Gaming News: Should I Take the Publishing Offer for My Open-World Farming Game?

Gaming News: A game developer faces a pivotal decision after receiving a publishing offer without funding for their open-world farming game.

Received a publishing offer for my open-world farming game - Sky Harvest for steam and consoles but the Publisher isn't providing any funding which means I still have to work on my dream game part-time and have to finance the whole game on my own.. SHOULD I TAKE THE OFFER OR LEAVE IT ??
byu/hamzahgamedev inIndieDev

Summary

• Community warns of potential scam with no upfront funding.
• Emphasis on the importance of thoroughly evaluating the publisher’s track record.
• Fear of intellectual property rights violation and misuse.

Debunking the Publisher

Many users expressed skepticism towards the publisher’s intentions, with concerns raised about the lack of clarity regarding funding and potential exploitation of the developer’s work. User Thelastreturn highlighted the necessity of researching the publisher’s reputation through experiences of other developers. The community is wary of possible red flags in the offer, urging caution before making a decision.

Scam Alert

Some users, such as plsdontstalkmeee, warned of similarities to known scams in the gaming industry, suggesting a possible ulterior motive behind the offer. Concerns about the publisher’s request for project source code and intellectual property rights were echoed by NickCanCode and get-me-a-pizza, who feared potential exploitation of the developer’s assets. 

The Indie Perspective

Multiple users, including easedownripley and Mutive, emphasized the importance of assessing the publisher’s added value and whether their services justify the lack of upfront funding. Questions regarding the publisher’s advertising capabilities and revenue-sharing model were raised, urging the developer to consider the long-term implications of the partnership.