Games Workshop Founder: ‘I’d rather be a nerd than follow the herd’ | The Power of Play with Sir Ian Livingstone
Oct 2, 2023
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Games Workshop founder Sir Ian Livingstone, an industry veteran, angel investor, and fantasy author, discusses the origins of Games Workshop, the power of play and its positive effects, the speaker's entrepreneurial journey and selling the company, favorite video games and board games, security certifications and HR tools for startups, and the influence of video games on popular culture.
Sir Ian Livingstone emphasizes the importance of intellectual property ownership and the need for more access to capital in the UK gaming industry.
Ian highlights the value of games in education and the transformative power of technology in shaping the future of gaming.
Ian reflects on missed opportunities and emphasizes the importance of persistence and self-belief in the gaming industry.
Deep dives
The Origins of Games Workshop and the Power of Play
Sir Ian Livingston, author, angel investor, and founder of Games Workshop, discusses the early days of the gaming industry in the 60s and 70s. He shares how his passion for games and the desire to turn it into a business led to the founding of Games Workshop in 1975. Ian recounts how the company started with publishing a newsletter, which caught the attention of Gary Gygax, the creator of Dungeons & Dragons, resulting in a distribution agreement and the launch of Warhammer. He emphasizes the importance of intellectual property ownership and the need for more access to capital in the UK gaming industry. Ian also highlights the value of games in education and the transformative power of technology in shaping the future of gaming.
Lessons for Entrepreneurs in the Gaming Industry
Ian shares valuable advice for entrepreneurs entering the gaming industry. He emphasizes the importance of gameplay over graphics and technology and the need for a strong senior leadership team with a balance between creative and business expertise. He also discusses the significance of intellectual property ownership, scalability, and understanding the total addressable market. Ian underscores the potential for games to be a contextual hub for learning and advocates for a shift towards more engaged, project-based learning in education. He concludes by highlighting the need for a greater connection between creators and capital in the gaming industry.
The Misses and Near Misses of Games Workshop and Ian's Angel Investing Journey
Ian reflects on some of the missed opportunities in his career, such as not acquiring the rights to distribute Trivial Pursuit and the near misses with tower block games and Warcraft. He also discusses his journey as an angel investor, highlighting successes with companies like MediaTonic and Playdemic, as well as the lessons learned along the way. Ian emphasizes the importance of persistence and self-belief and shares his passion for the gaming industry and the positive impact it can have on society.
The Future of Gaming and the Role of AI
Ian discusses the ever-evolving nature of the gaming industry and the transformative potential of technology. He explores the future of gaming, including advancements in AI, virtual reality, augmented reality, the metaverse, and Web 3. Ian highlights the importance of adapting to new platforms, engaging with new audiences, and changing business models to reflect the digital world. He also emphasizes the need for embracing art as a fundamental part of learning and promoting gaming as a collaborative and socially engaging industry.
UK Gaming Industry and the Role of IP and Capital
Ian discusses the challenges and opportunities in the UK gaming industry. He highlights the significance of intellectual property ownership and the need for better access to capital for UK gaming companies. He emphasizes the value of retaining ownership of IP and ensuring that the profits stay within the country. Ian advocates for a shift in perception around the gaming industry and calls for greater support and recognition for the industry's contribution to the digital economy. He concludes by stressing the need for more positive media coverage and promotion of the industry as a creative and collaborative force.
If you’ve visited a high street in the last 40 years there’s a good chance you’ve seen Games Workshop, a British institution that’s stood the test of time. One of its Founders, Sir Ian Livingstone, sold out of the company in the 90s but continued to make an unbelievable impact in the games industry, alongside being an angel investor and a best-selling fantasy author.
He’s had a hand in Tomb Raider, Hitman, Championship Manager, Fall Guys and Golf Clash to name just a few. So you’ve absolutely played something he’s helped bring to market.
Last year Ian released his memoir, Dice Men, which tells the story of the early days of Games Workshop and he has recently opened his own academy in Bournemouth.
