1. Going Rogue: Game Design Freelancing 101 Aaron Cammarata Partner, voidALPHA acammarata@voidalpha.com http://www.voidalpha.com/goingrogue

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

4. Press Start

5. Select Level ● Launch ● Networking = Listening & chatting ● Cheat Code: Networking is the fun part Stanford Game Industry Email List https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/gsb-videogames

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

7. 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?

8. 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

9. 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

10. Strategy Guide ● Designers – GIVE ME YOUR CARD ● Companies – EMAIL ME acammarata@voidalpha.comacammarata@voidalpha.com ● http://www.voidalpha.com/goingrogue http://www.voidalpha.com/goingrogue ● Stanford Gaming e-mail: https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/gsb-videogames https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/gsb-videogames ● http://luaz.blogspot.com/2012/09/freelance-programmer- survival-manual.html http://luaz.blogspot.com/2012/09/freelance-programmer- survival-manual.html