RSS
Valve’s Gabe Newell has revealed in a video interview with Good Game that he thinks communities should fund games instead of big, demanding publishing houses.
From the interview (transcribed by Kotaku AU):
One of the areas that I am super interested in right now is how we can do financing from the community. So right now, what typically happens is you have this budget – it needs to be huge, it has to be $10m – $30m, and it has to be all available at the beginning of the project. There’s a huge amount of risk associated with those dollars and decisions have to be incredibly conservative.
What I think would be much better would be if the community could finance the games. In other words, ‘Hey, I really like this idea you have. I’ll be an early investor in that and, as a result, at a later point I may make a return on that product, but I’ll also get a copy of that game.’
So move financing from something that occurs between a publisher and a developer… Instead have it be something where funding is coming out of community for games and game concepts they really like.
Full interview through the GoodGame link.
Viewing 45 responses
Blerk said:
Is there a ‘good’ picture of Gabe anywhere? I’ve never seen a guy less photogenic in my entire life.
Grimrita said:
Budgets are getting silly because the games industry thinks its better than the movie business and thus sets silly budgets for development and of course PR/Marketing who piss the cash up the wall trying to grab the attention of the gaming media.
During development, the press hype the game based on renders, PR spin and of course those butt kissing launch events, only to find that the game is a turd and then reflected in the review scores (unless of course you are Gamespot who likes to edit their scores when there is pressure).
Its about time the industry had a rethink and actually got creative again instead of churning out the same shit year in year out.
blackdreamhunk said:
I agree I would it
JesteR said:
So i give Valve 10 dollars and i get the game for free? Not a bad deal.
Michael O'Connor said:
“Is there a ‘good’ picture of Gabe anywhere? I’ve never seen a guy less photogenic in my entire life.
”
Wow, that was petty.
Grimrita: Agreed. In the next few years, I think we can expect to see video games take on a production system similar to the movie industry, where the costs are equally split between all the companies involved in the project.
It would certainly make for some interesting partnerships.
Blerk said:
Bloody hell, Michael – sense of humour bypass, or what?
It’s not my fault if every picture of him appears to have been taken “by surprise” when he’s just coming in from a three week bender.
SticKboy said:
COMMUNISTS!
Mike said:
Burn him!!!
mortiferus said:
Newell: Let fans fund the all you can eat buffets!!!
satsugai said:
So what happens if they don’t raise enough from the community? Or what if the game doesn’t get released for whatever reason? They would still have used our money and we get nothing back. *scratches head*
Michael O'Connor said:
“Bloody hell, Michael – sense of humour bypass, or what?”
Clearly I missed what exactly was funny about out insulting someone’s appearance, at their expense, for the sake of a cheap laugh.
I have a sense of humour, you just weren’t funny.
Dr.Ghettoblaster said:
Is this fat fuck bad mouthing Sony again…? Go finish Half Life E3 already…
Blerk said:
Do you fancy him, then?
Lutz said:
SRS BIZNIZ from Mr O’Conner.
phatb0y said:
Sounds suspiciously close to shareware. And we all know what a watertight business model that is.
“Clearly I missed what exactly was funny about out insulting someone’s appearance, at their expense, for the sake of a cheap laugh.”
Try switching on your TV or reading a newspaper once in a while.
dirigiblebill said:
“What I think would be much better would be if the community could finance the games. In other words, ‘Hey, I really like this idea you have. I’ll be an early investor in that and, as a result, at a later point I may make a return on that product, but I’ll also get a copy of that game.’”
Translation: we’re run out of cash for Episode 3, so you fucking consumers better step up.
Jonathan Cullen said:
“Newell: Let fans fund development”
Translation: Pay for my KFC, LOLZ.
anasui said:
ahahahah, bullshit of the day
sod off with that crap, Gabe. We fund your asses by paying insane prices for entertainment that will last about ten hours already
Hunam said:
We are already doing this. They make a game with the promise of paying full whack for what’s on the table and future developments, then you can’t be arsed to do the future developments.
Phoenixblight said:
I’ll believe it when me shit turns purple and smells like rainbow sherbet
Dr.Ghettoblaster said:
What he’s really saying is….
