Comments on: Funding Games via Donations http://www.anotherearlymorning.com/2009/05/funding-games-via-donations/ Game development, design, and discussion Fri, 19 Aug 2011 08:30:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Alternut http://www.anotherearlymorning.com/2009/05/funding-games-via-donations/comment-page-1/#comment-225 Alternut Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:24:03 +0000 http://www.anotherearlymorning.com/?p=669#comment-225 <p>Found this post interesting? Consider sharing it:</p> <p>[ X ] Extremely unlikely to :-)</p> <p>Nice post though.</p> Found this post interesting? Consider sharing it:

[ X ] Extremely unlikely to :-)

Nice post though.

]]> By: aschearer http://www.anotherearlymorning.com/2009/05/funding-games-via-donations/comment-page-1/#comment-223 aschearer Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:57:38 +0000 http://www.anotherearlymorning.com/?p=669#comment-223 <p>Haha, I like the ransom model, though it may not be that different in practice. I think you raise a fair point about the graph (which I realize now is missing the sample size sadly) which is also echoed by the Wall Street Journal. Namely, that a small set of followers can be enough to bankroll the entire operation even in the face of extreme piracy. That said, I think there are a few caveats. Specifically I think what that smallish set of followers can bankroll is a set of smallish games produced by a handful developers. That's fine but has consequences for the more capitol intensive fair we're used to on consoles. Also, while the model may work for a single developer would it scale to support the entire eco-system? Or would we find ourselves in a situation where a small group of rapid fans support the entire indie scene but that the class of profitable indie developers is vanishingly small?</p> Haha, I like the ransom model, though it may not be that different in practice. I think you raise a fair point about the graph (which I realize now is missing the sample size sadly) which is also echoed by the Wall Street Journal. Namely, that a small set of followers can be enough to bankroll the entire operation even in the face of extreme piracy. That said, I think there are a few caveats. Specifically I think what that smallish set of followers can bankroll is a set of smallish games produced by a handful developers. That’s fine but has consequences for the more capitol intensive fair we’re used to on consoles. Also, while the model may work for a single developer would it scale to support the entire eco-system? Or would we find ourselves in a situation where a small group of rapid fans support the entire indie scene but that the class of profitable indie developers is vanishingly small?

]]> By: Dan http://www.anotherearlymorning.com/2009/05/funding-games-via-donations/comment-page-1/#comment-222 Dan Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:54:15 +0000 http://www.anotherearlymorning.com/?p=669#comment-222 <p>Wait, sorry; looking at the actual NUMBERS on your graph, it looks like 10%. Still, sounds like it could possibly turn out better than the apparent 5% now.</p> Wait, sorry; looking at the actual NUMBERS on your graph, it looks like 10%. Still, sounds like it could possibly turn out better than the apparent 5% now.

]]> By: Dan http://www.anotherearlymorning.com/2009/05/funding-games-via-donations/comment-page-1/#comment-221 Dan Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:51:17 +0000 http://www.anotherearlymorning.com/?p=669#comment-221 <p>Woah, hold on. Remember that as it is, you said that the game makers are getting by with 95% piracy rate. Your graph seems to imply that maybe 30% would, and that could be enough to get by, or at least a big improvement.</p> <p>Also, another model I thought of, similar to the patronage model, is the ransom model. Release a demo of your game for free. Tell people, "I'm collecting donations for this game, and I will only release the full version once I've collected $X".</p> Woah, hold on. Remember that as it is, you said that the game makers are getting by with 95% piracy rate. Your graph seems to imply that maybe 30% would, and that could be enough to get by, or at least a big improvement.

Also, another model I thought of, similar to the patronage model, is the ransom model. Release a demo of your game for free. Tell people, “I’m collecting donations for this game, and I will only release the full version once I’ve collected $X”.

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