[UA] Bizarre text distribution model

[Chris Cooper]

--- Saul <gorbag at swiftdsl.com.au> wrote:
The question I have is: do small-time game
> writer's really lose much from Kazaa?

Yes.

 I realise that
> you can easily find mainstream D20 or White Wolf
> stuff on there, but is there even enough of a market
> in the first place that the little guys' stuff shows
> up in searches?

Locally, before KAZAA, White Wolf games sold three
copies of each new release to any other game.

That has dropped to nil. White Wolf games now return
less than 1% of the market cost of bringing them in
and giving them shelf space. The games come in and
don't sell. And if it's a reasonably decent product
(like the Players Guide to Changing Breeds), people
are now quite open about downloading copies - some
even sport a bit of pride spreading this about (one
guy told me he had every copy of the Vampire Revised
edition and he hadn't paid a sent. He thought the
stuff being sold was overpriced and this was him
"teaching" the retailer a lesson).

 You may know more than I do, but in
> my limited experiments, it's pretty hard to find
> anything but the big guys.

Most game stores used to experiment. The only reason
why the local store used to get in Unknown Armies is
because I would sell it. All copies of the core
rulebook have been sold.

The problem is that small press games are
downloaded/traded as "favours" and tidbits for the
bigger, more popular games.
 
> If you did do it, it would be good to release bits
> and pieces as you go along, whether extracts or
> other random stuff you have lying around. Also,
> don't let people SELL the book without paying you
> (once it's out) letting them give it away for free
> would be quite sufficient.  Make them pay you more
> if they want to try and sell it.

There's a guy at work how is a KAZAA limpit. He sucks
that place dry for porno shit. Of course, he uses his
home computer, which he brings to work (this is
hideoously unethical, but he's the boss' chum).

I'm waiting until something I wrote or illustrated is
found floating in his hard drive. Then my anger finds
a place to vent.

Cheers,

Chris.




=====
The little bird that is the song in my heart
is too tired to be carried
by its battered wings.

It falls, crashes...
... and is still in its bone cage...

Dead Inside from Atomic Sock Monkey press.


                                      www.atomicsockmonkey.com

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