Making a new Video Game

بواسطة Unregistered user

Ambassador (0)

13-12-2019, 21:38

This is not a post about how to make one but rather is it worth the effort of making one? As in I could pour in a few 10's of hours into making a game for the MSX using C most likely and publish it for free, but then if I wanted to make a different one, and possibly earn some cash for bread to repay the effort, would that be feasible? Additionally what kind of system should I use for this project, Turbo R seems the best but how many would own one, then again what are the odds that there are many MSX users still around in general?

بواسطة TheKid

Paragon (1238)

13-12-2019, 22:50

Well, it depends on what your goal is. If your thinking of earning thousands of dollars/euros/whatever, than MSX may be a too small scene. If you are going for money, the mobile market would be a better place.

بواسطة meits

Scribe (6544)

14-12-2019, 00:04

You might generate a few dozens of views, so if you're in it for the money MSX is not your thing.

بواسطة santiontanon

Paragon (1810)

14-12-2019, 00:19

I just want to echo what was just said. I can also give you some numbers, as I have published a few MSX games in the past, and also I have talked to other people that have published:
- My games sell between 50 - 100 physical copies each.
- I give away the games in digital version for free, so that might lower the sales (but I do it since I don't care about the money, and the physical edition sells for money, since it costs money to do it).
- Other groups that do larger/better games than mine, and that do not make their games freely available can sell up to 200-250 copies per game from what I have heard.
- There might be isolated huge-hit titles with more sales than that, but those are the general numbers.

So, there you go. That's your market. I personally think that if you are in for the money, then the retro scene in general is not the right place. This is more a scene of people that do things for the love we still feel toward these machines, not for making money

بواسطة shram86

Expert (117)

14-12-2019, 03:07

A few 10s of hours XD

بواسطة NYYRIKKI

Enlighted (6067)

14-12-2019, 07:56

DavidOwen wrote:

This is not a post about how to make one but rather is it worth the effort of making one?

If you come to ask here, I think most of us will say yes. If you ask some outsider they most likely say no. As a hobby people put effort to lots of things... Some people use their few 10's of hours in garage tuning their cars and newer get their money back they pour in their projects. Some people do skydiving and some people just take their money to local bar and spend their time there drinking beer with friends. The answer to question is it worth it can be found only from the mirror. At least MSX is relatively cheap hobby that still allows creativity and challenges you to push your self against limits. There are many different reasons to do that, but I would say among the most popular thoughts are: "this was my first computer", "I love games and challenges" and "MSX is a simple system that individual can master from start to end while it yet has flexibility to grow with the skills"

Quote:

if I wanted to make a different one, and possibly earn some cash for bread to repay the effort, would that be feasible?

The greatest reward comes from the success, but you have to realize that in the end you are the one who will love your project over anyone else and that needs to be the forward driving force. If your motivation is money, eternal fame or something else like that you are most likely going to fail... or at least get very disappointed.

I would say active MSX hobbyists are mostly divided to collectors, people who enjoy to refresh their childhood memories and programmers. New indie games don't fit extremely well to any of these user categories, but there is small interest in all of them.

Quote:

Additionally what kind of system should I use for this project, Turbo R seems the best but how many would own one, then again what are the odds that there are many MSX users still around in general?

I think this is again mostly up to you... In 90's everyone was doing MSX2 games n' stuff and nobody remembered MSX1 anymore. This changed on beginning of millennium and next 10 years it was pretty much MSX1 only. Now we have seen few MSX2 projects to pop up again, but MSX2+ and MSX tR has newer been popular.

People tend to say that targeting these high end models will limit the audience, but then again when you ask what computer they have, you will notice that if the people are still active MSX users they have acquired top end model at some point. In reality most of the people are playing on emulators where all models are available and real computer is started only once in a while. I would say that you will lose some customers due to high end targeting, but the other side of the coin is that because there has been so little amount of releases to these machines, people probably buy pretty much any product if someone just releases something... Do you want 20% of 80% or 80% of 20% is up to you. (Numbers are used for illustration purposes only and are not based on anything)

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Ambassador (0)

16-12-2019, 05:49

DavidOwen wrote:

This is not a post about how to make one but rather is it worth the effort of making one? As in I could pour in a few 10's of hours into making a game for the MSX using C most likely and publish it for free, but then if I wanted to make a different one, and possibly earn so {admin removed spam} for bread to {admin removed spam} the effort, would that be feasible? Additionally what kind of system should I use for this project, Turbo R seems {admin removed spam} the best but how many would own one, then again what are the odds that there are many MSX users still around in general?

issue solved!!!!

{hamlet: I'm sorry guys, this looks like another spamer. I've blocked the poster}

بواسطة

Ambassador (0)

16-12-2019, 05:50

{hamlet: I'm sorry guys, this looks like another spamer. I've blocked the poster}

بواسطة ducasp

Paladin (680)

16-12-2019, 05:02

I don't think that today anyone should do anything MSX related thinking about money. Can you make some money? As long you do something good, yes, like said before, some people like collecting the new releases. Even for hardware, this is mostly a passionate hobby. Even though gr8net is not a cheap interface, I really do not think that whatever money Eugeny makes on it pays for the hours of hard work he has done, working as third party engineer he probably would have made more money than what he makes with gr8net.

Also, thinking about how to release the final product can iproove incoming. While physical cartridges are nice, some people, like me, do not have physical space to collect cartridges and might just buy if a digital release exists. Some developers fear that digital releases might kill their chances of selling, but, unless your cartridge has specific hardware that is needed (and really needed) to make the game work, there is always a chance someone dumps and crack a cartridge. Though decision, but I think that Kai Magazine games are living proof that going digital is a good way to make more money.

But, in the end, I would say that the time and effort you will put on anything that can generate some revenue for MSX will probably give you much more money if done for smartphones or an Indie release on Steam. If you have a good idea that can be expanded from MSX to PC/Mobile and release both without major rework, it could be a nice way to have something done to MSX and generate a good income.

بواسطة Pencioner

Scribe (1565)

16-12-2019, 10:01

BalkonPeriuepcb wrote:

{hamlet: I'm sorry guys, this looks like another spamer. I've blocked the poster}

too many spammers flooding the forum lately... would it be worth to add some kind of captcha on new user registrations?
maybe kind of MSX captcha, like selecting a games from he list which use SCC (inspired by online chess sites captcha where you should solve a trivial chess problem when you register)

EDIT: just because i think that's some clever bots. wouldn't help if real people are posting this bs

بواسطة hamlet

Scribe (4106)

16-12-2019, 10:10

Since we generally activate the first contribution of a new user personally, we are well protected against the vast majority of SPAM incidents.
New are these three entries, where the users set spam links only at the second post. This is done well thought out and with a lot of care. No standard text is used for this. I can't believe this is made by bots.
Of course we are anxious to make these contributions quickly recognizable but I am particularly most sorry for the members who have already answered with effort.