Comments on: The Nexon Initiative and other people’s money http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/2010/03/09/the-nexon-initiative-and-other-peoples-money/ The inside story of an indie MMO by Jason McIntosh. Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:45:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: jason http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/2010/03/09/the-nexon-initiative-and-other-peoples-money/comment-page-1/#comment-719 jason Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:24:39 +0000 http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/?p=247#comment-719 Albey, It's not trivial to launch and maintain a successful IP. I'd argue that you would do better to hang on to it and expand it for the long term rather than trade it for short term gains (which I've got experience doing). So, it's my priority to keep all my game worlds under my own control since there are currently ways to do that and still be financially successful as a small/indie company. Nicholas, Lila Dreams was part of Kongregate's now defunct Premium Games Program, which was different from the normal portal publishing that they do. So, the terms were not the same since there would have been virtual goods sales involved in addition to ad revenue. But, mostly, I was speaking about the publisher-developer agreement that Kongregate offered: keeping IP, total creative freedom, no obligations after one year beyond release regarding where the game is hosted, etc. I've dealt with a few publishers, and I never came across terms as generous as what Kongregate offered. Usually, they want your firstborn and 85% of the profits plus you have to pay back the advance on top of that. I usually could negotiate a sliding royalty scale based on units sold, but even that never felt fair to me. Kongregate's terms (for the Premium Games Program, since that's what I'm familiar with) were very indie/small company friendly. Thanks for the comments, and many apologies I didn't see these until now! I have to figure out why WordPress stopped emailing me when replies are posted. Albey,

It’s not trivial to launch and maintain a successful IP. I’d argue that you would do better to hang on to it and expand it for the long term rather than trade it for short term gains (which I’ve got experience doing). So, it’s my priority to keep all my game worlds under my own control since there are currently ways to do that and still be financially successful as a small/indie company.

Nicholas,

Lila Dreams was part of Kongregate’s now defunct Premium Games Program, which was different from the normal portal publishing that they do. So, the terms were not the same since there would have been virtual goods sales involved in addition to ad revenue.

But, mostly, I was speaking about the publisher-developer agreement that Kongregate offered: keeping IP, total creative freedom, no obligations after one year beyond release regarding where the game is hosted, etc.

I’ve dealt with a few publishers, and I never came across terms as generous as what Kongregate offered. Usually, they want your firstborn and 85% of the profits plus you have to pay back the advance on top of that. I usually could negotiate a sliding royalty scale based on units sold, but even that never felt fair to me. Kongregate’s terms (for the Premium Games Program, since that’s what I’m familiar with) were very indie/small company friendly.

Thanks for the comments, and many apologies I didn’t see these until now! I have to figure out why WordPress stopped emailing me when replies are posted.

]]> By: Felipe Budinich http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/2010/03/09/the-nexon-initiative-and-other-peoples-money/comment-page-1/#comment-718 Felipe Budinich Mon, 24 May 2010 01:22:04 +0000 http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/?p=247#comment-718 kickstarter.com is another alternative to raise funds. Just set up milestones and prices for them, and get people motivated to donate. It could work. kickstarter.com is another alternative to raise funds.

Just set up milestones and prices for them, and get people motivated to donate.

It could work.

]]> By: Nicholas http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/2010/03/09/the-nexon-initiative-and-other-peoples-money/comment-page-1/#comment-717 Nicholas Sun, 23 May 2010 09:07:38 +0000 http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/?p=247#comment-717 Jason, You were pretty positive about Kongregate, but I've mainly seen that it takes at best 50% of the revenue and at worst 75%. Am I missing a better deal that they offer? Any answers would be gratefully appreciated. Nicholas Jason,

You were pretty positive about Kongregate, but I’ve mainly seen that it takes at best 50% of the revenue and at worst 75%. Am I missing a better deal that they offer?

Any answers would be gratefully appreciated.

