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Old September 20th, 2010, 08:23 AM
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Gandalf Parker Gandalf Parker is offline
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Default Re: Did Space Empires V kill Space Empires?

And again we see some of the pros and cons of the big boys business plan vs someone like Shrapnel who was created by an independent developer specifically to give other options to independents. The marketing/shelfware version vs the publicity/distribution version.

[rant mode on]
The M/S version requires too much cash paid out ahead of time. That can mean advance payments for developers and big payback (eventually), and large sales audience, and games that go in bargain bins like some people keep harping about in the other Shrapnel forums. But it also means large debt to the distrib company which must be paid back before profit checks appear, sometimes 1 or 2 years. Also tends toward much more distributor control setting deadlines on the developers to finish the game in order to meet the advance advertising, setting DRM standards, setting prices, and of course buying the future rights. AND the possibility of total losses before the developer ever sees any profits. Possibly with a still outstanding debt that must be paid back.

The publicity/distrib version requires almost no advance money being laid out. The game gets covered in every online gaming magazine, blog, newsgroup, etc. The profits are quick, easily tracked by both parties so no hard feelings over questionable incomes, and the developer sees checks quickly. And because there is no gambling with advanced funds this model supports independents that otherwise wouldnt be touched by the big boys.

So for those who continually want to tell Shrapnel what they should be doing like the big boys do it so you can hope for bargain bin copies later, remember that everything has its pros and cons.
[/rant off]
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