Finding the right development partner is a challenge, even if you’re constantly meeting new studios, taking introductions, and attending conferences non-stop like I do!
The challenge isn’t finding a capable studio, it’s finding the right studio for a specific project. Ever had that “man, I wish we’d met two years ago” moment? I have. This is a lesson I learned the hard way, after slogging through project after project, only later realizing the experience I needed was out there the whole time.
It doesn’t take too many of those moments to convince you of the value of good sourcing: flying around the world to conferences, combing through endless meeting systems, and connecting with hundreds of people. And don’t take my word for it, ask any quality game publisher how much they invest in scouting.
So then, what's the secret to making sure you have the right development partner for every project? It’s to start your search with a comprehensive understanding of the market, then consider everyone.
Easy right? Just meet all 1,500 or so service providers in games?
Luckily, I’m a fan of gargantuan tasks, so this was the perfect thing for me to obsess about for years as I built CDR’s ever-growing database.
After an incredible amount of work (and iterations that continue to this day), the database tracks 1,500 game service partners worldwide, including hundreds of development studios, art houses, and animation specialists.
But the database is just the beginning. Having it allows us to consider the entire industry just on the surface level to find good overall candidates. I think of it as a sort of shortlist generator. Then the actual vetting begins–the screens, the proposals, the interviews, the work trials. Here is where I get to go beyond the basic “X number of years in game development” kind of information and get into the real details, like “what was your specific contribution to this project?”
This process has already helped deliver real results: over 120 successful projects and more than $2.7 million in saved production costs for our partners. And above and beyond that, it's helped create partnerships that last.
Of course, mapping an industry is a never-ending task. We’re constantly iterating on search functionality, data categorization, and overall enrichment using our own searches to inform needs and requirements. There’s a massive difference in value between the right partner and almost the right partner, though, and having this database is a big step in a better direction.
The next time you need an external partner, consider a more comprehensive approach. Go beyond your immediate network and think about what partnership sourcing might look like if you could start with no limitations and only had to stop when you found the right fit.
And hey, I’ve got a nice database here, if you need help getting started.
