GEOM finally bought me that car!

Yeah after 3 or so years the game finally made enough money for me to purchase the car I wanted. Kinda cool really as 3 years ago I'd have needed twice as much money. Kind thanks to BRL for allowing me to get into the game business.





So Yeah make the game you want and stick at it as it might pay dividends one day.

Nice car!
How come in the last pic the roof is made of fabric?

now the question is can the game pay for the gas?

Nice work! Perhaps with your next paycheck you could buy some week killer for that driveway... ;)

Great stuff, joking aside. it is a great regret of mine that i drunk the bulk of Bullet Candy's earnings. It still pays the rent though, which is the main thing.

Cheers
Charlie

I was wondering that, too. :)

Nice work. I hope the summer weather will be nice enough for top-down driving :)

Na, it'll never pay for the gas but since I work from home I'm hoping to keep the car long term as it's a classic and make some money from it. It's not too bad on the gas considering it's a 5 litre monster!!!

Weedkiller - lol I'll tell the wife.

The last picture is a soft-top as the car has a removable hard-top (mostly made of glass). The first two pics are with the hardtop on and the last is with it off and the soft-top up. I'll post a pic of the top down when it's sunny.

Bah, cheap car. My car has automatic fabric roof which goes to closed roof, open roof or total cabrio positions :)

:) Cheap Sheep :) Cheap for me but not for the person who spent £85,000 on it 12 years ago :P

I'm thinking of getting one of these exhausts as the baffles totally kills all sounds : http://youtube.com/watch?v=vbHh-sAmTXg&feature=related

Nice car! But there's something wrong with the numberplate... ;-)

So seriously Geom paid for that? Did you get a retail deal of something or is it just the royalties keep on trickling in?

Seriously nice car! Looks much better with the hardtop on it. Congrats!

Congrats man :)

It would look best without any roof. All cars do that.

The royalties have been small but constant so it adds up. Oddly enough the smallest sales came from the largest companies. It's made me think (for a long time) that I should invest some more time in it and make it a bit more user friendly - perhaps actually do a deal with GEOMAG this time :)

It's a wierd co-incidence but Naked War has just earned enough for me to buy some new transport.

lol @ JP!

lol, JP's got a new bike.

What about Caboodle? Are you still selling that? The website is dead.

Funny stuff John. :)

Keep saving... one day you might be able to afford the other two wheels :)

Was the MR2 bought with game money too?

OK I'm going to challenge the fact that this car was bought specifically with Geom royalties. What I think really happened was that you gradually spent the royalties on toilet rolls and dog food over the years. Then recently you bought a nice car and wanted to show it off but needed a computeresque thread title in order to post it here and thus was born the tenuous Geom royalties link. Am I right ;-)

:)

John Pickford: Did Naked War sell bad or it was only a joke? it's a niche market, but games with tournaments and rankings like Lasersquad Nemesis did fairly well.


No way... it would look like that by now!

Mmmmmm yes - heavily depreciating assets.

It hasn't sold many copies. I think it's down to virtually no marketing and perhaps peoples suspicion about the business model. We have a really good 'conversion rate' in that a high proportion of people who try the game go on to buy it (25% of people who send a turn buy it and 38% of those who complete a full game buy it). In fact the average play time for a registered user is 9 hours (this is anyone who's gone to the trouble of creating a username - not people who bought it).

Another problem for us is the game isn't suitable for portals so we don't really get anyone stumbling across the game at a popular gaming site.

We'll be doing a re-launch once our current project is done and we'll put some serious effort into marketing\PR. We'll be adjusting a few things to do with the way the game works and the business model at that point too.

There are lots of multiplayer web/downloadable games which are based on heavy marketing and maintaining an active portal and community - tournaments, matches and updates/virtual gadgets.

Most of them give the game as free in order to get a bigger userbase, and then earn on gadgets (either visual or giving gameplay advantages), or have monthly fees in order to access advanced features. Gameplay advantages though often ruin the experience are and not suited to a turn based tactical game.

The objective is to hook players as regulars (once you have 'built' your user with reputation and/or gadgets, you constantly return for more events or updates), and attract newcomers with the big userbase, events and marketing.

