Homecoming, produced by Holly Hudson and Harvey Hayman, two recent graduates of an indie game design course, is a courageous leap. To combat the industry’s isolationism, they started their own studio, Studio Morgan. Their new partnership comes at a particularly tumultuous moment for the gaming industry. Layoffs and studio closures highlight the enormous hurdles it encounters. Both developers are intently dedicated to the proposition that they finish and get out the door their first commercial game. They take creative influence from their childhood summers in south-west England.
Holly Hudson graduated with the class of 2023. She’s not afraid to experiment with color and, as a reflection of her creative spirit, she’s permanently dyed the tips of her hair pink. Hudson and Hayman had set out on their journey into the gaming world. Yet, immediately from the start, they understood the importance of pivoting to the industry’s new reality. They took every opportunity to show off their game. They organized and paid for flights to the United States for promotional boot camps!
Hudson noted that the path we’ve followed has been very typical relative to our colleagues. Unfortunately, many young developers are in the same boat. She added, “It’s quite an interesting path to take rather than just being rejected over and over again.” This colorful sentiment succinctly illustrates the fortitude of up-and-coming talent in this new cutthroat talent landscape.
The duo encountered a lot of obstacles in getting their game finished. “We’ve tried as hard as we can without spending a lot of money,” Hayman stated, emphasizing the financial constraints that many independent developers face. The fight against predatory practices is made more challenging due to the industry’s need for massive marketing campaigns. “Because there’s one way to guarantee game sales – have a load of cash so you can just put marketing on the side of buses,” he remarked.
Though these challenges were significant, Hudson and Hayman are committed to ensuring their work has the greatest impact possible to inspire others. Hudson expressed hope that their journey would demonstrate alternative ways of creating games, stating, “I think hopefully it’s quite inspiring and it shows people that actually there are different ways to make games rather than getting a publisher and finding money that way.”
The gaming community has sent an important message of solidarity and support to independent creators. This support has had an outsized impact on their growth. Hudson referred to the games industry as “the friendliest place,” encouraging and helping one another. She stressed that building relationships with others has helped her make the last two years “easier” to cope with. This culture of collaboration is incredibly important for young developers, as they’re finding their way through the challenges of launching their own studios.
Hudson and Hayman are optimistic for the future of young developers in the gaming industry. And so, with this spirit of optimism and creativity, they keep constructing Studio Morgan. Hudson hopes to find many more such aspiring creators opening their own studios in the next few years. Their resolve exemplifies a growing movement among arrivals. Like all start-ups, these new entrants are hungry to break into an industry that has historically been favorable to the incumbents.
Hayman manages their studio and works at a TV production accelerator. They juggle many hats while they work hard to make a name for themselves in the gaming industry. “It’s basically Holly and I trying to pick up contracting work where we can,” he explained. This balancing act presents an example of just how much creativity and commitment it takes to make it in this fierce competitive environment.
Industry pundits warn that the tools and expertise needed to make games have never been more readily available. A spokesperson from UKIE remarked, “We’re seeing the tools and knowledge needed to build a game become more accessible every year, which is helping to democratise entry into the industry.” This change is crucial to opening up pathways for new entrants to join the space, as well as upskilling the workforce already in it.
Hurdles await aspiring developers, especially those from the working class. Scott Alsworth pointed out that “aspiring working-class developers have it particularly bad,” highlighting the disparities in representation within the UK’s gaming workforce compared to other industries like film and television.
Holly Hudson and Harvey Hayman are just beginning an exciting journey over at Studio Morgan. They are committed to creating innovative experiences that really connect with audiences. Hayman shared his perspective on developing games that stand out, saying, “If you want to make a game that’s different, but still does well, I think the best strategy is probably build off what’s already popular and make it unique in your own way.”