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So I thought I'd pitch my MMO idea at work

VinzentVinzent Member Posts: 161
in The Pub at MMORPG.COM

Here's a story that might interest some and provide insite to the inner working of videogame companies.

So yes, I do work for a video game company. No, I will not mention them by name nor anyone I work with. I will say that they do not currently have an MMO in their roster.

So after talking with a co-worker about my idea for an MMO, he suggested I pitch it. I've never put together a pitch for video games before so I thought I'd get some advice from my boss. We'll call him Big Boss Bob.

Me: Hey BBB, I have a pitch idea and I was wondering if you could help me with how I go about it.

BBB: Sure, what is it?

Me: Well it's a new idea for an MMO...

BBB: Stop! Don't tell me anymore! I suggest you drop it now.

Me: Wha?

BBB went on to explain that the company didn't want anything to do with MMOs. MMOs are expensive and a high-risk game to sell. Suits don't like high-risk. BBB had apparently pitched some MMO ideas himself and was shut down everytime he hit those same three letters.

Now BBB wasn't being rude by shutting me up so quick. I know why he did it. You see, when you work for a game company you sign a contract. An ideas I come up with while under the employ of this game company are owned by the game company, meaning even if I quit tomorrow I couldn't pitch this idea to a rival company. That is, as long there is proof that I had the idea while working for the company. I knew about the agreement of course, which is why I wanted to pitch it to this company (instead of say...NCSoft).

I hope you find this little tale informative. 

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Comments

  • cityzencityzen Member CommonPosts: 313

    I'm sort of in the same dilemma.

    I work for a major IT company, and I signed over any copyrights or patents related to IT I come up with, while employed by them. Recently the company announced they plan on getting into the MMO market as well for training purposes. I might have been able to argue that MMOs have nothing to do with this company...but not anymore.

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  • HashbrickHashbrick Member RarePosts: 1,851

    Nice post, it shows where the market is going and how it looks at MMOs and it is true. Research shows more success with MUDs and web MMORPG than most MMOs on the market. The price to develope a web mmorpg indepentantly is very low and is limited to your hosting plan and domain name registration, but the rate of an actual server and setup for serious MMO are always in the 5-6 digits. If you head for an MMO in todays world you need to make sure it will work to the public, that the idea isn't one side, everyone can love and play it or it is doomed to fail.

    I worked for a game development company for an MMO that still hasn't reached the market yet a couple of years ago, they went over there head and started to down size, forcing me to find another job. That's just it if you don't have the funds to extend past your launch time for support you are can be hurting. Recently though because the game engine was built from the ground up they have been able to sell this engine to other companies, which a nice amount has signed(you probably figured out what company I'm talking about now). I'm skepitical to wonder if this MMO will ever hit the market, but maybe they found a new market and going to stick with that, I'm not sure I don't get the inside information anymore ;).

    So yes to sum all this up it is hard to get your ideas out there, you need a great IP with tons of funds to ever see your MMO idea born. Needless to say some make it without but then die soon after.

    [[ DEAD ]] - Funny - I deleted my account on the site using the cancel account button.  Forum user is separate and still exists with no way of deleting it. Delete it admins. Do it, this ends now.
  • _Shadowmage_Shadowmage Member Posts: 1,459

    Originally posted by Vinzent
    An ideas I come up with while under the employ of this game company are owned by the game company, meaning even if I quit tomorrow I couldn't pitch this idea to a rival company. That is, as long there is proof that I had the idea while working for the company. I knew about the agreement of course, which is why I wanted to pitch it to this company (instead of say...NCSoft). I hope you find this little tale informative.

    Thats true of a lot of industries, but usually only applies to things you work on at work. ie the company you work for has no control over what you do in your own time - unless you use their intellectual property.

    Of course if you work on it at work, or use work resources thats a different kettle of fish.

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