Neon Doctrine: Forging Connections Between Taiwanese Developers and the Global Gaming Community

Iain Garner, co-founder of Neon Doctrine, never envisioned a career in the video game industry. Born in a small village in North England, Garner developed a passion for gaming at an early age, spending hours playing Sonic the Hedgehog on a black and white screen. After completing his degree in English literature and history, he took a year off to teach English in China, which ultimately led to a decade-long stay in the region. It was during this time that Garner discovered his ability to turn his lifelong love of gaming into a successful career. However, he soon realized that a significant gap existed between the East and West, with Chinese games being underrepresented on the global stage. To address this issue, Garner co-founded Neon Doctrine, a global publisher, with Vlad Tsypljak. The company is situated in Taiwan, a self-ruled island that China is trying to bring under its control. Despite the challenges, Neon Doctrine has managed to maintain effective relationships with partners worldwide, including those in mainland China. The company's co-founders believe that their location has not hindered their national and international partnerships, and they have taken steps to mitigate any potential issues. Garner notes that some partners may be cautious due to the geopolitical circumstances, but Taiwan is generally seen as a stable and thriving country with robust infrastructure. Tsypljak adds that being in a unique position allows them to work well with both Western and Chinese markets. The co-founders did not initially plan to work in the gaming industry. Tsypljak, who grew up in a small village in Ukraine, trained as a professional ballet dancer before meeting Garner in China. They started Neon Doctrine, which was initially known as Another Indie, and have since focused on safety for their teams in Taiwan and mainland China. The company has 33 employees and offers a range of services beyond publishing, including PR, marketing, project management, QA, localization, funding support, porting, co-development, and consultancy. Neon Doctrine also provides advice and briefings on the Chinese market and offers free consultations with its co-founders. The company has found that the conflict between Taiwan and China affects their work, particularly in recruitment. However, they have been able to attract international talent, and the team is available to assist with relocation and assimilation. Garner notes that the talent pool in Taiwan is deep, and the enthusiasm for gaming is high, making it an ideal location for the company. The co-founders believe that their location has not adversely impacted their career pathways and that the gaming industry is constantly evolving, requiring continuous learning. Neon Doctrine aims to be at the heart of the Taiwanese development scene, providing free talks and lectures to budding developers and lending a hand at local gaming events. The company offers internships to local talent and is in talks with universities to provide access to their knowledge and expertise. Garner advises Taiwanese game makers to think globally and not limit themselves to the local market. He emphasizes the importance of flexibility and ingenuity in thriving in the gaming industry. Ultimately, Neon Doctrine's goal is to bring more games to market and foster Taiwan's growing profile on the global development stage. The company hopes to improve representation for talent in the region and build bridges between local developers and global audiences.