Unofficial Tex Murphy

Hi Tex community,

I was glad Jim took the first step for a great discussion in which many ideas have been told. Summarizing the many comments and ideas was the main reason why i made a new post in which we can discuss further ontopic. Analyzing the many comments i try to summarize it so it's easier to discuss in different aspects/groups. I will get more in details while i am finishing up this post.

The idea is simple. We can contribute/invest as a whole community together to make first steps to unleash a new beginning for our favourite p.i. If i add up the people who were eager to contribute i come up to 11 people who would invest the money to begin with.

Investment aspect
Many people want to invest the amount of $ 3.000 for bringing up a new game. But i think it's wise to discuss this with Aaron Conners if this could be possible. Because it's not even certain who owns the rights of Tex Murhpy. If we could help bring the rights back to AC and CJ it would be easier to make up a plan about a partially fan-funded game and maybe because we invest other people would be encouraged to join the investment to. If there's a well writen plan why couldn't it be possible. Many of our members in this forum who joined the discussion also stated that investing in a financial form like money was difficult because their financiel situation wouldnt let them. I heard many other things like contributing with computer/programming skills and/or graphic/3d/audio/acting skills. In my opinion if it would be possible this on the other hand would also be an investment, because than AC or CJ can narrow down the actual budget; in other words you would bring manpower instead of money; reducing budget; so brining also money in contribution. i hope you understand what i am saying . Maybe people on this forum have other ideas and/or questions which we could forward to AC to talk about the possibilities.

Marketing aspect
I dont know how the quote function works, but i will copy/paste what Aaron Conners posted in another thread. The bottom line is, we're focused on bringing Tex back to the people who already know about him. There are quite a few of you - of course, you people here on the UTM board are the elite ones - but in the adventure gamer community, I'd say there are at least a hundred thousand people who have either played the Tex games or are familiar with him. If we could get those people to buy our game, it would make it plenty profitable enough for us to keep going. I think Baftis made some comments in the other thread about advertising. In any way/or form we could avertise on different adventure forums or other sites will eventually increase the potential members who are fans but never searched for the Tex community. Therefor our numbers will increase meaning we would have a stronger voice, have more to bring/help AC. The main goal about the advertising would be to get the old members back, bringing the name Tex out to long lost die-hard adventure gamers, maybe we could send e-mails to people who signed the petitition a while back for bringing tex murphy back (to +4000 people if i'm not mistaken). I am not that familiar about the marketing aspect. maybe you have idea's and/or questions we can submit.

Game aspect
I think many of us would prefer a FMV game with live actors like in the style of Pandora Directive. Even Flash based games or ideas for Wii have been discussed in the oher forum. We asked a dozen of questions to AC about in which format the new game would be, But i think if we would even start as a fan-community to bring Tex back. we should set some more details about what we really would want. From there we would look in which best way we can make this possible together.

What i have written up here, i sincerely hope, will be discussed by all of ous and it would be fantastic if we could contribute in any way we can. If we take the first step we can let people discuss this even more, bring out the name of Tex, make our community bigger (adventure = dead ? why ? we have a voice dont we ?) Sorry for bad english, i hope many of you would understand

-Kivanc Avci

I would be more then willing at this point to invest $3,000 to help get the game made and out on shelves. I would also be happy to place ads for the game on my site for free to help promote the game. If someone can reach AC or Chris after the word starts spreading and more people commit to the idea this would be truly awesome.

With regard to the marketing. As I said in the other thread, I'm prepared to offer what I can.
http://www.hybridwing.com

I know a little (and I do mean a little... only just been reading up) about search engines and how to promote a URL over the internet (there are a lot of different ways).
I think my offer of a simple viral game is a pretty big one too... they can actually cost alot of money commercially for a decent one. And they can rake in hundreds of thousands (or millions if distributed far enough) of plays that can then translate to alot of hits for a campaign. But it takes time to develop a game so it would only be worth it after something was set in place guaranteed. Also converting hits/views to donaters/supporters is something else. And would come from how the campaign appears after they visit the page/site promoting the campaign and how much official backing the campaign had and how much of a guarantee they were given that the money was being used legit (not towards someones house fund instead) and to good use. A site would have to be developed that is dynamic and regularly updates people on how much support there is/how money is going to be used or is being used/official word from official people. The more the better so people know theyre not throwing their hard-earned money on a dead fish that is gonna end up rotting away.

