Further
adventures in the Tentacle Zone
As you read this, Payload Studios will have already begun the process of inviting a new intake of gaming start-ups to apply to join it’s Tentacle Zone Incubator. Richie Shoemaker sits down with program director Nisha Valand to find out what’s changed for 2022, before catching up last year’s founder intake
I
ncubators are nothing new in the gaming industry, but when Payload Studios announced the Tentacle Zone a year ago, there was something altogether
different about it. It seemed that after initiating its own Game On diversity initiative in 2019 and then helping to launch Ukie’s #RaiseTheGame initiative a year later, Payload was keen to take a markedly more proactive step towards addressing the diversity imbalance in the games industry, this time by establishing an incubator program specifically designed to support any and all underrepresented groups. It was an initiative that garnered widespread attention and support as soon as it was announced. It also, it should be noted, looked like being a fun and friendly endeavour. “We were thrilled by the industry’s response to the incubator’s
launch in 2021” says Payload’s Nisha Valand, program director for Tentacle Zone. “Tonic Games Group, Creative England’s Creative Enterprise, Ukie, University of Greenwich and Green Man Gaming came on board as partners. So many industry folks stepped up to be mentors and give talks to the cohort, including many of the residents in our co-working space.” Those mentors included Des Gayle, Kat Welsford, Leon Killin, Ian
Masters, Astrid Rosemarin and Jason Della Rocca, as well as Payload founders Russell Clarke and Vincent Scheurer, all of whom are keen to share their wealth of skills and experiences for a second term, alongside a number of familiar new names. The intention is that the incubator be almost as beneficial to the mentors as to those being mentored. “Improving equality, diversity and inclusion in the industry and
within Payload Studios is a long-term goal for us,” says Valand. “The incubator is one of the ways we’re working towards this and the work
30 | MCV/DEVELOP February 2022
is far from over. It’s a two-way street: We share our expertise with the founders but we also learn from them, which in turn helps us make improvements at our own studio. This idea of using community to create and improve is the foundation of Payload Studios’ approach to development, so it all ties together.”
GIVING BACK Last year twelve start-up studios were accepted into the inaugural intake, most of them at least partially UK-
based. Across four intense months each was afforded access to industry talks and roundtables, workspace access, social and networking events, as well as introductions to business leaders and potential investors. However, despite the impending focus on the next gen intake, the initial twelve are yet to be cut loose from the program. “While the incubator is a four month programme, our relationship
with the cohort doesn’t end after that period,” says Valand. “One of our aims was to use the Tentacle Zone’s knowledge and contacts to support those studios who were committed to building their business. We’re still supporting 2021’s alumni; hosting talks and helping out with advice and connections. They’ve made terrific progress - some have secured publishing deals, hired new people and secured funding. It’s been gratifying to see them succeed.” As you’ll read in the testimonials that follow, the feedback from the
2021 group has been universally positive. “They’ve been so engaged with the programme that they also had suggestions for areas we can improve and things they’d like to see more of. We’re delighted that our 2021 cohort will stay with us as informal mentors this year and share their experiences.
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