Our debt to Matrix Programmers

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: Mike Scholl

I think the truth is that Matrix has nothing to offer "renumeration" with until the product is finished and actually sold.

I'm sure that must be the case. The prospect of AE has certainly generated a lot of excitement, but I'm sure it hasn't generated a dime in revenue yet. And I doubt Matrix has the capital to risk a lot solely on a wing and a prayer.

Hopefully at that point they will offer some of whatever profits there are to the people who did the work. So perhaps we should wait and see before being too critical.

I'm not privy to anything, but I'd bet that Matrix will - if they can - offer something. They seem to me to be both an honest & smart company. If AE makes a profit after overhead, etc. it would both be honest & smart to offer contributors like you some kind of remuneration.

Personally I'd be happy to know that a small portion of what I spend on AE is going to the guys who have been "volunteering" to help on it.

[DuckofTindalos]

There's exactly zero people on the project team that are doing this for any sort of monetary reward.

[jwilkerson]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

Not trying to hijack the thread though. Apologies for doing that. Anyway, aren't all the AE people "volunteers" (except Matrix employees)?

Yes, we are. And there are no Matrix employees involved in making the game aside from Joe and Don...

Well, that's not totally true, though who is a "Matrix Employee" or not could be debated. As we get closer, an ever increasing "bevy" of "real" Matrix folks have started helping us, I don't know which ones are "W-2" and which are "1099" and which are "neither", but more and more resources are getting involved. I think this is their standard practice as we work our way through the "game publishing" life cycle. Collectively, the "AE Team" are the "Developers" and Matrix supplies the "Publication" resources: Editors, Marketeers, Production Build Creators, Art, etc.

[DuckofTindalos]

Well, okay... If you're going to be particular about it...[:D]

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

There's exactly zero people on the project team that are doing this for any sort of monetary reward.

I have no doubt that's true. I'm sure it's also a very enjoyable project to work on. And even if there is a monetary reward in the end, I'm sure it won't be a lot compared to the hours invested.

From my consumer point of view, however, I'm happy to pay fair value for a product I'll enjoy and thereby give a profit to the people who provide it. There's nothing wrong with making a buck if you're providing a good product. And AE looks like it will be an extremely good product.

In other words I'd still like to see a portion of the $50 (or whatever) I spend on AE go to everyone involved in developing it.