Curious, you guys create an official company for your games?

Stormtrix

When you guys publish your iphone/ipad games are you submitting it as personal or did you go out and create an official company for tax reasons, etc and submit the game under just your name? I mean if you hit it big with a game and make lots of cash I would imagine you'd want it under a company vs. personal.

Storm

quantumsheep

I think it also helps with branding - it's easier to remember a good company name than that of an individual.

E.g. Quantum Sheep vs. Steve Flapajack

QS

Photics

Create... no... I've been running "Photics" for over a decade. However, I went through extra paperwork to launch my games a business. You can read about it here...

http://photics.com/apples-demand-for-iphone-business-developers-just-the-fax

I like the idea of building the Photics brand. The problem is that building a brand takes time. "Photics" might seem like a strange name, which might hurt sales. Heh... like "Nintendo" might seem strange... or how "Wii" might seem strange. But after the hard work from Nintendo... it's not as common to hear "Wii" jokes when compared to the announcement of that name.

It's risky though. With a brand, if you make one bad game... the rest of your games might suffer as a result.

design219

It would be a good idea if you are an independent developer. Take a look at what tshirtbooth did. He created Big Banana Apps and has a very memorable logo for a game company. Doesn't look like an independent. He is building his brand awareness by using that as his username over at touch arcade, and probably other places. I can't forget that name or logo, although there are many others I can't remember, or at best have a vague idea of what they look like.

Actually, if I remember correctly, somebody here helped him with his logo development, but I could be remembering that wrong.

Photics

Wow... I just looked at the Touch Arcade website. Those games are amazing! The quality is great. I have a lot more work to do if I want to be competitive with that.

quantumsheep

Generally, those kinds of games are made by teams of very talented people. Big teams.

If you can match that level of polish, on your own, you're very good

QS

Koda89

I haven't "officially" create Ravenhawk Interactive. As in, I haven't filed the paper work and what not. Cause, I honestly don't know how to. :-\

Photics

@Koda89 - Are you in the United States? Did you check with your city hall? There are a lot of questions involved in starting up a business but there's lots of information available online and probably through your local government too. Also, starting a website might be a good idea. Do you have one? The domain ravenhawkinteractive is available, but it is a bit long....

http://domain-search.domaintools.com/?q=ravenhawkinteractive

@quantumsheep - I feel that my graphics are getting better. I like the way Photics: Fireball came out. But then I saw the other pinball games I'm up against, I don't know if my game will sell well. It doesn't matter if I'm an independent developer or not. The customer is going to look at the screenshots and pick the game they think is the best.

rebump

In the U.S., filing a "DBA" (doing business as) statement and then just declaring income/loss on your personal income tax is the easiest. Some smaller localities may not even require a formal filing of such and some may want you to file a sole proprietorship. When you start earning more and/or want to limit your liability (or hide your name a bit), then you may want to look into LLC/LLP or incorporation.

quantumsheep

@Photics

Perhaps try something... disruptive?

For example... There are few, if any, games out there on the Wii that can match or surpass those seen on a PS3/Xbox 360.

Likewise, DS graphics are inferior to those found on the PSP.

And yet, Nintendo's systems are the best selling of their generation...

There's got to be something in that

Be positive!

QS