This is just an observation, so let me know what you think...
It seems there's a kind of attitude that's prevelant in the world of click where we're so used to free articles, free examples, free updates, free games, free extensions, free everything, that some people actually get quite hostile when individuals take the plunge and start publishing games commercially.
Now I appreciate that many here are young, don't have jobs, etc, and that some don't like shopping online, or come from nations where the exchange rate makes buying a videogame in US Dollars or GB Pounds inherently prohibitive.
However, that presupposes that the only remotely useful function a person can serve is to hand over cash - which I don't think is right at all. This community has people from all over the world who are very capable graphic designers, coders, musicians and writers, and they're quite capable of doing good work in their particular field.
So for that reason, I'd like to get your thoughts on something new I'm considering.
Basically, if you can't or don't want to pay for a certain game or application, you can offer to trade something for it. So that may be a graphics library, some sound effects, a music track or maybe a simple engine or example.
What media you provide can be used in generating the next game, which cuts down on production time so does have a monetary value to me.
Quite an intriguing idea. It seems to me though that most who would want to play the game and are skilled at work to a degree acceptable for your next project would probably be willing to pay. Perhaps if it were a special case where you find a graphics artist that would like to help on your next project, you could trade them your game, but it seems to me that the graphics person would be getting ripped off, since good graphics work can cost as much per hour as a copy of a game! When someone pitches in something to my game, I'd rather it be catered specifically to the project and not premade or something you'd have to shoe-horn in, which is almost implied by "graphics library."
Well my plan is to make games which only take at max a couple of days to make. So really the graphics, sounds and such would actually be helping my come up with ideas for the games to make (so the games are actually built around the media I get)
So for instance, a guy says "Well I made this engine for a kind of platform hookshot or something, would you like that?" and then I think "Ahh, platform hookshot! That's a great idea!!" so I might give him a key for 2 or 3 games of his choice and then use and optimise his code to make a Metroid-like game, or a game where you play as Bob the Vine Monster who's addicted to cheese and must climb all the platforms to attain to said cheese before said cheese goes stale...
Originally Posted by DeadmanDines This is just an observation, so let me know what you think...
It seems there's a kind of attitude that's prevelant in the world of click where we're so used to free articles, free examples, free updates, free games, free extensions, free everything, that some people actually get quite hostile when individuals take the plunge and start publishing games commercially.
Now I appreciate that many here are young, don't have jobs, etc, and that some don't like shopping online, or come from nations where the exchange rate makes buying a videogame in US Dollars or GB Pounds inherently prohibitive.
However, that presupposes that the only remotely useful function a person can serve is to hand over cash - which I don't think is right at all. This community has people from all over the world who are very capable graphic designers, coders, musicians and writers, and they're quite capable of doing good work in their particular field.
So for that reason, I'd like to get your thoughts on something new I'm considering.
Basically, if you can't or don't want to pay for a certain game or application, you can offer to trade something for it. So that may be a graphics library, some sound effects, a music track or maybe a simple engine or example.
What media you provide can be used in generating the next game, which cuts down on production time so does have a monetary value to me.
What do you think?
Once traded, what would keep said "barterers" from publishing said game on a P2P source? While it's true that there's nothing holding an honest purchaser from doing the same, the idea is a little less entertaining when you know you've forked over actual cash for said game in question.
You'd also create one hell of a mess. As an example, let's say Jimmy spent the last three months creating an excellent graphic library. Jimmy wants to trade for "Super Potato Soccer" which is a $15.00 game. Pete made Super Potato Soccer, and while he may be willing to barter, he doesn't like the art style of Jimmy's graphic library and decides to discount $1.50 from the purchase price. That's a huge slap in the face for Jimmy; and before you know it, a sense of severe animosity occurs.
The current situation is fine because it works. If you so decide to keep your games free, you're in a community with hundreds of other people who feel the same way and don't mind offering examples and tips for a "thank you" here and there. We're happy with "thank you" because that's all we get when we finalize and release a title.
People who charge for the games they make are alienated for good reason. If they want to charge money, then they shouldn't be helped for free. Those that offer any kind of assistance usually don't see any kind of monetary kick-back, so while the game producer may be rolling in cash, the poor souls who helped along the way get to roll around in "thank you". That doesn't sound like a fair trade-off to me.
ChrisD> Employer: Say, wanna see a magic trick?
ChrisD> Employee: Uhh… sure, boss.
ChrisD> Employer: Your job! It just disappeared! Pack your things and leave! Pretty good trick, huh?
I've actually traded with some people who sell games. It's been great on both sides of the trade.
But I don't think you could trade stuff like engines. If you really want to get it free, you should work with the developer (which is why I offer to join some teams). Engines and graphics are highly game specific, and most of the people who offer to 'sell' them usually make very poor ones.
Disclaimer: Any sarcasm in my posts will not be mentioned as that would ruin the purpose. It is assumed that the reader is intelligent enough to tell the difference between what is sarcasm and what is not.
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Edited by DeadmanDines
