Game Changers: Chris Taylor
I’m excited to introduce a new feature at the Roberts Space Industries website: “Game Changers!“. Informal discussions with well-known game developers to give everyone an insight into the developer perspective, the things that excite or challenge and to talk a little about what they are up to. An insider’s access to talented developers that have made games that both you and I love.
My sit down with Chris Taylor, located above, is the first of such pieces, and we shot it before Christmas before he launched his Wildman campaign. We talk about our shared history with Electronic Arts and Microsoft and Wildman. He’s made many great games, such as Total Annihilation, Dungeon Siege and Supreme Commander and he never goes into something with less than 150% energy and enthusiasm.
So why Kickstarter for Chris and myself?
It really has to do with the publisher / developer relationship in today’s world. A publisher will say;
“Here’s $20M to make a game, I’ll own the intellectual property and you’ll have to pay me back that $20M from your royalties. Because I’m advancing you so much your royalty rate is going to be only 20% of the net revenue.”
What this means is that the publisher will be making money for a long time before a developer will ever see a penny of profit from their hard work. This model comes from the recording industry, where it works better because the recording cost of the album is a lot less than the cost of selling it. In the old days of game development, when games cost just your own time and could be made quickly the model worked. But as the cost of development has gone up the advantage has irrevocably shifted to the publisher. They still pay the same to market and publish the game as they always did, but the developer side of the cost equation has gone way up. Originally something like 80% of the cost of selling a game was in packaging, sales and marketing and only 20% or less was in development. But now the cost of development is more like 50-60% of the overall investment but the share the developer gets has not increased. So pretty much all independent developers end up being indentured servants to whichever publisher they are working for. They almost never make enough money from any game to become independent and so are completely dependent on development contracts.
This development contracts tend to be so tight that there are not more than a few months of extra “burn” in the bank, so if you don’t land a new job pretty quickly, you are in trouble. Which is why you’ve seen so many developers close over the past few years, especially as publishers have cut back on their external development to focus more and more on in-house sequels to “franchises” like Call of Duty, FIFA or Battlefield.
This is why crowd funding and Kickstarter is so exciting for developers. Besides the awesomeness of connecting directly with people that love your games and engaging in a lot of fun conversations it allows you to free yourself from the shackles of working for a publisher. It takes the publisher out of the revenue chain, allowing the developer to keep more money, which in turn can be used to build a better game the way the community and the developer wants. No crazy notes from publishing executives that don’t play games, or marketing executives wanting to chase the fluffy unicorn of social. That’s why I love crowd funding. I’m immensely grateful to all of you in allowing me to build Star Citizen free from the interference of a publisher. I will build a better game, and I game better tailored to what YOU want. Its why I try to support any of my peers in entering the wild and woolly world of crowd funding. I think it’s a huge boost for the future of game making.
I’ve known Chris for a long time and he’s one of the most straight shooting, forthcoming and funny people you will meet. He’s a genuine pleasure to be around and incredibly talented. Wildman, is about as far from a Space Sim as you can get, but if you’re a fan of any of Chris Taylor’s games I would encourage you to check it out, either on Kickstarter or on their dedicated site. Like Star Citizen, Wildman will build on the DNA of Taylor’s previous games, including both real time strategy and role playing elements in ways never before combined!
I’m backing!
-Chris
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Funding period
Oct 18, 2012 -
Nov 19, 2012
(32 days)
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THE KICKSTARTER: The Electro Skin Hull Enhancement for existing Roberts Space Industries ship owners. Can switch hull appearance at a flick of a switch. Includes special skin to show that you've backed twice.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2014Pledge $10 or more
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CIVILIAN: Be part of the creation of the game. Every pledger reinforces that Space Sims are not dead and nor are PC Gamers!
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SCOUT: A digital copy of the finished game for your PC with your RSI Aurora spaceship ready to fly + 1,000 Galatic Credits + Exclusive access to the Beta + White Citizens Card (physical reward)
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DIGITAL SCOUT: A digital copy of the finished game for your PC with your RSI Aurora spaceship ready to fly + 1,000 Galatic Credits + Exclusive access to the Alpha + Beta (digital tier, no physical rewards)
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DIGITAL SCOUT: A digital copy of the finished game for your PC with your RSI Aurora spaceship ready to fly + 1,000 Galatic Credits + Exclusive access to the Alpha + Beta (digital tier, no physical rewards)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2014Pledge $37 or more
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DIGITAL SCOUT: A digital copy of the finished game for your PC with your RSI Aurora spaceship ready to fly + 1,000 Galatic Credits + Exclusive access to the Alpha + Beta (digital tier, no physical rewards)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2014Pledge $40 or more
2010 backers
MERCENARY: A digital copy of the finished game for your PC with your RSI Aurora spaceship ready to fly + 1,000 Galactic Credits + Exclusive access to the Alpha and Beta + White Citizen's Card (physical reward)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2014Add $5 to ship outside the USPledge $60 or more
3541 backers
BOUNTY HUNTER: A digital copy of the finished game for your PC with your Origin 300i spaceship ready to fly + 2,000 Galactic Credits + Exclusive access to the Alpha and Beta + Digital copy of game soundtrack + Digital copy of the map for the game universe + Digital 42-page Star Citizens manual + Green Citizen's Card (Physical reward)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2014Add $5 to ship outside the USPledge $60 or more
2278 backers
DIGITAL BOUNTY HUNTER: A digital copy of the finished game for your PC with your Origin 300i spaceship ready to fly + 2,000 Galactic Credits + Exclusive access to the Alpha and Beta + Digital copy of game soundtrack + Digital copy of the map for the game universe + Digital 42-page Star Citizens manual (digital tier, no physical rewards)
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627 backers
DOUBLE DIGITAL SCOUT: Two digital copies of the finished game and two of everything from the 'Digital Scout' tier. Share with a friend!
