Content Pack Market Research - Please give feedback
by Jeff Meyer · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 07/18/2009 (2:13 am) · 1 replies
I am gearing up to develop a content pack for the torque engine based on demand from the developers.
I would like feedback from what game developers are willing to purchase, or haven't found in content packs for the torque engine. I have done some research to find the ADAM and AVA models, and the skeleton monsters, as well as doors, and some simple props like barrels and cones. I have also found environments, however I am not considering doing architecture. Although, maybe I should.
The initial ideas I have had are as follows:
Monster pack - based on old school final fantasy monsters
NPC pack - civilian urban style
Soldiers - present day
Props - industrial props, such as ladders, barrels, and doors
Specific or niche models may work well for a few games, however I would like to reach a broader audience.
What are you game developers hiring modelers/texture artists for that you wish you could just purchase pre-made? Obviously, player characters are unique, so can you save moeny by puchasing weapons or vehicles from a content pack?
I would like to offer the pack as OBJ, 3D studio max, and DTS. However, is there a demand for other file formats such as maya and lightwave?
I am considering offering, normal maps, specular maps, and animations as ADD-ons to the pack in order to keep costs low. How viable is this strategy?
I appreciate any and all feedback, even negative feedbaack as I take an objective view in determing my course of action. The feedback you leave will influnce the final product which just may be exactly what you were looking for at much less of a cost.
Speaking of cost, please give expectations on what you would expect to pay for a "content pack" of a specfic size if mentioned. For example, I would pay XX dollars for a monster pack if it had 10 monsters that were normal mapped and animated.
I will be checking this thread often, and responding when I can...thank you.
I would like feedback from what game developers are willing to purchase, or haven't found in content packs for the torque engine. I have done some research to find the ADAM and AVA models, and the skeleton monsters, as well as doors, and some simple props like barrels and cones. I have also found environments, however I am not considering doing architecture. Although, maybe I should.
The initial ideas I have had are as follows:
Monster pack - based on old school final fantasy monsters
NPC pack - civilian urban style
Soldiers - present day
Props - industrial props, such as ladders, barrels, and doors
Specific or niche models may work well for a few games, however I would like to reach a broader audience.
What are you game developers hiring modelers/texture artists for that you wish you could just purchase pre-made? Obviously, player characters are unique, so can you save moeny by puchasing weapons or vehicles from a content pack?
I would like to offer the pack as OBJ, 3D studio max, and DTS. However, is there a demand for other file formats such as maya and lightwave?
I am considering offering, normal maps, specular maps, and animations as ADD-ons to the pack in order to keep costs low. How viable is this strategy?
I appreciate any and all feedback, even negative feedbaack as I take an objective view in determing my course of action. The feedback you leave will influnce the final product which just may be exactly what you were looking for at much less of a cost.
Speaking of cost, please give expectations on what you would expect to pay for a "content pack" of a specfic size if mentioned. For example, I would pay XX dollars for a monster pack if it had 10 monsters that were normal mapped and animated.
I will be checking this thread often, and responding when I can...thank you.
About the author
Ambient Wave Inc is a digital media production company providing web and graphic design services. http://ambientwave.com
Torque Owner Daniel Kracht
If I were to buy something like this I would want them for maya as well.
Add-ons could be viable as far as I know, but only if the way they can be bought is simple. (Eg.: Having a website in which you can select an object with checkboxes next to it for optional add-ons)
I would keep the normal maps & specular maps in it, and have animations as a seperate addon, as included animations might not be satisfactory to the person that wants to use the model. (Or you could include a few ''core animations'' and have a seperate addon with more complex things)
As for the actual price, it really would depend on the quality of the model. If it's relatively low-medium quality I would even dare say I would only go up to ~$60 for ~5-10 monsters. (All-Included)
If the models are of high quality though, the price can rack up quick to a couple of hundreds.