Post by lynnk2021 on Mar 18, 2024 0:04:25 GMT
Why Supercell greenlights teams, not games – and is now open to external pitches
mobilegamer.biz/why-supercell-greenlights-teams-not-games-and-is-now-open-to-external-pitches/
For those who don't know, Stephan Demirdjian was Hay Day's Game Lead from 2013 to 2022 per his CV in Linkedin.
mobilegamer.biz/why-supercell-greenlights-teams-not-games-and-is-now-open-to-external-pitches/
Speaking exclusively to mobilegamer.biz, Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen and former Hay Day lead Stephan Demirdjian reveal Team Lab, the new way game teams get greenlit at the Finnish firm.
Demirdjian is now heading up the new process, and it sounds intense. It involves team psychologists and stress tests of the potential cells’ ability to work together and overcome adversity.
Perhaps most interestingly, Paananen and Demirdjian are also now welcoming pitches from external teams who think they have what it takes to get through the Team Lab process. If successful, they can go on to make the next Supercell game.
Paananen also gives us his thoughts on the hurdles games need to clear before they go global, why you need to be a “little bit crazy” to start a new game team and if Supercell could soon expand beyond mobile.
The conversation below has been edited for clarity and length. Readers should note that while the greenlight process is referred to as Team Lab below, the programme will be known as Spark going forwards...
Demirdjian is now heading up the new process, and it sounds intense. It involves team psychologists and stress tests of the potential cells’ ability to work together and overcome adversity.
Perhaps most interestingly, Paananen and Demirdjian are also now welcoming pitches from external teams who think they have what it takes to get through the Team Lab process. If successful, they can go on to make the next Supercell game.
Paananen also gives us his thoughts on the hurdles games need to clear before they go global, why you need to be a “little bit crazy” to start a new game team and if Supercell could soon expand beyond mobile.
The conversation below has been edited for clarity and length. Readers should note that while the greenlight process is referred to as Team Lab below, the programme will be known as Spark going forwards...
For those who don't know, Stephan Demirdjian was Hay Day's Game Lead from 2013 to 2022 per his CV in Linkedin.