A Decade of Mini Games: Dinosaur Polo Club's Journey

Some games leave a lasting impact on the industry due to their simplicity. Mini Metro is a prime example of such a game. It has been ten years since the first version of the indie hit was released, and developer Dinosaur Polo Club is celebrating this milestone with a major crossover update between Mini Metro and its successor, Mini Motorways. For Dinosaur Polo Club co-founders, brothers Peter and Robert Curry, celebrating ten years of Mini Metro is crucial because it marks the beginning of their studio. The game was conceptualized during the 2013 Ludum Dare game jam and has undergone consistent updates over the past decade, transitioning from Steam Early Access in 2014 to Apple Arcade in 2021, with several platform launches and six million copies sold in between. Initially, the team consisted of the Curry brothers handling programming and design, later joined by Jamie Churchman for art and Rich 'Disasterpeace' Vreeland for audio. The first hire occurred in late 2016 or early 2017, and since then, the studio has experienced slow and linear growth, sticking to self-funding, with the exception of funds from Apple for Mini Motorways. Dinosaur Polo Club remained small, with around eight to ten employees, until the launch of Mini Motorways in 2019, after which it expanded significantly. The studio now has 26 employees and is focusing on structural development as it continues to grow with and beyond the Mini franchise. According to Robert, the primary goal is to provide sufficient support for the team. The studio's CEO, Chantelle Cole, and COO, Niamh Fitzgerald, visited several studios in Canada and the US in 2019 to learn about their experiences with expansion, team support, and pinch points. This trip has been beneficial in helping the studio determine when to bring in support staff and where to focus on team size. The brothers aim to bring in people who can help the studio run more smoothly, including producers, department heads, HR, operation support, and finance. They acknowledge that these are areas that indie developers often overlook initially. The studio has encountered challenges, such as staff members' tasks exceeding their job descriptions, leading to recent adjustments in job descriptions for some employees. This change has helped alleviate stress and ensure that employees are doing work that falls within their job descriptions. Dinosaur Polo Club has moved to a new office, expanding from a 130 square meter space with two meeting rooms to a 550 square meter office with seven meeting rooms. The studio is eager to continue supporting its hit franchise and explore new projects, including a PC-first management simulation title outside of the Mini franchise. The brothers are happy to hand over the reins to the rest of the team, allowing them to take the lead on new projects. They are also working on more content for the Mini games and have plans for further updates, including a new entry in the Mini franchise. Mini Metro and Mini Motorways are prime examples of minimalist games, a topic that Dinosaur Polo Club employees have shared expertise on at various conferences. The movement towards minimalist games seems to be on the rise, with titles like Islanders and Townscaper emerging in recent years. Robert notes that the space for minimalist games has become more viable, and it's now possible to create and release games that are essentially toys, without the need for traditional game elements like goals and challenges. The brothers reflect on the form Mini Metro could have taken if it were released in today's market, considering the stress they experienced in trying to expand the game into a full-fledged title. They are pleased to see the growth of the indie game development scene in New Zealand and look forward to continuing their work with Apple, where it makes sense. Peter recalls the initial doubts they had when working with Apple Arcade, but they have since developed a great supportive relationship. Robert adds that there's no reason why they wouldn't work with Apple again in the future, as the partnership has been beneficial for the studio. The Curry brothers are enthusiastic about the future of indie game development in New Zealand and are excited to explore new projects and collaborations, while maintaining their focus on creating games that respect players' time.