To be honest I don't know how it can be made so there is a guarnatee for people that the money was being fairly used/stored legit and not a money scam which the internet is rife with. Someone would have to seek some free legal advice (might be available at your local library or other places, ask your local council or government or whatever if anywhere offers advice) regarding how that can be proven and so on.

Shops have the same issues, they have to prove to customers they're legit/real and not gonna run off with that £100 they just paid for a limited edition 20 disc dvd boxset. And like alot of people I have been burned and had (luckily not much compared to others) stolen, and I am more careful then alot of people online.

Essentially it'd be really pointless thought without a real official confirmation from someone official that it'd all actually amount to something officially real. There has to be that kind of guarantee for anything to even begin and for people to really invest.
And also, as raised in the other thread, there's a difference between an investor or a donator so that kinda definition would have to be thought about and what each can expect for their money.

Here's a good example of a campaign that has stayed dynamic/fresh even after a year (as fara s I know, they only ask for support/signatures/etc. and not money however):
http://www.savenetradio.org/
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfishe ... radio.html
http://www.live365.com/choice/


If Aaron ultimately says its not viable. Then I don't know if some other way of showing support would get backing for the game, like the petition thing that was going on before, but maybe there is some other more official way of doing petitions (or similar) that a company would actually accept as a real statistic of a real existing fanbase that would offer real profit were they to invest in the game. Companies do market research all the time and make assumptions based on them. So you can go about it that way. A survey asking if they would buy another Tex game, and another survey, more unbiased that asks if certain aspects of Tex games (without refering to Tex) is something they enjoy/would be interested in. e.g. Would they purchase an Adventure game or would they only buy something with [selected genre here e.g FPS]? If it had a [online play/FPS/other] element would they be more interested?

With regard to the Game Aspect, I am really not fussed anymore. Seriously. Obviously I'd love all the bells and whistles, but if at the end of the day all it came down to was a Flash animation or continutation of the audio story or something. I'd be OK with that. Because I love Aaron's writing/concepts and the humour he injects into things and the Tex character himself.

However I'm a Tex fan, I'm biased. And to a certain extent so would many on a Tex forum, they also have the nostalgia effect of having previously played other Tex games and come to expect the same things (like FMV). It would maybe then be better to ask unbiased people away from the forum who haven't played a Tex game. As these are the people that form the major part of the market, like 80% of it (random percentages gotta love em), and they will need the convincing whereas Tex fans or thsoe familiar with the Tex series of games, need little to none convincing. It wouldn't necessarily have to be a survey about the Tex series either, just what things they expect/prefer, what genres they play.
You'd also get different results in US vs Europe vs Japan vs the rest of the world.

I reckon the whole fact that this will be a totally fan supported project will raise enough publicity in itself.

-Cub. =o)

I'll raise my stakes to $5000, payable immediately, as a donation to get any sort of project underway.
At this point, I'm not sure FMV is a viable option. As long as Aaron and Chris are behind it, I'm sure the project, in whatever form it takes, would be satisfactory.

Just going on the record.
All I want is a copy as compensation. (and maybe some behind the scenes info, that would be cool)

Jen wrote:I'll raise my stakes to $5000, payable immediately, as a donation to get any sort of project underway.
At this point, I'm not sure FMV is a viable option. As long as Aaron and Chris are behind it, I'm sure the project, in whatever form it takes, would be satisfactory.

Just going on the record.
All I want is a copy as compensation. (and maybe some behind the scenes info, that would be cool)

I've stated my desires in an earlier post...I want to be a patron in the Brew 'N' Stew sitting in the background for my efforts, and an autographed copy of the game, and a sleepover at Chris Jones' house, and AC to write a story about me and my joyful days as the son of a rich land owner in Georgia, and I would also like a shubbery...and I want it to be brought to my house and placed next to my other shubbery, but only slightly higher so I get a two-level effect with a little path running down the middle.....

Jen wrote:I'll raise my stakes to $5000, payable immediately, as a donation to get any sort of project underway.
At this point, I'm not sure FMV is a viable option. As long as Aaron and Chris are behind it, I'm sure the project, in whatever form it takes, would be satisfactory.

