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Will working with a publisher help me prevent my game from being cloned?
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I read many articles on "How (or why not without) to make mobile game without publisher". But the question that bothers me is:
"What if I make a game, that really hits the market in the eye and people start playing it BUT some publisher will see my game and make the very similar game in 2 weeks and makes it ever more succesfull?"
Is this the main reason why I should choose to go with the publisher?
game-industry marketing publishing
edited 13 mins ago
Alexandre Vaillancourt♦
12.1k103647
asked 4 hours ago
Tom J.
111
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Tom J. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I read many articles on "How (or why not without) to make mobile game without publisher". But the question that bothers me is:
"What if I make a game, that really hits the market in the eye and people start playing it BUT some publisher will see my game and make the very similar game in 2 weeks and makes it ever more succesfull?"
Is this the main reason why I should choose to go with the publisher?
game-industry marketing publishing
edited 13 mins ago
Alexandre Vaillancourt♦
12.1k103647
asked 4 hours ago
Tom J.
111
New contributor
Tom J. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
That's why there are copyright laws to protect you from this. But ultimately, there's a very blurred line of what is considered a copy of another game. You can make a game without a publisher, and it can be a success or it can be copied, at the end of the day, popular games are copied on a daily basis, there's only so much you can do about it.
– TomTsagk
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I read many articles on "How (or why not without) to make mobile game without publisher". But the question that bothers me is:
"What if I make a game, that really hits the market in the eye and people start playing it BUT some publisher will see my game and make the very similar game in 2 weeks and makes it ever more succesfull?"
Is this the main reason why I should choose to go with the publisher?
game-industry marketing publishing
edited 13 mins ago
Alexandre Vaillancourt♦
12.1k103647
asked 4 hours ago
Tom J.
111
New contributor
Tom J. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I read many articles on "How (or why not without) to make mobile game without publisher". But the question that bothers me is:
"What if I make a game, that really hits the market in the eye and people start playing it BUT some publisher will see my game and make the very similar game in 2 weeks and makes it ever more succesfull?"
Is this the main reason why I should choose to go with the publisher?
game-industry marketing publishing
game-industry marketing publishing
edited 13 mins ago
Alexandre Vaillancourt♦
12.1k103647
asked 4 hours ago
Tom J.
111
New contributor
Tom J. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 13 mins ago
Alexandre Vaillancourt♦
12.1k103647
asked 4 hours ago
Tom J.
111
New contributor
Tom J. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 13 mins ago
Alexandre Vaillancourt♦
12.1k103647
edited 13 mins ago
Alexandre Vaillancourt♦
12.1k103647
edited 13 mins ago
Alexandre Vaillancourt♦
12.1k103647
12.1k103647
asked 4 hours ago
Tom J.
111
New contributor
Tom J. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
Tom J.
111
asked 4 hours ago
Tom J.
111
111
New contributor
Tom J. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Tom J. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Tom J. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
That's why there are copyright laws to protect you from this. But ultimately, there's a very blurred line of what is considered a copy of another game. You can make a game without a publisher, and it can be a success or it can be copied, at the end of the day, popular games are copied on a daily basis, there's only so much you can do about it.
– TomTsagk
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
That's why there are copyright laws to protect you from this. But ultimately, there's a very blurred line of what is considered a copy of another game. You can make a game without a publisher, and it can be a success or it can be copied, at the end of the day, popular games are copied on a daily basis, there's only so much you can do about it.
– TomTsagk
3 hours ago
That's why there are copyright laws to protect you from this. But ultimately, there's a very blurred line of what is considered a copy of another game. You can make a game without a publisher, and it can be a success or it can be copied, at the end of the day, popular games are copied on a daily basis, there's only so much you can do about it.
– TomTsagk
3 hours ago
That's why there are copyright laws to protect you from this. But ultimately, there's a very blurred line of what is considered a copy of another game. You can make a game without a publisher, and it can be a success or it can be copied, at the end of the day, popular games are copied on a daily basis, there's only so much you can do about it.
