Believe it or not, there are people whom game developers turn to in times of need. These people can be crucial to the success of a video game; they may add in that tiny bit of extra polish that changes a good game into a great game, or keep a fair game from becoming a poor one. At least, that's what they'd like game publishers to believe.

I'm talking about videogame consultants. Videogame consultants can vary from individual freelancers to entire companies. Their numbers include people from all parts of the game industry, from former journalists to marketing executives. Even game developer David Perry is now consulting. The number of consultants in the industry is growing, as is demand for their talents, but can they really deliver the goods? What do they actually do? Does the industry really need them?

I tracked down four different game consultants -- two freelancers and two companies -- and asked them about their jobs, their backgrounds and their views on this growing business. For the first part of this story, I'll focus on two videogame consulting companies: The Big Solutions Group and Embassy Multimedia Consultants. Both are dedicated, full-time consultants that offer their services to anyone who needs them.

Matt Firme of The Big Solutions Group

Matt Firme is a game industry veteran with 17 years of experience. As VP/Editorial Director at Future Network USA, he helped launch 12 magazines and two web networks. Firme started The Big Solutions Group with his partner Mike Salmon in 2004. As stated on The Big Solutions Group's official website, this duo offers everything from developer pitch consultation to help with packaging, copywriting and marketing strategies. Their client list includes Microsoft, LucasArts, Sega of America, Vivendi Universal and Planet Moon Studios.

GameSpy: A lot of people don't know what game consultants do. How would you describe your job and the services you offer?

Matt Firme: We basically work with publishers and developers to the potential viability of a given product, and we then work with them to help that product sell more than it would have without that help. Everything we do -- whether it's early concept advice, positioning a product, making the box, or even creating the advertising -- is designed with one thing in mind: to help our clients sell more games.

GameSpy: How much of an effect can a game consultant have on a game? How about when you're hired late in the cycle on a game that really needs your help?

Firme: We've made a real difference to projects from concept through to final packaging. The problems are just different along the line, and require different solutions. Most of the work we do now is throughout the lifecycle, though.

GameSpy: In what areas are consultants most helpful to game companies?

Firme: That entirely depends on the consultant!

GameSpy: What are the limitations of what a consultant can do?

Firme: That depends on the consultant and the client's comfort level with the consultant. We've found that when a client embraces consulting on all levels (production, marketing, PR and senior management), it can be very, very effective.

GameSpy: What is the biggest challenge for a consultant once they're hired by a developer?

Firme: Resisting the urge for "Cover Your Ass" thinking, and being right. You have to tell the truth, or you lose trust. And you have to be right, or you have taken money for nothing.

GameSpy: Do you see the role of the game consultant expanding in the future?

Firme: When we started Big Solutions, none of the clients we approached had any idea what the hell "game consulting" meant. Certainly no consulting companies were then doing what we do now, and to my knowledge none are doing what we do still. But we love hearing about new people breaking into consulting, because it makes our job so much easier.

When we started, we had to create the demand for game consulting because no one was doing exactly what we do. Now, when we get a call from someone who's maybe been pitched by a consultant and so wants to get a competitive proposal, that difficult job of selling the concept of consulting has been done for us, and we can concentrate on the specific ways we can specifically help our clients. Speaking for Big Solutions, we've definitely seen a sizeable growth in the market.