Estimated delivery: Nov 2014Pledge $110 or more
220 backers
Title: PIRATE: A digital copy of the finished game for your PC with your Drake Cutlass spaceship ready to fly + 2,000 Galactic Credits + Tractor Beam + Docking Collar + Exclusive access to the Alpha and Beta + Digital copy of game soundtrack + Digital copy of the map for the game universe + Digital 42-page Star Citizens manual (digital tier, no physical rewards)
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163 backers
DIGITAL COLONEL: The finished game for your PC with your Anvil Aerospace Hornet ready to fly (High-end ship focused towards dogfighting/combat) + 5,000 Galactic Credits + Exclusive access to the Alpha and Beta + digital copy of game soundtrack + full color digital map of the game universe + digital copy of Squadron 42 manual
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DIGITAL FREELANCER: The finished game for your PC with your MISC Freelancer ready to fly (High-end ship focused more for trade and exploration) + 5,000 Galactic Credits + Exclusive access to the Alpha and Beta + digital copy of game soundtrack + full color digital map of the game universe + digital copy of Engineering Manual for modders
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82 backers
QUAD DIGITAL SCOUT: Four digital copies of the finished game and four of everything from the 'Digital Scout' tier. Share with your friends!
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1041 backers
COLONEL: The finished game for your PC with your Anvil Aerospace Hornet ready to fly (High-end ship focused towards dogfighting/combat) + 5,000 Galactic Credits + Exclusive access to the Alpha and Beta + Spaceship shaped USB stick with the game and all digital elements + CD of game soundtrack + Fold-up glossy full color map of the game universe + Hardcover copy of Star Citizen manual + Bronze Citizens Card
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1453 backers
FREELANCER: The finished game for your PC with your MISC Freelancer ready to fly (High-end ship focused more for trade and exploration) + 5,000 Galatic Credits + Exclusive access to the Alpha and Beta + Spaceship shaped USB stick with the game and all digital elements + CD of game soundtrack + Fold-up glossy full color map of the game universe + Hardcover copy of Star Citizen manual + Bronze Citizens Card
Estimated delivery: Nov 2014Add $15 to ship outside the USPledge $250 or more
1509 backers
REAR ADMIRAL: Finished game for your PC with your top-of-the-line RSI Constellation spaceship ready to fly + 10,000 Galactic Credits + Exclusive access to the Alpha and Beta + Spaceship shaped USB stick with the game and all digital elements + CD of game soundtrack + Fold-up glossy full color map of the game universe + Set of 5 Ship blueprints + 3-inch physical model of your in-game ship + Hardcover copy of 'The Making of Star Citizen' including loads of behind the scenes images and info, prelim concept art, development stories + Silver Citizens Card
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VICE ADMIRAL: Finished game for your PC with your top-of-the-line RSI Constellation spaceship ready to fly + 15,000 Galactic Credits + Exclusive access to the Alpha and Beta + Spaceship shaped USB stick with the game and all digital elements + CD of game soundtrack + Fold-up glossy full color map of the game universe + Set of 5 Ship blueprints + 4-inch physical model of your in-game ship + Hardcover copy of 'The Making of Star Citizen' including loads of behind the scenes images and info, prelim concept art, development stories + Gold Citizens Card
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HIGH ADMIRAL: Finished game for your PC with your top-of-the-line RSI Constellation spaceship ready to fly + Exclusive access to the Alpha and Beta + 20,000 Galactic Credits + Spaceship shaped USB stick with the game and all digital elements + CD of game soundtrack + Fold-up glossy full color map of the game universe + Set of 5 Ship blueprints + 6-inch physical model of your in-game ship + Hardcover copy of 'The Making of Star Citizen' including loads of behind the scenes images and info, prelim concept art, development stories + 30min video conference with Chris Roberts to ask him all the questions you like + Platinum Citizens Card
Estimated delivery: Nov 2014Pledge $2,500 or more
3 backers
GRAND ADMIRAL: Finished game for your PC with all five pledge ships ready to fly + Exclusive access to the Alpha and Beta + 20,000 Galactic Credits + Spaceship shaped USB stick with the game and all digital elements + CD of game soundtrack + Fold-up glossy full color map of the game universe + Set of 5 Ship blueprints + 6-inch physical model of your in-game ship + Hardcover copy of 'The Making of Star Citizen' including loads of behind the scenes images and info, prelim concept art, development stories + Hardback bound 42-page Engineering Manual for Modders+ Hardback bound 42-page Squadron 42 Manual + 60min video conference with Chris Roberts to ask him all the questions you like + Platinum Citizens Card
