Commercial games...

[TFM]

@TMR: A lot of good points. Like your way to explain that. Your hardware story is rediculous, this person must be crazy. I mean - come on - that's like shooting the own knees away.
One problem is - IMHO - that the "different scenes" are not connected that tightly. Maybe I'm wrong - which would be great. But for example I wouldn't expect more than a few of the C64 folks having interest in CPC stuff. I don't even know whom to imform about new releases. But I may pose this question next year ;-)

[TMR]

@TMR: A lot of good points. Like your way to explain that. Your hardware story is rediculous, this person must be crazy. I mean - come on - that's like shooting the own knees away.

Yeah, i've dealt with quite a few people over the years who were selling software and hardware, there's very few people i'd never have dealings with after the first go and only a finite number of those are still trading. It's something that anyone looking to publish needs to consider carefully though, not everyone is a "people person" to the degree required and, whilst there's only a tiny minority quite as bad as the person i described, it's still something that only some of us are suited to. And no, i don't include myself in that list because i can be appalling at communication sometimes, but because i'm not dealing with paying customers that's less of an issue. =-)

One problem is - IMHO - that the "different scenes" are not connected that tightly. Maybe I'm wrong - which would be great. But for example I wouldn't expect more than a few of the C64 folks having interest in CPC stuff. I don't even know whom to imform about new releases. But I may pose this question next year ;-)

Well, one of the people is me since i run Oldschool Gaming and Retro Gamer's homebrew section, but there's also James at RGCD and Shaun Bebbington who writes Micro Mart's weekly retro section for starters and posting to Upcoming New 8-bit Games on Facebook is a good idea too.

[Bryce]

I've also heard similar Hardware stories. The problem is, that some developers under-estimate the time needed to build things or encounter unexpected problems and suddenly can't deliver. They also get too enthusiastic about their project and start offering them before they are ready to ship. I generally say, if you haven't got the project finished, tested and all the components bought, then don't offer it and definitely don't start taking peoples money!
Of course it's a bigger financial risk with hardware. You need to invest a lot of money in components and PCB production, without knowing for certain that you can sell them all. That's why I ask first how many people are interested, and then plan how many will be built. You still end up having people who said they wanted one and then don't buy one, but it's usually offset by a few people who decide they want one after it has been released. If you do things right, you end up somewhere between having made a few too many or having a few people who were sorry they didn't reserve one and are left without. And if you set your price correctly, you should have covered most of your costs.

Bryce.

[TMR]

I've also heard similar Hardware stories. The problem is, that some developers under-estimate the time needed to build things or encounter unexpected problems and suddenly can't deliver. They also get too enthusiastic about their project and start offering them before they are ready to ship. I generally say, if you haven't got the project finished, tested and all the components bought, then don't offer it and definitely don't start taking peoples money!

i don't mind people taking my money in advance because i understand why; what annoys me is, if there's a delay, not being told what is going on. i waited just as long for my 1541 Ultimate 2 to turn up but Gideon, the developer of the unit and person doing all the work, sent emails during that time to explain the delay. i'm a reasonably tolerant person usually, i only get annoyed it people start treating me like a mushroom.

[TFM]

i don't mind people taking my money in advance because i understand why; what annoys me is, if there's a delay, not being told what is going on. i waited just as long for my 1541 Ultimate 2 to turn up but Gideon, the developer of the unit and person doing all the work, sent emails during that time to explain the delay. i'm a reasonably tolerant person usually, i only get annoyed it people start treating me like a mushroom.

Absolutely!!! Tell me that it takes some month more - ok! But don't tell me bullshit.

If a seller can't tell the truth, there is no reason to trust this person any longer.