Creating a Content Pack
by Shane09 · in General Discussion · 03/13/2009 (5:46 pm) · 7 replies
Hello. I have a few questions about releasing a content pack. I had an idea for one that no one else seemed to have done, yet. I was strongly thinking about following through with it. However, I have a few questions:
1) How do I contact to ask for permission to have GarageGames hopefully host my pack? I figured I will have to explain my pack in an e-mail to them. Do I have to send them a copy so they can investigate it? What are the protocols?
2) Is GarageGames accepting community made content packs?
3) What percent of the profit do they keep? Does it depend on anything, like say the content, or size of the pack?
4) Is there a set of guidelines for publishing content packs using GarageGames? I know you can't claim others work as your own, or use Trademarked work without permission, or offer illegal assistance, and stuff like that. However, are there official rules made by GarageGames for creating content packs to be published on the GarageGames site?
If any community members or GarageGames employees, can help, feel free to do so :) Thanks in advance. Maybe I should have e-mailed them directly about this?
1) How do I contact to ask for permission to have GarageGames hopefully host my pack? I figured I will have to explain my pack in an e-mail to them. Do I have to send them a copy so they can investigate it? What are the protocols?
2) Is GarageGames accepting community made content packs?
3) What percent of the profit do they keep? Does it depend on anything, like say the content, or size of the pack?
4) Is there a set of guidelines for publishing content packs using GarageGames? I know you can't claim others work as your own, or use Trademarked work without permission, or offer illegal assistance, and stuff like that. However, are there official rules made by GarageGames for creating content packs to be published on the GarageGames site?
If any community members or GarageGames employees, can help, feel free to do so :) Thanks in advance. Maybe I should have e-mailed them directly about this?
#2
1. Helpful/Quick Support: for those who need it
2. Compatibility: plan on using all the latest software (TGE1.5.2/TGEa)
3. Commitment: Do not sell a product and then leave your customers to fend for themselves
4. Quality: Ship you content pack WITHOUT bugs... test, test and test again (and if there is a bug, Please for the love of god mention it)
5. Completion: DO NOT sell an incomplete product.
If you can stick by those pretty basic rules then I would be willing to see what you have.
03/14/2009 (5:55 pm)
If you would like to create your own Content Pack please take these steps into consideration.1. Helpful/Quick Support: for those who need it
2. Compatibility: plan on using all the latest software (TGE1.5.2/TGEa)
3. Commitment: Do not sell a product and then leave your customers to fend for themselves
4. Quality: Ship you content pack WITHOUT bugs... test, test and test again (and if there is a bug, Please for the love of god mention it)
5. Completion: DO NOT sell an incomplete product.
If you can stick by those pretty basic rules then I would be willing to see what you have.
#3
The person you contact is irrelevant until you are a good portion into the content you wish to talk about. They do contract with community people, but it is up to them if they actually do. I suggest they will want to see some form of a proof of concept if not the finished work to base the decision on. They will not agree to something without having "kicked the tires".
Yes they do as stated above.
This should be answered by GG.
Well..umm.. I'll let GG answer this one as well.
Making something for yourself is one thing.. making something for others for profit is something else. Be VERY careful everything you use is yours (accidents happen to the best of us). Like CSMP stated.. test test test some more.. it will save you stress later on.
I wish you luck, and I'm always interested in seeing other peoples works.
03/14/2009 (8:04 pm)
Quote:1) How do I contact to ask for permission to have GarageGames hopefully host my pack? I figured I will have to explain my pack in an e-mail to them. Do I have to send them a copy so they can investigate it? What are the protocols?
The person you contact is irrelevant until you are a good portion into the content you wish to talk about. They do contract with community people, but it is up to them if they actually do. I suggest they will want to see some form of a proof of concept if not the finished work to base the decision on. They will not agree to something without having "kicked the tires".
Quote:2) Is GarageGames accepting community made content packs?
Yes they do as stated above.
Quote:3) What percent of the profit do they keep? Does it depend on anything, like say the content, or size of the pack?
This should be answered by GG.
Quote:4) Is there a set of guidelines for publishing content packs using GarageGames? I know you can't claim others work as your own, or use Trademarked work without permission, or offer illegal assistance, and stuff like that. However, are there official rules made by GarageGames for creating content packs to be published on the GarageGames site?
Well..umm.. I'll let GG answer this one as well.
Making something for yourself is one thing.. making something for others for profit is something else. Be VERY careful everything you use is yours (accidents happen to the best of us). Like CSMP stated.. test test test some more.. it will save you stress later on.
I wish you luck, and I'm always interested in seeing other peoples works.
#4
Once again, thanks for the help :)
03/15/2009 (7:37 am)
Thanks guys. My content pack should work with TGE 1.5 & TGEA. I'll have to download those demos and test it out on them just to be sure, since I only have TGE 1.4.2. It's not going to require any engine changes (I think, as of now), and only a little scripting will need to be done. The pack I plan on releasing will have a tutorial on installing the features/items, and furthermore, a "mini-guide" for doing the same with your own ideas that are related to my content pack. Once again, thanks for the help :)
#5
03/15/2009 (8:42 am)
I suggest including a basegame showing off everything in the pack. 