– TomTsagk
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
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oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
A publisher would not be able to protect you from someone else creating a more popular clone of your game. Games from large publishers get ripped off just as often as those from small indies. Maybe the publisher has enough money in their warchest to fight a legal battle, but considering that such lawsuits are expensive and the success rate is hard to estimate, you can't count on them being willing to invest the money required to defend your game. Especially if it isn't one of the fattest cash cows in the barn.
There are essentially two reasons why you would want to work with a publisher.
- They complement your skillset. Maybe you are a great game developer, but you don't know anything about marketing and how to promote your game? A publisher might help out with that. They might also be able to get you into contact with people who can help you with the game itself.
- You need their money. Publishers are sometimes willing to fund a game up-front or pay you a flat fee for your game regardless of its commercial success. So if you are in risk of running out of money or need some guaranteed payout to plan your own financial future, then selling your game to a publisher can help you. That means, if you can convince them that your game is worth it. Nobody is going to throw free money at hopeless cases. Also, don't forget that the publisher wants to make money, too. So if you can cut out the middle-man (like many independent developers do nowadays) you can make more money for yourself. That means if you have the necessary business skills to sell your game. 100% of a few thousand sales is still less than a few percent of hundreds of thousands of sales.
But there are also reasons why you would not want to work with a publisher:
- Executive meddling. Publishers might want to have creative influence over your game. They might demand that you to change things or force you to meet deadlines. Usually their demands are well-meaning. After all, their primary interest is making sure your game is as profitable as it can be. But maybe your game is a labor of love? You want it to be exactly the game you imagined and haters gonna hate? You don't care if you lose profits if it means you don't compromise your artistic integrity? Then you might prefer to work without a publisher behind your back.
- IP rights. Some publishers will want to own your intellectual property rights, like the copyright to the game and its assets, the trademark or the rights to use the characters and scenario. So if you ever want to create a sequel or spinoff, you might not be able to do that without the permission of the publisher. Or even worse, the publisher might hire someone else to do that, which means you get cut out of the creative process and won't get paid. Read the contracts carefully and make sure you understand all their implications. Ask a lawyer if you need help.
- They will want a cut from the revenues. As I wrote before, a good publisher who complements your skillset can be worth far more than their cut. But if you feel that you will be able to sell your game without a publisher, then there is little reason to work with one.
I am looking forward to playing your game.
answered 1 hour ago
Philipp
73.8k19169222
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
A publisher would not be able to protect you from someone else creating a more popular clone of your game. Games from large publishers get ripped off just as often as those from small indies. Maybe the publisher has enough money in their warchest to fight a legal battle, but considering that such lawsuits are expensive and the success rate is hard to estimate, you can't count on them being willing to invest the money required to defend your game. Especially if it isn't one of the fattest cash cows in the barn.
There are essentially two reasons why you would want to work with a publisher.
- They complement your skillset. Maybe you are a great game developer, but you don't know anything about marketing and how to promote your game? A publisher might help out with that. They might also be able to get you into contact with people who can help you with the game itself.
- You need their money. Publishers are sometimes willing to fund a game up-front or pay you a flat fee for your game regardless of its commercial success. So if you are in risk of running out of money or need some guaranteed payout to plan your own financial future, then selling your game to a publisher can help you. That means, if you can convince them that your game is worth it. Nobody is going to throw free money at hopeless cases. Also, don't forget that the publisher wants to make money, too. So if you can cut out the middle-man (like many independent developers do nowadays) you can make more money for yourself. That means if you have the necessary business skills to sell your game. 100% of a few thousand sales is still less than a few percent of hundreds of thousands of sales.
But there are also reasons why you would not want to work with a publisher:
- Executive meddling. Publishers might want to have creative influence over your game. They might demand that you to change things or force you to meet deadlines. Usually their demands are well-meaning. After all, their primary interest is making sure your game is as profitable as it can be. But maybe your game is a labor of love? You want it to be exactly the game you imagined and haters gonna hate? You don't care if you lose profits if it means you don't compromise your artistic integrity? Then you might prefer to work without a publisher behind your back.