“Please help, publishers don’t like me cause I’m an arrogant prick”.
fearmonkey said:
I don’t understand why it’s funny to make fun of Gabe’s weight, I’m with michael on this.
I can understand why people make fun of Dyack, but making fun of a persons appearance is just juvenile.
It’s part of being anonymous on the internet i guess.
I see it all the time on Youtube. I may be watching a video on Astronomy, and if the lecturer is fat or unattractive, most of the comments will be about that, rather than whats being discussed.
Psychotext said:
People are retards. Nothing new there.
Dr.Ghettoblaster said:
I’m making fun of him cause he’s always been a conceeded sounding asshole in every interview I ever read about him.
DarkElfa said:
Sure Ghettoblaster and you’re coming off as much more than your average troll/prick/teen loser. I don’t care for Newell either, but try saying something constructive instead of just spurting off childish insults.
Dr.Ghettoblaster said:
How bout blow me Elfa does that work? I’ll say whatever I like but thanks!
theevilaires said:
LMAO, there he is euros, your fat lazy American Xbot360 gaming dev. This guy really needs to have that diet surgery belt thing around his stomach.
OMG is this guy serious about what he is saying. He wants the consumers to pay for a game before and during development then buy it when its finish.
Ladies and Gents this is your typical rip off American con artist. I really hate fat fuck pigs like this guy. This guy just insulted everyone of our intelligence. He thinks cause he can get away with releasing a sequel to a shitty game that looks and plays like the first, that he can con average people, his fans into giving his company free money aka Bonuses!!!!!!!!! ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME! This is proof how low the human species have gotten.
I’m not even going to turn this into a big annoying rant, but I would cut my dick off before I ever buy another or play a valve game again. I would burn my copy off Orange Box but this Fat Fuck White Pig didn’t develop it on the PS3.
Psychotext said:
“I’m not even going to turn this into a big annoying rant”
…yeah, probably a bit late for that statement.
theevilaires said:
but you still read it and took time to respond at 1:22 am…do you sleep? or does the money M$ pays you to travel from gaming site to gaming site defending their product from the truth really that good that it causes insane insomnia …just wondering
theevilaires said:
no response yet I’m shocked. Either your european wit has dried up from two comments and you need time to recharge, or you’ve clocked out from M$ euro corp…rest well tonight buddy the war isn’t over yet
No_PUDding said:
All I established from this is:
Michael is more of a contrarian than I. It surprises me less that I find lots of time to disagree with him.
That TEA is hypocritical on top of being an avid PS3 fan. But his passion is admirable
That Psychotext is possibly the coolest old person I know
That Blerk is honest, and funny. But kind of unimaginative.
That Mike is a god among men (for reasons outside of the comment section).
And that Gabe Newell is right, and I would pay for development by Valve on the PS3.
YEAH GABE, STICK THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT. I PAY FOR THE PS3 VERSION.
theevilaires said:
PUD go jump off a bridge you have my permission you fucking moron. Its people like you that so many problems are in this world. I guess you also believe the people should serve the goverment and not the goverment serve the people…kids today you all watch too much TellLieVision to know good morals.
Psychotext said:
My apologies for not being at your beck and call TEA. I was off training.
anasui said:
ok, who called Constantine and asked him to bind The Shat to theevilaires’ body?
theevilaires said:
you watch too much TellLieVision don’t you anasui
fearmonkey said:
Anyone ever notice that TEA seems like two different people.
One is passionate PS3 defender who slams you for even slightly disagreeing with him, and then there is the calmer TEA that can be reasoned with, has insightful views outside of the PS3.
freedoms_stain said:
Sounds like what he’s asking is for gamers to be able to become “micro investors” rather than simply asking for donations.
The problem with the idea is that I think there are too few gamers who would be willing to part with cash up front for a game that is just an idea.
Even developers with awesome reputations produce shit every now and then and we all know it. I don’t even like buying games until I’ve played them most of the time, the chances of me paying anything before I’ve even seen a screen shot are entirely nil.
