In a recent interview with the members of indie collective/developer New Blood, I asked them how they attribute their current success in the face of so much unhappiness, layoffs, and studio closures in the industry. “We’re not beholden to shareholders or investors or anything like that,” said studio head Dave Oshry. “We can do what we want – that’s our whole motto: ‘we hate money.’
“We don’t really hate money, money is great, but if we wanted money, we’d make a survival horror game in Dusk. An open world survival horror deck builder, like Dusk.”
Don’t expect to see this version of Dusk anytime soon—Oshry credits the studio’s continued health amid the current downturn in the gaming industry to its developers sticking to their guns on what they want to create: “The games we make, we make for ourselves. It just so happens that other people want those kinds of games.”
Oshry contrasted this with what he sees as growth at any cost on the corporate side of the industry, which he argues is detrimental to making good games and enjoying yourself while doing it. With about 30 people, Oshry’s content with the size of a full remote developer: “I personally care about our developers and everyone who works at New Blood, making sure everyone is happy and having fun, and making sure everyone’s voice is heard.”
Growth, as Oshry describes it, “More people, more games, more things, more features, more loot boxes, more operations, more money, more lines up” attitude, New Blood- is also something to consider and maintain, arguing that people who love games should avoid falling into this trap.
“People ask me a lot, ‘Dave, if I want to get into gaming now, how do I get started?’ And I say don’t. Get out. You should have started 5-10 years ago. Go to trade school, get a real job. Become a plumber. People need that.” there is
“You don’t want to be employee number 356772 who reports to someone who makes the decisions. It’s disgusting. There’s no magic. If you work at a big game studio, you’re not going to enjoy video games anymore. .”
While the indie scene doesn’t share this particular structural challenge, Oshry notes that there’s “roughness out there” and is the first to admit that New Blood’s success doesn’t exactly offer an easy rubric to follow: “I can’t give a GDC a good video.” talking about starting a game company, because we’re hardly a company. But what I can say is working with your friends and treating them like your friends.”
Elaborating via email, Oshry added, “Because everyone seems to be asking how we continue to do well when the whole industry is falling apart—there are actually a lot of companies that are doing well, you just don’t hear about them. Amidst all the doom and gloom news.”
New Blood developer Dave “Garumin” Bonin, who was recently hired to lead Dusk HD, added that he effectively stayed out of professional game development for more than a decade, waiting for an opportunity like New Blood. Garumin observed a “revolving door, conveyor belt, kill your workers for profit policy” in the industry. “I said, ‘Well, for nothing,’ and I went into the pharmacy and spent my life there.”
But the future looks bright for Garumin and New Blood Ultra kill and Gloomwood While continuing to cook in early access, like projects Fallen Aces and a Fallout-style throwback CRPG is waiting in the wings. Meanwhile, I still have my eye on the Metroid Prime tribute Effigy and as a Thief snake from member developers Nate Behrens and Thomas Porta.