Going Rogue: Game Design Freelancing 101 Aaron Cammarata Partner, voidALPHA

Box Cover ● You can! ● Should you? Can you put it down? Can you get it done? Can you suck it up?

Press Start

Select Level ● Launch ● Networking = Listening & chatting ● Cheat Code: Networking is the fun part Stanford Game Industry List

Select Weapon ● Advertising = Promoting “...how to identify great designers, which is what I want to find.” - Clients ● Cheat Code: Show me.

Loading… ● Step 1: Can I do what they want done? “One thing that I noticed in working with the other contractor is that it is possible to take my directions literally, but of course, that's not really what I want.” – Client ● Done: ● Range estimates (“2-3½ weeks”) ● No blockers (“Invent time travel”) ● “Itch List” (Strategy / tone) ● Buy-in (See them nod) ● Step 2: Can I do it on their schedule?

Loading… ● Step 3: Can I do it for their budget? ● Done: Agreement, draft the contract ● Cheat Code: 1-2 weeks ● Sider’s Law of Compensation: ● “If you can’t scratch a window with it, it isn’t compensation.” ● Lawyers review. You decide. 1)Will/Will NOT 2)Pay (30/50/20) 3)When 4)Warranty 5)Maintenance 6)Ad Hoc Rate 7)Exceptions

Ready…Fight! ● THOU SHALT ALWAYS BE PROFESSIONAL ● Screw-ups will happen ● And all are your fault (No “But you said…!” Ever.) ● Check and confirm your Itch List ● Refine – do a little extra work ● Renegotiate “the time we have left” ● Reboot ● Document all changes ● Cheat Code: Master the Socratic Method ● Assume YOU missed something ● Bonus Cheat Code: Expect and enjoy silence ● Answer with correct, concise good news No, fear the 1337$p34k 8ull5H17

Strategy Guide ● Designers – GIVE ME YOUR CARD ● Companies – ME ● ● Stanford Gaming ● survival-manual.html survival-manual.html