student to startup

From Student to From Student to StartupStartup

Jesse SchellJesse Schell

GDC 2011GDC 2011

Our Misson: Our Misson: To create the future leaders To create the future leaders of the entertainment of the entertainment technology industriestechnology industries

Our FoundersOur Founders

Masters of Entertainment Masters of Entertainment Technology at CMU’s ETCTechnology at CMU’s ETC

Two year professional Master’s Two year professional Master’s programprogram

About 160 studentsAbout 160 students 40% Art Students40% Art Students 40% Computer Science Students40% Computer Science Students 20% Miscellaneous20% Miscellaneous

Diverse facultyDiverse faculty Not in a Department!Not in a Department! Interdisciplinary teams creatingInterdisciplinary teams creating

real innovations for real clientsreal innovations for real clients

ETC GlobalETC Global

PittsburghPittsburgh Silicon ValleySilicon Valley KoreaKorea JapanJapan SpainSpain

ETC Curriculum – Two Year ETC Curriculum – Two Year MastersMasters

ETC Fundamentals

The Visual Story

First Year Fall

ETC Curriculum – Two Year ETC Curriculum – Two Year MastersMasters

ETC Fundamentals

The Visual Story

Improvisational Acting

First Year Fall

Improvisational ActingImprovisational Acting

ETC Curriculum – Two Year ETC Curriculum – Two Year MastersMasters

ETC Fundamentals

The Visual Story

Improvisational Acting

Building Virtual Worlds

First Year Fall

ETC Curriculum – Two Year ETC Curriculum – Two Year MastersMasters

ETC Fundamentals

The Visual Story

Improvisational Acting

Building Virtual Worlds

Elective

First Year Fall First Year Spring

CaliforniaTrip!!

Game DesignGame Design

ETC Curriculum – Two Year ETC Curriculum – Two Year MastersMasters

ETC Fundamentals

The Visual Story

Improvisational Acting

Building Virtual Worlds

First Project CourseElective

First Year Fall First Year Spring

CaliforniaTrip!!

ETC Curriculum – Two Year ETC Curriculum – Two Year MastersMasters

ETC Fundamentals

The Visual Story

Improvisational Acting

Building Virtual Worlds

First Project CourseElective

First Year Fall

Summer: Industry Internship

First Year Spring

Second Project CourseElective

Third Project CourseElective

Second Year Fall Second Year Spring

CaliforniaTrip!!

The ProjectsThe Projects

Lesson 1: Lesson 1: Raising money takes Raising money takes

timetime

TrinoTrino

Lesson 2: Lesson 2: Time to polish is worth itTime to polish is worth it

““Loot”Loot”

Lesson 3: Lesson 3: Agents and brokersAgents and brokershave pros and conshave pros and cons

Lesson 4: Lesson 4: Your professors can be Your professors can be

wrongwrong

Lesson 5: Lesson 5: Work out your IP issues Work out your IP issues

earlyearly

Hazmat: HotzoneHazmat: HotzoneSim Ops StudiosSim Ops Studios

Lesson 6: Lesson 6: Be ready to pivotBe ready to pivot

Lesson 7: Lesson 7: Hardware is… hard.Hardware is… hard.

Narbacular Drop / PortalNarbacular Drop / Portal

Lesson 8: Lesson 8: Game festivals can Game festivals can

get you great visibilityget you great visibility

Uh…Uh…

Lesson 9: Lesson 9: When you give someone When you give someone your idea, it isn’t yours your idea, it isn’t yours

anymore.anymore.

Lesson 10: Lesson 10: Brave commitment is the Brave commitment is the

most likely path to most likely path to successsuccess

SummarySummary

1)1) Raising money Raising money takes timetakes time

2)2) Time to polish is Time to polish is worth itworth it

3)3) Agents and brokers Agents and brokers have pros and conshave pros and cons

4)4) Your professors Your professors can be wrongcan be wrong

5)5) Work out your IP Work out your IP issues earlyissues early

6)6) Be ready to pivotBe ready to pivot

7)7) Hardware is… hardHardware is… hard

8)8) Game festivals can Game festivals can give you great give you great visibilityvisibility

9)9) When you give When you give someone your idea, it someone your idea, it isn’t yours anymoreisn’t yours anymore

10)10)Brave commitment is Brave commitment is the most likely path the most likely path to successto success

Email: jesse@schellgames.com

Twitter: @jesseschellSlides: jesseschell.com

Thanks!