The sale on sites like Steam
by Manuel M · in General Discussion · 04/28/2010 (4:21 pm) · 9 replies
Hello.
I'm develop a commercial videogame and I would like to sell it in Steam, Big Fish Games, etc., but, I don't have a business and I'm not a self-employed, I'm student. I wish the people who have already sold on these websites inform me about some things, such as: Can I sell my videogame in these portals? (given all the above)
I have sent a Email to Big Fish Games for to explain me and tell me if I can or not, but, I will like that your explain me your experiences in this types of things, I'm very noob in this.
I'm develop a commercial videogame and I would like to sell it in Steam, Big Fish Games, etc., but, I don't have a business and I'm not a self-employed, I'm student. I wish the people who have already sold on these websites inform me about some things, such as: Can I sell my videogame in these portals? (given all the above)
I have sent a Email to Big Fish Games for to explain me and tell me if I can or not, but, I will like that your explain me your experiences in this types of things, I'm very noob in this.
#2
Well..., I guess that's a yes, thanks!
04/29/2010 (11:14 am)
Yes, I know, so no problem, but my doubt is whether I can sell my game in my situation? the one I mentioned above.Well..., I guess that's a yes, thanks!
#3
The only thing is to make certain you legally own the licenses to the software you use (ie a full copy not an educational version) and that you did the work at your home instead of at school or work (most schools and workplaces legally own anything you make using their hardware / software).
Other than making sure you own the software / IP it doesn't matter to the portal.
04/29/2010 (1:49 pm)
Most portals won't really care whether your a one man team in a garage or a full fledged commercial studio.The only thing is to make certain you legally own the licenses to the software you use (ie a full copy not an educational version) and that you did the work at your home instead of at school or work (most schools and workplaces legally own anything you make using their hardware / software).
Other than making sure you own the software / IP it doesn't matter to the portal.
#4
Yes, I development in my house. All the software that I use have the legal license (for example Torque 3D, I have binary version).
Again, thank you very much! You gave me a joy!
04/29/2010 (2:09 pm)
Ah, oks, thank you very much fot the information!Yes, I development in my house. All the software that I use have the legal license (for example Torque 3D, I have binary version).
Again, thank you very much! You gave me a joy!
#5
Thats like ford making 250,000 cars then saying, well, wtf do we do with them now? :p
I'm with manuel in that respect, i'd love to hear how others have gotten on with distributors, for game that are 2d, 3d, casual an otherwise, theres at least one game published on steam and if you beleve the marketing hype theres hundreds of torque games on every portal the world have ever known...
post mortems and/or feedback on dealing with distributors is very rare, and and organising any comms with these groups is something that takes up an inordinate amount of time for the indie developer. I'd love to know what portals make you jump through what hoops to even get published, how much of your hard earned cash do you have to give up to publish on these portals.
04/29/2010 (3:31 pm)
I'm sorry but surely finishishing your game before figuring out how you are going to distribute it its backwards?Thats like ford making 250,000 cars then saying, well, wtf do we do with them now? :p
I'm with manuel in that respect, i'd love to hear how others have gotten on with distributors, for game that are 2d, 3d, casual an otherwise, theres at least one game published on steam and if you beleve the marketing hype theres hundreds of torque games on every portal the world have ever known...
post mortems and/or feedback on dealing with distributors is very rare, and and organising any comms with these groups is something that takes up an inordinate amount of time for the indie developer. I'd love to know what portals make you jump through what hoops to even get published, how much of your hard earned cash do you have to give up to publish on these portals.
#6
Here more information of how submit your games in Big Fish Games www.bigfishgames.com/company/game-developer.html#publish_game
In Steam, I guess it is equals, but I am going to send you an email as I did with Big Fish Games and then I will comment.
04/29/2010 (4:28 pm)
It appears, Big Fish Games yes accepts all kinds of developers, with business or individual development.Here more information of how submit your games in Big Fish Games www.bigfishgames.com/company/game-developer.html#publish_game
In Steam, I guess it is equals, but I am going to send you an email as I did with Big Fish Games and then I will comment.
#7
But it's great to hear these options are out there for small developers. Good luck, Manuel!
04/29/2010 (5:10 pm)
Quote:I'm sorry but surely finishing your game before figuring out how you are going to distribute it is backwards?Maybe backwards in terms of a consumerist profit-driven society... I personally like to believe the game is more important than selling the game ;P.
But it's great to hear these options are out there for small developers. Good luck, Manuel!
#8
Actually that's what the global motor industry actually does ... they have tens of thousands of new cars sitting outside (in the UK's rust inducing climate) with no one wanting to buy them. That's why they're all going down the tubes ...
[/end of mildly interesting but somewhat unrelated fact]
Whilst I've not personally approached Steam or anyone else ... I'd expect that they'd rather want to talk business about a finished product rather than a pipe-dream.
Steam does have an indy section, as I'd expect most DDL portals do.
04/29/2010 (7:25 pm)
Quote:
Thats like ford making 250,000 cars then saying, well, wtf do we do with them now? :p
Actually that's what the global motor industry actually does ... they have tens of thousands of new cars sitting outside (in the UK's rust inducing climate) with no one wanting to buy them. That's why they're all going down the tubes ...
[/end of mildly interesting but somewhat unrelated fact]
Whilst I've not personally approached Steam or anyone else ... I'd expect that they'd rather want to talk business about a finished product rather than a pipe-dream.
Steam does have an indy section, as I'd expect most DDL portals do.
#9
Well - maybe. If we were talking about a multiple million dollar AAA game you would have a point and certainly there is a lot of research and work done to ensure those games are marketable.
However, no one is going to even talk to an indie without a finished / or semi-finished project unless they have a good track record.
You should really read the postmortem of Castle Crashers (I read in Game Developer Magazine don't know if its online somewhere). They were a team of professional game developers with a list of games to their names and still had a little trouble finding a publisher even after they had the game running on multiple consoles.
04/29/2010 (9:13 pm)
Quote:I'm sorry but surely finishing your game before figuring out how you are going to distribute it is backwards?
Well - maybe. If we were talking about a multiple million dollar AAA game you would have a point and certainly there is a lot of research and work done to ensure those games are marketable.
However, no one is going to even talk to an indie without a finished / or semi-finished project unless they have a good track record.
You should really read the postmortem of Castle Crashers (I read in Game Developer Magazine don't know if its online somewhere). They were a team of professional game developers with a list of games to their names and still had a little trouble finding a publisher even after they had the game running on multiple consoles.
Torque Owner Ben Versaw
But first you have to finish your game.