I need a team

#1 Richard,

IF I may be so bold, you're going about this all wrong.

First and foremost, you should probably get a working prototype together, even at a very basic level. THEN begin recruiting... especially when working from the "work now get paid when the game gets finished" line of thinking.

Fact is, most dev's have been involved with projects like that that either a) didn't generate much revenue, b) never got finished/ never got published, or c) never even really got started. =\

The first step in overcoming the "jade factor" (as I like to call it) is to prove that you know enough about game development (not to be confused with design) to see a product through to fruition.

Providing a basic prototype lets would-be interested parties see that 1) you know something about what you're doing and this won't be a "build me a game now and I'll pay you later" scenario and 2) allows them to see whether or not your project is something that they'd be interested in or think might be worth the investment of time and effort.

Even then, don't hold your breath.

Quote:
I am looking to get a team together that can produce a game at the very least on par with games being released by major houses

Do you understand exactly how loaded that simple statement is?

What it says to a lot of people is "I want professional quality material and have no means to pay for it, nor generate it myself".

In all honesty, you'll be waiting a long time.

A better route is to simply stash cash and find contractors to perform certain functions for an agreed upon price - 1/2 up front, 1/2 when the job is done.

You'll find people much more willing to talk serious business when you can talk real payment from square one.

~Just my 2 (thousand) cents. =\

#2 Listen to Kirby. I fear I will run into the same problem your hitting or are going to. I am working on a free game and have some people helping me out. I do have a working game but a TON is missing. I still have not gone looking for the team I need. I don't want to distroy the chance I have at creating something great.

#3 I thank you for your advice. you are right I went all about this in the wrong way. What I started doing today was searching for concept artist and contract writers to do some work for the game. Then I ran into a link for this site. Look around for awhile and realized that this forum is wrought with people programming games and some are just trying to get titles under their belt or make games they want to play. So I threw out a call with out thinking it would work and as such it doomed itself from the start.

For those who are have read or will read this thread, I am very serious about making these games. I have recently graduated with my Master's in Business Admin - management and my dual Master's in Marketing. I went to school so that my partner and I could create the company that would develop the games we want to play. Once I move to TN where he already owns a house (later this year). We will do the marketing research need to help us to develop our Business and Marketing plans. With those documents we will be looking to garner the capital needed to fund the creation of our first game.

I apologize for the half-assed posting that began this thread. It is not a very good reflection of my professionalism nor my commitment to the project. Our company would be willing to work with a team to develop and release a game under contract that payment would be made upon release of the game, minus and investment funds we gain from the creation of the Business and Marketing plans. The difference between starting now and waiting till the plans are ready is the time of release for the game.

Anyone interested in discussing this can send emails to me. I have never created a game before so the company is eager to get someone who is experienced at leading a project. We are two years into conceptionalization, meaning we have a firm idea of the world, the characters, and the mechanics. We have recently begun the process of putting them information into excel looking at how the information comes together. We are still (as far as we can tell) a year out or so from beginning the programming.

Richard Bricker

#4 As "someone who is experienced at leading a project" let me wish you luck.

I hate to sound cynical because I sincerely wish you all the luck in the world, but dozens, maybe even hundreds of people are "two years into conceptionalization, meaning we have a firm idea of the world, the characters, and the mechanics", but without programmers, artists, or musicians. Basically, all you have is an idea for a game that you think is cool. I know this sounds harsh and I apologize for that, but I ran a team for seven years working on a project and even though we had programmers come and go, without a steady paycheck you won't keep people. We had hundreds of pages of text, concept and development, original music, original artwork, and a working 3D engine but no money, and so we couldn't keep people. I spent more time recruiting and training people than I did programming, composing, or creating.

I'm not trying to criticize you or put a damper on your enthusiasm. I hope you do find a team and put out great games for me to play, but you may consider trying to find a team that's already together and ask to join them as their Marketing Director. Go with your strengths, and success will follow.

Just about everyone on here has ideas for a game, or a game in progress. Ask around and I'm sure there are teams that would love to have your help.

Good luck to you, and let us know how things work out.

#5 Thanks for the advice. Like I said in my previous post, I created this thread spontaneously after seeing what these forums were for. I kind of let the idea of GG go to my head. I know there are hundreds of games being envisioned by thousands of people who do not have the money to make them become a reality. Our comapny is no different. The plan we have is to finish the concepts and do the market research so that a solid business plan and marketing plan can be generated. We will then go looking for capital. We actually have six ideas for companies that we will be doing the marketing research for. We will begin with the company that the marketing research shows to be the best for return on investment.

eventually when we have enough money we will start programming games. This is the industry we truly want to be in, we know it is expensive so we are realistic enough to know that we will have to start elsewhere if we are unable to get enough from investors for the computer game company.

As for the offering the marketing education to others here. I am more than will to help others. They can send emails to the same web address (brickersubmissions@yahoo.com) but put marketing project in the subject line. I know how to put together business plans, mission statements, and marketing plans. I can create a SWOT or PEST analysis for a company as well as do industry research. I would be willing to look into the publishing industry and do research for those looking to try publishing their own games. With my MBA I can take a look at a company idea and give consultation as to areas that might need improvement or advice as to what might be missing for a company. Remember though there maybe a number of people that have run their own company that people can ask many of the same questions.