Re: Need programers

From: Ryan Johnson <dowrie@guildofblades.com>

Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 12:35:59 +0000

> Ryan, you've got a thing or two to learn about business if you think its as black and white as that.<

Black and white are almost always best in business. Simplified and clear
cut contracts. Manufacturers who can retain focus of purpose within
their core and secondary markets.

> If you were to pay a programmer and also give them a cut of the action, as it were, you'd probably find you'd get a better rate, better work and much more enthusiasm.  Nothing is more important that that in games design and/or programming.<

You can give employees a cut of the action without needing to make the a
"partner". It is called stock shares, commissions, and year end bonuses.
Far, far more common that a publisher putting a programmer on salary
*and* given them more than the most nominal cut of the action. The two
just don't go hand in hand in corporate america.

> But *why* would a programmer choose to devote their time, with no guarantee of any cash, to *your* project.  Why not to any one of the hundreds of other design outfits out there who are looking for basically the same thing?  Because your games are good?  How does the programmer know they're good, compared to others?<

It helps to have a familiarity of the project in question, the game in
question, and the business model being proposed before nay saying. You
seem to be fervently arguing that our project is no different than
hundreds of others without sufficient knowledge to draw that conclusion.
The game concept may have similarities to other games on the marker
(almost any game will), but it does have a proven track record as a
board game, a decent though small track record as a humn moderated PBEM,
and here is the important one; we have a proven track record as a
business. What really sets this project apart from the others? The
business model behind it. We'll share some of that information with
potential programmers, but no offense, we're not posting publicly.

> But programmers hear this sort of thing all the time, and are often wary of it.<

As they should be. Be wary of ALL potential business arrangements you
get into.

> But the business model you seem to be proposing isn't a whole lot more
> reliable.<

I'm sorry, but you are not informed enough regarding the business model
to really be able to comment on it. You can only speculate.

> Im sure theres great stuff under the surface, but unless you show some of it, you're not going to tempt a programmer in.<

We do provide a pretty good overview of the project and business model
to potential programmers. Everything that we feel we can provide prior
to a NDA being signed. Its enough for most people to decide if they want
to *really* know more. Thats just not the kind of information one would
post here for the sake of a discussion such as this. :)

Ryan S. Johnson
CEO, Guild of Blades Publishing Group
http://www.guildofblades.com

References

Re: Need programers
Ryan Johnson <dowrie@guildofblades.com>
Wed, 22 May 2002 06:24:43 +0000
Re: Need programers
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Wed, 22 May 2002 09:24:27 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Need programers
Ryan Johnson <dowrie@guildofblades.com>
Wed, 22 May 2002 06:24:43 +0000
Re: Need programers
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Wed, 22 May 2002 09:24:27 +0000