development Has this been done before?

[Meandia]

So, I am a game developer and my team's financial status is not really so good.

 

My idea was to make a subscription based forum, that for example you pay 10$ and get a lifetime subscription.

At this forum, we will have polls etc letting the forum members choose for example how they want the map to be like, what factions should models be on etc.

I have made a beta version of what I want to do under (<Link Removed>) but I still don't know if you guys find it interesting.

 

As you can understand I think this would be a lot cooler than just launching an IndieGoGo campaign and giving out t-shirts in reward tiers with no point.

 

 

Looking forward to your replies down below!

Edited August 7, 2018 by W-L
Link Removed

[Velcade]

Sounds like a desperate cash grab.

[Meandia]

1 minute ago, Velcade said:

Sounds like a desperate cash grab.

Isn't it more interesting than a shitty indiegogo or kickstarter campaign?

[PlayStation 2]

Rather than a wholly subscription-based forum, I'd do donator tiers that you could do, kinda like how this forum has them.

[QuantumBit]

I think it seems better than the indegogo idea, I think its a great idea

[NMS]

$10?

I'm sorry, but are you insane? Because this better be a AAA title game to, in some way, justify this cost.

[Meandia]

Just now, NMS said:

$10?

I'm sorry, but are you insane? Because this better be a AAA title game to, in some way, justify this cost.

well don't get shocked, I was thinking more about 5 for lifetime subscription

[Tyler Moore]

Very desperate indeed.

There are many developments taking place that make whatever it is you're working on seem like a 2 week project to their several year journey. Just speaking reality but come up with a product first, show us it and if we like it maybe find ways with micro transactions. 

[Meandia]

1 minute ago, Tyler Moore said:

Very desperate indeed.

There are many developments taking place that make whatever it is you're working on seem like a 2 week project to their several year journey. Just speaking reality but come up with a product first, show us it and if we like it maybe find ways with micro transactions. 

Been already working on this game for 6 months, about one and a half year remaining and only thing holding me back is hardware such as servers ect

[orbitalbuzzsaw]

I'm sure you're just trying to keep your studio afloat but it'll seem really shady

[BluJay614]

Okay, here's my two cents. It sounds interesting, but Patrion seems a much better way to do it. Set up tiers where you can give back to different tiers. Allow the people who are donating to be able to give feedback on updates as the project moves along, along with the possibility of getting early/beta releases for those participating, and even merch for those in higher tiers. Allow those who are donating to be a part of the experience, and even give them a spot in the credits, thanking them for their support. Also, having a steady stream of funds is better then just getting some once, not to mention people can join and leave at any given time. It's a way for people to also vote with their wallets as to how things are progressing, and the content you are creating.

[Meandia]

1 minute ago, BluJay614 said:

Okay, here's my two cents. It sounds interesting, but Patrion seems a much better way to do it. Set up tiers where you can give back to different tiers. Allow the people who are donating to be able to give feedback on updates as the project moves along, along with the possibility of getting early/beta releases for those participating, and even merch for those in higher tiers. Allow those who are donating to be a part of the experience, and even give them a spot in the credits, thanking them for their support. Also, having a steady stream of funds is better then just getting some once, not to mention people can join and leave at any given time. It's a way for people to also vote with their wallets as to how things are progressing, and the content you are creating.

i was thinking of doing this, maby I could setup a FORUM-PATREON-DISCORD interconnected triangle with users able to go around these platforms helping with studio decisions. Thanks for reminding me about patreon.

[YedZed]

Yeah, I don't know much, it sounds like the Patreon angle works out best. 

[BluJay614]

2 minutes ago, Meandia said:

i was thinking of doing this, maby I could setup a FORUM-PATREON-DISCORD interconnected triangle with users able to go around these platforms helping with studio decisions. Thanks for reminding me about patreon.

No problem. Best way to do this is to get those who are funding you involved, and have some return of investment. The more they feel a part of it, the more they want it to do better, and the more proud they will be when it's a success. The trickier part is enticing people to join.

[Meandia]

Just now, BluJay614 said:

No problem. Best way to do this is to get those who are funding you involved, and have some return of investment. The more they feel a part of it, the more they want it to do better, and the more proud they will be when it's a success. The trickier part is enticing people to join.

problem is i have no community yet, ive been working 6 months behind the scenes. that is why I'm looking to do something with funding ect , since i can gain a follower base

[Guest]

I personally wouldn’t buy that but you never know. People buy a lot of stupid things. 

Not to say yours is stupid but people have made websites & sold space on the website as advertising space. 

 

You say you have no community, so your forum could end up dying quickly even if people do pay. 

 

Most teams make a discord server for a community. Patreon and paypal donations do help. You could also seek a publisher but MAKE SURE they offer financial support. Many just want the profit of your game, steal 10~ percent & just “we can get your game on the amazon store.” If they say that you’re perfectly okay to tell them to righteously piss off. 

11 bit studios does monetary & development assistance. They created this war of mine. I believe they published beat cop. I looked into their services & they’re always looking to expand. Their application process is pretty simple & in at least polish & English at your choice. 

[Meandia]

1 minute ago, fpo said:

I personally wouldn’t buy that but you never know. People buy a lot of stupid things. 

Not to say yours is stupid but people have made websites & sold space on the website as advertising space. 

 

You say you have no community, so your forum could end up dying quickly even if people do pay. 

 

Most teams make a discord server for a community. Patreon and paypal donations do help. You could also seek a publisher but MAKE SURE they offer financial support. Many just want the profit of your game, steal 10~ percent & just “we can get your game on the amazon store.” If they say that you’re perfectly okay to tell them to righteously piss off. 

11 bit studios does monetary & development assistance. They created this war of mine. I believe they published beat cop. I looked into their services & they’re always looking to expand. Their application process is pretty simple & in at least polish & English at your choice. 

