Herein lies the dreaded entrance to “The Developer’s Valley of Death"
May 23, 2016 7:07 PM Subscribe
In this day where closing studios is the established and accepted norm, we want to do our part to combat the norm.
"We want to challenge how success is measured and point out that money shouldn’t be the only applied metric. In an industry that is smack full of impostor syndrome, depression, anxiety, and other things that are sometimes associated with the emotional work that goes into creativity, it is also important to think about how we measure success and failure. Of course money is important, as an enabler, but sometimes you need help creating something that doesn’t only serve commercial value, but an artistic need. Not acknowledging that is to miss the point of making games."
"For us, Kathy Rain is a success because it has something to say and players are hearing it. Creating it has changed the developer’s life, and through it we’ve been able to help tackle things that aren’t usually seen in games. And finally, because it raises our portfolio as a publisher, so in that regard it is even a business success.
Even though Kathy Rain has momentarily failed financially, it has succeeded in so many other ways. We should all think about how we perceive and handle our misses instead of only embracing our hits. For us, Kathy Rain feels like a success. Clifftop Games is a success."
"For us, Kathy Rain is a success because it has something to say and players are hearing it. Creating it has changed the developer’s life, and through it we’ve been able to help tackle things that aren’t usually seen in games. And finally, because it raises our portfolio as a publisher, so in that regard it is even a business success.
Even though Kathy Rain has momentarily failed financially, it has succeeded in so many other ways. We should all think about how we perceive and handle our misses instead of only embracing our hits. For us, Kathy Rain feels like a success. Clifftop Games is a success."
I'm about three quarters of the way through Kathy Rain, and I'm enjoying it quite a bit. Old school adventure games just don't sell well these days, unfortunately.
posted by dortmunder at 7:30 PM on May 23, 2016
posted by dortmunder at 7:30 PM on May 23, 2016
Some how I missed even hearing about this game, but it looks right up my alley, so it's a soon steam purchase for me.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 9:04 PM on May 23, 2016
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 9:04 PM on May 23, 2016
We do not require anything in return. Not the Kathy Rain IP. Not increased revenue share. Not rights to future titles, revenue streams, or anything else. ... he’s already cooking something up—and we do not have sole or first rights to publish, or do anything really. Joel can do as he pleases.
I wish them the best, and agree that publishing houses supporting artists based on more than just short term gains is a good thing, but unless they have the money to just serve as a patron, treating their company as a business and getting some quid pro quo may serve them better in the long run. I've watched people lose small fortunes on hobby businesses in the arts (in at least once case bankrupting themselves) because they failed to recognize that the only way to keep supporting artists in the long run was to make the company self sustaining. There's only so long you can keep going when you realize that you're choosing to support an artist rather than funding your kid's college savings.
I applaud them for not using poor sales to squeeze the developer on the existing deal, but there's nothing wrong with requiring some consideration from on future games if they're providing the funding that allows for them to be created.
posted by Candleman at 9:39 PM on May 23, 2016
I wish them the best, and agree that publishing houses supporting artists based on more than just short term gains is a good thing, but unless they have the money to just serve as a patron, treating their company as a business and getting some quid pro quo may serve them better in the long run. I've watched people lose small fortunes on hobby businesses in the arts (in at least once case bankrupting themselves) because they failed to recognize that the only way to keep supporting artists in the long run was to make the company self sustaining. There's only so long you can keep going when you realize that you're choosing to support an artist rather than funding your kid's college savings.
I applaud them for not using poor sales to squeeze the developer on the existing deal, but there's nothing wrong with requiring some consideration from on future games if they're providing the funding that allows for them to be created.
posted by Candleman at 9:39 PM on May 23, 2016
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