(08-29-2010, 12:40 PM)zak Wrote: I would be interested in the process and the downside for the developers, for selling the game in a boxed version by a publisher. Maybe someone can tell something about it?
Is it like, when you've made a contract, the developer almost has nothing left and most money goes to the publisher? Perhaps he decides, what elements there should be and should not be in the game? And the release date of course should best be yesterday... I hope not...
1. Well, by buying from a developer's store, only the developer, the transaction services, and the server holder (if its not the developer), get a cut.
When you buy from a local shop, the developer gets a cut, the publisher (if its not the developer) gets a cut, the maker/printer of the discs/covers gets a cut (if its not the publisher), the distributor gets a cut (if its not the publisher), and the local shop owner gets a cut.
2. About the publisher, depends on what kind of deal you make. For example, you can have a publisher that messes in your development (Activison and Call of Duty / Starcraft 2), a publisher that helps with the development (2K Games and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion), or a publisher that just distributes your games (EA and Valve's games). <--- Just examples.
And about the contracts, there are infinite possibilities.