Mark Cerny and Geoff Keighley have launched a university-affiliated fellowship program intended to support emerging game designers. Nova plans to select 20 fellows each year and provide each of them with $100,000 to develop an original game. Around a quarter may qualify for up to an additional $500,000 if their projects show particular promise. The money matters, but the structure surrounding it may be even more important...
The biggest part of this story isn’t the number. It’s the structure. Griffin Gaming Partners launching a $100 million fund dedicated to indie developers matters because it directly challenges one of the most damaging patterns in modern game development: funding models that leave studios carrying most of the creative risk while receiving the least long-term security. The newly announced Special Opportunities Fund will finance games in exchange for a share of revenue rather than taking equity in the studio itself...
The Australian games industry has faced significant challenges in recent years, with publishers tightening their belts, investments dwindling, and major studios laying off staff. Yet, in the face of these adversities, creativity persists. Melbourne-based game studio Ghoulish exemplifies this resilience, aiming to produce innovative games that defy expectations. The studio, founded in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, is committed to fostering a sustainable, equitable environment for its team while creating games that brim with passion and ingenuity...
