Notes on an Arcade Collective

AndrewE · 05-16-2008, 09:13 AM

From arcade scripters to game creators and webmasters too, everyone is battling each other for a tiny stake in a crowded market: the arcade industry is individualistic, self-centred and it's 'every man for himself'.

Right here on TA for example, there's a lot of camaraderie in the forums and people help each other out to an extent, but ultimately the majority of us are aware that we're here to make some money for ourselves.

Part of the reason why the larger arcades (Newgrounds, Miniclip etc) are untouchable, is because they operate as businesses with a payroll and management structure. They generate large amounts of content and can afford to commission new games and develop unique arcade features for their userbases.

I think there's a niche somewhere between the big sites and our individual arcades; a niche for an 'Arcade Collective'. I'm thinking of a project that involves 4-5 people at most. Start from scratch build a new arcade. Roles are split amongst project members as is the intitial cost and also future revenue. Stakes are divided equally.

This would remain a spare time activity just as most of our indvidual arcades are, but the collecive manpower would mean that the project has a chance of growing at tenfold the rate of any individual arcade and therefore can reap tenfold the benefits too.

Ideas on this would be welcome. Fors and againsts. Pitfalls and problems...

solaceworks · 05-16-2008, 10:01 AM

I think this is a mutual feeling and I have had some similar thoughts lately. I was thinking what if a small group of 5-10 people all grouped together to develope a script that was some thing actually useful in providing what we really want. We could split the cost of development and in return own an equal share of the end product. There would need to be some kind of strict enforcement and monitoring of how resources are used though. I would be willing to contribute any way possible.

defcrash · 05-16-2008, 10:35 AM

If you're going to that, just make sure the people you're working with are trusted enouth to have full access to everything, or else if the site grows big and keep bringing a great revenue they may turn the back on you!! Trust me, i know what i'm talking about!

solaceworks · 05-16-2008, 11:00 AM

defcrash has a good point and I think this is why most have there internal ideas and never share them. Most people are so afraid to share their masterplan, that they never fully accomplish their goals. While large companies are able to pay people to think of ideas similar to our own.

brendgard · 05-16-2008, 11:11 AM

Structure it right and it could take off in a big way. I think though to protect everybody involved incorporating would be a good idea. That's probably a big part of why the bigger sites can operate how they do, it's all legally protected. It's a very good idea though, I love it! I've hd some good ideas over the past few months that I couldn't go forward on because I had limited resources. If it was part of a collective of that nature they might have been able to.

solaceworks · 05-16-2008, 11:18 AM

How would you go about incorporating and providing structure with people spread out around the globe?

brendgard · 05-16-2008, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefreedoller

How would you go about incorporating and providing structure with people spread out around the globe?

I get SPAM trying to tell me how to incoporate in places like Nevada where the fees are minimal etc. It's no different than companies such as Citibank or any other global company incorporating. Just send the paperwork to each to sign is all. It might be easier if a smaller group incoporated localy and then others "buy in". Mere details though.

solaceworks · 05-16-2008, 11:36 AM

That makes sense, I could see a need for a system to manage all the information.

05-16-2008, 09:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
AndrewE Preferred Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 137	Notes on an Arcade Collective From arcade scripters to game creators and webmasters too, everyone is battling each other for a tiny stake in a crowded market: the arcade industry is individualistic, self-centred and it's 'every man for himself'. Right here on TA for example, there's a lot of camaraderie in the forums and people help each other out to an extent, but ultimately the majority of us are aware that we're here to make some money for ourselves. Part of the reason why the larger arcades (Newgrounds, Miniclip etc) are untouchable, is because they operate as businesses with a payroll and management structure. They generate large amounts of content and can afford to commission new games and develop unique arcade features for their userbases. I think there's a niche somewhere between the big sites and our individual arcades; a niche for an 'Arcade Collective'. I'm thinking of a project that involves 4-5 people at most. Start from scratch build a new arcade. Roles are split amongst project members as is the intitial cost and also future revenue. Stakes are divided equally. This would remain a spare time activity just as most of our indvidual arcades are, but the collecive manpower would mean that the project has a chance of growing at tenfold the rate of any individual arcade and therefore can reap tenfold the benefits too. Ideas on this would be welcome. Fors and againsts. Pitfalls and problems... __________________ FingerMonkey \| Little Loki \| Craverz.com \| Arcade Blog \| Twitter

05-16-2008, 10:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
solaceworks Preferred Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 120	I think this is a mutual feeling and I have had some similar thoughts lately. I was thinking what if a small group of 5-10 people all grouped together to develope a script that was some thing actually useful in providing what we really want. We could split the cost of development and in return own an equal share of the end product. There would need to be some kind of strict enforcement and monitoring of how resources are used though. I would be willing to contribute any way possible. __________________ Get your dose of flash games The Game Roll Arcade

05-16-2008, 10:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
defcrash Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 37	If you're going to that, just make sure the people you're working with are trusted enouth to have full access to everything, or else if the site grows big and keep bringing a great revenue they may turn the back on you!! Trust me, i know what i'm talking about! __________________ arcadefromhell.com YOUR SOUL WILL BE MINE

05-16-2008, 11:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
solaceworks Preferred Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 120	defcrash has a good point and I think this is why most have there internal ideas and never share them. Most people are so afraid to share their masterplan, that they never fully accomplish their goals. While large companies are able to pay people to think of ideas similar to our own. __________________ Get your dose of flash games The Game Roll Arcade

05-16-2008, 11:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
brendgard Gamer FX Staff Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 648	Structure it right and it could take off in a big way. I think though to protect everybody involved incorporating would be a good idea. That's probably a big part of why the bigger sites can operate how they do, it's all legally protected. It's a very good idea though, I love it! I've hd some good ideas over the past few months that I couldn't go forward on because I had limited resources. If it was part of a collective of that nature they might have been able to. __________________ http://gamersgo.com A list of arcade related sites, add yours. http://auntiefondy.com Lists, add your site. http://kbsplace.com

05-16-2008, 11:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
solaceworks Preferred Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 120	How would you go about incorporating and providing structure with people spread out around the globe? __________________ Get your dose of flash games The Game Roll Arcade

05-16-2008, 11:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
solaceworks Preferred Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 120	That makes sense, I could see a need for a system to manage all the information. __________________ Get your dose of flash games The Game Roll Arcade

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