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The co-op model in plain language: what a co-op is, how the money and the governance work, and how studios put it into practice.
Start here
- Co-op structure and value flowWelcome to an exploration of the cooperative structure in game studio development, a model that redefines the traditional workspace by prioritizing collective ownership and shared…
- Compensation models when you have no moneyMoney is hard. Money has traumatized many of us. But of all the conversations a new studio needs to have, this one – the one that usually gets put off – is most necessary.
- IP ownership and copyright basicsYou're a small group of people making a game together. You've incorporated as a worker co-operative, or maybe you haven't yet. You're thinking of bringing in a contractor for…
Purpose and impact
- Actionable valuesInterested in developing collectivism within your studio? You're in the right place!
- Stages of cooperative developmentSome teams have wondered how to tell where they are in the process of building their cooperative. This framework helps you understand the landscape of cooperative development and…
- Results flowCapitalism tells us only financial returns – the bigger, the better! – are important. But it doesn't have to be this way. Broadening our understanding of what value means can…
- Developing your impact measurement frameworkGauging success in a traditional, profit-centric business can be done easily using established and readily understood financial measures. Impact performance is more difficult to…
Money
- Financial modellingThe topic of fundraising can be fraught for folks struggling against capitalism's destructive influence. This series will walk you through the steps you need to take to be ready…
- Business planning for impactBusiness planning is often neglected by indie video game studios, who are more focused on getting this game out the door than making plans for the next. On top of that, most game…
- Ontario funding landscapeThis article covers Ontario-specific funding, tax credits, and incentives for cooperative game studios.
Governance and decisions
- Decisions, conflict, and prioritizationIn this exploration of decision-making within a collective studio environment, we navigate the intricate dynamics of collective consensus and collaborative governance. This…
- Collaboration, process development and toolsWe started by understanding our goals and values, which form the foundation for everything we do in developing a collective-minded studio. We then explored the development and…
- Running anti-oppressive meetingsA guide for making your meetings more inclusive, democratic, and actually useful.
- Meeting agenda templateA flexible meeting structure for cooperative game studios.
- Communication norms guideA guide for cooperative game studios to establish shared expectations around how you communicate with each other, both in and outside of meetings. (This is the resource referenced…
Conflict and care
Legal and incorporation
- Choosing an impactful business structurePlease note: The information in this article is specific to Canadian companies!
- Incorporation readiness checklistBefore you file, check whether your studio has working agreement on the following. These map directly back to what is covered in Cooperative Foundations!