Gabe wants people to pay upfront, I’d rather he poured his efforts into making games available to play prior to purchase.
theevilaires said:
what are you a psychiatrist fear? I speak my mind, don’t like it just skip my name to the next poster.
Ever wonder when the truth slaps you in the face while you’re daydreaming, you wake up and cry like a bitch because the truth hurts
theevilaires said:
you see freedom understands the truth, you can learn something from this guy people take notes
theevilaires said:
and i know some of you people are under the impression that I might be ranting because this is an aticle about a guy who hates the PS3…well you’re wrong because if this was David Jaffe I would still say the same thing and most of you know I would.
The fact off the matter is Gabe Newell is as real of a caring community person as a southern church pastor. All he wants is your money and all he gives you back in return is the same old crap just remixed.
This cottage cheese lard ass pig mother fucker is rich. Let him finance his own games.
frostquake said:
You can buy shares in musical artist’s to fund their next product…so why not the gaming industry. Ultimately why gaming budgets have spiraled out of control, is simply GREED! If you made a Million on this title, why not ask to make 5 or 10 million on the next one?? The people who bought Bioshock 1, more then likely will buy Bioshock 2, but the people who did not buy Bioshock 1 are more then likely are not going to buy Bioshock 2. So more then likely your going to sell around the same amount, on 2 that you did on 1. But guess what On Bioshock 2, everyone is wanting more of the PIE!
Price Fatigue??? How about Industry Greed Fatigue??? Sorry no BAILOUT for the Gaming Industry.
Do we need to be worried about 1000plus gaming websites and gaming magazines telling us how great or how bad a game is…ABSOLUTELY NO!!! Do we need to be flying gaming magazines and gaming websites First Class, putting them up in a hotel for 3-5 days, throwing parties for them, just so they will give a favorable review….NO!!!
I have a family member who is one of the MANY Lawyers for Bioware and Bethesda. It would BLOW your mind how much cash they burn through, that is not directly related to the actual development of the game!
With the Internet almost everywhere, and PC, and Consoles having direct access to games…there is really only 1 simple thing you can do to sell your…
D E M O…Demo’s
A Demo will do more to sell a game, then 40 Naked Chic’s skating on ice, or Naked girls with tampon strings doing lap dances for “IMPORTANT PEOPLE”…which by the way those 2 things actually happened!! If you rely more on Websites and Magazines to tell you how good a game is, over a DEMO..you are a IDIOT!!!
So stop all this BULLSHIT with having to burn through money to impress OXM, PC Gamer, OPM, Play, Game Informer, Nintendo Power and 100’s of other magazine, and stop worrying about the 1000 of websites that you shell out money to, and just develop a FREAKING DEMO for the REAL people to play.
It is more important that a MILLION real people play the demo, then 50 gaming industry insiders!!
SO GREED from the inside out will rot the Gaming Industry..
and just making a DEMO for everyone to play instead of hiring 40 Ho’s to get your clients drunk on so they go back and say you know what that was a SHITTY game but they flew us first class, put us in 5 star hotel, Fed us Fetal Groundings, Gave us Nerds more pussy then we see in 50 years looking at porn online, and then fly them back first class…and we want that again so a 9/10 on this…
Come on…all you need is a DEMO…Not BIG GAMING BROTHER telling you what is good or not…
AHHHHHHH….I am way too frustrated! But knowing what my family member knows, and how well he is treated, and paid and all the perks he gets from Bioware and Bethesda…and all he is a blood sucking lawyer..it blows my mind!
No_PUDding said:
Jesus christ tea…
You know you watch too many conspiracy videos from ebay, I’d prefer watch tell lie vision.
And as it goes yeah, I believe the government shoudl serve the people, but I think they do a pretty fuckign admirable job when you look at other countries.
We are in a fucking utopian society you blind fuck. It’s testament that you’re conspiracising, that there’s nothign wrong on the surface.
theevilaires said:
Pud, Pud, Pud you little naive brat, enjoy your childhood son. Trust me it doesn’t last forever.
freedoms_stain said:
I agree with frostquakes massive rant.
El_MUERkO said:
i also agree with his rant, i haven’t read it but i have part funded it and it better get a good score!