Casual Connect Kyiv 2013: interview with WildTangent

At Casual Connect Kyiv, we talked about the gaming market with Jared Guthmiller from WildTangent.

How do you see the future of game development?I think we are seeing radical changes right now.

The PC market still plays a certain role in the casual industry, but the role of the mobile market is already radically different. It doesn’t just dominate, it changes our perception of games, how we play and even how we develop them. I’ll even say this: the mobile market has changed the approach to content consumption in general. And if everything has changed for the players, as it seems to me, for the better, then it has become easier for developers on the one hand, and more difficult on the other. Developing a product is not so difficult, but bringing it to market is a serious test. 

Do you see differences between local markets?They are there.

This is especially evident when comparing Western markets with Japanese. What they play, how they play, how much they spend on their entertainment…

What advice would you give to young developers?Everything is complicated here.

If you make a PC game, then it’s hard to find investors for this case. If you take up the development of a mobile product, then at the end of the development – there will be difficulties with its publication. Therefore, it is definitely difficult to advise something: know your market, clearly understand what exactly you want to do, the specifics of your project. Don’t think about money, how to earn it, think about the game. You should not just do the same thing with an eye on the mechanics of popular projects. Guys like Rovio won the lottery. It is not a fact that following them, you will also get a lucky ticket. For example, I’m not sure that I want to develop anything right now. But if you have talent, skills, if you are absorbed in your project – it’s cool.