Backflip Studios, Boulder, Colorado: Working on the Inside

A Game Dev Studio: A Grownup Playground

I’m sure that some of you have imagined what it would be like to work at a video game development studio, large or small. I wanted to explore if working at a small studio that creates casual games for iOS and Android is all it’s cracked up to be. If I had to answer this exciting question in one word, it would be a resounding yes!

Close Your Eyes And Imagine. What Does It Look Like?

I want to preface this by saying that the culture of studios are radically different when you take size into account. When looking at smaller more ‘indie’ studios similar cultural trends are apparent.

Let’s start with the overall environment. Upon walking up to the reception desk, it is clear that you have stumbled upon a place where games are held in higher esteem than almost anything else. Action figures and sculptures adorn the reception desk, almost like an initiation into the visual experience that is about to happen. As you walk through the doors, you immediately feel an environment crackling with exciting energy. People are up, walking, moving, and relentlessly active. Each desk also has beloved game memorabilia; generally from the games created by the studio. Now when I say desks I don’t mean lines of cubicles. I mean a small splatter of desks; visually, Backflip Studios is truly anything but a corporate environment. I don’t know about you, but just imagining that makes me excited.

Something I always imagined at small studios was a sectioned off glass conference room with walls of white boards. Well, guess what? That is not at all far from the truth. Those rooms exist and often hold the secrets of current and future games. Believe it or not, any visitors or new employees actually have to sign extensive non-disclosure agreements just to be present in the office because of the all the white board gold. But let’s be honest, visuals are only one part.

A Startup Studio: The Heart and Soul

Looking at the Backflip community, it’s almost as if a typical work environment has merged with a large house of good friends all living together; people here are having a good time while still working long hours to put out a game. The best visual to describe this merged environment is a fully stocked cooler of microbrews and soft drinks provided for everyone. It is clear that people are there to work on what they love, and while doing it have a great time. That is not to say that it is all fun and games, but it is clear that Backflip really holds close a perfect balance of casual professionalism.

The culture underneath is really what pumps life into the office experience. By that I mean the mentality of everyone there. It was clear that this warm and accepting mentality was the norm for Backflip, which made it feel like a start up environment. It was clear that people were truly happy because they were doing something they were passionate about. So doing their job wasn’t work, it was their way or life. This is exactly what I imagined these types of studios would be like, and it was exciting to see it in actuality.

As a small disclaimer I would like to make it clear that all of my information was gathered through secondary research (not actually through employed personnel) and, although I did visit the building that Backflip Studios was located, I was not allowed passed the reception area. I have, however, verified the research done independently via internet resources.