Veterans of Sega Form Alibi Games, a Hybrid Publisher and Agency

A group of Sega veterans, including Jarvis Crofts, Luke Greenaway, and Mark Dallamore, have launched Alibi Games, a unique hybrid of a publisher and agency. Based in London, Alibi Games leverages the founders' extensive experience in production, publishing, and other areas to provide support to developers in pitching and publishing their games. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, CEO Jarvis Crofts and CSO Luke Greenaway shared their insights on the formation of Alibi and their approach to creating a sustainable business model in the gaming industry. The idea for Alibi was born out of Greenaway's experience in the music industry, where scouting is a crucial aspect of success. He applied this concept to the gaming industry, recognizing that publishers often struggle to achieve sustainability due to the high-risk nature of game development. With over thirty years of combined experience in the gaming industry, the founders of Alibi are well-equipped to navigate the challenges of game development and publishing. Greenaway's background includes working at Sega, as well as in the music software and media industries, while Crofts has a decade of experience at Sega and has also worked at Curve Games. Dallamore has worked at Sega as a project lead and product launch executive. The founders' goal is to create a sustainable company that can provide support to developers without taking on excessive risk. To achieve this, they plan to maintain a small team and be selective about the developers and games they work with. This approach will enable them to focus their resources on a limited number of projects and provide more effective support to developers. The founders believe that their hybrid model, which combines publishing and agency services, will allow them to be more efficient and adaptable in the rapidly changing gaming industry. By offering a range of services, including publishing, representation, and consultancy, Alibi can provide developers with the support they need to succeed, regardless of the stage of their project. The company's focus on sustainability is reflected in its approach to working with developers. Rather than pursuing representation aggressively, Alibi takes a more organic approach, allowing developers to come to them with their projects. This approach enables the company to build strong relationships with developers and provide more effective support. The founders are passionate about championing independent developers and providing them with the resources they need to succeed. They believe that indie developers are the driving force behind innovation in the gaming industry and that they deserve more support and recognition. By working with indie developers, Alibi aims to create a more sustainable and equitable model for game development and publishing. The company's commitment to sustainability extends beyond its own business model, as it seeks to promote more sustainable practices throughout the gaming industry. The founders recognize that the industry as a whole has a long way to go in terms of achieving sustainability, but they are optimistic about the potential for positive change. By sharing their model and approach with others, they hope to inspire a more sustainable and responsible approach to game development and publishing.