Investing in Videogames?

[Amarok]

I have used the search bar, it came up with nothing, so sorry if this has been done.

Article here: http://www.totalvideogames.com/Left-4-Dead-2/news/Gabe-Newell-Promotes-Fan-Investment-In-Games-14391.html
And possibly many other places.

I originally heard about this on a videogame podcast, and the basic scoop is this:

Everyone's favourite CEO, Gabe Newell, has proposed that instead of the current scheme of "Publishers fund developers" that we should instead invest in videogames ourselves.

For example, let's say an Indie Developer comes up with a really amazing game idea - now we all know that Indie Games at the moment are completely in a different league with non indie games (I don't mean they're bad, heck some indie games are awesome, but you can clearly see the budget difference), but what Gabe suggests is that we all, as interested customers, support that Indie Developer by shelling out $10-20 in order to support their idea.
In turn, we'd be rewarded with knowing exactly how the game is going in development, we'd get a copy of the game on release, and if it does well, we may even get a return on our investment.

Now, Gabe himself has pointed out the big problem with this plan - we'd need a lot of people to be on board with it to work.

Personally I think it is a very interesting idea and it would be a great way to see a wave of refreshing new games amidst the current sea of Shovelware.
We're all sick of endless sequels right? Well this way we could set the score straight by investing in a slew of new, innovative ideas that regular publishers may not want to touch.

So what are your thoughts, escapists?

 

[Emphraim]

I've heard about this several times. While it's a sound concept, in practice, what if the game doesn't shape out the be the way the "gamer-investors" want it to be? That would be money wasted on a game you don't even want to play.

 

[megapenguinx]

I still have some stocks from Bungie (like 20-30 shares) from way back when. I leave them be because they are just neat little things I can say I own. But I would love to buy stock/invest in video games. The problem is, as always, money. I lack enough money to do anything truly worthwhile in the investing sense.

 

[Amarok]

I've heard about this several times. While it's a sound concept, in practice, what if the game doesn't shape out the be the way the "gamer-investors" want it to be? That would be money wasted on a game you don't even want to play.

Well there is a fair amount of risk of course, you have to hope that the idea you fell in love with endures throughout the process. However I will say that I have already spent money on games only to find out I have no intention of playing them. Like Spore, and Crackdown. And at least you'd only be investing like $10 instead of the $60 it takes to buy a game you discover you don't like
But indeed the format is not without its risks.

I still have some stocks from Bungie (like 20-30 shares) from way back when. I leave them be because they are just neat little things I can say I own. But I would love to buy stock/invest in video games. The problem is, as always, money. I lack enough money to do anything truly worthwhile in the investing sense.

According to the article, the podcast and Gabe, you'd only need to invest like $10 or $20, that's less than it takes to actually buy a game. And at the end of it you'd get a copy of your game for the investment money you paid, so it could work out cheap. You could even get your investment money back if the game does better than expected.

 

[megapenguinx]

According to the article, the podcast and Gabe, you'd only need to invest like $10 or $20, that's less than it takes to actually buy a game. And at the end of it you'd get a copy of your game for the investment money you paid, so it could work out cheap. You could even get your investment money back if the game does better than expected.

True, I guess the biggest problem then isn't money (for me), it's lack of consistent income.

 

[Killerbunny001]

It`s like selling stock for a company, only the company is a game that doesn`t exist yet so what you are buying is a part of a idea.

Selling stuff that is not real is still a crime in most countries right ?

 

[Amarok]

It`s like selling stock for a company, only the company is a game that doesn`t exist yet so what you are buying is a part of a idea.

Selling stuff that is not real is still a crime in most countries right ?

If that's the case then the TV show Dragon's Den is a sheer hive of villainy.

As are most business investments,

In fact, if that's the case then all game Developers are performing highly illegal acts when they pitch their ideas to the likes of Activision etc.

We're not "purchasing" a non-existant game. We're "investing" in it. Hence the title of my post, "Investing in Videogames"

 

[Killerbunny001]

It`s like selling stock for a company, only the company is a game that doesn`t exist yet so what you are buying is a part of a idea.

Selling stuff that is not real is still a crime in most countries right ?

If that's the case then the TV show Dragon's Den is a sheer hive of villainy.

As are most business investments,

In fact, if that's the case then all game Developers are performing highly illegal acts when they pitch their ideas to the likes of Activision etc.

We're not "purchasing" a non-existant game. We're "investing" in it. Hence the title of my post, "Investing in Videogames"

Oki buddy, I`m stupid and you are right. Go invest in Duke Nukem now please.

 

[Amarok]

Oki buddy, I`m stupid and you are right. Go invest in Duke Nukem now please.

Ha! No no I didn't mean it that way, there's just a difference between purchasing something and investing in something is all.

Feel free to say that investing in games is a load of bollocks and you'd never do it in a million years, that's fine. I just don't think it's "illegal", that's all.

And as much as I'd love to invest in Duke Nukem Forever, I've somewhat lost consumer confidence