Garage Games Featured Partners?
by Aaron E · in General Discussion · 03/17/2006 (9:50 am) · 11 replies
Hello all,
I guess this question is mainly aimed at the Garage Games website and marketing guys, but it's open to others as well. Basically, it involves the following page on the GG site . . .
www.garagegames.com/company/
From a business standpoint, I'm wondering what is involved in getting strategic or featured partnership arrangements with other companies, like nVidia, Ati, etc.? I suppose I can approach these companies in my usual clueless fashion, but would rather have a bit of background info before contacting any of them. I'm curious how the process is initiated, what the stages of communication are, and how things are finalized.
Since my target audience isn't made up of gamer elites, these technology partner links should help provide my customers with some hardware and software resources to get the most out of my apps. Video cards, driver downloads, recommended laptops, and other related information could be a big help to my traditionally 'tech-challenged' customers.
If I'm approaching this the wrong way, or in the wrong venue, let me know.
Thanks
I guess this question is mainly aimed at the Garage Games website and marketing guys, but it's open to others as well. Basically, it involves the following page on the GG site . . .
www.garagegames.com/company/
From a business standpoint, I'm wondering what is involved in getting strategic or featured partnership arrangements with other companies, like nVidia, Ati, etc.? I suppose I can approach these companies in my usual clueless fashion, but would rather have a bit of background info before contacting any of them. I'm curious how the process is initiated, what the stages of communication are, and how things are finalized.
Since my target audience isn't made up of gamer elites, these technology partner links should help provide my customers with some hardware and software resources to get the most out of my apps. Video cards, driver downloads, recommended laptops, and other related information could be a big help to my traditionally 'tech-challenged' customers.
If I'm approaching this the wrong way, or in the wrong venue, let me know.
Thanks
#2
That being said:
@Aaron- I've often wondered this myself. I have wondered how one could get sponsorship and communication of the nature you are needing. I know Intel has a program for getting Intel support and that little "Made for Intel Processor" logo in the game.
When I find the link and info, I'll post it in here.
02/21/2007 (4:38 pm)
It's gotta be said, sorry, but Morris...you are a royal pain in the ass. Your messages are random and posted in the wrong places, making you just about the rudest poster I've come across in a while.That being said:
@Aaron- I've often wondered this myself. I have wondered how one could get sponsorship and communication of the nature you are needing. I know Intel has a program for getting Intel support and that little "Made for Intel Processor" logo in the game.
When I find the link and info, I'll post it in here.
#3
02/21/2007 (7:28 pm)
I think it comes down to whether you used Intel's "optimizations" for your game. They have various apps. and stuff that do it, but basically if you make a special effort of having your game work better for their processor then they will be willing to use you as a sponsor. Maybe approach them with an offer to have a logo in your game and the optimizations in return for some marketing? I'm not sure. Just guessing that that's how they work. Might want to get a business expert or similar.
#4
@Morris
Thanks for the invite, but as a small business owner, I stay too busy to join volunteer projects. However, I do take paid contract jobs, so if you have something specific in mind and finances to cover it, I may be able to help.
@Michael & Cameron
This whole strategic partnership concept is something I'm still interested in learning more about, but I have been too occupied with other things to really dig into it. Your suggestions sound reasonable, though.
02/21/2007 (9:21 pm)
Wow. I had forgotten all about this thread. After six months, I kind of gave up on it. ;)@Morris
Thanks for the invite, but as a small business owner, I stay too busy to join volunteer projects. However, I do take paid contract jobs, so if you have something specific in mind and finances to cover it, I may be able to help.
@Michael & Cameron
This whole strategic partnership concept is something I'm still interested in learning more about, but I have been too occupied with other things to really dig into it. Your suggestions sound reasonable, though.
#5
02/22/2007 (3:25 am)
Does NVidia do the same thing? I just remember a NVidia splash screen appearing when I last played Medivial 2 total war.
#6
If it's game related, GDC is a huge pool of networking opportunities as will IMGDC in April.
02/22/2007 (8:49 am)
From my experience with IMGDC, I'd venture a guess that the main way GG and other companies become strategic (or other) partners is through networking at events and finding the right person who's connected. I was having trouble getting to the right people for sponsorships and speakers when I first started planning IMGDC. I got on LinkedIn and went to a couple trade shows and handed out business cards. After that (and my first press release) I finally started receiving many calls and emails from people wanting to support, partner, or speak at the conference.If it's game related, GDC is a huge pool of networking opportunities as will IMGDC in April.
