News
12 October 2009
A new era of outsourcing
Outsourcing has gained bad press over the years raising issues of quality control and communication problems to name a few. However the game outsourcing market is now worth over $1 billion and 83% of game developers outsource. What has bought around this new era?
The story so far
“The traditional process of outsourcing has developed and improved considerably over the last few years,” says Anshul Kapoor of Gaming Foundry. “Outsourcing today is a finely tuned version of its former self and one that has proved to be a survival tool in the current economic climate.”
Gaming Foundry, part of the Image Foundry Studios Group, partners with development studios worldwide to provide animated 3D game artwork.
How has the process changed from a taboo to a survival tool?
“Our client was working on Western style video game, but had recently made in house redundancies, combined with restricted budgets a solution was required to beat tight production deadlines,” explains Anshul. “This is a typical scenario in the current climate, and outsourcing is the perfect solution.”
Animation makes up 41% of the activities outsourced. Other outsource processes favoured by developers include art work and programming.
New era benefits
“The cost savings for clients are huge, less internal man power is required and the work outsourced can be expanded or contracted when required,” says Anshul. “It gives developers the time to concentrate on their core competences that give the company their competitive edge which is vital in today’s climate.”
“Gaming Foundry’s outsourcing model is about being an extension of our client’s team and a source of specialist skills that may not be available or affordable on a permanent basis,” explains Anshul. “So that our team are fully immersed in the style and feel of the game, we regularly work from our client’s studio. To be part of the evolution of the design gives us a greater understanding of the finished product we are aiming for.”
Developers across the world are seeing the benefits of the new era of outsourcing.
“Whereas we used to create our games wholly within the studios, it is now prudent to use outsourcing as a means to getting products done on time and within budgets,” said, Eric Peterson Owner of Fever Pitch Studios Inc. “The pressures of creating quality games has risen, as has the talent levels of many of the outsourcing companies, allowing for many developers to be able to create great products while keeping costs reasonable. Outsourcing is a great way for developers to get their products to the finish line, within budget, on time, and with superior quality.”
While you were sleeping
Gaming Foundry have studios in Manchester, UK and New Delhi, India.
“With our cross continental operation our client has the benefits of 24 hour access to their work. The project can be worked on during the UK’s night-time in India, be uploaded to the server ready and waiting for client feedback in the morning,” says Kapoor.
Gaming Foundry’s projects are all managed by an experienced UK management team, including John Harris, formally of Redhound Studios who Gaming Foundry recently took over. “The UK management team bridge the gap between the client and our artists in India, from a clients point of view this was no different from engaging a UK based team.”
Client response
“We made several attempts over the years to outsource, but the results were always inconsistent and didn’t make the brief or the deadline. Through this new model of outsourcing, and by working with Gaming Foundry we have a more integrated, cost effective working relationship, which meets the brief and the deadline!” said a Gaming Foundry’s client. (As this product has not yet been released, we can not divulge the identity of the developer or the project in question)
“We see Gaming Foundry more as an extension of our team rather than an outside agency.”
The Future
“The global market for video games is predicted to be worth $40billion by 2012 and outsourcing is the way forward. A global market means a global audience and with that a range of cultural and creative tastes. Through outsourcing across the globe; India, China, UK and the Philippines, developers who were previously Western centric, are exposed to a wider pallet of tastes, skills and ideas appealing to a wider audience,” says Anshul. “The Gaming world is certainly heading towards globalisation.”
The story so far
“The traditional process of outsourcing has developed and improved considerably over the last few years,” says Anshul Kapoor of Gaming Foundry. “Outsourcing today is a finely tuned version of its former self and one that has proved to be a survival tool in the current economic climate.”
Gaming Foundry, part of the Image Foundry Studios Group, partners with development studios worldwide to provide animated 3D game artwork.
How has the process changed from a taboo to a survival tool?
“Our client was working on Western style video game, but had recently made in house redundancies, combined with restricted budgets a solution was required to beat tight production deadlines,” explains Anshul. “This is a typical scenario in the current climate, and outsourcing is the perfect solution.”
Animation makes up 41% of the activities outsourced. Other outsource processes favoured by developers include art work and programming.
New era benefits
“The cost savings for clients are huge, less internal man power is required and the work outsourced can be expanded or contracted when required,” says Anshul. “It gives developers the time to concentrate on their core competences that give the company their competitive edge which is vital in today’s climate.”
“Gaming Foundry’s outsourcing model is about being an extension of our client’s team and a source of specialist skills that may not be available or affordable on a permanent basis,” explains Anshul. “So that our team are fully immersed in the style and feel of the game, we regularly work from our client’s studio. To be part of the evolution of the design gives us a greater understanding of the finished product we are aiming for.”
Developers across the world are seeing the benefits of the new era of outsourcing.
“Whereas we used to create our games wholly within the studios, it is now prudent to use outsourcing as a means to getting products done on time and within budgets,” said, Eric Peterson Owner of Fever Pitch Studios Inc. “The pressures of creating quality games has risen, as has the talent levels of many of the outsourcing companies, allowing for many developers to be able to create great products while keeping costs reasonable. Outsourcing is a great way for developers to get their products to the finish line, within budget, on time, and with superior quality.”
While you were sleeping
Gaming Foundry have studios in Manchester, UK and New Delhi, India.
“With our cross continental operation our client has the benefits of 24 hour access to their work. The project can be worked on during the UK’s night-time in India, be uploaded to the server ready and waiting for client feedback in the morning,” says Kapoor.
Gaming Foundry’s projects are all managed by an experienced UK management team, including John Harris, formally of Redhound Studios who Gaming Foundry recently took over. “The UK management team bridge the gap between the client and our artists in India, from a clients point of view this was no different from engaging a UK based team.”
Client response
“We made several attempts over the years to outsource, but the results were always inconsistent and didn’t make the brief or the deadline. Through this new model of outsourcing, and by working with Gaming Foundry we have a more integrated, cost effective working relationship, which meets the brief and the deadline!” said a Gaming Foundry’s client. (As this product has not yet been released, we can not divulge the identity of the developer or the project in question)
“We see Gaming Foundry more as an extension of our team rather than an outside agency.”
The Future
“The global market for video games is predicted to be worth $40billion by 2012 and outsourcing is the way forward. A global market means a global audience and with that a range of cultural and creative tastes. Through outsourcing across the globe; India, China, UK and the Philippines, developers who were previously Western centric, are exposed to a wider pallet of tastes, skills and ideas appealing to a wider audience,” says Anshul. “The Gaming world is certainly heading towards globalisation.”