There's a lot of hate on here and, just as disappointing, a lot of misinformation. I'm going to respond to a couple of the more common comments in this post.
First, full disclosure, because some of this is important to what I say below:
1. I'm a game developer in the AAA game industry. And although I've never worked in mobile development, I have lots of friends and colleagues who have. I think I have a pretty good understanding of what's going on in the game development industry these days, so I hope I can shed some light on some of the more egregious comments above.
2. Although I'm not at currently affiliated with them in any way, I have done some work for REG in the past. I mention this because I think there are a lot of unfair assumptions being made about REG and I hope that I can speak from the perspective of someone who has lived on both sides of the divide.
3. I'm a WoT fan. I first read tEotW when I was 11 or 12 in 1993, or so. I've been reading and waiting and re-reading ever since. I know, just like you, what it is to wait and hope.
I'll respond directly to a couple common themes:
******
The 'high' cost of game development:
To anyone interested in getting a better understanding of the costs of developing a game I urge you to read the following:
It's pretty short, but I'll give you the Cole's Notes version here: The cost of the average game developer is somewhere in the range of $6000 to $10000 per month (there is well-established and easily accessible research on this, see gamasutra.com). I don't know how many people work at Jet Set Games, but based on the Kickstarter video I'm going to guess that there are 15 people, maybe 20. The amount of time needed to develop a mobile game of any quality is likely around 6 months (9 is better, and admittedly some could do it in less, but only a team that has done it more than a few times before and has a very clear vision of what they're building). So let's add that all up, shall we?
15 people * $6000/month * 6 months = $5400000
As you can see, even my conservative estimate is more than the $450000 request on the Kickstarter page. My guess is that the $450000 is only partially funding development, the rest of the funding is likely coming from VCs, or perhaps from REG's own pocket.
The point is: Game development is expensive. $450000 is not an unreasonable amount for a medium-sized established team for a quarter.
******
Regarding the delay on information over the past five years: I can only speak to games here - I don't really know much about how the film industry works. There are a couple salient points:
1. There was a recession. I'm sure you didn't miss it. At the outset of the recession the game industry was touted as being 'recession-proof', the assumption being that people still wanted their entertainment - more, perhaps, since they couldn't afford to go on vacation. Well, turns out that wasn't entirely true. Sales of games, software and hardware, have been on the decline, month after month and year after year since the recession. Lately part of that decline is also due to the fact that we're nearing the end of the current console generation (Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo will all have new consoles out within the next two years), and because a lot of money is now going to social and mobile games (although there is no conclusive proof that those sales are significantly detracting from console games sales). Nevertheless, the game industry was hit by the recession and that made it hard to get funding for new projects (from anyone - not just game publishers).
2. As a direct result of the last point: Publishers are getting much, much more risk adverse. Take a look at the biggest selling games of the last two years. You're going to notice a significant trend: There are a lot of sequels in there. That's not a coincidence. Publishers are going for franchises and IPs that they know will bring in the big bucks. It is very, very rare for a new IP to gain a foothold in that kind of market (it happens, certainly, but usually there is a lot of marketing money behind it - in addition to the development cost). Even for an IP with a well-established fan base - like WoT - it's an uphill struggle; especially when you consider that, as loyal as we all are, there are still a very small number of us compared to Call of Duty fans.
In summary: Money has been hard to come by. You want a good WoT game, right? Well, REG wants that too - which is why they haven't been settling for anything less than the full funding they need to get the games off the ground.
*******
To concerns about the quality of a WoT mobile game, or appropriateness of platform:
I can't say much to this except: Get on train. Mobile - or something much like it - is very much likely the future of gaming. We're likely going to see the death of consoles (as we currently know them, at least) in our lifetimes. There are a lot of great mobile games out there, and many are very high quality in terms of graphical fidelity, gameplay, story, and anything else you can name. And they're less expensive to boot. The current generation of iPads are more powerful than a PS2 - which is only last generation gaming hardware - that's pretty good! I haven't played any of Jet Set's games, so I can't speak to their specific quality, but with their pedigree I don't doubt that they're as good as they say they are.
*******
In regards to the comments deriding REG:
I briefly did some work for REG about three and a half years ago. I can tell you, contrary to some of the comments above, that the principles of REG, Rick and Larry, are very much WoT fans, have read the books thoroughly, and very much want the games and movies to succeed. Sure, they want to make some money - but who doesn't? Think about it this way: You all trust Harriet, right? Well, I'm making some assumptions here (I don't know Harriet - I've never met her before in my life), but I think we can say that if Harriet is happy with the REG agreement - and as far as I know there is no evidence to support otherwise - then it should probably follow that we should all be happy. Otherwise, it's kinda like you're saying that those people who have been put in charge of RJ's legacy are wrong, or wrongheaded, and I don't think anyone here believes that.
This has been a long post, and I've had to write half of it twice since I was stupid enough to try writing the whole thing in the comment box to start, rather than in Notepad, like any sane person would do. In any case, if you've gotten to the end, thanks for reading and I hope that I've helped provide some perspective.