Estimated delivery: Nov 2014Pledge $5,000 or more
1 backer Limited (19 of 20 left)
SPACE MARSHALL: The finished game for your PC with your top of the line RSI Constellation spaceship ready to fly + 20,000 Galactic Credits + Exclusive access to the Alpha and Beta + Spaceship shaped USB stick of game and all digital elements + CD of game soundtrack + Fold up glossy full color map of the game universe + Set of 5 Ship Blueprints + 8-inch painted model of your in-game ship + Hardcover copy of 'The Making of Star Citizen' including loads of behind the scenes images and info, prelim concept art, development stories + Spend half a day with Chris Roberts and get into the details of the development + Black Citizens Card
Estimated delivery: Nov 2014Pledge $10,000 or more
1 backer Limited (9 of 10 left)
Title: WING COMMANDER: The finished game for your PC with your top of the line RSI Constellation spaceship ready to fly + 20,000 Galactic Credits + Custom skin for your RSI Constellation Spaceship + Name your spaceship (after you if you want!) + Exclusive access to the Alpha and Beta + 1 Million Mile High Club Ownership - Invite your guests to your private club in the game + Spaceship shaped USB stick of game and all digital elements + CD of game soundtrack + Fold up glossy full color map of the game universe + Set of 5 Ship Blueprints + 10-inch painted model of your in-game ship + Hardcover copy of 'The Making of Star Citizen' including loads of behind the scenes images and info, prelim concept art, development stories + Hang for a day with Chris Roberts and key peeps on the dev team + Titanium Citizens Card
Estimated delivery: Nov 2014
Comments
Creator Grant Bagwell on February 13
Hi,
Emailed info and billing but still not had a response back regarding the citizen cards - I had already added the postage amount to the pledge so don't see why I am being asked for it again.
Could someone please respond with a resolution please?
Creator Diego on February 7
I did not back Wildman.
I'm a Chris Taylor fan. He made total Annihilation, a quatum jump in the RTS archetype, and has to be recognized.
I was not too happy, tough, about his stance against Planetary Annihilation. Those guys worked with him, and he, simply put, said RTS is no longer doable, and that's why he went small scale MOBA-ish.
Well, if you're gonna do games because you think that's what the market want, feel free to do so. But why not do it with publishers? It's their game, making money.
I like RTS. A LOT. I don't like MOBAs. And I think very few people will play a PvE MOBA more than a few hours.
Creator Ian Rocha on February 4
Yeah, I already backed Wildman too. Less because of Name Branding and more because I found the game interesting.
Creator James Bauer on February 3
I have already backed him. I have loved his games since back when TA came out so I had to do it :)
Creator Bil Irving [Juniper] on February 2
Couldn't agree with you more Chris (and Chris). The likes of EA and their endless annual patches costing £40 - £50 a pop have to die.
Creator ThomasN on February 1
Thanks for the shout-out. I hope we all want to definately want to play another GPG game when it's done.
Creator Mathias Boesen on February 1
Interesting read. I had no clue either on the developer vs publisher relationship these days.
Creator René Morten Jensen on February 1
Chris + Chris = ? AWESOME :)
Creator René Morten Jensen on February 1
Yet another guy he is helping out :) its really nice of Roberts.
Definitely hope Wildman gets funded as well.
Creator Greg "Scorpio" Myers on February 1
Nice update! It's great to watch these sit down conversations between great game developers. Chris Taylor is awesome and I hope Wildman gets funded...looks like a really great concept.
Creator DeeK on February 1
It's interesting to hear the dynamics between the publisher and developer. As a guy who just buys the game, it's not something I'm usually made aware of.
Amazing that so much money is spent on marketing! I guess that's one advantage of crowd funding. No need to market to the crowd who have already funded the project. Another advantage, from the crowd's perspective; it's satisfying to receive updates on the project.
Creator Gurney on February 1
Thanks for giving us this insight!
Very interesting!
Creator Jalister-Eternal Champion of WoOS & OOoE on February 1
Very nice update, and I like the information regarding developers and publishers. Thanks for bringing Wildman to the attention of so many backers. I've been been a Wildman backer since day one, and I'm obviously a backer of Star Citizen.