- IP rights. Some publishers will want to own your intellectual property rights, like the copyright to the game and its assets, the trademark or the rights to use the characters and scenario. So if you ever want to create a sequel or spinoff, you might not be able to do that without the permission of the publisher. Or even worse, the publisher might hire someone else to do that, which means you get cut out of the creative process and won't get paid. Read the contracts carefully and make sure you understand all their implications. Ask a lawyer if you need help.
- They will want a cut from the revenues. As I wrote before, a good publisher who complements your skillset can be worth far more than their cut. But if you feel that you will be able to sell your game without a publisher, then there is little reason to work with one.
I am looking forward to playing your game.
answered 1 hour ago
Philipp
73.8k19169222
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
A publisher would not be able to protect you from someone else creating a more popular clone of your game. Games from large publishers get ripped off just as often as those from small indies. Maybe the publisher has enough money in their warchest to fight a legal battle, but considering that such lawsuits are expensive and the success rate is hard to estimate, you can't count on them being willing to invest the money required to defend your game. Especially if it isn't one of the fattest cash cows in the barn.
There are essentially two reasons why you would want to work with a publisher.
- They complement your skillset. Maybe you are a great game developer, but you don't know anything about marketing and how to promote your game? A publisher might help out with that. They might also be able to get you into contact with people who can help you with the game itself.
- You need their money. Publishers are sometimes willing to fund a game up-front or pay you a flat fee for your game regardless of its commercial success. So if you are in risk of running out of money or need some guaranteed payout to plan your own financial future, then selling your game to a publisher can help you. That means, if you can convince them that your game is worth it. Nobody is going to throw free money at hopeless cases. Also, don't forget that the publisher wants to make money, too. So if you can cut out the middle-man (like many independent developers do nowadays) you can make more money for yourself. That means if you have the necessary business skills to sell your game. 100% of a few thousand sales is still less than a few percent of hundreds of thousands of sales.
But there are also reasons why you would not want to work with a publisher:
- Executive meddling. Publishers might want to have creative influence over your game. They might demand that you to change things or force you to meet deadlines. Usually their demands are well-meaning. After all, their primary interest is making sure your game is as profitable as it can be. But maybe your game is a labor of love? You want it to be exactly the game you imagined and haters gonna hate? You don't care if you lose profits if it means you don't compromise your artistic integrity? Then you might prefer to work without a publisher behind your back.
- IP rights. Some publishers will want to own your intellectual property rights, like the copyright to the game and its assets, the trademark or the rights to use the characters and scenario. So if you ever want to create a sequel or spinoff, you might not be able to do that without the permission of the publisher. Or even worse, the publisher might hire someone else to do that, which means you get cut out of the creative process and won't get paid. Read the contracts carefully and make sure you understand all their implications. Ask a lawyer if you need help.
- They will want a cut from the revenues. As I wrote before, a good publisher who complements your skillset can be worth far more than their cut. But if you feel that you will be able to sell your game without a publisher, then there is little reason to work with one.
I am looking forward to playing your game.
answered 1 hour ago
Philipp
73.8k19169222
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
A publisher would not be able to protect you from someone else creating a more popular clone of your game. Games from large publishers get ripped off just as often as those from small indies. Maybe the publisher has enough money in their warchest to fight a legal battle, but considering that such lawsuits are expensive and the success rate is hard to estimate, you can't count on them being willing to invest the money required to defend your game. Especially if it isn't one of the fattest cash cows in the barn.
There are essentially two reasons why you would want to work with a publisher.
- They complement your skillset. Maybe you are a great game developer, but you don't know anything about marketing and how to promote your game? A publisher might help out with that. They might also be able to get you into contact with people who can help you with the game itself.
- You need their money. Publishers are sometimes willing to fund a game up-front or pay you a flat fee for your game regardless of its commercial success. So if you are in risk of running out of money or need some guaranteed payout to plan your own financial future, then selling your game to a publisher can help you. That means, if you can convince them that your game is worth it. Nobody is going to throw free money at hopeless cases. Also, don't forget that the publisher wants to make money, too. So if you can cut out the middle-man (like many independent developers do nowadays) you can make more money for yourself. That means if you have the necessary business skills to sell your game. 100% of a few thousand sales is still less than a few percent of hundreds of thousands of sales.
