๐ธ how I raised +500kโฌ
๐น๏ธ created a video game studio
๐ช hired 20 people
โ and CRASHED it with some bad decisions ๐คฆโโ๏ธ
The story of MagiCats Builder and my learnings ๐ง
๐งต Thread ๐
๐น๏ธ created a video game studio
๐ช hired 20 people
โ and CRASHED it with some bad decisions ๐คฆโโ๏ธ
The story of MagiCats Builder and my learnings ๐ง
๐งต Thread ๐
It all started when working on my first app. I joined a few events and kids were enjoying it.
A lot of them were like "Wow this is super cool! I want to make games too!!" And I am not talking about 1 isolated convo.
A BUNCH of kids asked me this.
I was stunned!
A lot of them were like "Wow this is super cool! I want to make games too!!" And I am not talking about 1 isolated convo.
A BUNCH of kids asked me this.
I was stunned!
That's where I realized people love building stuff. They did with lego, they now want to do it on computers (that's why being a maker is so much fun).
I was also wondering if it could also be a way to teach people how to code, my secret dream for years.
I was also wondering if it could also be a way to teach people how to code, my secret dream for years.
The idea of MagiCats Builder was born:
A game where you create games, share them with the community and discover hundred of crazy creations.
A game where you create games, share them with the community and discover hundred of crazy creations.
I quickly managed to raise 200Kโฌ from French angels.
How?
- They loved the product and they really wanted it to be alive
- My reputation was high since my first startup was a success
- We had a verbal agreement with @Ubisoft for a huge licensing deal implying @RaymanGame
How?
- They loved the product and they really wanted it to be alive
- My reputation was high since my first startup was a success
- We had a verbal agreement with @Ubisoft for a huge licensing deal implying @RaymanGame
Everything was going great and this is when I did the ...
** FIRST MISTAKE **
๐ฌ๐ฑ
** FIRST MISTAKE **
๐ฌ๐ฑ
I hired great people from the video game industry. Ex-Ubisoft people and some of the most talented people just getting out of school.
But ...
I hired way too soon!
LESSON: big teams are good for the ego. Delay it as much as you can.
But ...
I hired way too soon!
LESSON: big teams are good for the ego. Delay it as much as you can.
Quickly, our burn rate skyrocketed. It was fine, since we were supposed to finish and release the game in 6 months.
Yes .. 6 months.
Of course we didn't.
Yes .. 6 months.
Of course we didn't.
Quickly after, @Ubisoft took the licensing deal out.
HUGE LOSS
Why? Probably a decision from Michel Ancel, creator of Rayman. It was obvious we had different visions.
Community creations didn't really fit with his idea of a "perfect, very well put game-design".
HUGE LOSS
Why? Probably a decision from Michel Ancel, creator of Rayman. It was obvious we had different visions.
Community creations didn't really fit with his idea of a "perfect, very well put game-design".
Side note, maybe it would have been even more complicated working with Rayman's assets.
This was one of our early attempts to import their animation system ๐๐
This was one of our early attempts to import their animation system ๐๐
While in the doubts, we almost quit but we continue and created our own universe.
I personally still love it ๐
I personally still love it ๐
We managed to get back in a very good direction. We won a few prizes like "Best Games" from @ShibuyaProd coming along with a 100kโฌ reward in investment.
Things were going great again!
This kept us in a bubble thinking the game was great and we had to go all in.
Things were going great again!
This kept us in a bubble thinking the game was great and we had to go all in.
** SECOND MISTAKE **
With the hype we were building by winning prizes, we made something really stupid.
We decided to build the MOBILE version as long as the desktop version.
Yep, let's create more BEFORE anyone actually paid something.
With the hype we were building by winning prizes, we made something really stupid.
We decided to build the MOBILE version as long as the desktop version.
Yep, let's create more BEFORE anyone actually paid something.
At the time, we were a small team of 12 people, young, with very limited resources and building a new kind of game. And we just decided to expand our development scope.
LESSON: Keep your scope limited. Go for the niche. Validate first.
LESSON: Keep your scope limited. Go for the niche. Validate first.
Release day came and we obviously had to delay it .. 2 weeks .. 2 months .. 6 months ..
Hopefully, we found more cash. So the release was delayed by a year. But in the end, we had to move forward with an unfinished game.
Hopefully, we found more cash. So the release was delayed by a year. But in the end, we had to move forward with an unfinished game.
LAUNCH DAY!! ๐๐๐
That was fun. Live streams with professional streamers. A LOT of players were getting on the game, lots of Youtube videos published and a LOT of games were created.
But ...
No payment.
That was fun. Live streams with professional streamers. A LOT of players were getting on the game, lots of Youtube videos published and a LOT of games were created.
But ...
No payment.
** THIRD MISTAKE **
๐ Let's make money so let's go free-to-play game with micro-transaction.
2 problems:
- You need to pay to create more, which limit creations and the value of the game
- Microtransaction ... on a kids-friendly, semi-educational game!? COME ON
๐ Let's make money so let's go free-to-play game with micro-transaction.
2 problems:
- You need to pay to create more, which limit creations and the value of the game
- Microtransaction ... on a kids-friendly, semi-educational game!? COME ON
We tried a bunch of things during the 6 next months but it was just too much. I didn't find the energy to get back on new development cycles so we stopped there.
In the end, it's not money that kills a startup, it's the founder's lack of energy.
In the end, it's not money that kills a startup, it's the founder's lack of energy.
Ok that feels sad.
WHAT'S THE GOOD?
๐ช Most people from the team got a career boost from this experience
๐งโ๐ We learned a lot
๐ค A lot of people enjoyed the game and discovered coding
๐ธ All the assets were bought by a private investor
WHAT'S THE GOOD?
๐ช Most people from the team got a career boost from this experience
๐งโ๐ We learned a lot
๐ค A lot of people enjoyed the game and discovered coding
๐ธ All the assets were bought by a private investor
LESSONS SUMMARY
๐ช Limit your team size as long as you can. It will make everything more complicated then
๐ Ship with a limited scope and validate your core features before expending
๐ง Don't always follow the herd (micro-transaction here), think for your specific situation
๐ช Limit your team size as long as you can. It will make everything more complicated then
๐ Ship with a limited scope and validate your core features before expending
๐ง Don't always follow the herd (micro-transaction here), think for your specific situation
If you liked this story, consider following @tibo_maker for more ๐ I have a bunch of others to tell.
And if you loved it, it would mean the world if you share the first tweet of this thread โป๏ธ๐
Just for the fun, here is the full video trailer of the game ๐ค hope you like it
And if you loved it, it would mean the world if you share the first tweet of this thread โป๏ธ๐
Just for the fun, here is the full video trailer of the game ๐ค hope you like it
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