1) We (the majority of us) will not be giving GS a cut. It isn't going to happen. Especially if they want 25%, Apple wants 30% and tax, depending on your locale, is up to 50%.
2) I will, along with most of us, sweat blood before I publish a game under a name other than my own. Even if it's shyte, it's MY shyte - it isn't theirs - we as a community DEMAND freedom - being forced to let them publish our apps is NOT freedom.
I bet they are hoping this is like iADs for just Pros. That it's a big fuss that blows over if they f'ing ignore us all long enough. Not going to happen.
They made the post, they didn't email us and then they didn't contribute in the thread. The people who should be our community's figureheads are, at this moment, the greatest threat to us.
I'm a bit offended by this. Yea, I was contacted by Gendai Games, signed an NDA, became a moderator and Sous-Chef, and was privy to additional information. Maybe to others, I sound like a cheerleader for them, but I'm still a developer like the rest of you.
As a current subscriber, I remained hopeful that they would do the right thing. I'm not ecstatic about the idea of another hand reaching into my profits. But GameSalad is currently the only game development kit (GDK) that satisfies my basic needs. My overall sales have not been satisfactory by my standards, and maybe I could use the backing of a publisher to promote my game better than I could. If that's Kool-Aid, well, pour me a glass then.
I am not that concerned with identity. As someone previously stated, it's the name and image of the game that stays in most people's heads, not the person or company behind it. I can still put my game and App Store link on my website, and people will still buy the game.
But, my concern is that they are untried as a publisher. Johnny Constellation was one of their own products. How much was pumped behind that? What sales did they get on it?
I'm in the same boat as many of you. I'm trying to be hopeful, keep a positive attitude - honestly with all this negativity, I'd be lying if I said it's as easy as it was 8 hours ago.
I already have licenses for Corona Game Edition and iTorque 2D, so my options are reluctantly wide open.
Strobanik said: Just wanted to chip in - I've read people's negativeness in these forums in the past, and it has almost always pissed me off. Not this time. I've got my pro subscription ending in spring 2011, I'll do my best with my games in the remaining time, then switch to something else.
Unity sounds like a good way to go. Maybe it's good to get this kick in the behind to learn a program that has a bigger potential. Even though it means I in a way will have to start over again.
I love Gamesalad - I think it's a genius software. It's just very sad it couldn't function in its present state, and that I won't use it in the future.
I will look out for your future games - you've always had a fan in me!
iDeveloper-Is-Leaving-GameSalad said: Another thing I thought of: They can lie about why a game got rejected and so on.
The whole thing stinks..the vast majority of us want to publish under our own terms directly to what ever tools Apple supplies..App Store or fricking Hat Store and we don't want some amateur bunch of money grabbing morons to take that over..simples.
Just when I thought taptardSalad couldn't get any worse. It makes no difference now what is in the new update. GameSalad just killed themselves. They WILL be a failed startup within 2 years.
The numbers don't make sense. There just aren't that many hobbyists wanting to make games for iPhone. True app devs will reject this software model like the plague.
GameSalad has implemented a business model that will drive ANYONE with true dev skill away from them and only generate craptards and garbage-ware.
I don't care is GS can make monkeys fly to the moon in the next update...this new model is no good for us. We don't need a publisher and we're not sharing revenue...PERIOD!
The devs need software...not a big brother. Jesus...You nitwits just don't get the independent dev world.
GameSalad is now bottom barrel software...in the crap bin with all the other royalty driven softwares.
See you all over at Corona's forums. Its been a pleasure conversing with you all!
(walks away laughing hysterically at the stupidity just witnessed).
Exactly what I was thinking.. Summed it up perfectly..
People are saying you are good for the next X months of your membership, but what happens after that? All your games become un-updateable for revolt from their system? That I retarded..
Where do we go to get refunds? I'm thinking it might come to that soon before this ship well and truly sinks..
This is very very very bad news for my company and my existing clients.
