Is it really that important to form a company if you want to make games?

Yes! Many aspiring game developers don’t want to think about this, but properly structuring an LLC can be the only thing that protects you personally in case problems arise. If you’re intending to build a copyrighted IP, share revenue with other team members, or even just become an independent contractor on a project, you’ll want to take this important step.

Is forming a company difficult?

That can depend on a few things. There are several different types of companies each with their benefits. An LLC is often the way to start, and forming one does not need to be overly complicated, but understanding your company’s goals, membership, and structure can be the first step toward having a productive conversation about this.

Do I need to pay for a lawyer to incorporate?

If you are just setting up as a single member LLC for independent contracting, possibly not. Anything more complicated that involves agreements or contracts between team members or revenue sharing would involve legal documents like Articles of Incorporation, Copyright Transfers, and Contracting Agreements. It’s generally not a good idea to enter into these agreements without having them drafted and reviewed by a copyright attorney. That said, Fool’s Errand Games maintains a catalog of properly drafted template documents for most standard cases. Reach out to us and ask if we can help.

We’re just a few friends making a game together. Why would we need a Producer?

Producers are there to make sure you stay organized and on schedule. Games are complicated and creative endeavors, and it’s easy to lose track of your priorities. Having a Producer involved can make sure that you stay focused on the most important areas of development and actually deliver your milestone content functional and on-time. And if you’re going to get involved with a publisher, you’ll want one to keep communication between teams.

Do we need to use Project Management tools like Trello or Jira? They’re complicated and expensive.

It takes a little extra effort to coordinate your work in these tools, but the benefits of having a visual of what all your team members are doing and when they’ll be done are substantial. That said, we agree that you shouldn’t be paying for extra features and team members if you don’t have to. Fool’s Errand Games maintains a proprietary piece of simple Project Management software we offer to our collaborators at no charge. Just another way we can help.

How can I run a successful ad campaign online?

Money. That’s the simple and unfortunate answer. Most larger studios will allocate up to 40-50% of their entire game’s budget to promoting its release. Without a substantial marketing budget behind you, it can be difficult to ensure substantial returns from a marketing campaign. A lot of online marketing agencies will still promise you the moon, though.

Are there other options?

Of course! You don’t need oodles of cash to crowdfund development on your game. Connecting with your fans through platforms like Patreon can also help to get people involved and invested in your success. And getting your game out there, demoing and showing it at events where people can see it is a great way to start getting attention.

Social media management is a pain in the ass.

That’s not a question, but we’ll overlook that this one time.
Developing a following and producing online social content can be a full-time job onto itself. Unless you already have a following, or are intending to network extensively, this may not be the best way to get attention. Fool’s Errand Games maintains relationships with several content creators who specialize in showcasing indie game content. Collaborating with these sorts of estabished creators can be a more efficient and mutually beneficial way to get already established audiences looking at your game.

What does it cost to sell our game?

That depends where you want to sell it. Most distribution platforms will charge a small fee to get the game listed, and then will take a commission on sales (between 10-30% usually, depending on the storefront). It can seem like a lot, but you’re not losing money until you’re making money.