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November
2001
Jay is
back with all new answers for your game questions. If
you have a game development related question for Jay,
contact GIGnews.
Just
who the heck is Jay you say?
Q: Jay, bottom line, how much does it cost to
produce a game?
A: Game development
costs can vary on a variety of factors. The major
contributors are usually size of the team, location of
the team, time in production, and the target
platform. The actual game costs can be between $300,000
and $2 million. More costs always arise when you figure
the publisher's costs in the game. Publishers have to
pay for the manufacturing, marketing, shelf space, and a
variety of other issues. Some games that have an
advance of $100,000 to the developer can actually have a
cost to the publisher of near $900,000. The publisher
has to re-coup all these costs plus a set profit margin
to consider a game successful.
Jay
Q: We're an IT company who wants to do game
development, who should we talk to and get into this?
A: A good first step
to the game industry is to identify your strengths as a
company and see how that can be applied to the game
industry. If your company experience is in the IT world,
you should concentrate on the technology you can offer
the game industry. Speak to your local publishers and
see if you can secure contract work for them instead of
working on an original product first. You should also
speak to any local developers in your area and learn any
mistakes that they have made in the initial stages of
their company. With your initial project, focus more on
having your name out in the industry than pure
profit. More projects and opportunities will arise in
the near future if your game is considered a
success. Most importantly is to make sure you are
working on a game that you and your team would enjoy
playing. Passion for games and gaming in a team always
shows through on the final product.
Jay
Need more Jay?
<<<Back
to Q&A With Jay home Note:
If
you didn't get a chance to attend GDC2001 or were foolish
enough to miss Jay Powell's lecture, we're giving
you another chance. Jay has graciously
allowed us to publish his GDC white paper:
Negotiating
Contracts That Protect Your Title and Team.
 Who
is Jay?
Jay Powell is an
agent at Octagon
Entertainment, a full service agency catering to the
needs of game developers, specializing in the creation
of domestic and international opportunities for game
financing and publishing and finding opportunities in
other medias. Jay has arranged and negotiated numerous
deals in Europe and North America for Octagon's clients.
He has also proven a key evaluator of projects, having
secured some of Octagon's most successful games. With
gaming experience in excess of fifteen years, Jay's
industry insight has been immensely beneficial to
Octagon's clients and publishing partners. Jay's
experience has allowed Octagon to create and maintain a
property evaluation and acceptance methodology that
exceeds the standards and expectations of the
interactive industry. Now, Jay brings his knowledge and
experience to you.
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