For those that don't know: RealOne Arcade is offering $100K to the winner of their "Developer Showdown" contest. The rules are fairly restrictive (only US residents, the game can't be a previously released game, etc.), but $100K is a nice chunk of change. :) More details here (http://gamedevs.realonearcade.com/contest/) .

I think this has been touched on before - has anyone here ever been distributed through Real Arcade? Would they consider it to have been a successful venture?

$100,000 is a pretty good chunk of money - even though I don't qualify (Canadian). Makes me think I might hook up with someone in the states and split the money with them if we win ;)

My only concern is why Real is doing this. I never do anything in connection with someone else unless I understand the motive for their actions...or at least think I understand.

I believe Real is trying to amass a huge amount of exclusive games with this process. The intent I think is to control the market of independent puzzle games to some point since that is their market.

Still $100,000 is a lot of money...Probably worth while for developers to give it a go. Since I'm not really a developer, just an involved spectator, it's harder for me to gauge, but I still feel a little uneasy about the whole thing...

Well, from the official rules at http://gamedevs.realonearcade.com/rules1.php:

(e) Each Entrant must complete and sign a one-year standard non-exclusive distribution agreement with RN to distribute the Game via RealOne™ Arcade (“Agreement”). RN is not obligated to distribute any Game. Winners are subject to additional requirements described in Paragraph 7.

So, if you enter, you automatically grant them a year to distribute your game, if they decide they want it. Winners have to make it an exclusive.

Given the size of the prize, I expect they want to get a ton of professional-quality games submitted. $100k, or even the two runner up prizes of $25k, is not bad money for a small team of people.

heck if they're giving $100, 000 for it they should sell it :)

Agreed!

For the winners it is great.

For the losers, it could mean that Real is selling your game and your company is getting very little for it as far as company recognition. Of course making money on the game would be a good thing...

Here another quote form the Official Rules:

--- begin ----
All winners must ... (c) sign an amendment (“Amendment”) to the Agreement granting RN exclusive distribution rights beginning upon receipt of the prize and extending (i) ninety (90) days thereafter if the Entrant is the Grand Prize Winner or (ii) thirty (30) days thereafter if the Entrant is a Runner-Up Winner.
--- end ---

So, if I understand corrently:

For 100,000 they get your game for 90 days.
For 25,000 they get your game for 30 days.

Seems worth it to me. :)

Also the agreement you must sign to enter the contest is NON-exclusive. So if you don't win, you can still sell you game else where. but by entering you give them the right to also sell it if they want to. Everything I've read seems quite fine to me.

David

Wait a second here... all entrants are required to sign a distribution agreement... but it says nothing about sales, or what percentage RealNetworks requires. 100%?

The pros of the RealArcade deal:
- $100,000 is a big number (so is $25,000)
- you give them a NON-EXCLUSIVE distribution agreement if they like your game, even if you don't win.

The cons of the RealArcade deal are something you'll have to make your own decisions about. To my thinking:

You won't be able to release your game to the public until September 1, after the winner has been announced.

If you think you'll win, that's no problem -- you've got $100,000 and a 90-day exclusive distribution deal through Real.

If you think there's a chance you WON'T win, that's a problem. Namely, 3 months of lost potential revenue, AND the fact that when you do begin public distribution, you may be overshadowed by the game that DOES win and that goes out with a huge marketing fanfare from Real.

Personally, I elected to skip. Although the timing could have been right (I released a few weeks ago), I wasn't confident enough about winning to forego the 3 month head start.

-Jon

Originally posted by KNau
I think this has been touched on before - has anyone here ever been distributed through Real Arcade? Would they consider it to have been a successful venture?

$100,000 is a pretty good chunk of money - even though I don't qualify (Canadian). Makes me think I might hook up with someone in the states and split the money with them if we win ;)



2. Eligibility. The Contest is open to individuals residing in the United States of America and Canada who are at least 18 years of age or older at the time of entry (“Entrants”). Entrants may also be organizations (such as corporations or limited liability partnerships) validly organized and in good standing in any United States or Canadian jurisdiction. Employees, contractors, directors, agents, representatives, and the immediate family members of RN, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies are ineligible. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws. The Contest is VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.



You do qualify, my friend.

I had an on the fence leaning towards being against the whole thing before. Now I'm definately against it.

Real has a name and is going to make money off of you. Most everyone in this forum has no trouble with that, b/c by going through real, you make a lot more money than you do on your own.

I just wish there was another alternative. The more good games Real gets, the more it will control the marketplace. That will help give more sales to those with good games that make it. However, I think it will hurt those with good games that don't make it.

Is anyone willing to share their experiences selling a game through Real? It would be a huge help. Thanks.

I can't give specifics, but I can say that we have been very happy working with them and we were pleasantly surprised with how well our card game, "Five Card Frenzy", did in May (it's first month on RealArcade). It was in the top 10 for most of the month and got as high as #5. They gave us initial feedback on the game when they first saw it that we used to really make some good improvements.

I have worked with many of those guys since back when they first started the RealArcade project and they are all great guys and they're really into understanding what works (and what doesn't) for electronically distributed games.

HipSoft is working on a game for the contest.
-Scorpio