Hi Scott,
they say that timing is everything, and if you are trading stocks a lot, timing is everything. So, now, here you are, making your posts, hyping (that is your intention, isn't?) GTIS, just as they announce their first quarterly loss. Which makes me wonder, why now? Why are you making yourself heard? Surely as owner of 3dRealms and board member of G.O.D. you must have better things to do then disseminate information to investors in GTIS.
As an owner of GT's stock and what looks to be GT's current primary game developer, you would not want to do anything that could hurt GT or it's stock, at least in the short term, or at least while you own that stock. But let's be clear here, you are board member of G.O.D., a company that is in FIERCE competition with GT for games. How fierce is the competition between the two companies? Check out this Gameslice article, complete with dueling quotes between G.O.D. CEO Mike Wilson and GT CEO Ron Chaimowitz on gameslice.com.
Business is business, and GT is trying to make money just as you are. You joined up with Mike Wilson because you wanted higher royalty rates, and probably more control of your games. Here's your quote from you from the above Gameslice article:
"We don't run a non-profit business here, and getting better deals has always been something we've pursued, regardless of which publisher we've partnered with."
Also, there is an interesting interview with Mike Wilson on Psychogamer psychogamer.com. From the interview:
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Q : Earlier today, in a telephone interview with Scot Rubin, one of the g.o.d. reps had commented with respect to the Max Payne issue, that "we've got Max Payne, it's ours!". Has this issue been settled yet ? With G.T. having the first right of refusal on the title, isn't it possible, that, as many have stated, you've pissed G.T. off to the point where they will offer up such a ridiculous sum of money and enticements, that 3DRealms would be hard pressed to refuse ? In effect, teaching you a lesson.
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A: I really shouldn't comment on this, but I will. Do you really think GT would benefit by FORCING 3D Realms, who has clearly stated that they want to do Max through us, to publish with them? There are no lessons for the middlemen to teach the talent... it's the other way around. GT NEEDS 3D Realms to stay happy with them... 3D Realms could care less whether GT's in business next year. This a microcosm of what every independent developer out there who knows that they can and have successfully create a strong selling game needs to realize... they absolutely hold the power, and do not need to do business with anyone who doesn't respect that. I expect a formal announcement about Max Payne will come sometime next week.
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And guess what, Mike Wilson was, right, he should not have commented on this and G.O.D. did get Max Payne. Which brings me to the next question: did G.O.D. and/or 3dRealms strong arm GT to keep it from competing for Max Payne? That would be interesting if that happened because in your recent post you state:
> GTIS also has a option on Duke Nukem 5, which I'm sure they will not
> give up, plus an option on a Duke game based on the coming movie. ;)
siliconinvestor.com
What's the use of having an option in a game that will be given to another publisher, anyway?
So, once again, here you are, making posts on SI. Why now? Why the problem with $125 fee? Is it the money? Probably not, you probably are quite well off by now. If it's not the fee, is it the duration that bothers you, the life time membership? Hey, I kind of balked on that myself, would have preferred yearly membership. Were you planning to make posts on other stocks or just GTIS? I would imagine just GTIS, you seem to be here for a purpose. A life time membership is long time to be posting for a single stock, but how about a three month fee of say $50. Would you feel better about that? Would that give you long enough to do what you want to do?
And that brings me to the crux of the issue. Let's say you were able to influence the stocks price, such that you could cash out with a gain or even without a loss, wouldn't that give you more leverage to negotiate a better royalty rate with GT? I mean, you are in this for the money aren't you? If you're going to play a game, you are going to play to win, are you not? Wouldn't be a terrible shame if 3dRealms placed only the talented members of your staff on projects that will be published by G.O.D. and the less talented ones on the ones to published by GT. If you have no financial stake in GT, would you stand to lose much if the next Duke was less then a stellar hit? (Or, maybe, just delayed for a little longer period.)
If you sell your stock, you would be in a even better position to turn the screws. Isn't that true?
Chris McConnel
kafka@compuserve.com |
