GameProducer.NET

Today, I joined a very new forum belonging to GameProducer.Net.  You probably recognized the name because author Juuso Hietalahti has had several very popular posts.  He’s done a series of interviews including Positech’s Cliff Harris and today’s with Jesse Smith a Producer at Firaxis Games.  What I find most interesting is the ongoing series “Sales Statistics” which reveals the real sales data of some indie games.

So why did I plop $50 down to join an unproven, brand spanking new forum on game development?  It seems crazy on the surface, because other quality forums like Indie Gamer are free, but there are 3 crucial factors that made it a no brainier for me.

First, I don't see it as a replacement for Indie Gamer or the old dexterity forum archive.   I've enjoy both and benefited from both. That said, Indie Gamer has lost that feeling of group participation it uses to have and I have been reading less and less of the posts there. I'm hoping to find (will find) a higher concentration of yummy posts, more group discussion and less, “Hey! I just turn 18 and you should join my team because we are going to make the best MMO in the world.”

Second, because I'm still a beginner (in the sense that I haven’t published) I often felt my posts in other forums where considered from the same bin as the MMO nut.  This is where the $50 comes into play.  I'm very serious about game making and hope that because of the entry fee that will be true for everyone.  I also hope that because of the entry fee forum posts will be given the benefit of the doubt, taken seriously and given respectful guidance and advice.

The third and final reason is Juuso Hietalahti has a good reputation.  His blog has provided a lot of useful information, resources and guidance.  He is respected on Indie Gamer and has made significant contributions.  I believe this will help attract a very talented crowd.

So check out the details because I believe the future is bright over at GameProducer.Net Forums.

Comments

[martina]

heh I think you just wasted $50... maybe I'm wrong!

[Lui]

I'm afraid I'd have to agree with martina. Gameproducer is becoming synonymous with talk the talk but don't walk the walk. A subscription-based indie games forum? It all just smells like a new money-making opportunity from a site increasingly becoming undeserving of it's name and relying on the tricks of the SEO crowd to make a little bit of quick money. Apply to Chaos Engine (for free) if you want to communicate with a group of people who actually make games in an exclusive environment. You'll find members of both the mainstream and indie games market and quite a few game producers who actually have produced something.

[Philip Ludington]

I can understand y’alls’ reservations. I got in on the ground floor and can help the community grow into something valuable. So I'm some what hedging my risk. I guess we'll see in the long run.

Thanks for the tip Lui I'll check it out.