Here's some insider knowledge on what publishers have to offer. Chillingo use this model. First off they don't really market your game, barring contacting review sites and such. They might splash out on banner adds if they think the game has potential, and that's about all they do for a % deal. They will try to get your IP the first time you talk to them, when you say no they accept that. They are just trying it on. They don't offer money up front for development because as soon as you ask for it they go NEXT developer who has a complete game. Work for hire is dead in the water now because there's more developers out there making complete games. What they are doing is playing the numbers game... If they publish 5 games a month X 12 for the year it = 60 games. By the laws of averages they may get a hit or two. The rest of the games just sink with very little money made but at least the publisher got it's 30% for doing nothing. Also, they want to build a network up with these games which is the actual valuable thing they are after, barring a hit of course If they manage to get a hit then they will try and keep it in the charts by spending some profit. All they need are a few hits to make the big profit. It's actually a bit of a con when you think about it. In the old days publishers gave money for development which is fair and acceptable but because they don't then it seems publishers really don't offer much. The best thing indie developers could do is get a shared network going to promote games... but that never seems to happen.
Not all publishers are cut from the same cloth or offer the same deal terms. The usual PikPok publishing deal terms include paying an advance to the developer, cross promotion from our network, access to cross promotion capability for their other titles so they can leverage the install base they build, usability testing, QA testing, we are support with merchandising, PR/marketing, providing customer support services, they keep their IP (we never ask for it) and the rev share is weighted in their favour and with no recoup of expenses from our side. If your experience with publishers is what you describe above, then you need to shop around more.
Yes, I agree....not all publishers are the same. They are all different, however every developer and publisher out there will have to do their research before they take action. Yes, there are a lot of ideal publishers out there but not all of them are suitable for a lot of developers. Developers have their own needs and it never hurts to be modest and humble about what your company does
I'll give you 5% and you can show the world what you can do for a developer. You can show results from the campaign you run for us and I'll back you up. Deal?
5%. Take it or leave it. Everyone's gotta start somewhere. We built this game over a year without pay. We still have no pay but are working hard to improve and release new games. Have to say we have an awesome line up of apps we are working on so far.
So if I wanted to speak with your company about publishing my game in the near future, who should I speak with? Please see my Facebook page for more images or PM me. Jared Martin http://www.facebook.com/obscenemedia
This is interesting and thanks for sharing. I thought that the IP ownership was the value of the games. Im surprised that publishers just do straight marketing / revenue sharing deals even after investing $100k upfront? whats the catch and how many games gets that kind of money? should be experienced studios with a great track record. whats the different between a publisher and a late stage investor for smaller dev teams?
Investor is _typically_ equity. And thats most likely the most dumb you can do depending on the situation. Having a publisher throwing in $ as "buy in" without giving away the IP makes them hungry for delivering results, as it would otherwise hurt their pockets too. Typically they will want to recoup first. One can normally negotiate 75/25 recoupment if you want them to recoup at all. Obviously this can only be done for good games. And why? To take the risk off the developer - very fair and square. Dev took a risk making the game. Publisher can then (if they believe in the game) take a risk on marketing it.
I would like to know what your can offer for 50/50 model. Here's my game vedio: Subscribe to the TouchArcade YouTube channel iTunes link: Monko Jumpo - Melon Monkeys Platformer 2in1 WEIWEN TING 2 Games in 1 app: -You will be addicted to this game for the first time you play it- AppsTouch -Easy yet challenging… $1.99 Buy Now Watch Media Details2 Games in 1 app: -You will be addicted to this game for the first time you play it- AppsTouch -Easy yet challenging, a must have for those of you who love platformer games- iTouchApps "funnier than I thought" - iTunes Review (US) 5/5 "Cute & destructive, I like it!" - iTunes Review (US) 5/5 "It's really addictive, you should definitely give it a try!!" - iTunes Review (US) 5/5 The battles for fruits between monkeys and mice are never ended! How could you retrieve the fruits and all the golden melons for the monkey tribes? "Monko Jumpo" currently contains 2 cartoon 2D platformer game modes with totally different playing style! Mode2 - Monko Quest (Platformer blend with puzzle elements,you will like it!) - NEW!! • 2D platformer with well built physic engine, you can pick up/throw away/pile up/push off/stand on the blocks & NPCs! • Break Bricks, get Coins, find out Golden Melons, fight bosses, get the keys & rescue Princess! • Various power-ups help you on the journey • 170+ hand-crafted levels with challenge, EXP & secret levels. • Multiple Characters. • Exciting arena & tough boss fight levels. • Mice wear in various disguise are trying to stop your way. • Challenge your skills to find and get all Golden Melons unlock episode levels. • Collect enough "Red Rings" to unlock "Expansion Levels". • Find out the "Crystal Rings" at some very tricky spot in some levels to unlock challenge levels to save the princess! ▶ Technique:"Final Kick" - You can jump once in air when the character fall down from platform, use it to reach some tricky spot. (it's not double jump) Mode1 - Get Fruits Back (Original Relaxing Endless Run) • Ride on banana slider, chase/hit the mice to sky high and get stolen fruits back to the tribe. • Get enough fruits to pass levels before reach goal. • More than 20 kinds of equipments, power-ups, helps you in your adventure. • Collect "Banana Rings" to get equipments and use super equipments at right timings. • You can choose the world and expansion theme to build up the stage you like to play. • Each expansion theme provide unique random equipments for your mice hunting. • Multiple Characters. • Randomized stage environment each time you play. • Destructive fun, easy way to get on a rampage for all ages! • • Technique:"Jumpo Hit" - touch jump right before hit objects to popped out more items. Additionally feature: ▶ Multiple world including grasslands, highlands, cave, desert, graveyard. snowlands. ▶ Power-ups can be mix up, make various combinations. ▶ Compete against your friend through Game Center. ▶ 8 leaderboards & 40+ achievements await for your challenge. ▶ A must have app play with ladies, children, family & friends. Official Trailer: http://youtu.be/aiMfMMK108Y Review video: http://youtu.be/ohiW8OdsUk0 http://youtu.be/iSSfWFTMNpw Rate us if you like “Monko Jumpo",thank you! More fun games on: http://supmarugemon.wix.com/marugemon Get news from us on: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MonkoJumpo Twitter: https://twitter.com/Marugemon Weibo: http://weibo.com/u/2688594371 Have fun!! Marugemon Team Enjoy it, Have fun!! :) Information Seller:WEIWEN TING Genre:Adventure, Family, Action, Arcade Release:Dec 16, 2011 Updated:Jul 04, 2017 Version:2.4.1 Size:28.9 MB TouchArcade Rating:Unrated User Rating: (5) Your Rating:unrated Compatibility:HD Universal thank in advance PikPok Well-Known Member Nov 26, 2009 938 1 0 Wellington #32 PikPok, Sep 9, 2012 Send an email to info at pikpok.com We get a lot of submissions and don't have many slots per year as we only want to publish a small number of high quality games, but always on the lookout for promising titles. Zenout Well-Known Member Jun 19, 2012 121 0 0 Devon, UK http://www.zenoutstudios.com #33 Zenout, Sep 9, 2012 It's a strange feeling walking down this road with something special in my pocket. I tell myself "Keep walking, publishers don't like risk", then I think "but it's 2012" - Onwards I walk ever curious if this path really goes anywhere! windrider07 Well-Known Member May 8, 2012 81 0 0 #34 windrider07, Sep 10, 2012 Sent a PM to the guys who posted about their games obscenemedia.com Active Member Aug 18, 2012 41 0 0 http://www.obscenemedia.com #35 obscenemedia.com, Sep 10, 2012 Hi windrider07, I responded to your PM. Thanks for the contact. Jared Martin http://www.facebook.com/obscenemedia obscenemedia.com Active Member Aug 18, 2012 41 0 0 http://www.obscenemedia.com #36 obscenemedia.com, Sep 10, 2012 Thank you Pik Pok. I'm hoping I will have a demo of level 1, single player by tomorrow evening. I hope to make a video and send you the link through TouchArcade so I can cut in line of the emailers, if you don't mind. Jared Martin http://www.facebook.com/obscenemedia Greyskull Well-Known Member Dec 13, 2009 5,588 1 38 Photographer/Social Sciences adjunct/sweet sweet l Fort Lauderdale #37 Greyskull, Sep 10, 2012 It seems to me that the weak are attempting to prey on the weak...and desperate. For any developers so overwhelmed that they view this "publisher" as a viable option, I have my own marketing plan to offer. If the game can distract me for a minimum of one hour, I will wear a white cotton shirt with the name of your app written on it with a black felt marker while I run to Starbucks. And I'll tweet! My price is one promocode. PikPok Well-Known Member Nov 26, 2009 938 1 0 Wellington #38 PikPok, Sep 10, 2012 If you post here, all I can do is forward it on to that address anyway where it gets seen by the appropriate people. In this case, I am the middle man, and you are better off emailing direct BazookaTime Well-Known Member Sep 30, 2009 5,340 1 36 Kansas http://www.paulmcraelind.com #39 BazookaTime, Sep 10, 2012 Awesome. Synaptic Wave Well-Known Member Mar 14, 2012 87 0 0 PR manager at Synaptic Wave Odessa, Ukraine #40 Synaptic Wave, Sep 10, 2012 We're in! Would you like to promote Zombie Quest this way? And could you please take a picture while you wear that shirt? (You must log in or sign up to post here.) Show Ignored Content Page 2 of 3 < Prev 1 2 3 Next > Share This Page Tweet Your name or email address: Do you already have an account? No, create an account now. Yes, my password is: Forgot your password? Stay logged in
Send an email to info at pikpok.com We get a lot of submissions and don't have many slots per year as we only want to publish a small number of high quality games, but always on the lookout for promising titles.
It's a strange feeling walking down this road with something special in my pocket. I tell myself "Keep walking, publishers don't like risk", then I think "but it's 2012" - Onwards I walk ever curious if this path really goes anywhere!
Hi windrider07, I responded to your PM. Thanks for the contact. Jared Martin http://www.facebook.com/obscenemedia
Thank you Pik Pok. I'm hoping I will have a demo of level 1, single player by tomorrow evening. I hope to make a video and send you the link through TouchArcade so I can cut in line of the emailers, if you don't mind. Jared Martin http://www.facebook.com/obscenemedia
It seems to me that the weak are attempting to prey on the weak...and desperate. For any developers so overwhelmed that they view this "publisher" as a viable option, I have my own marketing plan to offer. If the game can distract me for a minimum of one hour, I will wear a white cotton shirt with the name of your app written on it with a black felt marker while I run to Starbucks. And I'll tweet! My price is one promocode.
If you post here, all I can do is forward it on to that address anyway where it gets seen by the appropriate people. In this case, I am the middle man, and you are better off emailing direct
We're in! Would you like to promote Zombie Quest this way? And could you please take a picture while you wear that shirt?