Square Enix insists on the need to support small independent teams by market leaders. The Japanese see their contribution in the development of the Square Enix Collective initiative.
“If we, as an industry, do not support new talents and ideas, then this may not be very good for us,” said Phil Elliott, chief of Community Relations at Square Enix’s European office, at the Nordic Game 2015 conference, which opened today, May 20, in Malmo.
Phil Elliot
Phil insists that the industry also depends on new ideas.
But the problem is that they are hardly worth looking for in AAA projects: within the framework of expensive projects, it is not so easy to experiment, introduce new ideas, since any experiment is a risk. In this case, the risk is hundreds of millions of dollars.
That’s why Square Enix launched the Square Enix Collective initiative some time ago (there are ideas, there are no risks for many millions). It, we recall, consists of three components: feedback, financing and distribution.
At the first stage, the developer sends the Japanese company a pitch on the game (in a certain form). Square Enix distributes and popularizes the concept among its gaming community. Based on the feedback received, a decision is made “at the top” whether or not to support the output of the game on Kickstarter and/or Indiegogo. Then the crowdfunding campaign begins. If the financing goes “with a bang”, Square Enix, firstly, takes 5% of the amount collected, and, secondly, offers developers to publish the project (however, this is by no means necessary, although in the latter case the developer can get access to one of the company’s franchises) – this is the third stage.
This is how the company sees assistance to independent developers. And, according to Phil, by now Square Enix has already supported 36 pitches. Three of them have already started fundraising. Two projects – Haylcon 6 and Goetia – have collected the necessary amounts ($187,706 and $34,188, respectively), but World War Machine, despite the support of Square Enix, is not (the goal was £50,000, did not even gain up to 30% of the amount).
Phil demonstrates which genres dominate the popularity of the community, and which are treated most oftenA source:
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