Sun’s out, dev’s in. Happy summer, Buds!
It’s now been five months since we founded Glueplant Games, and wow (!) things have moved fast. From baby bottles to business meetings, here’s what’s been happening behind the scenes.
The World of Steps Takes Shape
Early this year, we started reaching out to people in the Norwegian games industry for advice. That led us to Østnorsk Filmsenter, the regional hub for film and game development here in Inland Norway. In addition to running industry workshops, they also offer funding for promising creative projects.
With Steps taking shape, we applied for their “Pangstart Stipend”; a smaller grant designed to help developers create a solid pitch deck for future funding applications. And guess what? We got it! …it also kicked off three intense months.
With my wife returning to work after maternity leave, I became a full-time stay-at-home dad. Meanwhile, Mathias became a regular guest in our living room, basically turning it into our studio space. Between diaper changes, nap times, and level design discussions, we somehow made it work.
Honestly, it felt like building a company out of our friend’s garage: chaotic, scrappy, but at the same time, inspiring.
And we made it. The pitch deck is done, and we’re really proud of what we’ve created. Steps is no longer just a vague idea. It’s becoming something real, with a fleshed-out world, deeper lore, and a carefully thought-out level layout and progression system.
Most importantly, the “Pangstart”-process gave us the chance to do things right, to lay proper groundwork, map out our goals, and avoid the pitfalls we fell into during Arídea.
A Warm Welcome into the Games Industry
Alongside production, we’ve also been lucky to take part in the workshops hosted by Østnorsk Filmsenter. Through them, we’ve gotten to meet other developers, share our project, and introduce ourselves and Glueplant Games to the local scene.
We’ll admit, starting a company as two hardcore introverts might not be the best “startup 101”-strategy. But even so, the industry here has been nothing short of warm and welcoming. There’s a strong sense of community and support, especially toward newcomers like us.
It’s scary, exciting, and humbling. And we’re grateful to be a part of it.
So, with our pitch deck complete and our first funding application around the corner, we’re excited for what lies ahead. There’s so much more to share, and we’ll keep you updated every step of the way.
Thanks for reading, Buds!
See you next month^^