Telstra Bigpond and ACMI have joined forces to provide the opportunity for one lucky individual to have their game idea developed into a game.
The competition, named Project Joystick, proposes to invest one million dollars in a new game idea, as well as providing prizes worth up to $20,000 in the effort to help an individual get their foot in the door, as well as having their game idea developed.
President of the IGDAA and CEO of Tantalus, Tom Crago, described it as an "incredibly exciting initiative, one that as an Australian industry, we're really pumped about".
So if you think you've got the next killer game idea and want to see it developed, sign up today. One thing for people already in the industry to consider if they want to enter, is to check with your superiors first as you don't want to participate in something that might look like a direct conflict of interest.
Just complete the deal with an Idea that I've had in my head for the last six months. Make sure to read all the fine print... I think I could have probably lost my idea to them because I ddin't read all the clauses to state that they now own my idea outright.
Hmm.
10. In relation to the Entry Idea that an Eligible Entrant submits under clause 5, the Eligible Entrant (or their parent or guardian if they are under 18) warrants to the Promoter that:
(a) to the extent intellectual property rights exist in the Entry Idea they submit, the Eligible Entrant (or their parent or guardian if they are under 18) owns all rights in the Entry Idea or is otherwise authorised to use the Entry Idea for the purposes of this Promotion, including granting to the Promoter the rights specified in clause 38; and
(b) if they are under 18, the Eligible Entrant has the consent of their parent or guardian to submit their Entry Idea in this Promotion and to accept a prize if they win,
and each Eligible Entrant agrees to fully indemnify the Promoter against any loss, damage or third party claims that the Promoter suffers by virtue of the Eligible Entrant not complying with the above.
And...
38. By entering into the Promotion, the Eligible Entrant (or their parent/legal guardian on their behalf if they are under 18 years old) agrees and acknowledges that (and may be required to sign a document to the effect that) if they are selected by the Promoter as being one of the 10 most creative, innovative, original and commercially viable Entry Ideas (which will include the Finalists) in the judging process in clause 11:
(a) the Eligible Entrant (or their parent/legal guardian on their behalf if they are under 18 years old), to the extent that any intellectual property rights exist, assigns all rights in their Entry Idea to the Promoter;
(b) in the case of the Major Prize Winner, the Promoter may use the Entry Idea or part of the Entry Idea to formulate the BigPond Game (including sequels to the BigPond Game) without further reference or compensation to the Eligible Entrant (or their parent/legal guardian on their behalf if they are under 18 years old);
Hmm.
10. In relation to the Entry Idea that an Eligible Entrant submits under clause 5, the Eligible Entrant (or their parent or guardian if they are under 18) warrants to the Promoter that:
(a) to the extent intellectual property rights exist in the Entry Idea they submit, the Eligible Entrant (or their parent or guardian if they are under 18) owns all rights in the Entry Idea or is otherwise authorised to use the Entry Idea for the purposes of this Promotion, including granting to the Promoter the rights specified in clause 38; and
(b) if they are under 18, the Eligible Entrant has the consent of their parent or guardian to submit their Entry Idea in this Promotion and to accept a prize if they win,
and each Eligible Entrant agrees to fully indemnify the Promoter against any loss, damage or third party claims that the Promoter suffers by virtue of the Eligible Entrant not complying with the above.
And...
38. By entering into the Promotion, the Eligible Entrant (or their parent/legal guardian on their behalf if they are under 18 years old) agrees and acknowledges that (and may be required to sign a document to the effect that) if they are selected by the Promoter as being one of the 10 most creative, innovative, original and commercially viable Entry Ideas (which will include the Finalists) in the judging process in clause 11:
(a) the Eligible Entrant (or their parent/legal guardian on their behalf if they are under 18 years old), to the extent that any intellectual property rights exist, assigns all rights in their Entry Idea to the Promoter;
(b) in the case of the Major Prize Winner, the Promoter may use the Entry Idea or part of the Entry Idea to formulate the BigPond Game (including sequels to the BigPond Game) without further reference or compensation to the Eligible Entrant (or their parent/legal guardian on their behalf if they are under 18 years old);
Pray my idea doesn't go through guys...
I ain't signing anything...
The headline is more exciting than what's on offer here...
It looks like they're going to use the million to pay BigPond Games staffers to make your game, rather than give it to the winner (who ends up with a prize of mainly telstra services valued at around $20k).
Well I was gonna throw them a bone and submit an idea good enough for them but one I don't plan on developing any time soon or while I have other ideas I want to pursue - but after hearing about the contract clauses; that's a big no no. I ain't making them rich so I can get sued.
