Newsgroups: rec.arts.int-fiction
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From: way@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov (Bob Way)
Subject: Re: IF Business venture?
Message-ID: <way-220494154338@yahoo.jsc.nasa.gov>
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References: <2ok6mgINN23q@life.ai.mit.edu> <9404161513591.bnewell.DLITE@delphi.com>) <2opff9INN2vg@life.ai.mit.edu> <Witts-end.40.2DB69FEA@ASU>
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 1994 20:54:28 GMT
Lines: 52

I hesitate to offer a tangent in what has become an interesting
thread on the trials and tribulations of shareware companies, but
while on the subject of joining forces...

In article <Witts-end.40.2DB69FEA@ASU>, Witts-end@ASU (Bill Edwards) wrote:
> 
> In article (David Baggett) (Date: 16 Apr 1994 19:48:57 GMT) writes:
> 
> >The "three games, first one free" approach pioneered by Apogee seems like
> >the best idea to me...
> 
> Hmmm, if this is indeed the best approach then perhaps it might be worth 
> the effort to join forces with others with similar (or complementary) 
> skills/interests/etc. 


Now suppose you're not so altruistic. You don't really want to write
a game in your spare time so that everyone with internet access can
be a little happier. What you really want is to quit work, write
a really intriguing interactive fiction, publish it to the entire 
world, and sit back drinking Margaritas while fat checks roll in. 

Is this a complete pipe dream? Probably. However, that answer wouldn't 
make a particularly interesting thread. 

Supposing again, that you would like to evaluate this from an 
entrepreneurial point of view. One approach would be to look for
an audience of people who:

1. enjoy reading fiction.
2. can afford and don't mind paying for entertainment.
3. have, or have access to, a computer.
4. are not pre-biased against text games. (possibly by graphic 
   computer or nintendo games)

If such an audience exists, you could then consider starting a
company with sufficient resources to develop, manufacture and
distribute enough products to create and sustain market interest.

My questions for the net are: 

        1. Are there any software people who feel this way?
        2. Does such an audience exist? 

I speculate the answer to both of these questions is yes, but I
won't bias the discussion with my views. Yet.


Bob Way                         Internet:  way@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov
LinCom Corporation              AppleLink: UH.NASA
NASA/Johnson Space Center       Phone:     (713) 483-1899
This message printed entirely with recycled electrons.
