Thunderdome 2015 » Printable Version of Topic » Double-Fine Changes Game Publishing?

Forum: Games
Topic: Double-Fine Changes Game Publishing?
started by: TPRJones

Posted by TPRJones on Feb. 10 2012,16:05

The world of game publishing may have dramatically changed yesterday and I for one didn't even notice. It's interesting stuff.

First, watch this video: < http://s3.amazonaws.com/ksr/projects/73409/video-77340-h264_high.mp4 >

Then read < this blog post >.

Sure, this sort of thing has been done here and there in small ways, but nothing like this in terms of speed and impact. I predict that before 2012 is over at least one major distributor (like Valve, perhaps, through Steam) will set up a system that mimics Kickstarter but is designed specifically for pre-funding of independently developed video games. I bet at least one major corporate developer will try something similar, but it will fail because they'll do it very poorly and people will see they're full of crap and just trying to not spend their own capital that they already have plenty of.

Here's the direct link to the Kickstarter project in question, by the way: < http://www.kickstarter.com/project....ef=live >

Posted by Leisher on Feb. 17 2012,06:00

Actually, I think < this > might be the first example of what the Double-Fine folks have done.

And in a move that I find to be both curious and frightening, more people, consumers and developers, are jumping on the "pay for our alpha" bandwagon.

I've got no concerns if small indy developers do it, but yeah, you know some major publisher is going to step up and pull this shit. EA, I'm looking at you...

Posted by TPRJones on Feb. 17 2012,09:11

EA is exactly who I had in mind, yeah.

But this is a little different in that there's no alpha to sell. There's not even a real pitch worked out. It's just "we'll make a game of this particular type, interested?" And for that they've got almost $2mil on tap and growing. That's pretty unique.

Posted by Leisher on Feb. 17 2012,10:29

True.

Maybe we should start a Kickstarter campaign to get Richard Garriott to give us another Ultima.

Posted by TPRJones on Mar. 13 2012,17:08

$3,335,265 from 87,138 backers

After time ran out, Tim gave a little speech about how when the big corporations tell you no - that there's no market for what you want to do - they don't get the last say anymore. They don't always get to choose what music you listen to or what shows you watch or what games you play. There's another way now.

It was nice.