But wow, when I read the topic the thought running into my mind was "Hey! A big company wants to help get creativity into the video game industry! That's so refreshing" (I guess I was projecting my desires a little bit to change the meaning of the post) But after reading about their contract clauses the thought now is "Another big company trying to screw creativity and exploit video games to pull a nice bit of profit; pfft, it's been done, so, so, so many times before"
Well here's to the industry going further and further down the wrong track - cheers guys! This is why I hate lawyers so much.
Agreed Codeninja, after reading the intro I thought it was a comp where they were gonna financially help the indie dev community and I had ideas racing in my head which all stopped when I read the Terms and Conditions.
I think it would've been fair better to award say $20,000 each to a whole bunch of submitters to help pay for more professional art or whatever and then maybe let Bigpond have first dibs on publishing.
Basically it's just a way for them to grab 10 good ideas but with only the need to 'pay' for a few of them. Out of the top 10 places only the first few get compensation, which in itself isn't that great either:
20. ...If:
(a) a Minor Prize Winner's residence does not permit connection of a BigPond Broadband ADSL service;
(b) a Minor Prize Winner does not satisfy the Promoter's usual eligibility criteria for either of the BigPond Broadband ADSL or Next G service components; or
(c) a Minor Prize Winner does not agree to the relevant service plan terms and conditions for the BigPond Broadband ADSL or Next G service components,
they will forfeit that component of the Minor Prize Package and will not receive another prize in substitution.
I feel mighty silly for not looking at that bloody terms and conditions.
Here, here guys - I was looking at it also. A friend of mine and me have an idea to totally redo the gaming environment, Telstra should have learnt by now. Then again after meeting enough of the money grubbing executives I should know better.
Good luck to those that do enter, hopefully someone their in corporate land will grow a conscious and give the winner(s) proper compensation for their inability to use their own imagination.....
Then again "pigs might fly too"
Hi All!
I've been taking this up with Bigpond. I think it is horrible that they can run a promotion like this that steals the IP of up and coming developers. I am trying to make people aware of this...I honestly don't even know if ACMI are aware of what they are supporting.
Check out my posts at australiangamer
I would like to congratulate the competition organizers for being willing to invest money in game development.
But what studio are they going to use to develop the game? Tantalus? Is that why Tom is incredibly excited about it?
I don't quite understand why everyone is getting in a tizz.
I've not read the terms and conditions, but see from the comments above that it appears Bigpond are gonna own the IP. What makes this any different from a publisher funding a game and owning the IP??? We may not like it, but that's the way the majority of original IP's from devs end up.
On a second thought (which is no doubt gonna piss many people here right off), ideas are a dime a dozen. It's often the execution that sets them apart. No comment on how Bigpond bods can execute, but just having an idea means nothing. If I was new to the industry and had an idea that someone else was gonna let me develop (even if I lose the IP) I would view it as a great opportunity to get my career progressed and get some very valuable experience. I can always come up with my next idea to keep to myself...
If your idea is so great, go and raise funding elsewhere (and try to keep ownership of it) to develop it yourself. There seem to be a lot of people here who have no idea at all of the economics of business. Go and try to fund something yourself and see how you feel afterwards.
You have to start somewhere and I reckon this is as good a place as any.
Maybe I have missed something, but, the link to the site does not mention anything about $1m in funding. What it does mention is that if you are the winner, you get a whole bunch of neat toys and freebies.
But that is it.
It goes to a lot of trouble in telling you that you don't get any right to the IP. It even says that if you are a finalist, but don't win, we still own your IP.
It doesn't say that you will get to work on your IP. It doesn't say that you will get royalties from your IP being developed and going to market.
Sounds kind of shit to me... I'm all for an up-and-coming signing over IP, BUT, only if they are sufficiently compensated by seeing some of the profits if it makes any.
Also, this just seems to be aimed at kids and teens. It doesn't look at all interesting to someone who is already in the industry and who would want to actually work on so as to develop that IP.
Or, have I got something wrong here?
BTW: I also read all the clauses. I also have experience reading legal crap. I know how some people get a little carried away when reading these things. Usually the promoter just wants to cover their arses, and isn't trying to steal anything, but... this just seems to be going too far ;).
#10 is spot on.
I've seen the same sort of preciousness from people at more than one studio where I've worked - the studio invites pitches for original ideas then a handful of people get all worked up when they find out that they won't own or control the idea once it's been submitted. Simple solution really: don't pitch. People fail to grasp that the potential legal implications for the studio. Just listening to someones 'killer' idea could be extremely damaging should the studio not have ownership over over what they're listening to.
