Developers Corner

How do you pitch an idea to companies? I know you'd need a portfolio and a whole bunch of other junk, but how do you pitch it?

you don't.  If your idea isn't good enough to pitch to people you know* and get them working on it, it's not good enough enough to get investments that would cost major cash(the former being hobby time+money).

Also my favorite saying for this type of post is:  If you don't know where you can start, you're not ready to start.

sucessful indy have either been projects soo small that one person can work and finish them or along the lines of people having libraries that are good but need others people's libraries to get something that is finished.   library being anything from client/server code, models, textures, or any other asset you can think of except ideas.  when you get enough skilled people together and on one thought track ideas are worth MUCH MUCH less than a dime a dozen, you can get 20 or so inventors/scientists/generalists and a lawyer into a nice 5 course dinner and leave with 83 valid patents(which will end up getting approved stupidly enough) the same holds true for anyone who could work on any aspect for a game.

the advice is pick up a skill that can be used and run with it for a few years, and maybe get into that figurtive dinner if you figure out where you can start.

*or could get to know

Originally posted by paulscott

you don't.  If your idea isn't good enough to pitch to people you know* and get them working on it, it's not good enough enough to get investments that would cost major cash(the former being hobby time+money).

Also my favorite saying for this type of post is:  If you don't know where you can start, you're not ready to start.

sucessful indy have either been projects soo small that one person can work and finish them or along the lines of people having libraries that are good but need others people's libraries to get something that is finished.   library being anything from client/server code, models, textures, or any other asset you can think of except ideas.  when you get enough skilled people together and on one thought track ideas are worth MUCH MUCH less than a dime a dozen, you can get 20 or so inventors/scientists/generalists and a lawyer into a nice 5 course dinner and leave with 83 valid patents(which will end up getting approved stupidly enough) the same holds true for anyone who could work on any aspect for a game.

the advice is pick up a skill that can be used and run with it for a few years, and maybe get into that figurtive dinner if you figure out where you can start.

 

*or could get to know

That makes no sense. Me and several people are all ready to work on it (not really ready, just using an example), but we need sponsors... So we'd would have to pitch the idea in order to get it.

so you already have the prototype?

Originally posted by paulscott

so you already have the prototype?

Nah. It just sounded like you were saying I would need a complete game before pitching the idea. I know I'd need a demo, but I'm j/w how you'd get in contact with the sponsors. It's more of a dream right now, cause I'm getting ready for college. Most likely will major in some field of computers (hopefully graphics and web design).

You need a demo before you can pitch anything.

For any game yes when pitching to the publishers you will need a working alpha or Pitch demo of the game in action. However first steps is selling the idea. I've uploaded some of my pitch sheets i've used for a game called Summit. Hope this gives you a good idea on what to expect. Yes it may not be a MMO but you do pitch MMO's more or less the same as any other AAA. However on a grander scale of things.

Direct link: http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/8370/summit2007salesheet01ga9.jpg

Direct Link: http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/4549/summit2007salesheet02rp2.jpg

Direct Link: http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/1967/summit2007salesheet03xt9.jpg

 Please Note: These are first drafts and do not repersent the final pieaces.