreal Engine. Completing this slice is required to finish the incubation phase.
What happens after incubation?
After the incubation period, the team possesses complete project documentation and a representative portion of the game, known as a vertical slice, which serves as a solid foundation for further development of the game.
The next step is to evaluate the project. Projects, teams, or individual creators who receive the highest ratings from their mentors and our expert panel will be invited to join Indie Games Starter to continue working on their projects or support other creators with their skills and ideas. This is a full-time, paid position that provides professional experience among experts in the games industry.
Financial Support
Participation Rules
Each team enrolled in the incubation program will receive access to a dedicated Discord channel and will be assigned a mentor with whom they will have a monthly meeting.
The team must choose one of the two work modes:
- The team will work on a game based on their own design. Such a game must fit into one of the genres proposed by the organizers, and the final shape of the project must be approved by the mentor.
- The team will work on the game based on the concept and documentation provided by the mentor.
Registration
Registration does not equate to the start of the incubation process. Everyone who registers will receive an invitation to an orientation meeting, which will help in making the final decision regarding participation in the program.
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