this post was submitted on 11 Nov 2026
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This video is a short documentary talking about how idTech developers and how they came together to make their own employee-owned indie studio. Good stuff!

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[–] SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world 2 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (2 children)

Okay but how to pay the employees when the first game hasn’t released yet? Still need an investor especially if you are going to start a studio with people that relied on a salary to pay the bills and have a family and don’t live in a dorm or their parent’s basement anymore. Like with these former idTech devs.

And the vast majority of investors want to see a return. Not many philanthropists out there who want to fund a game studio. And a loan from a bank is impossible if the studio doesn’t have revenue. A for-profit co-op is a better structure, since it allows investors getting a return. Even if the investors are also the employees they probably want to see their savings they put into the studio paid back.

[–] Kaligalis@lemmy.world 1 points 37 minutes ago

It's not the 90s anymore. Crowdfunding and early access releases have been proven working.
And you can still get lucky and either be a wale or find one who really likes your specific idea for a game.

[–] BigPotato@lemmy.world 1 points 6 hours ago

Not many philanthropists out there who want to fund a game studio.

States and even countries offer grants for the arts - start with a proposal, make a small game for startup capital, and continue to operate as a nonprofit?