Smilegate’s global game platform STOVE announced on Thursday the 16th that it will operate a joint program called ‘Game Lab with STOVE INDIE’ with the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency (SBA) to support promising PC package indie game developers.
This program was designed to foster a stable development environment for Seoul-based indie game developers and expand their opportunities for global expansion. Through collaboration, Stove Indie and the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency plan to establish a virtuous cycle: “discovering promising PC packaged game content → supporting incubation → creating global success stories.”
Stove and the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency (SEPA) will establish a creative space at the “Seoul Game Content Center – Game Lab with STOVE INDIE” in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. They will select approximately 10 indie developers and teams to move into the space. Selected companies will receive full support for their rental deposit and management fees, as well as access to various support programs offered by the SEPA, including Adobe CC licenses, testing equipment rentals, networking and seminar support, and promotional support.
STOVE operates “Game Lab with STOVE INDIE” in conjunction with the “STOVE INDIE Alliance.” STOVE INDIE Alliance is STOVE INDIE’s own ECO (Ecosystem Creator Opportunity) program, connecting creators and STOVE users to provide ecosystem business opportunities for global success.
Creators who wish to move into ‘Game Lab with STOVE INDIE’ will automatically become members of the STOVE Indie Alliance if they participate in STOVE’s user testing program, ‘INDIE BOOST LAB (Smart Demo Life),’ before the first written evaluation.
Furthermore, Smilegate will collaborate with the Stove Indie Alliance to support creators in building a fan base on the Stove platform and, together with fans, help them secure the competitiveness and sustainable branding of their games. Specifically, the company will offer ecosystem business opportunities for tangible growth, including on-site mentoring, launch benefits, global publishing, and marketing guarantees. Through these efforts, Stove aims to strengthen its role as a leading partner in the indie game ecosystem and enhance the competitiveness of the entire indie game industry.
“Stove is expanding its own ecosystem to help indie creators make their dreams of global success a reality,” said Seung-Hwan Yeo, director in charge of Smilegate’s Stove Indie business. “Through this collaboration with the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency and ‘Game Lab with STOVE INDIE,’ we will jointly discover promising indie creators and contribute to helping them unfold new possibilities on a wider stage.”
Recruitment of participating companies will be held until Friday, November 7th. Detailed information and application methods can be found on the official website of the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency.
