From: Brian Hook <bwh AT wksoftware DOT com>
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp,rec.games.programmer,alt.comp.shareware.for-kids
Subject: Re: Publishing a game
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 11:39:15 -0800
Organization: WK Software
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Mike Kulas wrote:

> Maybe, but some of those games are selling.  Phantasmagoria sold well, Wing
> Commander III and IV (I believe) sold well.

I'll agree, there are some outliers, but in general I think higher
profits would be realized if many of these cut scenes were debudgeted.

> I don't think you can automatically blame poor profits on large budgets.
> Look at the film industry.  Completely insane budgets, massive profits.

I agree.  I think that a large budget, like any other tool, can be
misused.  Look at famous super budget flops like Waterworld and
Daylight.  Conversely, look at low budget hits like Clerks, etc.  I
think content is really what matters, and a higher budget is a good way
of getting higher quality content, but it isn't a GUARANTEE that you get
better content -- maybe just flashier content.
 
> I don't know what the payback on the campaign was, but it sure seemed risky
> to me at the time.  Note that from a developer's standpoint, any dollar
> spent on advertising is good as it's probably going to bring in at least
> some return.

Right, I wasn't disputing this -- I was simply commenting on your
comment that publishers are biting the cookie right now.  And large ad
campaigns with minimal returns are definitely not helping their bottom
line.

Brian

PS Although I would've killed someone to meet Jenny M. :-)
-- 
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+  Brian Hook, bwh AT wksoftware DOT com                                 +
+  WK Software, http://www.wksoftware.com                         +
+  Consultants specializing in 3D graphics hardware and software  +
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