Comments on: Write from the Start

By: Gail

Gail — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:37:00 +0000

Rubes – I have to agree with you on that. It has to be mutually beneficial at the time of the barter, plus it has to be broken down into dollars and cents even if no money is changing hands.
I still barter sometimes, but only if it meets all of the criteria otherwise – you are right – it might go sour.

By: Rubes

Rubes — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 19:16:00 +0000

Actually yes, this does go on to some extent in the indie development world. That's actually how I got started with Vespers -- after blogging about the project and looking to see if any 3D modelers were interested in contributing, I got a response from the person who ended up doing all of the modeling for the game.

Part of the agreement between us is that, in exchange for the modeling, I would help him with the programming for a game he wanted to create. It worked out at first, and this type of thing goes on all the time, at least to some extent, in the indie scene.

The problem is that it doesn't always work out in the end.

In my case, our modeler ended up shelving his game idea for various reasons, so there was no opportunity anymore for me to pay him back. So eventually, Vespers fell on his priority list below other paying gigs, and so I was left in the situation where if I wanted to make any progress on the game, I'd have to give him a little more incentive, which amounts to $$. I'm sure that's a very common type of scenario.

I think bartering for services is an idea that sounds good in theory, but often fails in practice.

By: Gail

Gail — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 12:35:00 +0000

I do not design games, but i was wondering if withing the indie game design world there is a bartering system amongst the different proffesions involved – You-work-on -my-project-and-I-will-work-on-yours
Kind of deal? That could solve a lot of dilemas plus create a suportive design community.

By: gnome

gnome — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:33:00 +0000

Well, they *could* understand it if a manager convinced them, but I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t be willing to pay a decent writer to well actually write. At least if the hollywood paradigm is to be followed.

By: Rubes

Rubes — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Well, I don’t know if I would say that there is no hope at all in mainstream game companies. Maybe not much, but I do feel that the importance of writing in games is at least being discussed to some extent, which might lead to changes down the line.

And I agree there is no particular way a game should be done — although, if a game wishes to emphasize story and character, I would hope that the developers understand the need for good writing early in the process.

By: gnome

gnome — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:57:00 +0000

A very enlightening read indeed. Though you’ll have to admit that no hope is to be found in mainstream game companies. They -by definition- care only for profit, and profit has nothing to do with, well, expression.

Oh, and I quite firmly believe there is no way a game ‘should’ be done, exactly as there’s nothing a game (or any kind of artistic product – not in a consumerist way) should be.

Cheers!