While thinking of a way to get someone to buy my design document I came up with an attractive idea (I''m sure the idea has been brought up somewhere)...why not make a full job off selling your game design documents through a website or on e-bay? You could make a company strictly carrying design documents and just give a reasonable price for your design documents and simply sell them. Writers write their books in hope for their book to sell so why couldn''t a writer of game design documents do the same. Instead of just proposing your single game design documents to a company as an outside design make your own company that stores the designs. This way any money hungry commercial designer could buy the document and stick their name on the design. Of course, the person wouldn''t have to be a money hungry commercial designer. It''d be like being a template for a website.

Typo: buying

Nobody buys game design documents. Nobody hires game designers; they climb up through the company from programming, art or QA. Most companies shred unsolicited mail without opening, so you can''t send them a design to "evaluate." The procedure for submission packets generally requires that you send tangible material - upon invitation - such as video or a playable game demo. Don''t you know anything?

Your "business idea" is based on false assumptions. Lesson #1 of business: research. Find out something about your potential clientele and your potential competitors. You apparently woke up and said "Hey, what if..." and hurried off to post here.

Here''s a quarter. Buy a clue.

Be fair - posting a question on an internet forum is research. It''s not like he said ''I''ve just set up a business selling game design docs, why aren''t I getting any customers?''

If it had actually been a question then I''d be inclined to agree with you. It was however presented as a ''fantastic new idea'' and as such I think Oluseyi was harsh but fair.

quote: Original post by Oluseyi
Nobody buys game design documents. Nobody hires game designers; they climb up through the company from programming, art or QA. Most companies shred unsolicited mail without opening, so you can''t send them a design to "evaluate." The procedure for submission packets generally requires that you send tangible material - upon invitation - such as video or a playable game demo. Don''t you know anything?

Your "business idea" is based on false assumptions. Lesson #1 of business: research. Find out something about your potential clientele and your potential competitors. You apparently woke up and said "Hey, what if..." and hurried off to post here.

Here''s a quarter. Buy a clue.

I think your being a little harsh.



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"yuo have it all wrong. admiralbiunary is me not the other way reorubnd poppet. just becuase hea was here first doesnt meean hes any mopre valid than me yuo rassit pigf." YodaTheCoda

quote: Original post by g
Be fair - posting a question on an internet forum is research.

Nope. Research involves looking up what exists, informing yourself and then asking questions. ie, a cursory Google search would qualify as research. A search of this site would qualify as research.

Was I harsh? Yes. Was I correct? Yes. Was I efficient? Yes. Posts like this explain the enduring popularity of the acronym "RTFM".

This place is getting more hostile by the day.



In an attept to combat this I'll post a reasoable response. So, Geogod, whenever I stumble across something that seems to be a good idea, I first ask myself "If it is such a good idea, why hasn't it been done before?". I get the feeling if this could be done, somebody would have done it.

Unfortunately, as Oluseyi mentioned, the majority of game design do not come from one person with an idea. For starters, they come from a team of people all brainstorming together. Secondly, they would much rather go with someone who they have worked with and trust for that initial concept as opposed to somebody selling stuff.

I think there is a common misconception that games companies have one chap who sits down, thinks of a game idea and then gets paid. The position of designer exists more in title than it does in responsibities. Games companies are happy to have one mind spearhead the concept but you get a much better view of general opinion with an idea when you share it amongst the team.

The final nail in the coffin is a matter of protecting IP. If you show an idea to a company, there is nothing to stop them making it and never buying the idea. An NDA is only so much use. You cannot show enough to interest a team, without giving away your IP.

I know I've been negative, but I honestly dont think the idea would work at all.

Never mind.

[edited by - m_wherrett on June 9, 2003 8:54:03 AM]

There are a few companies that have tried to specialise in just design work. Few have had major success all those who have had any success already had industry experience.

The major problem is that unless you have a proven track record no one is likely to believe you can do the job. Also those companies that least understand design and most need such a service are usually the ones who think they are great at design and so they wont hire you.

Dan Marchant
Obscure Productions
Game Development & Design consultant

Oluseyi is right but indeed it is a bit odd to see a moderator saying "don''t you know anything?" in a rude way such as that, but I mean what else can you do...the poor guy has probably been shunned in the past and all he looks forward to each day is to get a few cynnical comments in. That''s understandable. Anyways, I have searched on google and found nothing really except one thing...I saw a site selling game design documents and supposedly they had already made some sales..how well they did I''m not sure. They were offering four design documents currently...I stupidly didn''t copy the link for you to see but if you want to find it just search google for game design documents for sale. Anyways just thought I''d point that out and thanks for all the feedback people. Upon typing this I will probably be banned for my previous quote about Oluseyi, oh wells.