(re: re: Ken Williams Q&A) how about a private message section (one where the sender and you were the only ones that could view the message) where we could pitch you ideas (in my case game ideas). you could give a thumbs up if you think the idea is good and has potential or thumbs down if its a dud . maybe even an in-between for ideas that have potential depending on certain other factors.
My email is easily determined (
Link:kenw@seanet.com (mailto:kenw@seanet.com)
) .. when I’m not travelling, I’m pretty good about reading through my mail.
Here’s the problem with what you’ve suggested though: good ideas are a dime a dozen. Everyone has a good idea for a movie or a book, or even a computer game. Most of these really ARE good ideas. The tricky part is taking an idea the next step to being a viable game.
To do that there are a lot of things that have to come together:
The skill of the team
The publisher, and what kind of products they are known for
The popularity of the license (if any)
The user interface
How the game plays
Etc.
In 1996 when Sierra was sold, I had been in the industry for nearly 20 years and knew almost every game published, and the people behind them. Now, it has been seven years since I’ve been in a computer store – I’m not sure my opinion is worth what it once was.
Ultimately, to get a publishers attention, you need a working demo of the game. It doesn’t need to be more than the first level. It’s nearly impossible to know if a game is any good looking at a paragraph of text. You need to see something on screen.
-Ken W
