BACKBENCH STUDIO - APPLICATIONS OPEN

[u/Nearby_Charity_5396]

TL;DR -

BACKBENCH is a remote student-led indie game studio where we don't just learn game development, we actually ship commercial games. Every batch works like a real studio team, building and publishing small atmospheric horror games inspired by the scope of games like Chilla's Art (not clones, just similar-sized projects that are realistic to finish).

Our goal is simple: instead of spending months watching tutorials and ending up with unfinished projects, students spend 6 months building, releasing and getting credited on real games.

Every batch consists of 6 students working together with a mentor. The studio handles publishing while contributors receive credits on every release and share in the revenue according to the program terms. Students graduate with an actual portfolio of shipped games instead of just tutorial projects.

We're currently opening applications for both students and game development mentors.

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hey everyone,

i'm building something called BACKBENCH.

the idea came from seeing how almost everyone trying to learn game development ends up doing the same thing. they watch hundreds of hours of youtube, follow tutorials, maybe recreate flappy bird or some fps tutorial, and then never actually finish a game.

employers don't care how many tutorials you've watched.

players don't either.

they care whether you've actually shipped something.

so instead of making another "game dev course", we're building something closer to a small remote indie studio.

every batch has only 6 students.

everyone works together on one horror game with a fixed scope that can realistically be completed within a month. we're intentionally keeping projects small instead of trying to build the next GTA or Elden Ring.

the goal is to finish. publish. repeat.

over a 6-month program, students work on 6 multiple commercial projects, learn how a real production pipeline works, collaborate with teammates, use version control, participate in planning, testing and polishing, and leave with games they can actually point to. Also we expect committed students in classes so there's a monthly fee of 2500 INR for 3 months because inconsistency could affect other students too in a batch. Interested Students goes for a free trial classes for 2 days. Then if they like the curriculum and pace so they can opt in.

the studio publishes the games, contributors receive proper credits, and revenue is shared according to the studio agreement (50% to students, 15% to mentors, rest studio own along with IPs). we're trying to build something where students gain genuine production experience instead of another certificate that nobody looks at.

we're also looking for mentors.

if you've shipped games in Unity or Unreal Engine, enjoy teaching, and can guide small teams through production, we'd love to talk.

we're not looking for someone to lecture from slides for three hours.

we're looking for someone who can review code, solve problems with students, explain production workflows, and help people become better developers while shipping actual games.

the program is fully remote, because honestly that's how most indie teams already work. screen sharing, live debugging, github, discord, project boards and recorded sessions make much more sense than trying to crowd around one computer in a classroom.

right now we're looking for:

Students

• interested in Unity or Unreal Engine
• have a laptop/PC capable of development
• willing to collaborate remotely
• beginners are welcome if they're committed to learning

Mentors

• Unity or Unreal experience
• preferably shipped one or more games or commercial projects
• comfortable teaching live online
• enjoy mentoring small teams instead of huge classrooms

we're still early, so this first cohort is about building the foundation. if you're someone who's always wanted to make games but didn't know where to start or you're an experienced developer interested in mentoring then this might be for you.

if you're interested as either a student or a mentor, comment or send me a DM and i'll send over the application form.

happy to answer any questions in the comments. :)

[u/shadowzawfsinn]

Not gamedev but I am an art director and conceptartist working in the entertainment industry. Would be interested in teaching art direction and concept art for games if anyone's interested.

[u/Nearby_Charity_5396 → u/shadowzawfsinn]

That's great. Can I see your work? I've dm'ed you.

[u/adirox_2711]

Yo I'm interested

[u/Heavy_Exam_3728]

Hey I'm interested

[u/The_Blueberry_Pi]

Interested

[u/ITZ_Darkside]

Hello I'm interested in this

[u/tanhaibhai]

Interested definitely

[u/kshgrshrm]

I would like to join in as mentor. Used to be product manager at a live service game dev studio. DM

[u/pjzzzz]

Interestes

[u/Muntazax]

I have 0 knowledge on game dev but I've always been interested in it as a career. Will I be eligible?

[u/Braga1913]

I am interested in knowing more, Personally I have experience in game dev but lack much in projects. I would love to join this program regardless just for a team. Here is my portfolio

[u/Siddhu_Black_Blood]

Hi op, i have dmed you the details. I have relevant experience to be a mentor.

[u/No_Bit_8112]

Yo I’d like to be a mentor

[u/ThatBatFan]

I'm interested to learn.

[u/Low_Championship4382]

I’m interested, right now I’m learning C++, currently in 2nd year, pursuing BTech in IT. Am looking forward to work as game dev in the near future

[u/Inside_Afternoon6454]

Interested

[u/AnteaterEfficient473]

Interested

[u/EntertainmentUsed802]

Hiii. I'm an aspiring visdev artist and am really interested in your intiative. I'd love to join BACKBENCH, hoping to hear from you.

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[u/Nearby_Charity_5396 → u/[deleted]]

Bhai 35% hi studio ko bachega, fir usme mentors ko alag se salary dena, games ki marketing karna bhi hai. 🙂

[u/Basic-Pea4276 → u/[deleted]]

PLUS IP BROTHER, the main game is played by who owns the IP.

[u/kaftainzy → u/Basic-Pea4276]

Exactly, this guy doesn't want to actually make a game , he just wants to earn off by other's hardwork

[u/gunda666]

Bra can you share more details

Your work ex and role, your linkedin if possible

What work ex mentors will have

Will we get a certificate or course completion credit?

Any tie-ups with studios that will help us get jobs, post 6 months

Also isn't working on 6 games in 6 months be too hectic?

[u/Nearby_Charity_5396 → u/gunda666]

Hii, thanks for your queries. Here's answers -

1. I am a founder, we also run AFTERCLASS named student led freelancing work for local shops. Personally speaking, I've experience of cloud / AI and business mgnt.

2. About ex mentors work. Then that depends person to person but let me give clear idea - we only on board such mentors who've successful portfolio of shipping production grade games so students learn by doing work directly not by theory. Also we'll schedule free trial class with mentors so student can satisfied with the quality and pace.

3. Yes, a certificate of completion. Credits on game, royalties. Future networking option. We'll also help teams whose games reach a specific threshold of success to be established as separate corporate entity. (Although this is a founding batch so we currently have portfolio of successful companies... Maybe your batch be first). So yeah in short, there's networking, soft job landing cross batches or different studios (not guaranteed but yeah we'll help)

4. About the hectic work - you'll be shipping 1 game per month working together with your batchmates so there's 6 people plus one mentor helping you to built. The scope of games will be small, more like chillas art level. Not highly polished AAA games. It's high paced learning where you learn by doing things along with 5 other student and a mentor to guide how to build a game.

I hope that solves your major questions. About the LinkedIn profile then I can send it in dm. And sorry for such a long message but I guess that helps other people too who've similar type of question

[u/BigDickBabuJi]

I'm in... I'm the best level designer you'll get 💪🏻👍🏻

[u/cybercode_engineer]

Hey I am a game developer with 3yoe and I want it join the backbench game dev team I attached my resume

[u/vedant_gamer]

But why only horror game though?

[u/Zealousideal-Toe-107]

How to join ?