I've found a new job. Only problem is there's no salary--at least for now. An old friend called me up out of the blue. Hadn't heard from him in over two years. My job is to raise venture capital and then, if all goes well, be the VP of Sales and Marketing for a software company that's trying to get off the ground. They do fantasy gaming with a Christian twist, but it's set in OT patriarch period. So naturally, that's my kindof gig. This company was mentioned last month on World News Tonight and has been written up twice in "Wired" as well as some other publications. There are some very talented people involved in this project--a published author and a computer guru. And now there's me, a jack-of-all-trades, master of...(you know the rest). I have sales and marketing in my background, so I'm helping them on that end and consulting on the legal end. So, do you guys have any venture capital leads? Anyone have two million burning a hole in their pocket to invest and exploit this largely untapped market of Christian gaming? All ideas welcome. Just though I'd check. Here's a link: www.therebelplanet.com
If you succeed, you will be a very WIDE camel trying to slip through the eye of the needle. Good luck!
You are correct, sir. Uphill climb to be sure. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. Got a spare two million?
Before I would participate in a new venture, especially with zero initial pay, I would want to examine their business plan, their market survey, and purchase a D&B on the pricipals. If everything sounds good then I would negotiate a deal for backpay or stock options (check with an accountant on stock options re tax implications) and future pay (not to mention benefits including medical insurance and 401K).
Still a possibility, but it would be run primarily by others and I would be involved on a PT basis, handling sales, marketing, setting up corporate form, etc. Two other people interested in pursuing it (one a good mechanic, the other an old hand at motorcycle dealerships (my father), I would partner with them, but it doesn't look like it'd be coming off 'til next Spring. I've read the business plan, sales & marketing plan (which needs serious work), market analysis, etc. These guys have done their homework and seem to have a good idea and solid talent behind the project. But VC being tight as it is, it's as speculative as it can be. I need other employment to keep things going in the meantime (the 401K funds from my previous job will only hold out so long), so I told them I could give them 3 hrs a day while I seek other employment (be it motorcycle shop or sales or legal or teaching or combo of all of the above--I must do something to bring in the income). If I go on board, I would get a piece of the company (likely 5% plus a salary TBD, though no nothing until VC comes through). I know one of the principals quite well (though I'd lost touch with him for a copuple years since my move). The other I do not know. Has anyone checked out the trailer? Looked at the website? What do you think?
Besides the fact that they chose the wrong font for the text, it looks good. It is certainly an underserved market. However, would kids be interested in a program where the outcome is already known? Only seven levels seems small. What is the homeschooling take on this? I would seek out a couple of the more prominent folks and ask them what they think. If I understand correctly, there is a name change from Enoch to Orion. Is that biblical? All that being said, it could be a winner. If I were you, though, I would do my own market research first before making a firm decision. Tom Nixon
I'll let them know about font and levels. I think (but not certain) that levels are limited due to anticipated limited funds. However, that could change if VC comes through. No, the change from Enoch to Orion is not biblical. Don't know why they changed it, perhaps they thought the latter name had more marketing appeal? It was mentioned today in our virtual board meeting (isn't Skype a wonderful invention?), but I didn't follow up and ask why. Don't know about homeschooling take on it, what are you getting at? I will do some marketing research. I'm starting a class next month at UMass in developing a marketing plan, so perhaps after doing the research, I'll apply what I learn in that class if all goes well. If you have any advice, let me have it. Constructive--or brutal--criticism welcomed. This project is still early enough on that it can be altered iof the market warrants. As I assume some of you on this forum know a great deal more than me about graphics and gameplay on these things, I would welcome any advice. Kind of an opportunity to help us design the thing (well, to help the computer guru Peter Churness and his team to design it). Thanks for the advice, I will pass everything along via email or at Monday morning Skype meetings.
Homeschoolers are overwhelmingly Christians and have many, many conferences and conventions (where your sales people will need to be). They are one of the target audiences for this product. Or they should be. Yeah, that whole changing the Bible thing probably doesn't go over all that well. There *may* be some fall out from a name change. Or not. Tom Nixon
Of course. I should've known that. We're homeschooling ourselves. Possibly correct. I'll get to the bottom of this. Perhaps some marketing surveys and/or focus groups in order to see whether this will be a problem. Good points, I'll run 'em by the powers-that-be. Thanks, Mike aka Little Fauss
Mike/Little Fauss, I have very little knowledge of gaming or venture capital I am afraid, however I was brought up in a devoutly Christian home. If this is your market (Christian kids) then you will have to tread a fine line. Christian kids are often rebels to a degree, or at least like to feel a level of normality. (I am talking from a British background which may be less relevant, Christianity is far more normal in the USA). My gut feel is that you should try and produce a game that will be secular enough to appeal to them, but something that their parents will let them play. (You will need to get the age rating correct). This means you may have to limit the blood and guts seen in many of the 16+ rated games. I think the theme is interesting and I have to say caught my imagination when reading the website. (And I opened it with an initial air of cynicism). Games are all about playability. If kids play it and like it they will tell their friends, and like ripples in a pond...it could be the coolest game...or they may prefer to kill people in Grand Theft Auto, who can tell with kids? If it is indeed biblically educational it may be you could hawk it around the churches in your area, however if it is 'officially approved' it may lose its appeal to your target - those kids. Could you get a Beta version (maybe just one level) made and try it out on some kids? Just a few thoughts. All the best, Dave C.
Good advice, Dave, IMO. Blood and guts are limited in the game, but I think their appeal is to the secular market as well as the Christian, as they're not peppering the thing with scripture verses, and have even renamed the title character from Enoch to Orion. And you're right, I think it is a fine line between making something respectable enough to appeal to the target market (much of which is Christian or Jewish) yet edgy enough to appeal to the actual users. Truer words seldom spoken. Of course, we're also shooting for that all-important market with lots of disposable income: those twenty and thrity-somethings who live in their parents' basements and play these games to the point of obsession and dementia. Of course, I suppose now that I'm mentioning obsession and dementia, I was posting on this very site at near 1 in the morning last night (ahem, this morning). Yeah, they're trying to get to that point. The chief designer/programmer is working on it, but to get it all the way--or even one playable level--will take a small team of contract or outsourced programmers working with him. It will take several months to finish the whole ball of wax (rollout goal is next year). I guess that's what they brought me in for, to get some seed money raised. I spoke with a VC broker this morning, and he's interested, said he actually remembered The Rebel Planet being mentioned on WNT, and will be be looking at our business plan, et. al. (of course, after I get him to sign the nondisclosure agreement) and sitting in on one of our virtual board meetings soon. Thanks for the advice, Dave.
