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Catch 22: Getting a publisher contract ($$) before hiring a staff?
February 04, 2004 07:04 PM
In all my research, I have seen that publishers would like to see who your team is as part of making a decision on whether or not to fund your project - especially for a new studio. However, without publisher funding, it is rather dificult to secure a decent staff. Certainly you may have a good product that a publisher would like to throw money at as long as you have a decent team put together... but how can you tell a team "trust me, I will pay you what you are worth when the publisher signs on to the deal"? Is it "done" in the industry to sniff out a recruit a staff purely with "letters of intent"? That way, you could take your "intended team" to the publisher and say "these people (with their respective histories) are on board as soon as you sign the check".
Is this even remotely possible?
Dave Mark - President and Lead Designer
Intrinsic Algorithm - "Reducing the world to mathematical equations!"
Dave Mark - President and Lead Designer of Intrinsic Algorithm LLC
Professional consultant on game AI, mathematical modeling, simulation modeling
Co-founder and 10 year advisor of the GDC AI Summit
Author of the book, Behavioral Mathematics for Game AI
Blogs I write:
IA News - What's happening at IA | IA on AI - AI news and notes | Post-Play'em - Observations on AI of games I play
"Reducing the world to mathematical equations!"
122
February 04, 2004 07:09 PM
Yes, form a partnership, LLC, joint venture. People want what they are supposed to get in writing.
February 04, 2004 07:13 PM
We have an LLC in place and have had for a number of years. However, I am just a lead designer and AI programmer. I will be needing to get a lead programer, an art staff, etc. The whole team should only need to be 5-8 people... but we can''t pay them while we look for a publishing deal and we are gonna look a little silly trying to sell the publisher on us without a team to point to.
Dave Mark - President and Lead Designer
Intrinsic Algorithm - "Reducing the world to mathematical equations!"
Dave Mark - President and Lead Designer
Intrinsic Algorithm - "Reducing the world to mathematical equations!"
Dave Mark - President and Lead Designer of Intrinsic Algorithm LLC
Professional consultant on game AI, mathematical modeling, simulation modeling
Co-founder and 10 year advisor of the GDC AI Summit
Author of the book, Behavioral Mathematics for Game AI
Blogs I write:
IA News - What's happening at IA | IA on AI - AI news and notes | Post-Play'em - Observations on AI of games I play
"Reducing the world to mathematical equations!"
136
February 04, 2004 08:37 PM
Just my dos centavos ...
Publishers seek low risk, hence they are relunctant to put their faith in a developer with no proven record (which implies a development team in place). New and startup developers typically have no proven record (you know this) and thus are at a disadvantage. The solutions are not pretty, but it is doable (because new developers get deals all the time). 1) Self funding a development team. 2) Find a publisher that is desparate enough to go with an unproven development team (read - a team that is put together after the publisher buys in). 3) Sell equity to form a development team and find a publisher. Outside of that, I am at a loss as to what to suggest to you.
Publishers seek low risk, hence they are relunctant to put their faith in a developer with no proven record (which implies a development team in place). New and startup developers typically have no proven record (you know this) and thus are at a disadvantage. The solutions are not pretty, but it is doable (because new developers get deals all the time). 1) Self funding a development team. 2) Find a publisher that is desparate enough to go with an unproven development team (read - a team that is put together after the publisher buys in). 3) Sell equity to form a development team and find a publisher. Outside of that, I am at a loss as to what to suggest to you.
276
February 04, 2004 10:02 PM
quote:
Original post by Geta
Just my dos centavos ...
Publishers seek low risk, hence they are relunctant to put their faith in a developer with no proven record (which implies a development team in place). New and startup developers typically have no proven record (you know this) and thus are at a disadvantage. The solutions are not pretty, but it is doable (because new developers get deals all the time). 1) Self funding a development team. 2) Find a publisher that is desparate enough to go with an unproven development team (read - a team that is put together after the publisher buys in). 3) Sell equity to form a development team and find a publisher. Outside of that, I am at a loss as to what to suggest to you.
I''m with Geta here...there are few good options available in these circumstances. I rather like your though of having folks sign letters of intent...that might help...but beyond that developers are so friggin'' gun-shy that it''s a real effort to get anything funded.
One other option--get your game in the Independent Games Festival at GDC. That often opens doors that otherwise might not be there.
Ferretman
ferretman@gameai.com
From the High Mountains of Colorado
GameAI.Com
Ferretman
ferretman@gameai.com
From the High Mountains of Colorado
GameAI.Com
100
February 04, 2004 10:11 PM
Could always try a bank loan, but then your screwed if you don''t get a publishing deal and the game doesn''t sell
February 04, 2004 10:18 PM
The good news is that the game isn''t really a glitz-fest where it will really be team-dependant. It will be a small team and we can get away with middle-level talent.
Dave Mark - President and Lead Designer
Intrinsic Algorithm - "Reducing the world to mathematical equations!"
Dave Mark - President and Lead Designer
Intrinsic Algorithm - "Reducing the world to mathematical equations!"
Dave Mark - President and Lead Designer of Intrinsic Algorithm LLC
Professional consultant on game AI, mathematical modeling, simulation modeling
Co-founder and 10 year advisor of the GDC AI Summit
Author of the book, Behavioral Mathematics for Game AI
Blogs I write:
IA News - What's happening at IA | IA on AI - AI news and notes | Post-Play'em - Observations on AI of games I play
"Reducing the world to mathematical equations!"
February 04, 2004 10:19 PM
quote:
Original post by SarsDP
Could always try a bank loan, but then your screwed if you don''t get a publishing deal and the game doesn''t sell
We''ve already sunk some serious money into the business just to get the playable demo done.
Dave Mark - President and Lead Designer
Intrinsic Algorithm - "Reducing the world to mathematical equations!"
Dave Mark - President and Lead Designer of Intrinsic Algorithm LLC
Professional consultant on game AI, mathematical modeling, simulation modeling
Co-founder and 10 year advisor of the GDC AI Summit
Author of the book, Behavioral Mathematics for Game AI
Blogs I write:
IA News - What's happening at IA | IA on AI - AI news and notes | Post-Play'em - Observations on AI of games I play
"Reducing the world to mathematical equations!"
February 05, 2004 07:14 AM
I agree with the letter of intent thing... Although if you are really looking for "mid-level talent", you might be able to hire them with promises of stock...
Of course "high-level talent" is immune to that kind of bribe.
Bob Scott
Of course "high-level talent" is immune to that kind of bribe.
Bob Scott
122
February 05, 2004 09:23 AM
Your chances of finding people willing to work for you and give up their day-jobs with merely a letter of intent are pretty slim. Why not put together a team that can work part-time, and shoud you secure funding (which may be a lot tougher than you anticipate), eventually turn it into a full-time endeavour?
[edited by - alex mcandrew on February 5, 2004 12:33:58 PM]
[edited by - alex mcandrew on February 5, 2004 12:33:58 PM]
--------------------Help Needed!Turn-based 20th century strategy wargameTitle still to be determined
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