Nicholas

]]> By: AlbeyAmakiir http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/2010/03/09/the-nexon-initiative-and-other-peoples-money/comment-page-1/#comment-716 AlbeyAmakiir Sat, 22 May 2010 13:55:29 +0000 http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/?p=247#comment-716 I tend to think people overvalue franchises. You can get quite attached to a franchise, and creating additions to a franchise frees up some thinking and gives an immediate focus, allowing for better quality. But ideas are far more common than people seem to think, and if you lose IP rights to something, you can just make something else. Also, growing too attached to your work can sometimes be as bad as not caring enough (though not immediately). I tend to think people overvalue franchises. You can get quite attached to a franchise, and creating additions to a franchise frees up some thinking and gives an immediate focus, allowing for better quality. But ideas are far more common than people seem to think, and if you lose IP rights to something, you can just make something else. Also, growing too attached to your work can sometimes be as bad as not caring enough (though not immediately).

]]> By: Porter http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/2010/03/09/the-nexon-initiative-and-other-peoples-money/comment-page-1/#comment-711 Porter Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:03:23 +0000 http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/?p=247#comment-711 Very interesting, I had no idea Nexon was doing anything of the sort. I think it's definitely worth looking into, but be very skeptical until you're positive of how things are going down. Very interesting, I had no idea Nexon was doing anything of the sort. I think it’s definitely worth looking into, but be very skeptical until you’re positive of how things are going down.

]]> By: jason http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/2010/03/09/the-nexon-initiative-and-other-peoples-money/comment-page-1/#comment-708 jason Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:29:56 +0000 http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/?p=247#comment-708 (Sorry about the slow reply. For some reason, I'm not getting email notifications when someone comments.) I appreciate your thoughts and support! I will consider everything said. (Sorry about the slow reply. For some reason, I’m not getting email notifications when someone comments.)

I appreciate your thoughts and support! I will consider everything said.

]]> By: Irbis http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/2010/03/09/the-nexon-initiative-and-other-peoples-money/comment-page-1/#comment-707 Irbis Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:32:31 +0000 http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/?p=247#comment-707 no, it will not. from all possible MMO developing/publishing companies Nexon is the worst one you can tink of. been playing their games for over 7 years now so i really can tell you a thing or two about how they handle their projects and their players. it is one of the most money-hungry companies. their user support is non-existant and they trash their users like a ragdolls. long story short - i am tracking your project and yourself for like 2 years now. but i will instantly stop at the very same moment ill hear that Nexon hired you. aside from all that - good luck sunshine :) you might not know but theres a whole bunch of people waiting for your "creation". cheers! no, it will not. from all possible MMO developing/publishing companies Nexon is the worst one you can tink of. been playing their games for over 7 years now so i really can tell you a thing or two about how they handle their projects and their players. it is one of the most money-hungry companies. their user support is non-existant and they trash their users like a ragdolls.

long story short – i am tracking your project and yourself for like 2 years now. but i will instantly stop at the very same moment ill hear that Nexon hired you.

aside from all that – good luck sunshine :) you might not know but theres a whole bunch of people waiting for your “creation”.

cheers!

]]> By: Sunny Kalsi http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/2010/03/09/the-nexon-initiative-and-other-peoples-money/comment-page-1/#comment-706 Sunny Kalsi Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:49:17 +0000 http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/?p=247#comment-706 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjDhg9H-IpA Mike and Jerry from Penny Arcade talk about their IP in their fairly long talk. Ed Catmull talks about Pixar and the value of ideas vs the value of people in his talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2h2lvhzMDc Some food for thought; it might help you make a decision. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjDhg9H-IpA Mike and Jerry from Penny Arcade talk about their IP in their fairly long talk.

Ed Catmull talks about Pixar and the value of ideas vs the value of people in his talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2h2lvhzMDc

Some food for thought; it might help you make a decision.

]]> By: joshlee http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/2010/03/09/the-nexon-initiative-and-other-peoples-money/comment-page-1/#comment-705 joshlee Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:31:46 +0000 http://liladreams.creatrixgames.com/blog/?p=247#comment-705 I didn't get a chance to see their GDC talk today, but the new Indie Fund might be more in line with what you're talking about. I didn’t get a chance to see their GDC talk today, but the new Indie Fund might be more in line with what you’re talking about.

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