East Side Indie: A spill that needs no cleaning
“It’s about attitude. A fiercely independant culture.”
One of the most prolific scenes in business today would have to be independent — rightfully so, there are a lot of edge cases — game developers. It’s a unique world, with the most colorful cast of characters I’ve ever had the privilege to call my peers. There are “Late night success”; studios that create a dozen (or plus) titles before one becomes a darling of the industry. Forever Indies, that make what they want, aiming to only make a marginal profit. And those studios that construct a saga on the foundation of Commercial success, although a percentage of commercial success can bring an entirely different hue of light to the environment surrounding these hard working techies. To some, the number of heads within the walls of a developer makes the difference. To others, it’s the attitude held in the clutches of all heads, and product owner’s whom possess the final say. To us, at East Side Games, it’s a lot of both.
Indie is a mindset. It’s a way of thinking. There’s no one to please but the people you see around you. Their families, careers, and happiness partially rely on the work you put out into the world. It’s an all-for-one mantra, and a fantastical wonder that will continue remaining a phenomenally weird environment that only those within it truly understand. It’s omniscience. I idolized it from the outside, prior to gaining access and first-hand experience nearly two years ago. Since then, I have discovered that East Side Games is a beautifully well executed attempt to remain stable with an indie culture, even after some financial achievements.
I’d like to touch on some of the things that make ESG a successful studio, a fantastic place to work, and a prime example of function for other studios within any industry, indie or otherwise.
Firstly, our battle with opacity. There is something to be said about working in an office within the tech industry where every single person employed is in the same room as you. Yes, our studio is more like a lower-case b-shape, but it’s the same room none-the-less.
“One of the pillars of our culture around here is ultimate transparency.”
At any moment I can approach our CEO, our Art Director, or the guy who comes in once a week to collect our compost. I can impose my thoughts on them. I can run an idea or critique by them. I can help the compost man carry out an extra bag because it’s Wednesday, and our catered lunches accumulate more recyclables than normal.
There aren’t any cubicles, or offices, and the fewest amount of walls you can possibly have without the entire structure of the building collapsing in on itself. The transperancy here ventures beyond the physical. Every year, the co-founders strap on theoretical bullet-proof vests and gather their employees for a personal, campfire vibe, “ask me anything”. During which, no question is off limits. In addition, no one in this studio is ignorant to the financial position of our future. And we’re all invested into the success of the products we work tirelessly to perfect, adapt, and grow. In fact, should you remain an ESGer beyond a year, you can actually buy interest by way of stocks.
Then there is our games, our pitches, and our internal community. Somewhere around the turn of twenty-ten, East Side Games was formed. Initially, the push was for external community to reign supreme, while in contrast, it was the focus and careful creation of the culture within the studio that propelled it to the forefront of creative studios in Vancouver, and beyond. Now, fifty-plus team members hold up and strengthen the founding integrity that still gathers momentum today. At all times, our core team is looking to improve or add to our internal family.
Nothing else in this world of work makes as big of a difference to your day as the culture of your people does. Not a soul here cares if they need to spend a sixteen hour work day slogging over a fire, trying to beat a deadline, because we’re all fighting for the same cause, alongside our friends. The work will never stop us from desiring to do well for our people. The teams within a team are woven so tightly, that at all times there remains a unified voice. We see things together, wage wars against the same fraught together, and we adore each other. After all, we spend more time a week within arms reach of one another, than we do with anyone else. It’s a clan.
This entire idea, strategy, and foundation, of functionality can be incapsulated into what we call the Swill & Spill. Held about three times a year, everyone gathers into the front portion of the studio. It’s a lot warmer on this side of the office, which is odd considering the wall of windows, and the briskly chilly day outside. Drinks a plenty. Snacks stacked up to the teeth. All around jovial celebration of creation and hilarity, as anyone (and I mean anyone) may be about to pitch us the future of this studio. This pitching event is literally open to anyone involved with East Side. Even the gent that collects our compost could throw something together.
When I go to a job fair, or a networking event, our Swill & Spill always raises interest, and eyebrows. Toted as a unique way to bridge the gap between roles, leveling the “importance” of all those under our employment. Not a single person is excluded from this opportunity. We book off an afternoon (usually on a Friday for the sake of recovery time), and upwards of a dozen people take their turn standing at the focal point of the room, pitching a game idea. This could include a full-blown playable prototype, just the idea of a game, or well rehearsed slides. It often includes laughs, inside jokes, and a waterfall of brainstorming — our creative director makes sure to pre-approve presentations, and offer suggestions to those pitching their ideas — in which everyone participates.
Every member of our team rates, comments, and votes on all pitches. Those opinions are gathered, tallied, and exposed to all. This helps those who didn’t rate high a chance to adapt their approach, change their idea, or tweak based on the feedback. Those who do get rated well will be rewarded with the opportunity to take the allotted time they feel is needed (obvious a fare number must be thought of) to create phase one of developing their pitch. In the past, this has been paper-prototypes, templates, or further refining mechanics. The pitcher can choose (within reason) the team they would like to work with in their prototyping. Those games that prototype well, will be given the green-light to move on to the next phase. Essentially, making the title part of our official development cycle. It’s a highly rewarding process. One which has produced some of our best, and most classic games. Idle Paws, Grass Roots, Dragon Up, Ruby Skies, Zombinis, were all Swill & Spill ideas. Even two of our yet to be announced projects are from the pitches in a prior S&S.
This is only one — I’ll admit a very strong point — example of how our culture makes the difference. Of how the people I work with make the daily tasks infinitely more tolerable. It’s personal. It’s close-knit. It’s an incalculable mountain of work. It’s family.
Who can say they’re in the same position? Not many people, unfortunately. Do you desire to make your office function better? Culture. That’s the answer. I’ve never witnessed a more efficient, savvy, powerhouse of creative minds grinding together to make things happen than I have here at East Side Games. I cherish it.
EAST SIDE GAMES is a proudly independent and profitable game studio with a collaborative, creative, and fun culture. Our games fund all our new projects, and everyone who works here has a direct impact on the day-to-day business.
WYATT FOSSETT is an Author who resides in Vancouver, Canada, known for high-octain cocktails of real life expression, fanciful works of fiction, and a history in Video Game Journalism. Wyatt is also a Community Champion at ESG.