You could have micropayments using prepaid cards for visual gadgets (different characters/tanks/haircuts etc.), different monthly subscriptions giving access to particular events or features, and add a few maps regularly. The web part could let the player form teams or clans for participating in particular tournaments, and the players could be divided by ranking in order to have them choose appropriate adversaries.

Online multiplayer support and hotseat should increase interest too.

Admittedly, I don't know how many of these suggestions are suited to Naked War since I didn't play it (I read the reviews since I really like turn based tactics, but I tend to avoid multiplayer games as they require commitment and overall too much time, even mail based ones), but the general idea is suitable.

It's a bigger investment both in time and web development, but you should look into these kind of business models since actually are the only ones working for this kind of games (more realtime team play and much less PBEM nowadays though, like Maple Story and Gunbound, but there are still games like Massive Assault Network and DBA online which are very successfull and have a similar feeling).

Quite right, I already spent all the money I've earned from the game BUT the game turnover did just hit £10K (remember that's only 1,000 copies sold direct) and that's what I spent on the car. But basically GEOM did pay for it, or was it the dog food :P

So I guess if 1,000 sales can buy you this what can 100,000 sales buy you? Guess only Jake knows :D

These are the kind of preconceptions that are causing us problems. Naked War doesn't require a lot of time or commitment (that's the whole point of the game) but unfortunately people already seem to have strong ideas about the genre.

Obviously there's no point in my wingeing about this stuff. We need to make sure we aren't pressing the wrong buttons and putting people off even trying the game. And it's too good a game to give up on at this stage.

We're looking at addressing all of these issues for a re-launch.

haha coool, thought so. Well congrats as 1000 direct sales is no mean feat! That's like 300-odd a year or 6 a week. Maybe it's time for a sequel!

I haven't made 100,000 sales yet, but I'm getting there - of course most of the turnover from those sales belongs to someone else ;-)

About 25 of these:

Naked War looks like a pretty nice game. One thing that might put me off is the idea that you play over email - almost sounds like `my game does networking but it takes a day between moves, it's so laggy`. I think I would possibly play that down, but that's just my opinion. The sense of interactivity might be brought into serious question if the user doesn't understand how it plays or at what pace. That aside though I think that if you haven't marketed it much then that's the main reason it's not being purchased. People can't buy something they don't know exists.

Congrats on the new Car though, Indiepath.

Yeah, the whole email thing seems to come with a lot of baggage. There's no 'lag' as such. You can exchange turns virtually instantly. The email system is just a convenience. It means two people don't have to sit there and play at the same time. A game can be played over minutes, hours, days or months. It's up to you.

What I meant as commitment is commitment to other players (like being forced to send a turn each day, or to be connected at certain hours). However, I take your point about the strong beliefs: being a head to head game and not played between many people at once commitment isn't a real issue.

Anyway, online multiplayer and hotseat are a must today... in the past PBEM born due to the lack of a cheap connection, and while it is a good addition to me it became more like an optional to everyone else (it is hard to find turn based games which still support PBEM today). When possible, users prefer online multiplayer for the chat too.

Also, I love to play such games in single player, though I understand it can be a real burden to write the AI.

Hot seat is in there. I'll never do online multiplayer for a turn-based game. It's just madness to have someone sitting there for no reason.

The AI side of things is less of a worry - I love doing that stuff - it's just a practical issue of finding the time to do it.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure our current plan will make a big difference. We're addressing loads of issues with some fairly simple changes to the game and the business model. And with some proper marketing effort and portal presense I'm confident we'll do okay.

From my experience, the Mk II MR2 will be taking back the game money over a very short period of time, which is why I'm currently driving a very sensible Honda Accord and longing for another Mk I.

John,



I think Naked War's format would be much more successful on mobile phones with positioning info sent via text messaging or such.

That's quite an awesome idea, actually. Especially if you get a cut of the revenue from each SMS sent.

Doiron: Wow, only 40,000 Euros, but it's got no wings. Guess you could drive it round town and hope you didn't fry any pedestrians behind you.