I would like someone from gamesalad to contact me immediately about what is going on here. I really don't want to speculate but I need to be sure that all games will not be under a gamesalad account. I run an iPhone development company and we have just recently started to develop games for clients because we found gamesalad. We have a game scheduled to be released in 5 weeks. And another to be release in 10 weeks. We planned on setting up google adwords campaign for making 2D games. It seems that our plans are about to take a dramatic turn for the worse. We planned on buying a Pro license in the next 2 weeks. Now it seems I do not even have an option to purchase gamesalad? I think that during your transition you should give your existing customers a chance to upgrade to the paid gamesalad account. The pro account for $1000 or better yet $500. This would at least make the transition easier for those planning on using your service and also create a large amount of up front cash for your company.
I don't speak for anyone here but myself but I really need some clarification as to what is going on. Honestly, clarification won't help I need guarantees that the games my developers have been working on for the past 6 weeks will not need to be on a gamesalad account and will not need to pay royalties. We are building games for clients and they didn't sign up for that in there contract!
Omg! It's obvious everyone hates this just fix it and say u ain't gonna do it! Allwe want it the update just give us the update! OMG ! I'm pissed right now!
OH MY GOD!!!!! - I have just read all these posts and I cannot believe this!!!!!
I knew as soon as investors got onboard GS would have to change its current business model, but to take away our independence as a developer - NO!!!!!!
I agree with FMG - JCFord is my creation, it's my brand, its ME!! and I will not give that up at any cost!!!
Lets look into the future… GS makes it easy to publishes all games under one single GS itunes account… which will be littered with cheap trailer trash games and apps, being uploaded in their hundreds each day! - GS will get a bad name!
I am sorry GS, I think the software although with its faults is amazing, but I will not be part of this future if I lose my independence as a publisher - SHAME ON YOU GS!
I don't really think they care, while they will lose most of their original members, they are going to attract many new users who like the idea of no upfront costs.
I think you are screwed with your clients. GameSalad has jacked you royally. You will need to convert their apps to another platform...using code...or renegotiate your contract with them...or refund your fees to them.
Yeah, they are going to make a fortune in my opinion. Loads and loads of new users all developing applications and publishing. GS probably does't care if they are crap. They will always make profit out of it.
This is an absolute winner for them (and i'm happy for them!)
Eastbound said: Well I finally caught up and read all of the posts.
I told them revenue sharing is okay, but I want my brand independence. All I want is my brand. But no.
Everything worth saying has already been said, so there's no point in complaining.
I had just begun working on my masterpiece. It was a shooter, so I was hoping for GS speed improvements, but those don't matter now. Luckily I spent most of my time thus far on graphical elements. I AM going to keep my brand independence, that's for damn sure.
My favorite part about this place was the community, best I've seen in a while. I'd like to see this stay in tact. I'm not suggesting an exodus, but one is inevitable.
So to anyone else who will be switching to Corona or Unity, I think we should try to get a community together to learn and help each other learn a new development tool. Hell, with enough members switching, we could possibly broker a deal for cheaper membership fees with both programs.
Count me in I've been checking corona for a while now and think I may have my answer
@iDeveloper-Is-Leaving-GameSalad Yes, you will loose the name on the appstore, but we will have splash screens and descriptions in which we can specificly declare who the game has been made from.
jonmulcahy said: I don't really think they care, while they will lose most of their original members, they are going to attract many new users who like the idea of no upfront costs.
This isn't sustainable. The GameSalad account on the app store will by synonymous with total garbage-ware...and no one will buy their apps. The company and software WILL die. Once again...the investors just screwed the pooch...killed the golden goose...etc.
jonmulcahy said: I don't really think they care, while they will lose most of their original members, they are going to attract many new users who like the idea of no upfront costs.
You know who likes no upfront costs? People who aren't committed enough to buy a god damned license. >.<'
There is going to be a lot more crap created; and if GS are taking money for when you want to submit an app as well as some revenue, then they aren't like to reject anything - and we all know Apple isn't likely to weed out the trash.
