Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ceres.physics.uiowa.edu!news.iastate.edu!sharkey!caen!sdd.hp.com!wuarchive!hsdndev!bunny!bunny.gte.com!CAH0
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Re: Some Copyrighted Games...
Message-ID: <10947@bunny.GTE.COM>
From: CAH0@bunny.gte.com (Chuck Hoffman)
Date: 9 Apr 91 17:54:04 GMT
Sender: news@gte.com
References: <1341@caslon.cs.arizona.edu> <10932@bunny.GTE.COM> <1357@caslon.cs.arizona.edu>
Organization: GTE Laboratories, Inc.
Lines: 66

In article <1357@caslon.cs.arizona.edu> jtgorman@cs.arizona.edu (J. 
Taggart Gorman) writes:
>   You assumed one thing wrong here - I never once said or even thought 
about
> the word "sell."  I don't want to make any money out of this.  Not a 
cent.

Aaaahh.  You're right.  I did make that assumption.  Yes, yes.  (blush!)

If I were in the game manufacturer's position, I would find your 
enthusiasm irresistable, but, unfortunately, I'm not.

I would love to hear other people's comments about this:  the intention to 
give the computer version of the game away for free might actually hinder 
coming to an agreement with the game's manufacturer.  They might say 
"great, that's more advertising for our game" but they might say "not so 
great, it could reduce sales of our board version."

I would use a "co-opting" strategy.  That is, I would try to do it as an 
"inside job."  Get them to agree to having you do a no-cost demo for them. 
 Show them some software you've written which would be similar, and 
present them with a real plan - including delivery dates - of actually 
doing the game "for" or "with" them.  Finally, do a reasonable survey to 
predict the popularity of the game at various prices, or even *included* 
with the board game.  Be careful with the survey.  If you have a friend in 
a marketing position or school, get some help.  Business people absolutely 
hate it when you show up with shabby market figures, or no figures at all. 
 Besides showing them that you're a competent programmer, you also would 
be showing them that you've got your sh*t together, and you're not just 
some tinkerer who might leave them stranded down the road.  It might even 
be helpful to propose some technology transfer (including costs) so 
"their" people could support it if you get sick or become disabled.

And what if they aren't interested?  Remember why it is that you want to 
do all this.  Not to produce *that* game, though this attracts you the 
most, but to produce *some good* game and get some gratification and
recognition.  So at that point, I would come right out and ask them if
there's some other game I could "help" 
with, or do they know someone else, by name, at another game manufacturing 
company who might be interested.

What about personal identification with the game?  Of course, I would try 
for the "vers" resource.  If they wouldn't allow that, I would simply 
reply from time to time to messages in this games list, and identify 
yourself as the author.  Also participate in symposia, conventions, round 
tables, or anything else that comes along to get your name before the 
public.

What do other people think, especially those with business experience?

P.S.  Before sending your proposal, get on the phone and find the
name of who(m) to send it to.  Talk to that person, if possible.  After
sending the proposal, get on the phone and pester.  Also, be prepared
to wait.  Businesses often don't act suddenly to a good idea.  In fact,
they often don't act at all.  But keep calling.

P.P.S.  If you do end up writing as a contractor, don't forget to
obtain some liability insurance which meets the liability limit
in your contract.


- Chuck Hoffman, GTE Laboratories, Inc.  |  I'm not sure why we're here,
cah0@bunny.gte.com                       |  but I am sure that while we're
Telephone (U.S.A.) 617-466-2131          |  here, we're supposed to help
GTE VoiceNet: 679-2131                   |  each other.
GTE Telemail: C.HOFFMAN                  |