I love mk2 mr2's.... one of these days *sigh*

Anyways... congrats on the new ride!

I nearly bought one just over 5 years ago but Helen didn't want me to get a 2 seater, so I got a sensible family car instead: Impreza Turbo 2000 ;-) (It's probably more fun to be honest anyway)

I wonder how the game will look like you'll have to write to get the gas payed as well... :O)

Was Geom made in Blitz3D or BMax just out of interest? Are there any videos of it in action?

Jason.

3D (it's pre-BMax)

Turned based multiplayer isn't too bad I have found, I guess one of the most common examples are online poker and chess games, which are turn based. As long as the turns arn't that long and there is 'planning' that can be done when the player doesn't have the move it isn't that bad.

One of my fav multiplayer games is civ2, which isn't too bad between just 2 people multiplayer, as your cities can be managed when its not your turn, then when it becomes your turn they changes you made become active and you can move your troops etc, so works quite well.

Since Jake seems to be the only one reasonably IN thread :) I wanna race ya ;) I think you might be a tonne lighter and have better handling but I'd like to try :D I got 2 tonnes with 0-60mph in 6s, 60-100 is frighting and 100-165 is something someone else is doing :)

PS. I ain't talking turn based racin'

turn based racing lol. Well I guess people do lap times to get on a starting grid.

Well you just gotta bring it round one day and we'll have a burn. Not sure my car is that light, but I guess your's is just heavy by comparison.

What size engine you got and what's the BHP? Sounds like your top speed is higher as mine is only 150 due to a mere 2 litre turbo-charged engine @ 240BHP. For top speed "there ain't no replacement for displacement" as they say (alluding to larger engine size). However, cos my 2 litres are turbo charged + tweaked + fat exhaust and I've got 4-wheel drive it'll do 0-60 in 5.3 secs (tested on a g-meter) and 0-100 in 13, which is pretty quick, oh and if there's any corners involved, you'll loooose ;-p

here's what you are up against:

LOL@Grey Alien :D

Actually, that specific advertisement tells "wings are removed" but there are many others in the same price range which doesn't. Anyway, I think it just means that wings are removed *for transport*, not that they sell the plane without wings!
Otherwise it would still make quite an impression in a drag race or at worst in the garden for a barbeque. ;)

Just occurred to me that jet planes are zero-wheel drive :-D

Isn't it the same with Hot Seat?

Perhaps. I don't think anyone plays that mode anyway.

Naked War would be perfect for the iPhone.

@jake, I got 320BHP, 5 Litres and you'll have me hands down :) - top speed (on the odometer) is 160, I think it's limited at 155. All SL500's are automatic, the version I have is 5 speed with instant kick-down. Not as raw as manual but man it goes like shite of a shovel. Me thinks I'm gonna get the the back baffles sawn off and a bespoke exhaust made. I'm assured I will get noise (Yeeeeehaaa) and kick arse performance (like I need it).

Here's a vid with the Eisenmann Exhaust (not as nice as the bespoke) : http://youtube.com/watch?v=vbHh-sAmTXg&feature=related

Hey Tim,

Just need another game now to pay for the fuel...

Seriously - many many congratulations, you deserve it. Keep safe man!

IPete2.

Lol, I just need some free time now that I'm so busy :) Then I'll make that game....

@Indiepath: Cool, you got some power there! My odometer says 160 too but it will never get there. Mines manual of course, with a dump valve to help the gear chance. Basically you do 0-35ish in 1st then to about 65 in 2nd then 99 in 3rd, and 4th to whatever (obviously I've never used it at that speed ;-)). There's 5 gears and 5th has a surprising amount of punch on the motorway when cruising.

Hey that exhaust video is neat, sounds good. I got a straight through 3 inch bore not longer after I bought the car. The big bore makes a difference with turbos (and sounds lush on Subarus), + I added an induction kit. However it was pretty noisy for long journeys so eventually I got a baffle added, shame as it reduced power a fraction. I've got a video of mine too at the pre-baffle stage, but haven't uploaded it youtube yet...

Big exhaust/spoiler = small willy.