I was so happy that a big update was coming. Now I'm just pissed off and fed up.
I think at this stage they're probably reading this and not giving a damn, thinking it will be just like the iAds issue - it wont be until licenses start expiring that they realize they've f'd themselves.
They had such promise.
Good thing they've changed their tagline - GS really isn't for "the rest of us" any more.
jonmulcahy said: I don't really think they care, while they will lose most of their original members, they are going to attract many new users who like the idea of no upfront costs.
Precisely ..this new model has been figured with a totally refreshed user base..ultimately they don't give a rats nut for any of us.
You know... 1.000.000 usd investment is not that big when you start to add up all the costs that are involved in running a business, from the big ones like rent and directors salaries to the small one's like office consumables... and I'm pretty sure that they all got brand new cars from these money. Soon after the current subscriptions will expire and no one will renew they will realize what a big mistake they made.
butterbean said: It's a giant leap of faith to think they can replace all of us with new users.
They could barely scrape up developers as it is, and this new plan will ensure their company will fail.
They won't be luring in professional devs with their new plan, but craptard app developers, if that.
There is no way in hell that this will not fail. Whether they attract no one because they are now sh*t, or because they attract crappy "devs" (also because they are now sh*t) - they still lose.
Plus, without all the fantastic people here, they will be providing their OWN support. All of is.
Codemonkey saying earlier in the thread that he'll be around to help with tech stuff is the biggest joke EVER. I've never once seen him help anyone here.
If I make a thread right now asking how to set up the viewer you know who will respond? Pretty much everyone EXCEPT a staff member of GS.
Rob2 said: Precisely ..this new model has been figured with a totally refreshed user base..ultimately they don't give a rats nut for any of us.
That's the part I don't understand... who is this "new user base"? In their minds they might have lowered the barrier of entry but you still have to have the desire, skills and, as far as a financial commitment is concerned, own a MAC! And let me tell you, owning a Mac costs way more than what I spent on GS and Apple Dev fee.
No, this isn't just about barrier of entry, its about building a catalog of software they can own... and let me tell you, what a catalog that will be!
"There gonna have to do something this sis crazy" - hopefully they will start by firing the guy that had this brilliant idea and then hire a decent PR/Marketing guy/gal
Comments
1) We (the majority of us) will not be giving GS a cut. It isn't going to happen. Especially if they want 25%, Apple wants 30% and tax, depending on your locale, is up to 50%.
2) I will, along with most of us, sweat blood before I publish a game under a name other than my own. Even if it's shyte, it's MY shyte - it isn't theirs - we as a community DEMAND freedom - being forced to let them publish our apps is NOT freedom.
I bet they are hoping this is like iADs for just Pros. That it's a big fuss that blows over if they f'ing ignore us all long enough. Not going to happen.
They made the post, they didn't email us and then they didn't contribute in the thread. The people who should be our community's figureheads are, at this moment, the greatest threat to us.
As a current subscriber, I remained hopeful that they would do the right thing. I'm not ecstatic about the idea of another hand reaching into my profits. But GameSalad is currently the only game development kit (GDK) that satisfies my basic needs. My overall sales have not been satisfactory by my standards, and maybe I could use the backing of a publisher to promote my game better than I could. If that's Kool-Aid, well, pour me a glass then.
I am not that concerned with identity. As someone previously stated, it's the name and image of the game that stays in most people's heads, not the person or company behind it. I can still put my game and App Store link on my website, and people will still buy the game.
But, my concern is that they are untried as a publisher. Johnny Constellation was one of their own products. How much was pumped behind that? What sales did they get on it?
I'm in the same boat as many of you. I'm trying to be hopeful, keep a positive attitude - honestly with all this negativity, I'd be lying if I said it's as easy as it was 8 hours ago.
I already have licenses for Corona Game Edition and iTorque 2D, so my options are reluctantly wide open.
Dr. Sam Beckett never returned home...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Quantum_Sheep
Web: https://quantumsheep.itch.io
Gee. I wonder why comments are closed.
