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Just let this thread die. For heavens sake. For all that is good and unholy, just let it die.

I e-mailed PA asking what their opinion on this would be. I will probably get a reply filled with hatred and abuse, but you never know.

Sure, it may not benefit them as much as the developers. But it doesn't cost them either. In the long run, they're going to be seen as 'supporters of the arts', maybe.

And it could also work with sites like Mixnmojo, as you said, probably moreso even than PA.

I was organising the development schedule of Luna yesterday and, as I was arranging milestones, something struck me.

Who the hell cares?

I mean, I could set a milestone, and tell myself that I'm going to stick by it and that the team is going to stick by it. But really, what incentive is there to stick to it? The reason milestones work in the game industry is because the developer has to show the publisher that yes, they're working on the game and yes, everything is going to schedule. But unless you have a team of extremely dedicated people with a lot of time on their hands, that's not going to work in the amateur game industry, where we have nobody to look up to and fear.

Which is where I got an idea. I grabbed a pen and paper. Then, I went to get something to eat. Then I left the pen and paper and started typing instead.


What if Amateur Adventure Developers could get publishers? It could give Amateur Developers a whole new incentive. It would help publicize amateur games, and-- okay, who are the publishers?

Let's take, for example, Penny Arcade. A famous gaming and comic website. Now, let's take the FoY development team for example. Screen 7 ask Penny Arcade to publicize their game. Now, for PA to agree to this, they're going to want to see that a) the game is going to be good b) their audiences are going to like it and c) they're not going to be advertising a title that's going to go dead after a few weeks of empty promises. If artists or something are needed for the project, PA can advertise for them. If Mark wants fully animated cutscenes, PA can advertise for animators to volunteer for the project. PA basically supports the project (obviously I don't mean FUNDS the project). In exchange, Mark must make sure the FoY team stick to the set milestones and that the game is released on schedule, and also FoY is 'published' by PA, in that PA get to claim a certain amount of credit by sticking their logo somewhere in the game.

Okay, so, long and complicated description there. But basically, Amateur Publishing could benefit both sides of the agreement (admittedly, mostly the developer).

It could benefit the developer by;

1. Giving the Project Leader and the Team an incentive to work consistently.
2. Helping to find animators/programmers/other resources.
3. Helping to release the game to a wider audience
4. Promoting adventure games, and amateur adventure games.

It could benefit the publisher by;

1. Making them known as a site that's 'supporting the arts'
2. Being able to stick their logo in the games, and getting their name known as publishers of certain games.
3. Probably other stuff I haven't thought of?

It was just a wild, and probably stupid idea I had, that I'm going to regret telling you about later.

But, it's worth thinking about. Especially for people like the FoY team, or the Rise of the Hidden Sun team, who are aiming for more professional-looking finished games.

Comments?

Tim Schafer?

Yeah, what is up with you, Mr Green Man? Not like, 'what is up', but like 'what is up' with a real nasty edge to it. Like, "What is UP with YOU, Mr GREEN MAN?"

I thought Squalman was a fundy christian. Maybe I don't know him very well. Or, at all, even.

although this post seems random

within it lies truth.
everything will become clear soon.
but until then, rest assured everything will be ok.
surely you trust me?
i would trust you, in the same situation.
tempting as it is to ask, i must ask you to refrain.
eventually the answer will come.

What the hell is TiVo???

I suspect Sean Clarke may have difficulty getting another job quick. His name would be known in the industry, and they're going to know he was one of the guys that Lucasarts laid off, and they're going to ask themselves why.

Why, if they're doing this to make themselves more economical, are they firing experienced staff that have been there since the younger days? I'm going to try to answer my own question.

Perhaps the reason they're letting go more experienced staff is because they pay them more. Why keep Sean Clarke, when you can keep a young computer wizkid fresh from college for half the wages and twice the hours?

I don't like the direction Lucasarts is heading in. If Tim Schafer hadn't quit to start Double Fine, he'd probably be among those laid off on Friday, since I doubt he would have wanted to work on Star Wars like all the good little Lucasarts employees of today.

Relying on Star Wars is a good business idea in the short term. In the long run it's only going to damage their name. It's not impossible to release an original and fun game that sells; look at the independent studios that have sprung up over the years to produce games like Halo, Crimson Skies, etc. Lucasarts are taking the lazy route, and in an unforgiving game industry they're soon going to be screwed over by their own laziness.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/04/23/news_6094471.html

Among those 'let go' was Sean Clarke.

With Cheese, Please!

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!

Oh come on. The guy takes drugs in the first scene, and then Ian takes drugs, and it's all one big drug taking thing

Who is he? What happened to him?

Labyrinth.

Sorry, you have to admit, that movie was lame. Jennifer Connelly was a terrible actress in it, and David Bowie wasn't too hot either. The special effects may have been awesome then, but they're sad now.

But this is still one of my favourite movies of all time.

So awesome.

Insurance Ads. Solicitors Ads. Debt Management Ads. With all their fake testimonals from slobbish, scummy, bottom-of-the-barrel people, and their annoying, cheap editing.

I hate them.

EDIT: And Mobile Phone Ring Tone Ads. ASDASDf. Again, annoying accents and cheap editing as well as fucked up testimonials from people you wouldn't want to even be associated with, as well as the entire ad being orchestrated by an overused Nokia ringtone.

Aliaaa!

My friend, and also my equal and even perhaps, my rival!

Welcome to the AGS forums!

My H button is broken and sporadically speaks it's own mind, but if you ignore that and try to focus on the excellence that his promihnent everywhere hehlse, then it hsould hbeh hokay!HH!h

Does that really surprise you, CJ?

Make babies with him?

I'm so jealous of him, I want to run over him in a monster truck, over and over and over again, and then a real truck, filled with molten led.

But first, I want to hear this thingy he had with Tim.

You're just jealous I met Ray D'arcy. Whoever he is.

[ME TOO!!!!]

Oh. My. GOD!!!

ME TOO!!!![/b]

New Forest! Ponies! Hooves!

We should do lunch some time.