Building a Thriving Game Industry in Värmland

The Great Journey is a joint initiative by Värmland’s business community and public sector to develop the video game industry, with the mission of refining one of the region’s most valuable resources: creativity. All the assets are already in place. Värmland’s rich storytelling tradition, combined with entrepreneurship, technical expertise, and collaboration, is exactly what’s needed to create the right conditions for growth in the industry and exciting new jobs.

Värmland is on “the Great Journey”

Patrick Standfast has extensive experience in business development and was one of the co-founders of The Great Journey in 2016. Today, he is CEO of the organization and cluster, which also serves as a business incubator, workplace, and community.

“Together with our local financiers and partners, we are gradually building a competitive video game industry in Värmland. Ten years ago, there were only a handful of game companies here. Today, we are about 40,” he notes.

"The resources were already there but hadn’t really connected. There was a great need for a meeting place for game developers and entrepreneurs."

The Great Journey became the answer to what needed to be done, and the name set the direction. Värmland is on “the great journey”, moving from an industrial society shaped by traditional raw materials like forests and iron ore to a new one where Värmland’s storytelling tradition takes on creative forms in the creation of digital experiences.

“We are heading toward a future where creativity and game thinking will be skills needed in many industries. We are making the same journey the IT industry has already made.”

“We Are Here to Support Every Step"

On its website, The Great Journey speaks directly to anyone who wants to be part of the local game industry—creators and entrepreneurs with an idea or who want to start a studio, and startups that need concrete help to launch their game.

“We are here to support every step so participants can focus on creating great games and achieving their goals,” says Jesper Franke, business developer and communicator with ten years of experience as a producer in various game companies. “We simply want to be the best possible place for game development.”

Part of the offering is the opportunity for independent studios to participate in a proven twelve-month business development process—The Great Catapult. It includes tailored coaching, a network of publishers and investors, demo opportunities at industry fairs, access to the hub with workspace and equipment, and a wide range of ongoing community events.

The Great Catapult also provides financial support in the very earliest development stage through a so-called seed funding fund, which is extremely valuable as long as the studio does not yet have its own revenue. The money in the fund comes from local investors and business angels.

Quality of Life in Värmland

Video games and gamification are now designated as a “smart specialization” in Värmland—a sector with particularly good conditions for growth, innovation, and sustainable regional development.

“In addition to our unique resources, we have a geography characterized by rural areas and pleasant small towns,” says Patrick Standfast.

“Since the work is mostly digital, you can live and work with game development wherever you feel most comfortable, as long as you have connectivity and decent equipment.”

Jesper Franke calls himself a returnee.

“Many of us believe that quality of life means having a balance between work and leisure, and living closer to nature. I really enjoy Karlstad, where everything is close.”

Attracting and Retaining Young Talent

Skills supply is another important mission for The Great Journey. Karlstad University has long educated computer engineers and programmers, but now there are also several programs specifically focused on video games in Värmland.

“We want to capture young people’s interest early and spread knowledge that game development is a profession,” says Patrick Standfast. “It takes a diversity of skills to succeed—not just creators and programmers but also scientists and entrepreneurs with a business mindset.”

Collaborations include Sundsta-Älvkullegymnasiet’s technology program, where students can choose a game development specialization, and the education company Futuregames. At Karlstad University’s Business School, future game producers can apply for the brand-new course “Game Producer Perspectives on Game Development,” which combines business administration, informatics, and project management. At Kristinehamn Folk High School, there are now five game-focused programs under the Dragon Game Education initiative.

“It’s about attracting and retaining young talent—whether they are creative, technically inclined, or strongly entrepreneurial,” says Jesper Franke. “The most fun part of our mission is connecting people who can make great games together and thereby make the world a little more fun.”

The Great Journey

The Great Journey is a business incubator, workplace, and community for game developers and entrepreneurs in Värmland. Its mission is to strengthen and develop the local game industry.

Financiers: EU, Embracer Group, Region Värmland, and Karlstad Municipality
Employees: 5
Website: www.thegreatjourney.se