I kinda have visions of them reading this and saying to each other... oh noes, what has we done.
I somehow think not though.
It's happening guys, whether we want it to or not.
People are saying you are good for the next X months of your membership, but what happens after that? All your games become un-updateable for revolt from their system? That I retarded..
Where do we go to get refunds? I'm thinking it might come to that soon before this ship well and truly sinks..
// red.
I would like someone from gamesalad to contact me immediately about what is going on here. I really don't want to speculate but I need to be sure that all games will not be under a gamesalad account. I run an iPhone development company and we have just recently started to develop games for clients because we found gamesalad. We have a game scheduled to be released in 5 weeks. And another to be release in 10 weeks. We planned on setting up google adwords campaign for making 2D games. It seems that our plans are about to take a dramatic turn for the worse. We planned on buying a Pro license in the next 2 weeks. Now it seems I do not even have an option to purchase gamesalad? I think that during your transition you should give your existing customers a chance to upgrade to the paid gamesalad account. The pro account for $1000 or better yet $500. This would at least make the transition easier for those planning on using your service and also create a large amount of up front cash for your company.
I don't speak for anyone here but myself but I really need some clarification as to what is going on. Honestly, clarification won't help I need guarantees that the games my developers have been working on for the past 6 weeks will not need to be on a gamesalad account and will not need to pay royalties. We are building games for clients and they didn't sign up for that in there contract!
I knew as soon as investors got onboard GS would have to change its current business model, but to take away our independence as a developer - NO!!!!!!
I agree with FMG - JCFord is my creation, it's my brand, its ME!! and I will not give that up at any cost!!!
Lets look into the future… GS makes it easy to publishes all games under one single GS itunes account… which will be littered with cheap trailer trash games and apps, being uploaded in their hundreds each day! - GS will get a bad name!
I am sorry GS, I think the software although with its faults is amazing, but I will not be part of this future if I lose my independence as a publisher - SHAME ON YOU GS!
JCFord
Send and Receive Data using your own Server Tutorial! | Vote for A Long Way Home on Steam Greenlight! | Ten Years Left
I think you are screwed with your clients. GameSalad has jacked you royally. You will need to convert their apps to another platform...using code...or renegotiate your contract with them...or refund your fees to them.
I know...it sucks the big one!!!
I do not want to loose MY independence either.
This is an absolute winner for them
There is going to be a lot more crap created; and if GS are taking money for when you want to submit an app as well as some revenue, then they aren't like to reject anything - and we all know Apple isn't likely to weed out the trash.
I was so happy that a big update was coming. Now I'm just pissed off and fed up.
I think at this stage they're probably reading this and not giving a damn, thinking it will be just like the iAds issue - it wont be until licenses start expiring that they realize they've f'd themselves.
They had such promise.
Good thing they've changed their tagline - GS really isn't for "the rest of us" any more.
"GameSalad is now a publisher"
"NUUUUUUUUU"
http://venturebeat.com/2010/10/12/gamesalad-aims-to-let-anyone-create-and-launch-iphone-apps/
They could barely scrape up developers as it is, and this new plan will ensure their company will fail.
They won't be luring in professional devs with their new plan, but craptard app developers, if that.
Plus, without all the fantastic people here, they will be providing their OWN support. All of is.
Codemonkey saying earlier in the thread that he'll be around to help with tech stuff is the biggest joke EVER. I've never once seen him help anyone here.
If I make a thread right now asking how to set up the viewer you know who will respond? Pretty much everyone EXCEPT a staff member of GS.
No, this isn't just about barrier of entry, its about building a catalog of software they can own... and let me tell you, what a catalog that will be!
Twitter:rondorocket
Web: rondorocket.com
What do you expect? They just torched us.
They basically said F' off.
"We don't need you...you now need us...otherwise...farewell."
Some would think this is a brilliant business move...but in the independent dev world...its a runaway train heading for a steep non-banking curve.