#7
ATI on the other hand is very easy to deal with. You can sign up for their developer relations program right away and although it will not give you free video cards, you can get access to some cool developer tools and a discount on products you can buy directly from their store. ATI has also been kind enough to sponsor some prizes for a few Lore competitions we have done, so its tough to have a bad thing to say about them.
Creative Labs is another company that has some good developer relations. They are also very good at sponsoring events and are known to be generous with their hardware from time to time to both developers and for prizes for game competitions.
02/22/2007 (10:49 am)
NVidia is a pain in the ass to deal with. I haven't had a single good experiance dealing with their developer relations and that includes going through their contacts at GarageGames. Getting into their developer relations program is like pulling your own healthy teeth, having their dev relations guys get back to you is problematic and getting what they promise to deliver to you is even worse. I can understand that they are the so called top dog in the graphics card market and only want to work with other top dog developers, but they are doing it at the cost of making up and coming guys dislike the way they do their business a lot (I will say it has cost us a lot to try to deal with nVidia as a partner).ATI on the other hand is very easy to deal with. You can sign up for their developer relations program right away and although it will not give you free video cards, you can get access to some cool developer tools and a discount on products you can buy directly from their store. ATI has also been kind enough to sponsor some prizes for a few Lore competitions we have done, so its tough to have a bad thing to say about them.
Creative Labs is another company that has some good developer relations. They are also very good at sponsoring events and are known to be generous with their hardware from time to time to both developers and for prizes for game competitions.
#8
02/22/2007 (11:03 am)
Hmm. I didn't even think about Creative Labs. Have any contact info you are willing to pass on by email jonathon@last-straw-games.com 
#9
Basically what you need to do is to.... well... ask. Just go to the site of whoever you're interested in working with and look up the contact info for their developer relations department and fire off an email explaining who you are and what you want etc. Doesn't have to be trickier than that.
02/22/2007 (11:05 am)
I can pretty much only echo what Logan said, ATI are damn nice to work with. Getting into nvidias dev rel program isn't IMPOSSIBLE either (WIT Entertainment is part of it... and we're damn small.... =), they do provide discounts on hardware too but with ATI (and as Logan said too, creative) it's just a whole lot easier to get a couple of freebies once in a while.Basically what you need to do is to.... well... ask. Just go to the site of whoever you're interested in working with and look up the contact info for their developer relations department and fire off an email explaining who you are and what you want etc. Doesn't have to be trickier than that.
#11
for what it's worth, I've had great experiences with nvidia, before I became biased, and after I became biased.
I'm biased now, because a couple years ago I worked in the us for the devtech group at nvidia, I was one of the guys you would have spoken with. I'm sure it's like every place, sometimes you will have great experiences and get quick replies, other times it will not be so good. All depends on who you get to work with. there are different groups for different areas of the world also.
I don't get free cards or anything, but nvidia gives so much out for free even to people not in the registered developer program. I find their stuff pretty useful and generally high quality.
I don't have much experience with ATI's developer relations program though.
to echo other statements, pretty much every hardware group will have something like this, usually listed under the keyword "developer" or "developer relations", and it's definitely best if you can start by meeting someone in person at GDC or some other place.
02/26/2007 (1:57 pm)
developer.nvidia.comfor what it's worth, I've had great experiences with nvidia, before I became biased, and after I became biased.
I'm biased now, because a couple years ago I worked in the us for the devtech group at nvidia, I was one of the guys you would have spoken with. I'm sure it's like every place, sometimes you will have great experiences and get quick replies, other times it will not be so good. All depends on who you get to work with. there are different groups for different areas of the world also.
I don't get free cards or anything, but nvidia gives so much out for free even to people not in the registered developer program. I find their stuff pretty useful and generally high quality.
I don't have much experience with ATI's developer relations program though.
to echo other statements, pretty much every hardware group will have something like this, usually listed under the keyword "developer" or "developer relations", and it's definitely best if you can start by meeting someone in person at GDC or some other place.
Torque Owner Morris
I have a companey called entity game studios and we're curently working on a game I was wondering if you would like to help.You seem to have good skills and we need good skills like wat you have.
PLEASE REPLY
THANK YOU KINDLY!