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Q&A: Dave Perry's shiny new gig

  • By Curt Feldman, GameSpot
  • Posted May 17, 2006 2:11 pm PT

Industry vet goes it alone, sets up consultancy to advise entertainment industry on best practices.

After selling Shiny Entertainment, the development studio he founded in 1993, to Atari for $45 million in 2002, David Perry could have checked out of the game-development grind for good. Instead, he stayed the course, managing a number of subsequent projects, including the wildly popular Enter the Matrix (2003) and last year's The Matrix: Path of Neo.

However, Atari's foundering finances forced it to put the studio up for sale in early 2006. To hasten a sale, Perry stepped down as Shiny president, stating at that time he would return at a later date.

This week, however, he further distanced himself from Shiny, formally announcing GameConsultants.com, initially a one-man consultancy he created that provides "executive Level video game industry advice" and specializes in "how to position strategic projects for the US market."

GameSpot caught up with Dave Perry to see how the company's first weeks have panned out.

GameSpot: Does this mean the ties to Shiny are completely, inexorably cut?

David Perry: Yes, I'm afraid so. Atari has been a fantastic publisher. My contract was up and I simply saw a window to try a new idea for our industry. I held off until I was sure Shiny and my prior staff were going to be OK. Needless to say, if any of my previous staff ever need help in their careers, they all have my personal help, available 24/7. That said, as you saw at E3, Shiny already announced two new games [Earthworm Jim for the PSP and one other platform], so for me, personally, now it's time for GameConsultants.com.

GS: Why go it alone, as opposed to starting another studio?

DP: This is nothing like alone, it's the biggest team I will have ever had! At the rate I'm going I'll have 1,000 consultants by the end of the first month. I'm going to have to immediately hire a team to help me manage my team! If I do start another development studio in the future, all I can say is the pool of talent available to me is quite remarkable.

GS: What's behind your interest in creating the consultancy?

DP: When I left Shiny, I was surprised by how rapidly I was approached by investors who were excited by our business but didn't have the connections to keep their risk under control. So they tended to just keep thinking about it, and never take the plunge.

GS: But you also work with the talent pool, correct?

DP: Yes. Developers, on the other hand, get frustrated as publishers insist on owning their intellectual property (and engines, and source code, and first refusal on their future output), and sometimes even demanding part ownership of the developer, just to borrow development money from them! It's getting insane. So I immediately saw a way to help both groups out.

Once I started down that road, I was immediately reminded of meetings I've had with A+++ Hollywood directors that honestly want to work on video games, but just don't have the next step organized. So when I've left the room, I know nothing will happen for them. Worse still, if something does happen for them (like their agent signs a deal with a publisher), there's nobody to protect them the day after, nobody to make sure they get the A team on their project, nobody to review progress from their point of view... So the point is that many people need access to video game experts. The experts are out there and are actually very willing to help, however usually there's some barrier that stops them getting a call. My company tears down that barrier.

GS: What's the approach you are taking in the area of connecting talent with a project?

DP: We have a favorable twist, and that is we only accept high-end talent, and that talent only works when they're available. They get paid well, and they also will have no conflict as they will never be asked any confidential information about their company, job, or projects. They simply focus on the areas they want to talk about. Needless to say, we keep the consultants 100 percent private, only our clients will ever know who they were assigned, and even then, they are required to sign nondisclosure agreements.

GS: The Web site's been up for about a week. What's the industry response been?

DP: My inbox is already flooded, and every single person (no matter how high I reach--including publisher president level) has agreed to work with me.

GS: Good luck, David.

23 Comments

  • slipshoddoa

    Posted May 18, 2006 3:03 pm GMT

    For "Enter the Matrix" I can buy the "We were rushed by the publisher to be out with the movie" excuse. But what was the excuse for the buggy "Path of Neo"? Seriously, who would hire him as a consultant? I supposed he could consult on how to drive a franchise into the ground and all while going way over budget. Maybe Activision will hire him to drive the final nail into the coffins of the Bond and XMen licenses.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted May 18, 2006 9:25 am GMT

    wildly popular Enter the Matrix



    it might have been popular if it came out right after the first movie.

  • sabru8

    Posted May 18, 2006 8:30 am GMT

    can't wait to see what comes of this, should be good.

  • playwrite

    Posted May 18, 2006 7:50 am GMT

    good, we need some orginisation in this industry.

  • Lazy_Marine

    Posted May 18, 2006 3:44 am GMT

    Many of the new generation gamers are NOT aware of Dave Perry's greatness, and that is because his recent games (The matrix among them) have been total disasters which tainted his name.

