Re: FLASH: Pricing Guide (+ Licensing)

[Franke James]

Laura,


I'm delighted to provide more details! Your questions are good. Perspective

is everything. As an interactive judge in the Marketing Magazine Awards for

two years running perhaps I'm more critical than some. The example I

referenced IS a sophisticated game in many ways, however I used the word

"basic" because it is not a breakthrough concept -- pinball games are all

over the place, and the programming does not require a rocket science

degree. However, it IS beautifully and intelligently executed using the

client's (Clearnet) imagery. The game is created in Shockwave. My

information source is an article written by Paul Brent in the Canadian

newspaper, The Financial Post, March 8, 2000. 


You can see the game for yourself at:

http://www.clearnet.com/english/pcs/coolstuff/games/clearnet_pinball.html


Splashworks.com are the creators of it. They have a very good idea -- to

create fun and entertaining experiences using a client's advertising imagery

and logos. It's product placement versus banner ads.  And to me that wins

hands-down on the net. I expect it will be an Award winner wherever they

enter it. And it will continue to earn them licensing fees for as long as

it's popular.


We have been working in the same vein for years. We created a Perl game

called The Room in 1997. 

http://www.jamesgang.com/jamesgang/room/index.html 

(Our portfolio copy. You can also see it on www.umbra.com)

It is a pseudo-psychological analysis of the user based on their choice of

our client's (Umbra) products. It has received millions of visitors and

thousands of pages of Guestbook comments on their site since its launch, as

well as awards, publicity in magazines and tv. It is a very simple game on

the surface (should I use the word basic?), but the underlying permutations

and combinations are complex. And frankly knowing how much time The Room

took us to develop, I am doubtful whether their creative and programming

development time was covered by the initial license. *As part of my research

I will be calling Splashworks to find out.* Here's a quote from the article:


"For Clearnet the decision to put advergames on their site was an easy one.

The games are relatively cheap. Splashworks said a game typically costs

$10,000 to $15,000 for three months use, and it drives surfers to the site

through electronic word of mouth."


So, to me this type of information is very valuable and a key to Flash

artists success on the web. I would love to hear from other Flash artists

who are licensing content on the web. If I use your example as a case study

(at either the Animation Celebration www.wacfest.com on June 2nd, or

flashforward2000, New York www.flashforward2000.com on July 26th) you will

get credit. 


Franke James

Jamesgang.com

______________________________________________

The World Animation Celebration May 30-June 4, 2000 -- Hollywood, CA

http://www.jamesgang.com/jamesgang/press/index.html

Franke James, Jamesgang.com, will be moderating the panel: "Economic models,

business models, animation and the brave new world on the Internet"

Featuring Shockwave.com, Icebox.com, Disney Online and more at The World

Animation Celebration. Talent search for Shockwave and Flash animators


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