Maybe people should try submitting to any reputable publisher if they still have doubts... generally you won't even get a reply 'cos guess what, they won't even open the envelope.
The reality is if you want to retain ownership over your IP then you're basically going to have to fund devlopment (or a very large portion thereof) yourself.
Not trying to upset anyone here... just stating the situation as I see it.
More than Understandable Skamp. But do take into account the amount of IP control they have after submittal, especially since this is also a comp aimed at and including school kids for crying out load. My god, shotgun for a fly? I didn't think much of it when I entered and god knows i'm out of school for a few years so i naturally went into open catagory. I know I should have checked the terms of agreeement, I knwo I probably shouldn't have entered in the first place. BUT, could someone please think of the CHILDREN.
hahaha, this is a funny thread. What did you think someone was going to hand you $1M to make a game with nothing but a concept.
I guess if that's what you were wishing for then yes I can understand why you might be angry about not getting it.
It's just a little competition for the kids. Get over it.
Ideas are worthless in games. Everybody wants to make thier own ideas.
At most studios I've worked at there are clauses in the employment contract that say anything you create in your spare time is also owned by the company. So in theory if you work at one of these studios then perhaps get permission first before submitting any of your ideas.
As for those employment contract clauses its anti-competitive shit like this that holds the Australian industry back.
I think some have missed my point... you won't get to work on the concept. You won't get $1m. All you get is some toys.
To me what they are offering, even if I were willing to sign over IP as long as I were compensated in doing so... is garbage.
What a waste of $1m in funding. Putting together a comp for kids instead of a proper funding op for the local development industry.
This is a joke... I doubt any project will even get the $1m funding, more like far less going to a group of programmers and artists working at one of the outsourcing Indian call-centres...
Pathetic!
And yes, ideas are a dime a dozen... production know-how and practical experience, is (generally) not.
South Australia doesn't have much support for it's game industry.
They should have a winner for each category and give them a sum of money each.
What they are doing is not a real help to people such as myself.
I don't want toys, I just need a certain amount of money so I can work on my game fulltime for the next year.
You are all missing the point. Say you have an idea for a commercial game at the moment... what do you do with it at the moment?
- start a games studio? Nooooo...
- sell it to an existing developer/publisher? Nooooo... (they take your idea, and you get nothing!)
Ideas are cheap. Just about everyone in the industry has many, many game ideas - and they never get executed.
The only sucky thing about this, is that if you DON'T win - someone else can end up owning your idea. But you'll probably get some credit for that anyway. And if you do win...:
1/ You get to see your idea turned into a game (by a commercial level developer - not a bunch of "wannabees" with no industry experience)
2/ You get to have some input/direction on a commercial game
3/ You get an AWESOME thing to put on your resume, to help you get a (better) job in the games industry
4/ You get a great credit in a commercial game
5/ You get some prizes
Sounds pretty good to me.
Welcome to the real world everyone... you can either sit there, do nothing and bitch away - or apply and actually have a chance to make a splash into the industry. The choice is yours. (the reality is you won't even get close to the top 10...)
Seriously
It could work out to be a foot in the door! If you get top ten i would be putting that on my resume!
imagine if you were getting a (percent) and it bombed! you would no doubt have to pay a (percent) back into the debt....
Doesn't work that way 22... you just wouldn't get any (percent) :).
It's still a case of people just bitching. People want something for nothing, simple. People today always want something more. It's NEVER enough.
Getting a leg up in a career and a million towards having your concept executed (admittedly by someone else) is clearly not enough. I want to still own the IP, have royalty participation, creative control etc...
Wake up and view this for what it is. An opportunity for people to get some experience and perhaps with a bit of luck a real understanding of how the industry works...
There's something about a gift horse or some such...
I think some of the people that are "bitching" as you put it, are already in the industry -- they're not looking for a break or "need" to have this shite on their resume.
To tell you the truth, I'm sick of your ilk always bitching and assuming far too much about people posting here... we're not all kids, and both sides have been said in detail already, what's the point of saying more?
If you are some kid, some hopeful trying to break in... then this may vey well be your opportunity to do so. Some how, even if it does get developed, I doubt you will get a job anyway without being able to offer far more than a credit that this would give you.
After all, ideas are a dime a dozen. Know-how and experience, is not. However, someone with know-how and experience, would not want to give away one of their ideas they've been working on or are pationate about -- and one of their ideas is worth more than a dime, so don't be so dismissive of ideas... as behind ever great product, is an innovative and original idea, as well as person ;).
