@ltjohnnyrico: It would be great if they could. Seems like Raw Fury is trying to help here. Maybe Valve could offer for one's first game a pass or just $100, but follow on games the fee is in place. They could check and see how many of the first game sold?
@Mafon2: I'll admit that in writing what I did I was thinking of a team of 1-3 friends making a game. That's why I put my target at the <=$300 range. I imagine a small team making a game would have had to have the money to buy their PCs. I know that many tools nowadays can be had for free, or used against future earnings. So I thought a small amount would be doable.
But I admit I don't know of people doing this, they of course could explain better why they couldn't drum up $500. So I appreciate your view into the real world for me.
As others below are commenting on, if it's an "official" small company of developers, they should be able to get a loan even for $5000. Even if all are working from home and meeting at the local coffee shop. If they are incorporated they should be able to get a loan, or use a kickstarter sort of method to get a little money to pay the fee.
I like that Raw Fury is offering this help to the small developers. That is a great example of helping the little guys/gals.
$5000 is too much, but... $100-$300 should be doable. Also, maybe charge the lesser fee for their first game. But for later games, if the data shows they sold a solid amount, then maybe a higher fee. But again, keep it reasonable.
Honestly I just don't understand the reason for such a drastic change to an established race. Call them something else. Or provide (in the least) an explanation for this new look. Is this a different species of Klingon? But why did we never see them before?
Change for just change sake, usually comes across badly.
I'll watch the pilot free on CBS. But I won't pay for their access channel to see this.
@sellingthings: Believe me, I'm not defending WalMart. They are disgusting to me, that's one reason I shop at Costco. Though it's easy for me as I do have a choice where I live. And Costco treats their people better and makes more per sq ft than WalMart as I understand.
You are right, if their full time workers are on food stamps that's an issue. But that's why they are different than an engr making over $100K.
Most who go off and start their own place will have some experience under their belt. They don't need to use their own coin, much. They should use their time though and start putting something together. With that, get a publisher interested in what they propose. Nowadays I'd say go the Kickstarter route. That's part of the price of starting a new venture. The lean years at the start.
I worked in high tech. I wasn't some star getting super huge bonuses, but I didn't live high on hog either and did well. I was never hungry. If my car broke down I never worried about paying for the repair. I saved up for a house. Etc... I have more sympathy for the retail worker than those in my pay range.
Again, who defines how much of the wealth to share? Remember companies also need to bank money for the lean years.
@sellingthings: I see your point, but I think there is a difference between making minimum wage and over $100K in CA. And note, I live here and it's expensive, so it's not that much in the scheme of things.
I'm not against some profit sharing, like I said, employee stock options, or a profit sharing plan. But I'm against just ladling out cash because a business still needs to remain solvent and put the money back into the business. Part of my feelings are because game developers (like the greater entertainment industry) is a very hit/miss game. You can have a great hit, then two fails immediately after...
The employees should also treat where they work as a spring board to something better, (this wouldn't happen at Wal-Mart) and move out and make their own games in their own companies.
@sellingthings: Non-gaming tech companies will offer employee purchase plans of the stock, or a yearly profit sharing plan. Beyond that, I would say no. As others point out, creating a AAA game is a huge cost sink. Most that money then has to be sunk back into the company for the next few titles. Then balance this out with the games that don't become huge sellers. There is the cost of running servers for free online play. Or the start/stop creation of games. Many are canceled when it's realized they just aren't gelling. So X years down the drain.
If people want to make more, they can quit and start up their own companies and roll the die...
@hystavito: Lol. Oh wow, as I read your comment I first thought I'd accidentally wrote that. Ha. But hey, if you are in VR, we should never leave VR. We should have to do everything they had to do in that world.
Unfortunately I can't afford VR goggles right now. But I gotta say, if I every had a set, I'd want this game. Just to sit on the bridge of the Enterprise... I'd love it.
Louis' comments