What kind of drugs are you on, I would like some too please.
Hi Daryksteak. Thanks for your question. Let me take them one at a time.
Who is funding this: me lol. My name is Marcus Stephens. Here is my linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-stephens-44b6a985/.
I don't go there often; please let me know if you can't access it. Thanks.
It's my first game jam, so it is a little bumpy; apologies for that. I'm sponsoring it for two main reasons: 1) I want to publish video games, but not the standard kinds that are routinely published ; 2) because, as a Black man, I want to do something about the issues we're facing regarding race relations in the US , so I don't want just another world-building clash of armies type game. I want a game whose theme and execution actually add value to social justice warriors on the front lines of marches, demonstrations and boycotts. I may fail spectacularly and expensively at this. But in my heart of hearts I really need to do this; to at least try to make a difference. I feel that if I can help put something into the world that is super-entertaining and fun while also conveying a message of love and support to social justice warriors, then that's a contribution worth at least trying to make, even if I totally embarrass myself in the effort.
The theme of the jam will be intuition, though the story for it is still under construction. I'll be honest; after the Jacob Blake incident in Kenosha, I tore up the old story and did a new one. Sometimes my heart literally hurts thinking about Jacob Blake, and so many others, and I had to put new stuff into the story.
I'll answer your other questions / concerns next in the next post.
Ok, your next question: who is handling the marketing / publishing?
I've talked to several digital agencies and haven't settled on one yet. The front runner is a company called Game Marketing Genie, but the deal is not signed. Every agency I've spoken to has told me: wait until you have a game developed, let us evaluate that game, and then we'll create a marketing plan for you. All of them have quoted budget numbers that I can do.
Again, this is new for me, so I've gotten help. Rob Hassett has been incredible helping me with the legal documents. Rob is the General Counsel for the Georgia Game Developer's Association. Andrew Greenberg, president of the GGDA, has also been helping me. There have been others, especially Karen Williams at hiccup interactive, Kimberly M. Starks at Blue Scorpion Reputation Management, Joe Cassavaugh, and many others have been super-helpful as well. But be clear: these and the other who are helping me are really great, and their help has been invaluable, and only the mistakes are mine.
Ok, hope this helps. Please hmu with any other questions you may have. Thank you!!!
All the best,
Marcus
Hey Marcus,
I hope you understand our concerns about the legitimacy of this considering that such high prize pool never happened here before. Please don't be discouraged by that, after the first shock we went through we all just want to help you with the Jam so both you as s Host can get some great games about social justice and that we as a community can participate on fair and clear rules.
Could you please check your Linked In inbox for me? That would really clear everything up, and we could all begin creating great games together with you.
Cheers,
Hi fMooNek.
Thank you for your response. I'll head over to LI and respond to whatever is in my inbox there.
As I've said I am new to hosting GJs and am probably making a huge number of mistakes. I've been getting feedback that says: slow down. Work more closely with itch, do a better job marketing the jam so that more people can participate, and address the concerns about the Jam's legitimacy up front. I talk to Rob Hassett almost every day, and almost every day he tells me: slow down. I feel like things are moving at a snail's pace lol, but I may take everyone's advice and move the start date of the Jam out, in order to do a better job of enabling participation for others.
Thanks so much for your patience.
Have a great day,
Marcus
Hi Marcus, just in case you missed it, I've written a short suggestion here on what you should do moving forward: https://itch.io/jam/commercially-viable-game-social-justice-game-jam-1/topic/949512/a-message-for-marcus
Hi Xascoria -
Read your comments and they seem really helpful. As much as it pains me to do so, I probably will postpone the start of the Jam and get some more help to properly promote it.
Thanks for taking the time to respond thoughtfully to me. The fastest way to fail is to ignore the feedback of people who know more, and I don't want this to fail. If you have any further feedback, I'm more than happy to listen!
Again many thanks,
Marcus
So, If anyone is still concerned about the legitimacy of the Jam:
Marcus replied to my private message to his Linked In profile linked above, proving that it is his profile making this way more legitimate than it seemed at first sight.
Do with this information what you want, I'm just providing it.
And personally from me, I'm very glad that you considered our feedback and got in touch with us! I wish you all the best in finding the dev team that will create a game suitable for your liking and cause!