Especially if they are just a finalist, as they would have the "pleasure" of signing away their IP and have nothing come of it -- just imagine, you've been working on this idea for a few years, only to have your IP become the property of a company that has no plans of doing anything with it.
FYI: no need to point out that this is just a comp for kids. We know that already. It should have been made clear to begin with is all, and, you do realise that the comp does not mention at all ANYTHING about $1m. That's just hype ;).
They won't spend anywhere near $1m, IF, they bother to develop it at all. No, what they want is to make a quick buck for real cheap... only an idea that fits that bill will become the winner.
I went to this in Melbourne. They're definately spending one million. Half will go on development and half on marketing. Development will be done by an existing studio that makes games. What you're claiming 25 is simply wrong. Almost all Melbourne developers were there.
If that is the case, they are spending one million and are trying to get developers interested, then, their terms are ridiculous -- I also still doubt that they will spend one million, maybe half of that.
However, these developers were attracted to "develop" the title for a set fee-for-service arrangement. They were not there so as to get industry participation in "generating" ideas for development.
Rather, to get interest from studios so as to develop the idea that wins.
This "might" be a good thing for a studio, but, for the individual developer. This is still utter shit!
if half is going towards marketing then 500k won't go far with a well established developer that has high overheads, and most submission ideas are probably going to be "oh i'd like to make a game like gta but 10 times bigger"
500k is a good GBA title, or an average to good DS title, or a cheap PSP title, or a cheap Wii Title, or a good XBLA title, and not enough for a full XBOX 360 or PS3 title. Could possibly make a small fun PC game with that kind of money, if you already had most of the tech or used open source engines. I reckon you could fund a team of about 8-10 moderately experienced developers for about 4-6 months on this.
You'd be mad to touch PSP at the moment, and GBA is mostly for licensed movie titles on the back of other console releases, so the ideas that would be most suitable would be for the DS, XBLA or PC.
Considering this is Bigpond, I'm guessing they'll want an innovative online PC title rather than move into the consoles, though a small multiplayer XBLA would probably be considered.
Like most people have said, ideas are a dime a dozen. Yes they're stealing your IP, but unless you've developed or are SERIOUSLY planning on developing that IP, it's essentially worthless. So what are they really taking from you? Would you rather keep an idea in a doc on your PC for 10 years, just to have another company come up with another similar idea in the meantime, and get no credit for it at all? No point seeing a similar idea to yours being developed then bitching "Yeah, but I though of that first!", because no-one will care. Heh, trust me, i know =0).
i dont understand how submitting a couple of sentences of a "game idea" is going to allow u to win or get a developer on board to make it. I read that if you win they might use part of your idea. They are going to have to as there are certain logististic that need to be worked out to see if it works in the game. Your idea might be scrapped midway and it becomes a totally different game. This comp wasn't very thought out. All bigpond wants to see is $$, trying to claim a stake in a multi billion dollar industry
IP ownership is like your soul. Dont sell it to the devil......
I think it more likely that hey will want to develop a mobile game... and PSP is not dead, it is still selling - both units and games.
Get over it, it is totally unlikely any of you wankers will have anything come to fruition. Lots of lip service a F#$(percent) all result. 99.9999999999999999(percent) of you will never have anything published so take the opportunity stop whinging either have a go or go back into your little computer den andd have another pull. I'm not in the industry but from the comments above and common sense it is unusual unless you are well healed or have strong ties within the industry you won't have control of any game anyway. Go the conspiracy theorist and spin doctors. I'm sure if your game achieved the market success most of the wankers above are predicting you would be an overnight success eitherway. If your ideas are that good I'm sure you are brilliant enough to come up with another concept once you have achieved this awe inspiring success. Keep dreaming tossers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you're not n the industry, then, what makes you the fu*king expert 32?
How about you keep your bile off of this thread, we don't need wankers like yourself ;).
Mate, I'm in the industry and have been for a long time. I for one, thought 32 was pretty spot on... just my 2 cents
cool if you guys don't enter...more chances for the rest of us.
UPDATE:
The winner of the competition was announced today.
Overall Project Joystick
Sherele Moody Dung
Winner - Primary School
Liam Cavanagh-Downs T-Rexellent
Winner - Secondary School
Toby Venus Toono
Winner - Open
Sherele Moody Dung
Yes, we're going to have a game about pushing shit up hill.
I for one don't envy Firemint. I really hope they're getting payed an above normal amount for this.
Oh, my lordy.
Sounds a lot like Katamari
I think it's fitting. Rolling out shit is what the Australian games industry does best.
No. Slinging shit at the Australian games industry is what Australians do best.