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[Derek]

This thread is sooooo paying off!  Great post, ZombiePixel.  Exactly what I wanted to see.

Gee, I've been contacted by so many interested publishy people by now. I'm awfully reluctant to agree to anything these days, but soon enough I'm going to have to start making deals. I can't do everything myself (it's hard enough just worrying about making the games) and I've seen the good that can come from having people rushing about energetically doing things on your behalf. Sure, I didn't have any say (or get any money) for Platypus on the PSP but the one very positive part of that experience for me was having it happen without me doing any work. So there is definitely an element of that I would like to tap into in future - I mean, I can't even keep my own website up-to-date so I'm definitely going to need with some of this stuff. Just as other people clearly need me to tell them that they've gone and done things all wrong and need to do it again.

I will say though, that the more I have seen of publisher-funded game development, the more I am convinced that it is best to get the game made first, before anyone else goes sticking their nose in. Besides, that's the fairest way for everyone. If the game is already finished, publishers know what they're getting and you know what you're giving away. I would never have sold Platypus so cheap if I'd known that it was going to take me 18 cocking months to finish it. And nor did I suspect that I would still be working on the follow-up game nearly 5 years later. You get into all kinds of woe when you start trying to sell people your promises; I'm glad I'm not beholden to anyone at the moment.

Still, the time will come soon enough when I will have to be brave and start making business-type decisions again. Rrrr.

Anthony, that is some great advice (getting the game done first)!  The whole Playtpus fiasco I think is a great lesson to new developers.  We learn from mistakes, and no one can fault you for thinking it was a great deal at the time.  Your attitude about the whole thing is also really inspirational, I mean it.

Regarding being brave and making business-type decisions... I'm hoping that this community will make those types of decisions easier for everyone!  Let's keep discussing... we'll soon make sure that no indie developer gets screwed again.

[DrDerekDoctors]

Ooh, I'm gonna' bring up the subject of Variant Interactive, and then run away from the post... Woohoohoo!

scarpers

I'm flattered that someone would think to bring my lil' ol' company up. But I'm sad that it's in a negative way.
<snip>

Tbh, I'm not sure how many of us *could* say anything as there's been precious little actually released by Variant as far as I can tell, but that's part of the problem. I mean where is Cave Story PSP, eh?

[vitaminNewB]

I have to seriously 2nd what Derek said above.
Pretty much summed up the feelings about what you did Anthony (and everyone above too), as far as sharing your experiences and all.  But, I just wanted to say for myself that i salute you indeed. 

Very brave thing to do.  People who actually have the guts to spread the word about a fault are a dime a dozen.  That's one thing that I do love about game developers who do postmortems.  The honesty.  It's brutal and gut wrenching in some cases.  But still completely honest.  Keep it up man!

[cwboyer]

Ooh, I'm gonna' bring up the subject of Variant Interactive, and then run away from the post... Woohoohoo!

scarpers

I'm flattered that someone would think to bring my lil' ol' company up. But I'm sad that it's in a negative way.
<snip>

Tbh, I'm not sure how many of us *could* say anything as there's been precious little actually released by Variant as far as I can tell, but that's part of the problem. I mean where is Cave Story PSP, eh?

It's being worked on. We said "2007" and it's something we'll try to stick to, but I suppose in retrospect, it would have been more prudent to wait a little longer before saying something. To be completely frank, I personally got excited because Cave Story is probably in my top ten favorites, and it was an amateur move to speak up so soon. I put the word out myself, (on our website, someone else discovered that and put it on Garage Games' website and it spiraled from there, to this date we haven't set any press releases or any other actual news for a reason) so whatever comes from doing so, I'll gladly suck it up and take it.

That said, as I told "Florian" at Kotaku awhile back, we don't release a lot of news because when we do, it's either grumbling or straight unfounded rumormongering and accusations (hackusations?) and as far as I'm concerned, I've mandated in the company that we don't announce anything until it's 90% ready from this point forward. At least until there's a little more public goodwill. Like I said, the nastiness stings a little bit, whether I like it to or not. I suppose that's part of the business, though.

We're behind another project which we'll be announcing soon, and I hope people enjoy that. It's the first step into something new and cool and with any luck, folks will see it the same way I do and that will be fun.

