I know this question involves many factors like the size of the project, etc., but can anyone who has been through working with artists before shed some light on how much I should pay my artist. The project is a shareware game. I haven''t been specific so please reply generally if you can. FYI, my artist is trying to get 50% of the profits, but I think that''s a bit high... but i don''t know. Thanks!

well it depends how much of the art he''s doing.
if he''s doing the menu, anumation, foreground, static sprites, etc (ie. everything graphical) then i can see why he''d want half.

but....

if you''re doing the programming, marketting, dealing with publisher (ie. everything else to get the game running and on the shelves) then i think 60%/40% or 65%/35% cut isn''t a bad idea.

That sounds about fair... generally speaking.

If it''s a puzzle game with simple graphics, it could be a bit high.

If it''s an RPG with lots of tiles, objects, and animated sprites, it could be a bit low.

"Sweet, peaceful eyelash spiders! Live in love by the ocean of my eyes!" - Jennifer Diane Reitz

It depends on how the work is distributed. If you do all the programming, he does all the graphics, someone else does the sound/music, 50% could be a little high. Maybe 40% artist, 30% programming, 30% sounds.

Let''s face it, graphcis sells games. I won''t bother downloading a demo if the graphcis are ugly. No one will ever test out the game play or see that ground breaking AI if they can''t get past an unatrative interface.

You need to consider yourself lucky to find an artist that is willing to work for royalty share.

OK, great. I''m glad I got additional opinions on this. Thanks for replying!