In the ever-evolving world of video game creation, transparency is often a rare commodity. We recently had the opportunity to have an exclusive sit down with Oscar J-T Holm, a developer who is taking an unprecedented approach to documenting the intricate process of game development through a unique documentary titled Do the Game which promises to pull back the curtain on the industry’s most closely guarded experiences.

The Documentary’s Genesis

What began as a personal project quickly transformed into something far more significant. Oscar J-T Holm and his team embarked on a five-year journey to create a documentary that defies conventional storytelling. “I think the goal was from the beginning that it was a memory for us,” Holm explains, “and we said if we’re going to do this we have to be 100% honest. This is not really an advertisement, this is to showcase the stuff that we go through.”

The documentary emerged from what Holm calls “military moments”—intense periods of shared experience that forge deep bonds within the team. These moments of struggle and collaboration became the heart of their storytelling, capturing the raw essence of game development. With an underlying hope that “it will help us to get more interest in the game as well in the end,” the project transcended its initial personal motivation.

The Human Side of Game Creation

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of the documentary is its unflinching exploration of the human dynamics within game development. Holm doesn’t shy away from the complex interpersonal challenges that arise during the creative process. “Sometimes it can be really uncomfortable,” he admits. 

The documentary delves deep into the emotional landscape of game creation, highlighting how professional relationships are nuanced and often complicated. It explores scenarios where talented individuals might not align with the team’s cultural environment, presenting a nuanced view of workplace dynamics that goes far beyond traditional corporate narratives.

This vulnerability is key to the documentary’s approach. “Your heart goes like this. You are driven by emotion sometimes,” Holm reflects. He candidly discusses how professional relationships are nuanced, exploring scenarios where talented individuals might not align with the team’s cultural environment. “I can give examples of people that I work with that I really like as a person. I would love to go on holiday with this person but maybe it didn’t work out to work together for different reasons,” Holm shares.

Industry Challenges and Transparency

In an industry often characterized by carefully managed messaging, Holm’s approach stands out as refreshingly honest. “We are all humans, we are not machines,” he emphasizes. “Often when you see videos from companies, everything is so perfect, and I don’t believe that ever.”

The documentary critically examines the current gaming industry climate, which Holm sees as overly focused on self-promotion. He advocates for a more transparent approach that acknowledges both successes and challenges. “I think the industry is maybe too much petting on the chest saying that you know my company you know is so great and my game is so great,” he argues. “I personally miss the bits where you can also speak about that everything isn’t brilliant.”

Production Insights

What makes this documentary truly remarkable is its grassroots nature. “I have some background in film and so on. So we have some people that are experienced with it,” Holm notes. Created primarily as a weekend and evening passion project, it represents a labor of love for a small, dedicated team.

“This is a project that we work a lot on, on weekends and evenings and things like that,” Holm explains. “We have put a lot of effort into it. We are a very small team doing it.” Despite limited resources, they’ve managed to create a high-quality production that showcases how passion and creativity can overcome budgetary constraints.

Organizational Approach and Learning

The documentary provides a fascinating look into the team’s organizational philosophy. “In large companies, you might have many more layers that are producing,” Holm observes. He describes their communication challenges metaphorically: “It becomes like Chinese whispers. It starts with one word here, and then you whisper to the other person, and to the third person, to the fourth person, and it has gone from a green house to a red house when five layers have talked about it.”

The team ultimately embraced a flatter organizational structure. “We were very determined to do it our way, but still we got convinced by other employees to work in a different way,” Holm reflects. The key learning was to “listen to our heart and… know what we are good at rather than getting too dependent on how other people are experienced to do games.”

Purpose and Impact

Beyond its immediate storytelling goals, the documentary serves multiple purposes. It provides unprecedented insight for those unfamiliar with game development, offers a learning experience for the team itself, and potentially generates interest in their upcoming game.

“In a small company, even for a small company, only 100 employees, it’s very difficult for a level designer to know what’s happening in the marketing department,” Holm notes. The project offers unprecedented insight into game development while simultaneously serving as an internal educational tool.

Oscar J-T Holm’s documentary transcends traditional behind-the-scenes narratives. It’s a profound exploration of creativity, collaboration, and the human stories that drive video game development. 

“Sometimes we can be proud of it, and sometimes we might be embarrassed,” Holm admits, “But that gives the transparency.” And in that transparency lies the documentary’s true value—a genuine, unfiltered look into the world of game creation.