What GAMEBODY? well I think that companies and people into game devlopment, sales, bla bla bla.... should build up "the body of christ" also when it comes to gaming. My vision is to have a working body consisting of many parts.
- The "eyes" that see, test other games, test christian games, see what could be done...
- The "mouth" that speaks about the games, give information, so that the games are "known" without great marketing costs
- the hands that make the game, should work together. One hand dooing one thing and the other totally different isn´t a very effective combination!
- The brain, that thinks out the ideas and stories should give it´s part to the job.

Well, cryptic but still so easy to understand.

I will put out a internet site (within a few weeks)! I apologize for all errors in my bad english. But I still think you understand most of what I´m saying.

If there´s some interest, I would like to build up a network of resellers of christian games (companies or just people). Programmers that can help companies, musicians that can make sounds, artists that make graphics, designers that make levels....

I don´t say that we have to work on the same project, but we should build up a community where we help each other out. As long as some christian companies won´t sell christian games because they´re violent (in someones opinion), we have to build the distribution channels ourselves. If we can manage to do that, other comoanies are wellcome to use our channels in the future!

Anyone who likes the idea?

~Angel~

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It's not seeing is believing, it's believing and then seeing.
http://www.twoguyssoftware.com

Probably the best away to handle this would be to have a Christian game publisher, with several game developers under it, handle all the organization and legal problems that a "Body of Gamers" would require.

[This message has been edited by GUMP (edited November 19, 2002).]

quote:

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Originally posted by GUMP:
[B]Thought of this months ago; problem is actually getting it going and getting legal issues resolved.[B]

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True true this is an issue, and something I brought up as well in the 'dedicated team?' thread:

A unified group of people dedicated on making Christian games is already taking place. It's called the "Collective Works" group, and they are currently working on the project "INFINITUM" (an RPG). The sharing of resources between different Christian game companies is a complex undertaking. I think a better idea would be to have a "Free Game Works" collection, where people submit whatever work (music, graphics, models, etc.) for people to use royalty free on thier projects. Any comments?

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It's not seeing is believing, it's believing and then seeing.
http://www.twoguyssoftware.com

Just my 2¢,
BlazeQ

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I'm out of my mind... and into the mind of Christ -G.S. Megaphone

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It's not seeing is believing, it's believing and then seeing.
http://www.twoguyssoftware.com

so i'm right with this idea, in general, not sure on the body group ^_^

Veritech
John Stimson

~Angel~

You others have many good comments! And one very important thing came up "the rights" of the makers.
There would have to be some kind of rules of what people could get if their work is used in a game.
- I´m sure that someone is happy enough to get their name on a game!
- One idea would be to give one or more free games to those who´s artwork, code etc have been used in a game.
- Others putting big money on programs to develop with, would perhaps like to get a share.

The companies MUST write down who´s artwork is used.

It´s great to hear that some co-operation already exists. This could continue if they joined, but now under the new organisations own rules.

I´ll be back - (said by me, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesus)!

Most of all, it sounds like someone needs to grab hold of a lawyer before taking another step.

[This message has been edited by Gump (edited November 21, 2002).]

- First it´s a question wether it will be a company or an organisation, or ORGANISED companies.
As I see it:
- A company would be the easiest way looking from the top. But it would need such sums of money that we don´t have in the community (I bury that idea for now).
- A organisation can be made up of people willing to help, but legally they have nothing to say to the companies. They can´t do anything if someone works against the common rules.
- Organised companies is the best way in my point of view. Some of the companies may have people who already work for them (at least this will happen if the gaming market grows).
The companies could agree of having same rules for everyone. If someone starts to break them, the companies don´t support this companies products.

Now if we have

> where should it be setup?
It should be setup in the main market areas. Maybe ONE company from the USA and another from Europe!
Under theese companies there can be MANY companies and people who belongs to the distributors, makers etc.

We need people from both areas who know their laws etc better!
(Maybe an asian company could be a possible third "head")

Theese head companies would discuss basic profits (for gamers) even if there must always be a possibility to adjust theese payments etc. They would discuss prices, and deals who distribute...! And the head companies would have to build up a network of distributors, resellers etc in their main area.

> Who has the time
I don´t think anyone has too much time, but it´s also about what we put as important in our lives. I have at least some time that I could spend on searching and making a distribution network.

> and MONEY to do this?
I´m not sure if it requires much money to start! But if the sales grow, then there might be more work to do, and money would come in and make it possible to pay salaries to some workers.

> I've noticed a lot of people here live all over the world so I do not know how this would work say if the organization was incorporated in the USA and it was making legal deals with companies in Finland and England.

The head company in USA discuss about an effective way to work with the american companies (according to their laws).
IF our company would be the head company in Europe we would discuss selling and importing games with European (English, Finnish....) companies.

Giving (selling) code, knowledge and models could happen between all companies that work under the GAMEBODY!

> Most of all, it sounds like someone needs to grab hold of a lawyer before taking another step.

There might be things that must be ask, if they are legal and so, but the most important thing is now, that I would know if there are some interest to start some kind of better co-operation between companies and people!

If there´s no interest, there´s no need to ask a lawyer about anything!

The coop would be governed by the votes of the members of the coop.

Any development software or hardware (PC’s, Maya, Visual C++, etc.) that the coop would purchase would be purchased by funds raised by zero-coupon bonds.

The bonds would be issued by the coop and paid with funds levied from membership dues.

If the coop goes bankrupt then the bond holder will own the software or hardware that was purchased with the bond.

The price of the bond would be what ever the price of the hardware or software is.

The bond would gain interest at a rate determined by the coop.

The software or hardware purchased by the bond would become the property of the coop when the bond is called.

Any development software or hardware (PC’s, Maya, Visual C++, etc.) that would be purchased by a member would be owned by that member.

Each project would issue its own shares.

Each project would be governed by the votes of that project’s shareholders.

The labor rate would be so many shares per hour.

Each person on the project would be compensated for their labor with a share of the proceeds from the sale of the completed software item.

Shares could be issued and sold to raise funds for non-asset expenditures on a project by project basis.

Of course I prefer the Christian way, God is our government and our management, we work together as brothers, and our reward is in heaven.

Love in Christ,
Gift

Then you need to stop focusing about what you can't do and focus on what God can do. Go in faith, and nothing will be impossible for you.

Now, you need to come up with a marketable idea and develope a design doc.

Communs of game developers and community projects rarly work, you need a focused, professional, and organized team.
Your team must have a goal, all memebers need to see their work going towards that goal, else they will abandon you.
The team members must know each other, no matter if thier tasks are unrelated, they must know who's on the team. The team must work as one, not in little parts.

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"I find myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world!"
-C. S. Lewis