Panel: Making Games Won’t Kill You. Running a Studio Might. | Aya Zabad | NZGDC 2025

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The value of the information lies in its practical, actionable advice from professionals with direct experience in the game industry. Each panelist provides specific, concrete tips, such as prioritizing IP protection early, understanding tax obligations, and the importance of cash flow forecasting. The argumentation is solid, supported by real-world examples like the Sony vs. Tencent case and the Ubisoft executives’ legal troubles, which make the risks tangible. However, the advice is largely anecdotal and lacks empirical data or citations, which limits its scientific rigor. The panelists are credible in their fields, but the discussion is more of a professional roundtable than a research-based presentation.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The scientific rigor is moderate; the panelists are experts in their domains, but they do not cite formal sources or studies. The quality of sources is based on their professional experience and industry examples, which are relevant but not academically rigorous. The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on the business challenges of running a game studio. The discussion is well-structured, moving from early-stage to growth-stage advice, but it lacks depth in some areas, such as legal specifics or financial modeling. Overall, the content is reliable for practical guidance but not for academic reference.

The title accurately reflects the content, which discusses the challenges of running a game studio.

7/10

Panel of professionals providing practical advice based on their expertise, but lacks in-depth scientific rigor and citations.

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

• 00:00Introduction of panelists and topic
• 02:00Legal advice for early-stage studios: prioritize IP protection
• 05:00Financial advice: understand tax obligations and non-dilutive funding
• 08:00Insurance basics: technology liability policy and why to get it early
• 11:00Diversity advice: bake it in from day one
• 14:00Building relationships with professionals early
• 17:00Growth-stage legal advice: level up compliance before you need to
• 20:00Financial advice for growth: cash flow forecasting and unit economics
• 23:00Insurance for growth: management liability, D&O, and cyber liability
• 26:00Diversity as a risk mitigation tool

• NZGDC 2025 — The conference where this panel took place.

• Sony vs. Tencent lawsuit — Example cited in the video about IP infringement.
• Ubisoft executives sentenced — Example cited in the video about employment issues.