I have friends working in publishing companies willing to drop loads of money on it. My problem is that they ask for equity, and that is what I don't want to give out, equity.

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, Meandia said:

I have friends working in publishing companies willing to drop loads of money on it. My problem is that they ask for equity, and that is what I don't want to give out, equity.

You don’t have anything right now. 

Also you’ll make projects in the future. Once you have money, you can just make a new IP. No one trademarked “FPS.” I was working on projects where I was like “ahh! I can’t tell anyone my idea,.. they might steal it.” No one wants your idea as they have their own. I’m publicly posting my process in creating an AI in the programming section. 

 

If you remember call of duty, they had that whole future vibe with advanced movement & whatnot. 

Then comes along respawn entertainment, made of mostly Call of duty developers & they made their own FPS with advanced movement. 

It takes 5 seconds to come up with a setting. Your company is no offense worthless now & you can just as easily register a new one. 

 

Id say go with the publisher that gives you the best deal, and then if you don’t like what they do, you can quit your job & make a new company. 

 

Edit:

what about all your code & models? Well you made them once. Next time you’ll make them better. 

[Meandia]

2 minutes ago, fpo said:

You don’t have anything right now. 

Also you’ll make projects in the future. Once you have money, you can just make a new IP. No one trademarked “FPS.” I was working on projects where I was like “ahh! I can’t tell anyone my idea,.. they might steal it.” No one wants your idea as they have their own. I’m publicly posting my process in creating an AI in the programming section. 

 

If you remember call of duty, they had that whole future vibe with advanced movement & whatnot. 

Then comes along respawn entertainment, made of mostly Call of duty developers & they made their own FPS with advanced movement. 

It takes 5 seconds to come up with a setting. Your company is no offense worthless now & you can just as easily register a new one. 

 

Id say go with the publisher that gives you the best deal, and then if you don’t like what they do, you can quit your job & make a new company. 

 

Edit:

what about all your code & models? Well you made them once. Next time you’ll make them better. 

can't argue it is not true , still im not making a new FPS that is just as any other ever made before. It has so many features no other milsim ever implimented, only publisher/dev im talking with at the moment is bohemia interactive.

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, Meandia said:

can't argue it is not true , still im not making a new FPS that is just as any other ever made before. It has so many features no other milsim ever implimented, only publisher/dev im talking with at the moment is bohemia interactive.

Bite the bullet. Bohemia is a European company. You’re set if you strike a deal with them. The DayZ guys are still doing well even if no one plays their game. 

 

I’d say you’re stretching far as games like squad, operation flashpoint & arma and mods for arma do quite a lot. 

[DimasRMDO]

Umm, you can always have a bank overdraft if you really need that short term boost of cash.

Paying $10 for forum subscription is too much in my opinion.

[Peskanova]

Im a videogames programmer!  are you making  a fps? , which engine? (just curiosity ue4? unity? ) 

 

Well from what I know the best way to refund is to go to startup meetings in your country (there are a ton nowadays) those meetings try to introduce young entrepeneurs to investors... 

Look for startup's meetings in your country, or anything suporting young enterprises (I've got a friend that made first windows xp port to psp ,2 years working on that funded) .

 

There are forums with subscription but it has to be good s**t you know , like www.hacked.com but helping you to improve your game and masking on "you subs drive the game" its not fair, If you had your game finished maybe like poe you can throw suporter packs with forum skins private chats and so  on... but with a full working game and with a huge player base, (to give the feeling of if I pay my voice will be heard above anothers who dont pay)

[Jtalk4456]

21 hours ago, Meandia said:

problem is i have no community yet, ive been working 6 months behind the scenes. that is why I'm looking to do something with funding ect , since i can gain a follower base

the problem here being that whatever you start up, wherever you do it, lack of fan base is going to stifle the platform working for you. I realize you're trying to develop a game and money is important, but most people aren't going to give $10 or even $5 just to pay to do some of your work for you. while that's not your intended reaason, that's how people will feel, similar to how a lot of gamers feel about beta and early release versions costing as much as the full version, meaning you're paying for the privilege to find bugs in someone's game. This will feel like i'm paying you to have a chance to tell you what i want a game to be. Also even given that, you will have a lot of people want this, but a lot of people want that. Ultimately you should focus on making the game as good as possible by your own ideas. When you have something playable, but not polished, toss it out free to a few gamers in return for feedback. Get the game hyped up that way, get some base going. I don't have a solution for your server needs, all I can say is without a base already liking your stuff, a patreon won't help much

[CatTNT]

22 hours ago, Meandia said:

So, I am a game developer and my team's financial status is not really so good.

 

My idea was to make a subscription based forum, that for example you pay 10$ and get a lifetime subscription.

At this forum, we will have polls etc letting the forum members choose for example how they want the map to be like, what factions should models be on etc.

I have made a beta version of what I want to do under (<Link Removed>) but I still don't know if you guys find it interesting.

 

As you can understand I think this would be a lot cooler than just launching an IndieGoGo campaign and giving out t-shirts in reward tiers with no point.

 

 

Looking forward to your replies down below!

A game’s forums represent a small but vocal negative minority. You won’t get good feedback from there

[Blasteque]

On 8/7/2018 at 6:34 AM, Meandia said:

i was thinking of doing this, maby I could setup a FORUM-PATREON-DISCORD interconnected triangle with users able to go around these platforms helping with studio decisions. Thanks for reminding me about patreon.

As @BluJay614 stated, Patreon gives you funding, not just capital.  A lifetime subscription is convenient for the user, but it's not on-going income for you.  (Patreon is also more likely to keep people engaged; a one-time purchase can be easily forgotten, especially if something is delayed.)