Red Eagle to produce Aiel War mobile game
in Community & Events
Posted
There's a lot of hate on here and, just as disappointing, a lot of misinformation. I'm going to respond to a couple of the more common comments in this post.
First, full disclosure, because some of this is important to what I say below:
1. I'm a game developer in the AAA game industry. And although I've never worked in mobile development, I have lots of friends and colleagues who have. I think I have a pretty good understanding of what's going on in the game development industry these days, so I hope I can shed some light on some of the more egregious comments above.
2. Although I'm not at currently affiliated with them in any way, I have done some work for REG in the past. I mention this because I think there are a lot of unfair assumptions being made about REG and I hope that I can speak from the perspective of someone who has lived on both sides of the divide.
3. I'm a WoT fan. I first read tEotW when I was 11 or 12 in 1993, or so. I've been reading and waiting and re-reading ever since. I know, just like you, what it is to wait and hope.
I'll respond directly to a couple common themes:
******
The 'high' cost of game development:
To anyone interested in getting a better understanding of the costs of developing a game I urge you to read the following:
http://elysianonline.com/game-industry/let-s-dispel-the-myth-that-indie-game-development-is-cheap-part-1/
It's pretty short, but I'll give you the Cole's Notes version here: The cost of the average game developer is somewhere in the range of $6000 to $10000 per month (there is well-established and easily accessible research on this, see gamasutra.com). I don't know how many people work at Jet Set Games, but based on the Kickstarter video I'm going to guess that there are 15 people, maybe 20. The amount of time needed to develop a mobile game of any quality is likely around 6 months (9 is better, and admittedly some could do it in less, but only a team that has done it more than a few times before and has a very clear vision of what they're building). So let's add that all up, shall we?
15 people * $6000/month * 6 months = $5400000
As you can see, even my conservative estimate is more than the $450000 request on the Kickstarter page. My guess is that the $450000 is only partially funding development, the rest of the funding is likely coming from VCs, or perhaps from REG's own pocket.
The point is: Game development is expensive. $450000 is not an unreasonable amount for a medium-sized established team for a quarter.
******
Regarding the delay on information over the past five years: I can only speak to games here - I don't really know much about how the film industry works. There are a couple salient points:
1. There was a recession. I'm sure you didn't miss it. At the outset of the recession the game industry was touted as being 'recession-proof', the assumption being that people still wanted their entertainment - more, perhaps, since they couldn't afford to go on vacation. Well, turns out that wasn't entirely true. Sales of games, software and hardware, have been on the decline, month after month and year after year since the recession. Lately part of that decline is also due to the fact that we're nearing the end of the current console generation (Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo will all have new consoles out within the next two years), and because a lot of money is now going to social and mobile games (although there is no conclusive proof that those sales are significantly detracting from console games sales). Nevertheless, the game industry was hit by the recession and that made it hard to get funding for new projects (from anyone - not just game publishers).
2. As a direct result of the last point: Publishers are getting much, much more risk adverse. Take a look at the biggest selling games of the last two years. You're going to notice a significant trend: There are a lot of sequels in there. That's not a coincidence. Publishers are going for franchises and IPs that they know will bring in the big bucks. It is very, very rare for a new IP to gain a foothold in that kind of market (it happens, certainly, but usually there is a lot of marketing money behind it - in addition to the development cost). Even for an IP with a well-established fan base - like WoT - it's an uphill struggle; especially when you consider that, as loyal as we all are, there are still a very small number of us compared to Call of Duty fans.
In summary: Money has been hard to come by. You want a good WoT game, right? Well, REG wants that too - which is why they haven't been settling for anything less than the full funding they need to get the games off the ground.
*******
To concerns about the quality of a WoT mobile game, or appropriateness of platform:
I can't say much to this except: Get on train. Mobile - or something much like it - is very much likely the future of gaming. We're likely going to see the death of consoles (as we currently know them, at least) in our lifetimes. There are a lot of great mobile games out there, and many are very high quality in terms of graphical fidelity, gameplay, story, and anything else you can name. And they're less expensive to boot. The current generation of iPads are more powerful than a PS2 - which is only last generation gaming hardware - that's pretty good! I haven't played any of Jet Set's games, so I can't speak to their specific quality, but with their pedigree I don't doubt that they're as good as they say they are.
*******
In regards to the comments deriding REG:
I briefly did some work for REG about three and a half years ago. I can tell you, contrary to some of the comments above, that the principles of REG, Rick and Larry, are very much WoT fans, have read the books thoroughly, and very much want the games and movies to succeed. Sure, they want to make some money - but who doesn't? Think about it this way: You all trust Harriet, right? Well, I'm making some assumptions here (I don't know Harriet - I've never met her before in my life), but I think we can say that if Harriet is happy with the REG agreement - and as far as I know there is no evidence to support otherwise - then it should probably follow that we should all be happy. Otherwise, it's kinda like you're saying that those people who have been put in charge of RJ's legacy are wrong, or wrongheaded, and I don't think anyone here believes that.
This has been a long post, and I've had to write half of it twice since I was stupid enough to try writing the whole thing in the comment box to start, rather than in Notepad, like any sane person would do. In any case, if you've gotten to the end, thanks for reading and I hope that I've helped provide some perspective.