Valve interested in fan funded projects
- July 20, 2009 00:00 AM PST
In a recent interview, Valve company boss Gabe Newell stated that he's interested in gaining financial support from the community for production of their video games.
Usually, games go through a similar process: An idea is pitched to a publisher and the publisher decides whether or not to fund the project. But, Valve company boss Gabe Newell has shown interest in a new way of getting games green lit and funded, and it comes right from the support and wallets of the everyday gamer.
Looks like Valve could be interested in consumers turning the wheel, if fan funded projects becomes a reality.
Rather than having to go through a publisher, who a lot of times have a narrow view on what content is produced, in Newell's eyes, the more ideal way would be to have the decision for content rest on the customers.
"One of the areas that I am super interested in right now is how we can do financing from the community. So right now, what typically happens is you have this budget - it needs to be huge, it has to be $10m - $30m, and it has to be all available at the beginning of the project. There's a huge amount of risk associated with those dollars and decisions have to be incredibly conservative.
What I think would be much better would be if the community could finance the games. In other words, 'Hey, I really like this idea you have. I'll be an early investor in that and, as a result, at a later point I may make a return on that product, but I'll also get a copy of that game.'
So move financing from something that occurs between a publisher and a developer… Instead have it be something where funding is coming out of community for games and game concepts they really like."
While this seems like a fun idea, its seems a little impractical for this to work on a massive scale for say, most AAA games that usually go into the tens of millions in production costs. But, all the same, it would be cool to live in a world where the gamers voice (and pockets) had some say in the development of games, for better or for worse.
Source: Kotaku
Hey, I'll chip in $10 if I can see anything new about Half-Life 2: Episode 3. Where is it?????? WHERE IS IT VALVE?????
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- Jul 20 2009 at 01:04:34:PM PST
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Screw Valve, look I love the Orange Box, one of the best deals ever in gaming. Since they don't want to develop for Ps3 they can eat a .... They need to get out of last gen CPU graphics and step their game up.
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Hmm do not see how this will work. But whatever this news won't be heard of again.
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Are they serious? People are going to put money into making a game, and then have to buy the game, so they're putting more than they need to into purchasing the game. And just because a game has a huge budget doesn't mean it will ultimately turn out as a good game.
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Wouldn't have to do that if they just let us PS3 owner buy their freaking games... it's discrimination. Valve can suck it!
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Shizammaster wrote:
Ya thats right, so good it must be said 3 TIMES.
you made me laugh, so your funny
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