#6
Since I already have a mega pack (www.garagegames.com/products/ambientsounds) up on Garage Games, I'm sure I can help answer some of these questions... so here goes...
Daniel was correct, you have to first think what you want to produce and go at it, THEN contact Derek here at Garage Games to look it over and see if it fits in with anything they are currently offering on the site. What are they looking for? everything and anything. Mainly models or buildings. Audio and textures falls down the list on the most wanted side of things.
Usually, yes. There isn't a special click you have to be in to get your work pub up here. I started back 3 years ago with Garage Games and was a no name, til my Ambient Sound packs made their way through, now I have a name for myself.
This depends on what you are offering. Since my contract with Garage Games is a NDA, I can not talk about it. What I can say about pay is fair and balanced I think. There are two types of publishing, exclusive and non-exclusive, meaning in a nut shell, if you sell only here at GG, your considered exclusive, if you sell here and on your web site or other sites, your considered non-exclusive. Pretty simple really.
Well for starters, you can not use other peoples work as your content. If your doing a merge project with another company, and they allow you to put your content in with theirs and sell it together and you both split the money made, then fine and besure to have it in writing before you start as partnerships rarely work out long term. Use your own content, models, art, and so on... it will be less headache for you down the road when uncle johnny see's his textures in with your pack and then Garage Games gets a email about you stealing their textures or whatnot and then you give Garage Games a bad name cause something stupid you did to rush the pack out the door. I've seen this happen more then once... so don't let it be you... use your own everything... art, sounds, models...
And most of all... good luck. Give it some time to think over the pack you want, then take some more time, perfect the pack up... once its out here, don't expect sales to live on and quit your day job, that rarely happens. You will get enough usually to eat on and enjoy spending, that's about it. Keep your dreams grounded in reality and keep reaching for the stars, you might have the next big idea, who knows...
sincerely,
Will Zettler
Digital Lightstorm Studio
www.dlsstudio.com
will_zettler@dlsstudio.com
Waskom, Tx
St Louis, MO
03/20/2009 (12:07 am)
Hi ya Shane:Since I already have a mega pack (www.garagegames.com/products/ambientsounds) up on Garage Games, I'm sure I can help answer some of these questions... so here goes...
Quote:1) How do I contact to ask for permission to have GarageGames hopefully host my pack? I figured I will have to explain my pack in an e-mail to them. Do I have to send them a copy so they can investigate it? What are the protocols?
Daniel was correct, you have to first think what you want to produce and go at it, THEN contact Derek here at Garage Games to look it over and see if it fits in with anything they are currently offering on the site. What are they looking for? everything and anything. Mainly models or buildings. Audio and textures falls down the list on the most wanted side of things.
Quote:2) Is GarageGames accepting community made content packs?
Usually, yes. There isn't a special click you have to be in to get your work pub up here. I started back 3 years ago with Garage Games and was a no name, til my Ambient Sound packs made their way through, now I have a name for myself.
Quote:3) What percent of the profit do they keep? Does it depend on anything, like say the content, or size of the pack?
This depends on what you are offering. Since my contract with Garage Games is a NDA, I can not talk about it. What I can say about pay is fair and balanced I think. There are two types of publishing, exclusive and non-exclusive, meaning in a nut shell, if you sell only here at GG, your considered exclusive, if you sell here and on your web site or other sites, your considered non-exclusive. Pretty simple really.
Quote:4) Is there a set of guidelines for publishing content packs using GarageGames? I know you can't claim others work as your own, or use Trademarked work without permission, or offer illegal assistance, and stuff like that. However, are there official rules made by GarageGames for creating content packs to be published on the GarageGames site?
Well for starters, you can not use other peoples work as your content. If your doing a merge project with another company, and they allow you to put your content in with theirs and sell it together and you both split the money made, then fine and besure to have it in writing before you start as partnerships rarely work out long term. Use your own content, models, art, and so on... it will be less headache for you down the road when uncle johnny see's his textures in with your pack and then Garage Games gets a email about you stealing their textures or whatnot and then you give Garage Games a bad name cause something stupid you did to rush the pack out the door. I've seen this happen more then once... so don't let it be you... use your own everything... art, sounds, models...
And most of all... good luck. Give it some time to think over the pack you want, then take some more time, perfect the pack up... once its out here, don't expect sales to live on and quit your day job, that rarely happens. You will get enough usually to eat on and enjoy spending, that's about it. Keep your dreams grounded in reality and keep reaching for the stars, you might have the next big idea, who knows...
sincerely,
Will Zettler
Digital Lightstorm Studio
www.dlsstudio.com
will_zettler@dlsstudio.com
Waskom, Tx
St Louis, MO
Torque 3D Owner Daniel Balmert
Default Studio Name
How much do they keep? Not sure, but it's probably not as much as other 3rd party sites.
It's your responsibility to figure out what you want to put in the pack. No one will give you guidelines for that. Anyone will be willing to tell you what they'd WANT to see in a pack, but no official guidelines.
So, work on making your pack first, then once you get a good portion of the way into making it show it off and people can critique and give you suggestions.
-Dan