Quote:Original post by Moe
I always thought building a studio would involve something like the following:

• One or more programmer


• One or more artists (or another programmer who can double as an artist)


• Several PCs - some for work, some for testing


• An empty room in a basement or home office of sorts


• Several cases of Mountain Dew


• One lawyer


• A business license


• A fridge to hold the aformentioned Mountain Dew


• Some decent office lights


• Some fake office plants


• Money to live off of until you sell your first game


• A small server for backups/source code control/web and or ftp server

Yup, just ask the creators of google and they might add a garage:)

Quote:Original post by Moe
I always thought building a studio would involve something like the following:

• [...]


• Money to live off of until you sell your first game


• [...]

For most of us this is the sticking point! :)

It might be easy if you live with your parents, or even in (the equivalent of) a college dorm and have virtually no expenses. But when living by you self, in a appartment with bills to pay it amounts to a significant pile of cash. Most of us wont be able to scare up that kind of funds and, as said earlier, banks will probably be reluctant to grant loans to such high-risk ventures.

Does anyone have any good advice on how to get contacts/contracts for small games development? Like, on a freelance basis? Something to generate a little income while the Big One is still in production.

>> Does anyone have any good advice on how to get
>> contacts/contracts for small games development?
>
> Answer to question #1: Yes, someone does.

Those guys might be able to help you out ... for a fee:

http://gameconsultants.com/
http://www.fogstudios.com/

-cb