Re: Why do games go commercial?

From: "Chris Williams" <williac6@rjrt.com>

Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 00:00:00 +0000

I figured I would wait and see what kind of replies you got before I posted.
Now seems like as good a time as any.

I am in the midst of writing a PBM/PBEM based on a license that I hope to
acquire soon.

I do plan on charging for my game, and I don't plan on just breaking even.
That doesn't mean I see myself getting rich and retiring from the proceeds,
just that I'll make some cash, most of which I will probaby sink back into
the game, and pay off my license fee.

As for whether I am creating a game which will sell, or one which I will
enjoy creating... I have to say it's a mixture of both. Ultimately one can
argue that formulas do not always work. Look at the Edsel, a car designed
with everything for everyone. It was a total flop. My intent is to make a
game which I would enjoy playing, that is also true to its license. In
theory, if I am true to myself and I enjoy it then others will too. If I try
to design the ultimate game from the start, I will probably never finish it,
and if I do, will it be worth playing?

Some of the best games started simple and grew into a shared vision of
player and GM. If players like your game, they will make requests to make it
better. If they don't like your game they will just leave. If you take heed
of your players requests, the end result is a game that is creatd by people
who enjoy it, and want to make it better for all.

As for breaking even, I don't think you have to charge a LOT, or spend just
10 minutes on processing. I guess it depends on what you consider a LOT of
money. I don't consider $5 a turn to be a lot of money, and I have played in
games that charged nearly $10 a turn. If I write the engine for my PBM game
in the evenings after work, there is still a cost associated with it, but
how do you assign an hourly monetary value to something you enjoy doing? I
haven't figured out a way yet. All I know is that when the engine is done,
and the environment is finished that I'll have created a game that will
hopefully make more money than it costs to run each turn. Shouldn't be hard.
I already have several computers, an internet account, etc...  Even at $4-5
a turn, with just 10 players (and hopefully a hell of a lot more) sending
turns every two weeks, I will already be making a profit.

Chris

Mac Senour <msenour@silcom.com> wrote in message
news:39301B8C.6B225146@silcom.com...

I think there's a line between commercial games and free games, and I don't
mean just the dollars.  I have seen it many many times in the video game
industry where the people are either motivated by money, or by the joy of
making a great game.
Couldn't the same be asked of artists?  Do they create what is in their
mind, or what will sell?  If they want to eat... which is a big motivator,
they create what sells.
One of you here said that your goal with your company is to break even.  I
think the only way to do that is to charge a LOT, and even then your turn
processing speed has to be in the 10 minute range.  Do we all want to play a
game that takes less than 10 minutes per turn to moderate?  The answer is a
profound "maybe, it depends on the game".  Which goes back to my point about
motivation.
I myself am looking for a few alpha and beta testers for a PBEM game.  I am
motivated by the love of gaming, but I also want to make a buck.  Making a
buck would fund making more games and so on.  I'm not here to make millions,
just enough to fund the next project.
Your comments?
Mac Senour
Faultline Studios

References

Why do games go commercial?
treasonmaster@my-deja.com
Fri, 26 May 2000 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Why do games go commercial?
Mac Senour <msenour@silcom.com>
Sat, 27 May 2000 00:00:00 +0000