In this groundbreaking collection of 15 interviews successful founders of entertainment
software companies reflect on their challenges and how they survived. You will learn of the
strategies the sacrifices the long hours the commitment and the dedication to quality that
led to their successes but also of the toll that this incredibly competitive market has on even
its most brilliant minds. For the hundreds of thousands of game developers out there this is a
must read survival guide. For those who simply enjoy games and know of some of these founders
this will be a most interesting read. Sales of video games hardware and accessories reach
upwards of $20 billion every year in the United States alone and more than two-thirds of
American households include video games in their daily lives. In a world that seems to be
overflowing with fortune and success the vicious truth of this booming industry is easily
forgotten: failure is tradition. Video games define a cultural crossroad where business
entertainment and technology converge where the risks are great cutting edge technology is
vitally important and competition is intense. Here are the stories of survival from many of the
industries luminaries who founded companies created industries in their home countries took
amazing risks innovated technologies and invented new ways to sell. Among this outstanding
group of pioneers are Richard Garriott founder of Origin astronaut and the producer of the
revolutionary Ultima Online John Romero of Doom Wolfenstein and Quake fame and Victor Kislyi
whose World of Tanks set the Guinness world record for the most people online at once with over
1.1 million people playing). You will read their stories and you will gain an understanding of
how they managed in such a demanding business.There are a few game development companies that
have withstood the test of time most startups exit as quickly as they enter the scene. Many
firms are outpaced by the explosive worldwide growth and economic realities of the sector. Here
are enlightening the stories of entrepreneurs who found success and many who subsequently could
not repeat it. They walk you through their incredible journeys of success and failure while
expressing their views on development design hiring finance business models selling their
organization the business life cycle their frustrations and mistakes while showing their
intensity and their passion for the business along the way. Online Game Pioneers at Work:
Explores the formation of entertainment software companies from the perspectives of successful
founders who defied the odds Provides insight into why experienced professionals sacrifice the
comfort of gainful employment for the uncertainty and risk of the startup Shares the
experiences and lessons that shape the lives decisions and struggles of entrepreneurs in this
volatile business Other books in the Apress At Work Series: Gamers at Work Ramsay.
978-1-4302-3351-0 Coders at Work Seibel 978-1-4302-1948-4 Venture Capitalists at Work Shah &
Shah 978-1-4302-3837-9 CIOs at Work Yourdon 978-1-4302-3554-5 CTOs at Work Donaldson
Seigel & Donaldson 978-1-4302-3593-4 Founders at Work Livingston 978-1-4302-1078-8 European
Founders at Work Santos 978-1-4302-3906-2 Women Leaders at Work Ghaffari 978-1-4302-3729-7
Advertisers at Work Tuten 978-1-4302-3828-7