But there are also reasons why you would not want to work with a publisher:
- Executive meddling. Publishers might want to have creative influence over your game. They might demand that you to change things or force you to meet deadlines. Usually their demands are well-meaning. After all, their primary interest is making sure your game is as profitable as it can be. But maybe your game is a labor of love? You want it to be exactly the game you imagined and haters gonna hate? You don't care if you lose profits if it means you don't compromise your artistic integrity? Then you might prefer to work without a publisher behind your back.
- IP rights. Some publishers will want to own your intellectual property rights, like the copyright to the game and its assets, the trademark or the rights to use the characters and scenario. So if you ever want to create a sequel or spinoff, you might not be able to do that without the permission of the publisher. Or even worse, the publisher might hire someone else to do that, which means you get cut out of the creative process and won't get paid. Read the contracts carefully and make sure you understand all their implications. Ask a lawyer if you need help.
- They will want a cut from the revenues. As I wrote before, a good publisher who complements your skillset can be worth far more than their cut. But if you feel that you will be able to sell your game without a publisher, then there is little reason to work with one.
I am looking forward to playing your game.
answered 1 hour ago
Philipp
73.8k19169222
A publisher would not be able to protect you from someone else creating a more popular clone of your game. Games from large publishers get ripped off just as often as those from small indies. Maybe the publisher has enough money in their warchest to fight a legal battle, but considering that such lawsuits are expensive and the success rate is hard to estimate, you can't count on them being willing to invest the money required to defend your game. Especially if it isn't one of the fattest cash cows in the barn.
There are essentially two reasons why you would want to work with a publisher.
- They complement your skillset. Maybe you are a great game developer, but you don't know anything about marketing and how to promote your game? A publisher might help out with that. They might also be able to get you into contact with people who can help you with the game itself.
- You need their money. Publishers are sometimes willing to fund a game up-front or pay you a flat fee for your game regardless of its commercial success. So if you are in risk of running out of money or need some guaranteed payout to plan your own financial future, then selling your game to a publisher can help you. That means, if you can convince them that your game is worth it. Nobody is going to throw free money at hopeless cases. Also, don't forget that the publisher wants to make money, too. So if you can cut out the middle-man (like many independent developers do nowadays) you can make more money for yourself. That means if you have the necessary business skills to sell your game. 100% of a few thousand sales is still less than a few percent of hundreds of thousands of sales.
But there are also reasons why you would not want to work with a publisher:
- Executive meddling. Publishers might want to have creative influence over your game. They might demand that you to change things or force you to meet deadlines. Usually their demands are well-meaning. After all, their primary interest is making sure your game is as profitable as it can be. But maybe your game is a labor of love? You want it to be exactly the game you imagined and haters gonna hate? You don't care if you lose profits if it means you don't compromise your artistic integrity? Then you might prefer to work without a publisher behind your back.
- IP rights. Some publishers will want to own your intellectual property rights, like the copyright to the game and its assets, the trademark or the rights to use the characters and scenario. So if you ever want to create a sequel or spinoff, you might not be able to do that without the permission of the publisher. Or even worse, the publisher might hire someone else to do that, which means you get cut out of the creative process and won't get paid. Read the contracts carefully and make sure you understand all their implications. Ask a lawyer if you need help.
- They will want a cut from the revenues. As I wrote before, a good publisher who complements your skillset can be worth far more than their cut. But if you feel that you will be able to sell your game without a publisher, then there is little reason to work with one.
I am looking forward to playing your game.
answered 1 hour ago
Philipp
73.8k19169222
edited 20 mins ago
answered 1 hour ago
Philipp
73.8k19169222
answered 1 hour ago
Philipp
73.8k19169222
answered 1 hour ago
Philipp
73.8k19169222
73.8k19169222
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
Tom J. is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Tom J. is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Tom J. is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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That's why there are copyright laws to protect you from this. But ultimately, there's a very blurred line of what is considered a copy of another game. You can make a game without a publisher, and it can be a success or it can be copied, at the end of the day, popular games are copied on a daily basis, there's only so much you can do about it.
– TomTsagk
3 hours ago