Goodbye from MrFunkleberry
First off, i’d like to say i love you all. I believe GameSalad is a truly inspirational product, and the team at GameSalad are some of the most amazing, beautiful, and extremely hardworking bunch of people, i’m ever likely to meet.
Most of all i want to say thanks to my heroes, friends and peers of the GameSalad dev community. I’m not going completely, i’ll still be in touch with QuantumSheep (who i hope to marry some day), and others. Hopefully i may still appear in a game credit or two
But it’s time for me to move on.
The following is in no way connected to my departure, but i couldn’t leave without a last rant...
If Apple is the restaurant, GameSalad is one of a multitude of waitresses. The problem is, the chefs, the people making the food, are being asked to pay for the plates, and are only getting a share of the of the waitress's tips. A challenging model, even if the waitress looked like she'd been pinched from Hooters.
It's still a great opportunity for a budding chef to join the trade, but no, you probably won't make a living, and if you want a hobby, you might be better off cooking at home for your loved ones.
The problem is one of managing expectations of the current staff. GameSalad was never really a waitress, but the most loved ingredient supplier in town. The chefs have no proof that GameSalad will make a good waitress, it's never been on her resume. And asking the current staff of chefs to foot the bill so she can try her hand at going 'front of house', is understandably troubling.
Ok. My metaphor of the restaurant and its staff maybe a little tortured at this point, but it does highlight an additional shift in expectations. That is, it now feels like a business. Whereas before we were cooking for the love of food, and the dream of making a great dish, it now feels like a business proposition. GameSalad is asking a bunch of amateurs (super talented and enthusiastic amateurs) to go pro, for less pay.
By raising the stakes in such a personal way is uncomfortable, bordering on the offensive. It threatens the very reasons why many of us was attracted to GameSalad, and threatens the amazing culture that's been tirelessly built up by our peers, and heroes.
Even the most ambitious amongst us, don't create games just for the money. There's easier ways to make a buck. And what we felt we owned, our hard work, talent, creativity, craft, our brands, now feels like it's been taken away from us. This is how we chose to express ourselves. It’s importance should never be compromised, or devalued. None of us were kept awake at nights trying to think of the best game for GameSalad.
So my advice is this. GameSalad needs give away its brand to the developers, we need to feel we can take ownership of it. GameSalad needs to prove its credentials as a marketing force that is value for money. GameSalad needs to promote the author above the platform. GameSalad needs to be paid properly for it’s valuable services, but in a way that doesn’t feel like a tax. GameSalad needs to put a higher value on creativity, effort, and community, but most of all FUN.
And some of you developers need a kick up the ass too... http://gamesalad.com/forums/topic.php?id=5989#post-38139
That’s it from me. Have fun, create great games, and yes SaladGamers.com will still be around for you.
Most of all i want to say thanks to my heroes, friends and peers of the GameSalad dev community. I’m not going completely, i’ll still be in touch with QuantumSheep (who i hope to marry some day), and others. Hopefully i may still appear in a game credit or two
But it’s time for me to move on.
The following is in no way connected to my departure, but i couldn’t leave without a last rant...
If Apple is the restaurant, GameSalad is one of a multitude of waitresses. The problem is, the chefs, the people making the food, are being asked to pay for the plates, and are only getting a share of the of the waitress's tips. A challenging model, even if the waitress looked like she'd been pinched from Hooters.
It's still a great opportunity for a budding chef to join the trade, but no, you probably won't make a living, and if you want a hobby, you might be better off cooking at home for your loved ones.
The problem is one of managing expectations of the current staff. GameSalad was never really a waitress, but the most loved ingredient supplier in town. The chefs have no proof that GameSalad will make a good waitress, it's never been on her resume. And asking the current staff of chefs to foot the bill so she can try her hand at going 'front of house', is understandably troubling.
Ok. My metaphor of the restaurant and its staff maybe a little tortured at this point, but it does highlight an additional shift in expectations. That is, it now feels like a business. Whereas before we were cooking for the love of food, and the dream of making a great dish, it now feels like a business proposition. GameSalad is asking a bunch of amateurs (super talented and enthusiastic amateurs) to go pro, for less pay.
By raising the stakes in such a personal way is uncomfortable, bordering on the offensive. It threatens the very reasons why many of us was attracted to GameSalad, and threatens the amazing culture that's been tirelessly built up by our peers, and heroes.
Even the most ambitious amongst us, don't create games just for the money. There's easier ways to make a buck. And what we felt we owned, our hard work, talent, creativity, craft, our brands, now feels like it's been taken away from us. This is how we chose to express ourselves. It’s importance should never be compromised, or devalued. None of us were kept awake at nights trying to think of the best game for GameSalad.
So my advice is this. GameSalad needs give away its brand to the developers, we need to feel we can take ownership of it. GameSalad needs to prove its credentials as a marketing force that is value for money. GameSalad needs to promote the author above the platform. GameSalad needs to be paid properly for it’s valuable services, but in a way that doesn’t feel like a tax. GameSalad needs to put a higher value on creativity, effort, and community, but most of all FUN.
And some of you developers need a kick up the ass too... http://gamesalad.com/forums/topic.php?id=5989#post-38139
That’s it from me. Have fun, create great games, and yes SaladGamers.com will still be around for you.
Comments
It was really nice to have you around, and take care of yourself!
We will miss you around here!
Good luck in everything you do!
RD
Can you post ur twitter mr funk? I'd love to follow you... (that felt so weird to type...)
Feeling a bit unbearably wonderful so I lost my train of thought, but best of luck in what you do! Oh and is SaladGamers open for non GS apps?
P.s.: QS Unbearably Wonderful is STILL my favorite gs app
I wonder if they'll add 'So good, you can make apps in two hours while inebriated!' to the GS marketing materials
I won't specify which bit though
I've missed you not being around, and will miss you still not being around. But we'll always have Paris...
Don't go changing!
QS
Dr. Sam Beckett never returned home...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Quantum_Sheep
Web: https://quantumsheep.itch.io
Stay safe
Keith
I wish you nothing but luck for the future.