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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about behavioral game validation, squad formation, investor dossiers, and platform mechanics.
For Studios
How do I get my game funded on Gameformers?
Submit your game for Player Pulse testing. 25 real player sessions measure five behavioral signals over 7–21 days. Games reaching the INVEST verdict unlock squad formation and investor matching. No pitch deck required — the behavioral score is your application.
How much does Player Pulse testing cost?
$3.96 per session. A standard 25-session test costs $99. This is approximately 10× cheaper than comparable playtesting services. Sessions are conducted by real players with Steam accounts at least 6 months old and 50+ genre hours.
What is the INVEST verdict?
INVEST is the Player Pulse verdict tier that unlocks access to capital. It requires a composite behavioral score above the platform’s threshold across five signals: retention curve (D1/D7/D30), completion density, PMF score, sentiment velocity, and engagement depth. Games below this threshold receive WATCH, PIVOT, or TERMINATE verdicts with specific feedback.
Do I give up equity or creative control?
Gameformers uses SAFE notes (Simple Agreements for Future Equity), not traditional equity deals. Studios do not surrender board seats or creative control at the time of investment. Royalty splits are agreed at squad formation and paid from escrow milestone by milestone.
How long does the funding process take?
Player Pulse testing takes 7–21 days. After an INVEST verdict, squad formation and contract signing typically take 1–2 weeks. The first escrow tranche releases when your squad delivers its first sprint milestone.
For Developers
How do I join a Gameformers squad?
Create a developer account and build your Skill Card from your portfolio and GitHub history. You'll appear in the Talent Index by role, engine, and genre. When an INVEST-grade game recruits for your skill set, you receive an invitation to apply for the squad.
What is the PRI score?
PRI (Professional Reliability Index) is your developer reputation score (0–100), calculated from squad delivery history, milestone on-time rate, and escrow success across all your Gameformers work. A higher PRI makes you more visible in the Talent Index and more attractive to studios forming squads.
Can I export my PRI score to use with other employers?
Yes. Gameformers issues a cryptographically signed (HMAC-SHA256) PRI certificate you can share with external employers. The certificate includes your score, delivery history summary, and a verification link — portable reputation that doesn't lock you into the platform.
What does milestone pay look like?
Each 84-day sprint is divided into milestones with defined deliverables. When your squad delivers a milestone and it's approved, the corresponding escrow tranche releases and is distributed according to the royalty split agreed at squad formation. Pay is tied to delivery, not time.
What happens if a squad member doesn't deliver?
Persistent non-delivery is tracked in the PRI system. A developer whose PRI drops below 40 receives a 0.5× weight penalty in future squad composition scoring. Repeated failures can result in removal from the Talent Index. Squad contracts include dispute escalation paths for unresolved delivery failures.
For Investors
How do I access the investor feed?
Register as an investor and complete the Marketplace Integrity Agreement — a cryptographically signed legal commitment against misuse of platform data. Accreditation verification is required before you can view dossiers or place bids.
What data is in each game dossier?
Every dossier includes: Player Pulse composite score, D1/D7/D30 retention curves, PMF percentage, APPU (Average Play Per User), engagement depth breakdown, sentiment velocity trend, a broken core audit, and the studio's formation history. No pitch deck copy — behavioral evidence only.
How does escrow protect my investment?
Capital is held in Stripe Connect escrow and released only when a squad delivers a defined milestone and the release is approved. You can see the milestone schedule and approval status in real time. No bulk deployment — tranches release as work is verified.
What is the Steward's Carry?
Gameformers deducts a 2.5% Steward’s Carry from each escrow release to fund platform operations, including the stewardship transparency reports published monthly. This is disclosed at investment and visible in every escrow transaction.
Can I place private bids?
Yes. Investors can place public bids (visible to the studio) or private bids (visible only to Gameformers administrators during deal structuring). Both bid types are subject to the Marketplace Integrity Agreement.
Platform Mechanics
What is the Player Pulse engine?
Player Pulse is Gameformers’ behavioral scoring system. It aggregates five signals — retention curve, completion density, Sean Ellis PMF score, sentiment velocity, and engagement depth — into a 0–5.0 composite verdict. Verdicts map to tiers: TERMINATE, PIVOT, WATCH, INVEST, GOD_TIER.
How does Gameformers prevent bot farming or fake test data?
Pulse Integrity requires all player accounts to have a Steam account at least 6 months old with 50+ total hours in the game's genre. Session fingerprinting (SHA-256 of user agent, screen resolution, and timezone) detects shared-device farming. Signal integrity clustering groups sessions by IP /24 and flags temporal anomalies.
What is squad formation?
Squad formation is the process by which an INVEST-verified game recruits a development team of up to 5 developers. Developers apply through the Talent Index, sign a 4-step platform contract (covering dissolution mode, IP salvage, payment trigger, and review terms), and begin an 84-day sprint.
How are royalty splits calculated?
Royalty splits are negotiated and locked at squad formation. The split covers all escrow disbursements for the squad's duration. Steward’s Carry (2.5%) is deducted first; the remainder distributes according to the agreed split among squad members and the founding studio.
What is the Stewardship report?
Gameformers publishes a monthly public transparency report at /stewardship showing: total escrow released, average milestone approval time, platform success ratio, and dossier view counts. The report is generated from live database queries and cached for 1 hour. It exists to let investors and developers audit platform integrity.
Is Gameformers available in all countries?
Gameformers operates internationally, but some features (particularly SAFE note issuance and Stripe Connect escrow) may have jurisdiction-specific requirements. Contact the platform for details on your specific country.