    The Gamers who appreciate his work and love him for what he has created, are the ones who played his masterpieces, specifically EARTH WORM JIM (1&2), a truly original hero character (i mean who would've thought you can create a charming humorous gun totting bad-ass out of a worm??) with breathtaking graphics(at the time) and unique gameplay elements that made it one of the greatest shooter/platformer game ever created in gaming history. I still have fond memories palying it on my Sega MegaDrive.

    Good Luck Dave Perry, and if you ever get the chance, we're still waiting for Jim's return ;-)

  • Inkslinger-F355

    Posted May 18, 2006 12:18 am GMT

    aaahhhh....how many great moments has dave perry/shiny given us?
    from laugh out loud insanity of earthworm jim to the most under-
    appreciated game, ever, RC STUNT COPTER. friggin' genius. good luck
    dave, i just feel bad for shiny....atari could mis-manage a F****ING
    TACO STAND.

  • cyrax_smetsers

    Posted May 18, 2006 12:09 am GMT

    I believe in you Dave you can do it!!! bring the good games

  • Fallout_red

    Posted May 17, 2006 11:53 pm GMT

    Shiny's Original Earthworm Jim and Wild 9 were masterpieces, I hope he returns soon.

  • joeamis

    Posted May 17, 2006 8:26 pm GMT

    This is a great move for Dave. Obviously with the Matrix game, they were rushed by their publisher..... Furthermore people who bought the game, fell into the hype (generated from those who did not make the game), and did not make a logical decision. He is not a complete newb, as for good Shiny games here are some: EJ1, EJ2, Wild 9, R/C Stunt Copter, Sacrifice, MDK.

  • theKSMM

    Posted May 17, 2006 8:23 pm GMT

    MDK was an outstanding game from Shiny. Most gamers might not remember it because it was a big deal for PC gamers mostly. The PlayStation port that was released a year later didn't fare as well.

  • thaneb

    Posted May 17, 2006 6:13 pm GMT

    joeysantora, I was upset over the Matrix game he shelled out & the condition he made in an interview w/ PSM or Gamespot in which he wouldn't "TALK" at all about the horrific gameplay issues w/ the Matrix game. WTH does that tell all the customers who bought the game? Instead of trying to explain the release he took the 5th.

    Not young and brash; just a complete newb when a major license lands in your hands and you're left w/ "WTH should I do w/ this...?" Call it cold feet or whatever- but Shiny had a chance w/ the Matrix license. They (he) blew it. In fact, anyone know a good Shiny game?

  • j14rk1n

    Posted May 17, 2006 4:31 pm GMT

    Hopefully things will work out for him.

  • Kahones

    Posted May 17, 2006 4:15 pm GMT

    EvanO_O, his name was David Jaffe.

  • ragingoptimistu

    Posted May 17, 2006 3:53 pm GMT

    This is unlike anything I've seen before, and it will be interesting to see if this idea takes off.

  • joeysantora

    Posted May 17, 2006 3:47 pm GMT

    Hey "thaneb" Dave Perry is neither young nor brash (not that he's an old man, but he was programming Aladdin back in '93) I think this is a brilliant move on his part, and should prove to be quite beneficial for all parties involved. Dave, I wish you much success in your new endeavor.

  • NeoJedi

    Posted May 17, 2006 3:41 pm GMT

    Good luck to David, although I liked his work at Shiny, he is doing great work right now.

  • lordzod89

    Posted May 17, 2006 3:16 pm GMT

    Why Dave why, Shiny needs you to bring back Jim

  • EvanO_O

    Posted May 17, 2006 3:15 pm GMT

    Dave is up there with the main guy behind God of War. I think his name was David.

  • ConManWithGun

    Posted May 17, 2006 3:02 pm GMT

    Dave Perry=Hero

  • thaneb

    Posted May 17, 2006 2:34 pm GMT

    I can care less about this guy. He's young and brash; refusing to admit the Matrix game had any bug at all...

  • MC_Hammerty

    Posted May 17, 2006 2:28 pm GMT

    That's a shame about him leaving. He was the heart and soul of Shiny throughout the 90's.

    Then again, we really need some order in this industry. It's still maturing, and very few know what to do or how to get in.

  • blackIceJoe

    Posted May 17, 2006 2:27 pm GMT

    thats neat hope good stuff comes out of this.

  • DrCLos

    Posted May 17, 2006 2:26 pm GMT

    Sounds like a very smart idea.
    Congrats to Dave Perry

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