Blog post meta blog post.

The Dormouse Games website is looking a lot more professional these days.  The blog aspect is basically going to be my domain.  We're going to be posting information specifically about the games we're making the and thought process that will go into them.

This blog is going to stay active.  The tone here will more personal, rather than business related.  Talking about events I go to, talks I like, etc.  But there might be some crossover.  So if you enjoy the stuff I post here, follow the blog at Dormouse Games as well!  Just in case.  Wouldn't want to miss anything, right?

For the company website I rewrote some concepts and ideas about Paper Prototyping because we used it recently.  You may see some revisions and changes in thinking.  This represents the things that I am learning through the process of starting company and applying all the lovely theory.

3 great GDC Vault talks.

Or why I am a Luke Muscat fanboy.

Steam Scouts Beta!

Dormouse Games has a functional Steam Scouts beta!  We'll have a closed beta, followed by an open beta, coming up in the near future.  That means it's time for the business guy to look to the future.  I've been spending a lot of time lately thinking about how we're going to get the word out about the game.

New Office

Today Dormouse Games moves into Intrepid Labs.  We have an office!  Intrepid Labs is a fantastic co-working space which houses some of our closest friends and mentors in the game design world.  The Tap Lab has been there for a while, and suggested we look into getting a desk there.  Owlchemy Labs moved in recently.  Some ex Zynga Boston folks (who I haven't met yet) are there.  And a few other companies are starting soon as well.

Artist(s) wanted

Happy Holidays everyone,

As announced at December Boston Post Mortem, Dormouse Games is starting up this coming year.  We have angel funding and the paper work gets signed in January.  To get a jump on building the business we need artists portfolios and resumes.  2d, or 3d artists (who want to output to 2d) for platformer, puzzle games and possibly card games down the line.  We're willing to look at talented first timers, or experienced folks looking for a start-up indie company.

We have contract work available, with the potential to become full time.  Two games need art and a company logo.  So send us resumes if you are interested, or connect us with worthy folks who want a shot at breaking in.  contact@dormousegames.com

Thanks!

Eric and Jeremy

Dormouse Games

Angel Investors or Inspiration is where you find it.

Eric Fritz came to me with a problem.  He has been working with two angel investors for a year attempting to create a profitable game.  He made a game for them.  They kept saying metrics, he kept saying fun.  The focus on metrics, and attempting to repeat Zynga’s success, didn't go as well as they would have liked. That company has been wound down, but they offered to give my friend funds to start his own company.  This is how we founded Dormouse Games.

Indies and the Law

Or timeliest PA Report ever!

Not three hours after meeting with angel investors (woot!) to discuss an ongoing investment deal, Penny Arcade posted the most amazing article.  (actually they posted it before the meeting, I discovered it via twitter a couple hours after).  The article is a crash course on video game law.  Although not everything in it is specifically applicable to every situation, it is fantastic and helpful in the most common areas of legal trouble for indies.

The advice tracks fairly well to the 'stages of game design'.  There's something for the pre company pretotyping/prototyping stages.  There's advice for company formation, and intellectual property post company formation...  There's a lot of great information in there, go read it.   Then mine is for great twitter accounts to follow:

Ben Kuchera
New Media Rights (nonprofit)
Shaun Spalding