Anyway, enough of the blah blah blah from me. This forum looks like it's got some good resources here, I hope nobody will run me out on a rail if I try to contribute. I recently became chairman of the IGDA chapter around here, and things that I pick up here and there, I'd love to share, and vice versa – I'll wager you guys have some great stories that local developers in my neck of the woods could stand to learn from.

Your pal,
-cb

[DrDerekDoctors]

It's being worked on. We said "2007" and it's something we'll try to stick to, but I suppose in retrospect, it would have been more prudent to wait a little longer before saying something. To be completely frank, I personally got excited because Cave Story is probably in my top ten favorites, and it was an amateur move to speak up so soon. I put the word out myself, (on our website, someone else discovered that and put it on Garage Games' website and it spiraled from there, to this date we haven't set any press releases or any other actual news for a reason) so whatever comes from doing so, I'll gladly suck it up and take it.

While I know some people who have bad things to say, personally Variant has come across as well-meaning amateurs to me so far and certainly not bad people. I think the whole situation about whether Pixel authorised PSP Cave Story blew up with loads of misinformation being bandied about by various people and a *serious* case of Japanese whispers* (and I'm still not clear on the truth of the matter - although obviously the only result I want to hear is that he's getting a big wodge of cash and the first credit in the game).

But anyway, I like the idea of a company putting out the best of the indie world onto real machine if it means the authors are rewarded for their efforts and John Q Public realises the wealth of excellent titles around rather than just seeing a few high-profile ones who's faces might fit, but which possibly don't play well.



* sorry - it's the writer in me.

[moi]

Man, I sure hope they aren't going to try and pull a Platypus one on pixel.

[PoV]

Ouch.  If I didn't know better, that'd almost sound dirty.  Well, messy more than dirty.

[cwboyer]

But anyway, I like the idea of a company putting out the best of the indie world onto real machine if it means the authors are rewarded for their efforts and John Q Public realises the wealth of excellent titles around rather than just seeing a few high-profile ones who's faces might fit, but which possibly don't play well.

There, now you've got it. =)

Quality games need the biggest audience they can get. I don't think anyone would want to fight about that.

[PoV]

I'm rather surprised so few "indies" take matters in to their own hands.  Instead, relying on more adventurous business types to make the first move.

[Derek]

Well, I'm really hoping this forum will make indies more adventurous in the long run!  So far we seem to be on track.

[Bezzy]

Anyone know/have any dealings with GameCock? I'm sorta praying that their business practices don't match their PR.

[DrDerekDoctors]

Anyone know/have any dealings with GameCock? I'm sorta praying that their business practices don't match their PR.

Yeah, they've come out with a series of really shitty trailers of late, ain't they? Utterly pish looking. And glad to see you joined us, Aubrey!

[Bezzy]

Anyone know/have any dealings with GameCock? I'm sorta praying that their business practices don't match their PR.

Yeah, they've come out with a series of really shitty trailers of late, ain't they? Utterly pish looking. And glad to see you joined us, Aubrey!

Haven't seen the game trailers, so I can't comment. Just seen this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYuvC-QBs5I

Doesn't appeal to me, personally. Seems pretty crass. But then I am an out-and-out wank-hat wearing ponce. I'd have to be with a name like "Aubrey".

[DrDerekDoctors]

Anyone know/have any dealings with GameCock? I'm sorta praying that their business practices don't match their PR.

Yeah, they've come out with a series of really shitty trailers of late, ain't they? Utterly pish looking. And glad to see you joined us, Aubrey!

Haven't seen the game trailers, so I can't comment. Just seen this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYuvC-QBs5I

Doesn't appeal to me, personally. Seems pretty crass. But then I am an out-and-out wank-hat wearing ponce. I'd have to be with a name like "Aubrey".

Oh, I think you just need a basic c*nt-detector to loathe any company which produces a video like that...

[TeeGee]

Sorry to bring this topic up, but as it was on publishers and distributors...

I was wondering if anybody had any experiences with Merscom? They are a retail distributor and they seem pretty reasonable, but I guess that some extra research won't hurt. Any horror stories?