Re: Why do games go commercial?

From: madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)

Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 00:00:00 +0000

Back from my trip and everybody arguing again! <grin>  Hurrah.

But the question was:-

>>My question was (I hope now is perfectly clear to all):
 why and how do folks that started GM'ing in their free time decide to
charge their players?<<

I never ran any free PBM games.  I saw some other PBMs, thought I could do
better, made a game and launched it commercially three months later.

You learn as you go, become a better game designer as you progress.  Some
people dont, of course, game design, like any other creative art, is a skill
which can be learnt if you have an aptitude, but can never be learnt if you
don't.  And like novelists, *everybody* THINKS they have the aptitude.  <grin>
Who has, and who has not, is only provable by time.

As for the whole dull old Free/Commercial discussion, its a load of pants
really.

Is a free game going to be crap because the designers dont charge for it?
Of course not.

Is a commercial game going to be made for the love of money rather than the
love of games, just because they *do* charge for it?
Of course not.

If you want to charge for your game, and if it is good enough to be successful
in the competitive commercial market, good for you.

If you want to run a great game for free, just because you love it, good for
you.

Whats the big deal?

Steve
-Madhouse UK

References

Re: Why do games go commercial?
treasonmaster@my-deja.com
Mon, 29 May 2000 00:00:00 +0000