Just going on the record.
All I want is a copy as compensation. (and maybe some behind the scenes info, that would be cool)

Raising the stakes again eh Jen? Okay, I will see your $5,000 and raise you $5,000.

...now Jen... can I borrow $10,000?



Now seriously though, I would definitely invest more than 3k if it was needed, we just need to find out exactly what our investment gets.

-Cub. =o)

Kivanc Avci wrote: Because it's not even certain who owns the rights of Tex Murhpy. If we could help bring the rights back to AC and CJ it would be easier to make up a plan about a partially fan-funded game and maybe because we invest other people would be encouraged to join the investment to.

Not completely sure about this, but when I was doing some searching and broke down all the leads of who should own the Rights, the last company that had control was under Take-Two and they shut that company down, so the rights should belong to Take-Two,

This is an Article that I posted in another Thread...

May 1, 2006

Take-Two Closes Indie Built Development Studio

Take-Two Closes Indie Built Development Studio Take-Two has confirmed that, as of Friday, the company has closed down its Salt Lake City-based development studio Indie Built (Amped 3), with the loss of an unspecified number of jobs.

Take-Two acquired the Salt Lake City, Utah-based development studio from Microsoft in December 2004, in a move to focus on next-generation development. The company was originally founded as Access Software back in 1982, and was particularly known for its work on the Links golf game series, before the company moved on to early CD-ROM titles such as Under A Killing Moon. The company was acquired by Microsoft in 1999, before being passed on to Take-Two.

Jim Ankner, Director of Corporate Communications at Take-Two, assured Gamasutra that the company was doing what it could to take care of those affected by the closure, stating: "Employees are being offered packages including continuation of salary and benefits, as well as other opportunities within Take-Two as appropriate."

Indie Built had shipped over 37 titles on 7 different platforms. Its most recent output, in "focusing on sports titles for the next generation of gaming consoles and the PC platform", included Links 2004 for the Xbox, as well as Xbox 360 releases Amped 3 and Top Spin 2, the former of which debuted to apparently lackluster sales, despite intriguing open-level gameplay and unconventional interface choices, and is one of the first Xbox 360 titles to receive price cuts.

So it would seem that Take-Two would need to be contacted over the Copyrights of Tex Murphy...

Jen wants to contirbute $5000, adnin wants a small part in the game, Bafitis has a million $ to invest, WOW! Maybe someone should contact AC and ask him if he would accept several thousands of dollars of donations to start some kind - any kind - of project. He can tell us if our thoughts will ever be brought to fuition.

Just kidding, Baf. I just wanted to see if you noticed that small (big?) detail.

I'm noticing there are a lot of references to details in all of the threads lately....I'm ready to snap and kill over it....

Going postal on us?

-Fred

Jim the old guy wrote:Jen wants to contirbute $5000, adnin wants a small part in the game, Bafitis has a million $ to invest, WOW! Maybe someone should contact AC and ask him if he would accept several thousands of dollars of donations to start some kind - any kind - of project. He can tell us if our thoughts will ever be brought to fuition.

Just kidding, Baf. I just wanted to see if you noticed that small (big?) detail.

WHOA!!! I'm comfortable, but Million ain't my lifestyle just yet... It's in my plans, but not sure if it will ever be obtained... lol

Fred Buer wrote:Going postal on us?

-Fred

Hahah, he is too!

Since when did this community ever get caught up on the details? It's driving me nuts, especially when level-headed people like Jim have to bring 'reality' into the picture!

If anyone needs me I will be listening to death metal, polishing my gun and starching my USPS uniform.

...Oh look, a letter for Fred... I shall see you soon, friend.

-Cub. =o)

Cubase wrote: If anyone needs me I will be listening to death metal, polishing my gun and starching my USPS uniform.

Inquiring Minds would like to know what you are doing with a USPS Uniform in Sydney, Australia???

Sounds like someone has been planning something for quite some time... Homeland Insecurity will be informed of this...

Hah! Everybody knows the postal workers only go off at work, in their station or posthouse or whatever it's called. Never out among the poor people who receive their services.

Therefore, I suggest neutral ground, Cub! Let's up the stakes; New York Postal Service Central, give all the employees shotguns, while you and me hunt eachother with bow and arrow!

There shall be much screaming and running. And oh yes, flailing of the arms. Mmmm, flailing!

-Fred