Re: Cybergames plans for ME.....

[Mike Fortey <forteymj@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> 
> here's my thought, why the *$%&^$ heck would you buy
> the license to a game,
> or anything for that matter, just to file it away
> because it won't make
> money.  Shouldn't that kind of decsion have been
> made BEFORE buying it?


Firstly, it's probably not their business to discuss
corperate stategy in a public forum, so we're not
'owed' and answer, really.
Secondly, nobody's perfect and there's a lot we do not
know. The IP may have been bought with the intention
to print and either it was later discovered that it
wasn't a good plan, or other more profitable products
came along. E-books looked a good idea a while ago and
an investment could have been made on the back of
that.

Also, buying IP gives rights to 'nick' good bits of
the system for use in other systems. More importantly
though, the deal would have included publishing rights
on the artwork. Not all the artwork is great, but if
you're printing a new game or product, there is a good
value of artwork in that book that can be re-used.

> Am I frustrated....yes!  Will I stop trying to play
> ME?  no.  I feel it is
> a great game, and game system and sometime, someone
> will realize that and
> MAKE it make money.

I won't stop playing it, but it's not going to make
anyone much money.

A cheap-ass published book of that size with clour
cover, decent paper and no internal colours will cost
getting on for $15 a copy these days. Then you have
the rather specialist templates to include. You have
to get at least 1000 printed at once (which need
somewehre to be kept) and you then need to manage to
sell them to people.
Any indy game that shifts 1000 copies to shops is
doing bloody well! So you sell 1000 copies and make
maybe $10,000 over publishing costs (if you're lucky).
For that price you've had to put in 3-6 months or so
of work and time EXCLUDING doing any re-writing to
sell a system that a lot of people who liked it,
already have.

In short - there is no cash to be made at the 'bottom
end' of the games market. It's a labour of love and
most who take part in that become dis-illusioned. 

Mike

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