Free training on video game marketing on EXPERTS

2021-05-21

Welcome to the Video Game Marketing Course

Both an entrepreneur and teacher in the field of video games since graduating from university, Christopher Chancey brings his experience in marketing and communications to the benefit of EXPERTS users.

In ten modules, it covers the issues specific to independent studios in this area, which is essential to their development.

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From university to entrepreneurship

A longtime video game enthusiast, Christopher Chancey studied at UQAM, earning a certificate in programming, then at the University of Montreal, where he earned a bachelor's degree in video game and film studies, before joining the first cohort of the D.E.S.S. in game design.

Shortly after graduating from university, he founded the independent video game development studio ManaVoid Entertainment, which won the Grand Prize in the Ubisoft Indie Series competition and received funding from the Canada Media Fund. It was while promoting his first game, funded via Kickstarter, that Christopher developed a taste for marketing. He is also an administrator and co-founder of the video game studio incubator and accelerator Asylum—along with Pascal Nataf, author of the course Entrepreneurship and Independent Game Studios—and invests in several of the incubated studios. Recognizing the need for marketing in the video game industry during these experiences, he founded a company specializing in this field called Purple is Royal.

A voice for the video game industry

Since 2017, Christopher Chancey has been teaching design and programming at the University of Montreal and the University of Quebec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, in addition to giving lectures at several other institutions. He is one of the founders of the undergraduate microprogram in independent video games at the University of Quebec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, where he teaches courses on “Industrie du jeu vidéo” and “Stratégie de communication en jeu vidéo indépendant.”

As vice president of La Guilde du jeu vidéo du Québec, Christopher represents the interests of 230 studios and works closely with government ministries. Finally, he is also a radio commentator on video game culture, e-sports, pop culture, and independent video games.

Video game marketing: a crucial skill for Quebec

While the video game industry has been growing in importance in Quebec's economy since the late 1990s, studios based in the province are more renowned for their production than for their marketing of games. Marketing is therefore a crucial skill for independent studios, particularly in a context of rapid growth in international supply.

Aimed at both students and entrepreneurs, this course provides an introduction to the marketing and communication issues specific to independent studios. Drawing on his own experiences, Christopher Chancey shares his best practices on the three biggest challenges faced by video game entrepreneurs: financing, community building, and discoverability.

To access this course, register on the EXPERTS platform. Registration is free and reserved exclusively for employees of member studios of: QFTC, La Guilde du jeu vidéo du Québec, and Xn Québec.