Neon Doctrine: Bridging the Gap Between East and West in the Gaming Industry

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 spent most of his childhood playing games 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 he discovered his passion for the gaming industry and met his future business partner, Vlad Tsypljak. Together, they established Neon Doctrine, a global publisher dedicated to promoting Taiwanese games worldwide. Situated in Taiwan, the company faces unique challenges in maintaining effective relationships with partners in mainland China. However, Garner and Tsypljak believe that their location allows them to work efficiently with developers in both the Western and Chinese markets. The company's mission is to address the underrepresentation of Chinese games on the global stage, and they have made significant strides in achieving this goal. With a team of 33 employees, Neon Doctrine offers a range of services, including publication, PR, marketing, project management, QA, localization, funding support, porting, co-development, and consultancy. The company also provides advice and guidance on art direction and technical assets. Garner and Tsypljak are committed to fostering a strong development scene in Taiwan and have implemented initiatives such as free talks, lectures, and internships to support local talent. They advise Taiwanese game developers to think globally and not limit themselves to the local market, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and ingenuity in the industry. Ultimately, Neon Doctrine aims to bring more games to market, promote Taiwanese talent, and build bridges between the global gaming community and the region's burgeoning development scene.