Naturally, my car exhaust is like a McDonald's straw.

:)

You should at least get two straws.

So some people claim (normally people with crap cars ;-)), but I think it's just fun having a fast car. In my case I got my car after playing with one on Gran Turismo 3 (and Sega Rally and Colin McRae Rally before that) for ages, then deciding I wanted a sports car, and Helen said no to a two seater (so we can put the kids in the back) and I thought hmm what's a good 4-door saloon that's not a Ford or Vauxhall and ended up with an Impreza! Had it nearly 6 years now, it's been a great car, fun and reliable - I totally recommend them.

Regarding fuel: yeah I put in Super Unleaded and I paid £1.23 a litre the other day, wow. MPG is crappy at about 20MPG I guess (the way I drive) but I didn't exactly buy it for the fuel economy. I bet Tim's new car is worse though with 5 litres haha, running that car is only viable in the U.S.

I'm lucky since I don't have to commute - well maybe 20 meters to the office. This car is a toy and I don't expect to sell (at least soon). With regard to MPG.. on the motorway I get a constant 35mpg but in town you might as well throw money out the window. Our BMW 320 Touring only manages 40 MPG on the Mway!!

This is a four seater car and we can fit Lucy (8 Years), Penny (ahem years), Me and Dog!! But mummy has to move the seat forward a little :)

To put things into perspective, this car cost more that this house did 12 years ago... AND SOMEONE HAD THE MONEY TO BUY IT!!!!! (the car that is) and our house is now worth 220K+ (some hope and thanks gordon) and the car is 10K :)

BIG_FLASH_CAR = NO_MONEY_LEFT_TO_RUN_IT.

I did have a Ford Mondeo ST 24, but as the economy is turning to sh*t , road rent keeps rising ( to encourage people to buy environmentally friendly cars if the ever was such a thing), cost of maintenance, insurance going up and the price of fuel ( or should that be "fools" paying £1.18-£1.30 a liter, the Americans are complaining at paying 60p )

I decided to get a smaller car: A 07 Ford Fusion 1.4 TDCI ( was thinking of a Fiesta but the fusion was easier to get in and out of ). It was 7 months old when I bought it (payed for in full) and cost £10k with Gap insurance. It may not win any races but it gets me from A to B a lot cheaper than the Mondeo would have at today's prices.

My sisters house is worth £500k (cost £150k). She didn't buy it to make money, she bought because she wanted to live there, so she isn't bothered if her house looses £499k in value because she has what she wanted.

Tim: That's a surprisingly good MPG! Funny about the price of things going in complete opposites. Even my car was £25,000 new (I bought it after 3 years) and lots of people pay that much for a car but I wouldn't (yet).

dawlane: Yeah I'm tempted to go the opposite for my next car and get a nice quiet electric car or something as I've done the fast car thing, but then again, I'm also tempted to get a Skyline or an Evo...Our house has also gone up but if it drops (which it may well do this year) then I'm not to bothered as long as it doesn't go below the price we paid 4 years ago, but I doubt it will. Last year would have been a good year to sell if you had bought more than one property as an investment.

Oh yeah it was Blitz3D but with loads of custom modules - a lot of the vector and poly modules, including SFX queuing were converted from this game and released as modules for BMAX

AND all the vocals were made with a vocal synthesiser.

High BHP but heavy car? Turbo? 4-wheel drive? pffff, that's for children. All you need is an awesome power to weight ratio ;)
Here's to you what you are up against:

Unfortunately, nSprite didn't buy me that, my day job did, but it's still game programming, so, meh.
Oh, and you can see my car's bumper on the side! :P

pink. railings.

Its a possibility that gosse still lives in his parent's home.

This is indeed my parents' home in Sherbrooke (small town in eastern Quebec), but I don't live there since my 2nd year of University (3 years ago). I live and work in Montreal, but still visit them on a regular basis.
Oh, and the "pink" railings have been replaced with aluminum white ones this spring.
And if you wonder why both my car and bike are at my parents' home, it's because I leave my car there during the summer since I have my bike and it's much less of a hassle for parking (Montreal is well renowned for the parking hell it is).