TheTylerRob
Member
So like, what are fixed costs? Why do companies stay is San Francisco? #questiongate
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Giant Bomb #9 | More Dan Meets The Eye
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Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
I think early access should have a policy where if the project fails to complete there is an automated process where the developer has to give a refund.
The opening episode is probably the best Telltale has ever made, but it starts going downhill pretty quick. However you might get more enjoyment out of it by being able to play it without months of breaks - I think the (very extended) episodic nature really hurt TWAU.
Fantastapotamus
Wrong about commas, wrong about everything
Electricity, water, heat etc.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
It's a weird problem, I guess. All the talent is there because all the big companies are there, so it's easier to find more qualified people. Of course, since everyone is making a lot of money, the cost of everything goes up to the point where you need thousands and thousands of dollars to live there.
Fixed costs include rent, loan repayments, electricity and other utilities, etc.
EDIT: Basically, they are independent of output.
SatelliteOfLove
Member
Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, something about that segment and the explicit trolling rubbed me the wrong way. Like it was a skit instead of inspired lunacy.
Wolf is worth playing but the last two eps, especially the last, are really slow. The last one is all dialogue and if you want to rewind for different endings you have to sit through it at least twice - telltale don't allow skipping. They also don't let you skip "previously on ..." and "coming up on ..." even if you play all 5 eps in one sitting.
TheTylerRob
Member
So is he including music and localization in that? Ugh why do we even use twitter.
Basically, anything independent of a firm's output is fixed. I removed wages as there is uncertainty in that.
TheBaronOfNA
Banned
Dan is better when he doesn't try to be heel.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
Are you talking about this tweet?
I'm assuming that is the cost of providing a living wage to an employee, which includes supporting them in the office with health benefits and stuff like that.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
10K per month for a persona seems insanely high.
Yeah, that's how I played TWD. One episode a day. Don't like setting myself up for waiting periods.
Classic TellTale. Some of their decisions are baffling. I hate how they put in achievements this time that require you to rewind and replay some parts. TWD was very straightforward in that regard which is something all narrative-driven games should adopt, imo (or, alternatively, offer a decent way to skip through stuff).
Fantastapotamus
Wrong about commas, wrong about everything
I don't know why he said that, cause those are definitely NOT fixed costs. Maybe he just isn't much of an economist.
Hey, summoning costs ain't cheap.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
San Francisco is insanely pricey to live in. I can't even imagine the cost of running a business there.
I hate the fact that they don't let you skip stuff. Although, given their technology, I wouldn't be surprised if skipping something would break the game entirely.
Double Fine seeks talented individuals, who in turn seek higher wages in a climate like San Fransisco. From what I hear, it has a very high cost of living. This no doubt affects the wage market.
It's not. It's 60K a year. Benefits usually double a person's salary here.
Wow, that's surprising. I guess this includes health insurance, dental plan and such in the US?
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Once you go over lvl 50 it's all inflation and bullshit federal charges anyway.
Ah, alright, that makes sense. Guess that includes insurance and all that?
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Yeah, I can understand the costs now. Still, guess that's why so many studios are outsourcing nowadays (though I guess san francisco is just kinda expensive anyway?)
Also on another topic...
Taken from the anime thread.
If persona 4 was wrestling.
Also on another topic...
Taken from the anime thread.
If persona 4 was wrestling.
Technosteve
Banned
Drew is going to vietnam, I await drew's tour of vietnam premium video.
I hope he eats alot of bun cha
I hope he eats alot of bun cha
Telltale games are kinda always on the verge of breaking so that's probably too much to ask of them. They should consider a new engine that's not held together by duct tape.
Yep. No Drew for a couple of weeks or whatever will be a bummer (especially when their major premium video series that aren't UPF involve him) but it'll all be worth it if we get another Drew Goes to NK caliber video.
TharpDaddy
Member
Drew going to Vietnam means no MGS for a while. I wonder if Dan will start up a new premium feature, perhaps one with Jeff?
firehawk12
Subete no aware
I assume he's going to crawl into a spider hole. lol
Just be happy when they don't eat your save files!
LurkerPrime
Member
The problem there is - like Spacebase DF-9 - they would all miraculously reach version 1.0 before being dropped.
The Spacebase-DF-9 controversy thread had a link to a very good blog post by one of the Project Zomboid devs, that I think outlined what Early Access should be quite well.
Where did he mention this? Anyway, Drew really visits the some of the more exotic places in the world. I hope he takes a lot of video! I wonder if there are any Vietnam GB fans.
Mario Party 2 Party with special guest Danny O'Dwyer
In the new Demo Disc Derby.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
It's an interesting comparison anyway. Double Fine is a company, while the Project Zomboid guys are really just a couple of guys. You can actually trust the Zomboid guys more because if they stop making money, they're willing to live in a smaller apartment and cut their cost of living in order to continue making the game. For Double Fine, they'll just give up and move on to the next more profitable project because they need to keep an entire company going. You can't trust them to "make sacrifices" to keep an unpopular game going until completion.
Ah, I still have to catch up.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
I'll read the link you've posted in awhile, but I feel like valve should have a process to determine if a game really did deliver on the promises of an actual 1.0 (not that it's easy to determine such a nebulous concept). I just feel that if they did create a system that essentially ask people to pay to be the people who fund and test the game they should have a better way to police projects. This should at least make developers less laissez faire with early access anyway.
It's by far the best Demo Disc Derby yet, and a really entertaining video all around. So you've got something to look forward to!
Yep, he said as much in the Friday stream at least!
Hyrule Warrior
Member
This is amazing, lol I'd love a stage production like this.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Yup, that's why I brought it up. I finally watched it and it was great, lol. Beast quality. Alex on speakerphone was amazing.
Yeah, the brief talk of them talking about ideas for a podcast was exciting. Need Vinny on a podcast ASAP!
I don't think we need a BLLSL for that, but yeah, another regular Premium feature would be sweet. I'm a fan of the Premium podcasts though, but I guess those are more niche products (especially if you're not a fan of F1).
Sleeping Lesson
Member
If it weren't for Dan and Drew's features (Demo Derby and MGS), there would be no Premium content other than the UPF archives. They need to have another Big Live Live Show to kickstart some new Premium features.
Vinny should join Dan and Danny for an anime podcast.
It's, like, the only obvious topic that is not covered, yet (aside from technology, I guess).
I really hope D&D weren't joking about doing something with anime.
Hopefully GBeast can get a pre-UPF show or an alternative going consistently, or even a new type of show. That will add some more by sheer quantity. I have no doubt that they have plans, with Dan now along, for something more regular. I hope they get to experiment more.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
Wow, it just seems like Patrick is blaming the consumer for being naive about Early Access on the podcast. :/
Sleeping Lesson
Member
I only mention the BLLSL because it was always the launching point for the next year of features. I think Random PC Game and a couple others spawned out of it. But yeah, they don't NEED the BLLSL, but I would like a sort of regrouping and rethinking of features going forward.
I'm a bit surprised it has taken them so long to get going. I realize there's a shit ton of stuff to do and buy and set up and configure etc etc, but their studio is still just a nest of wires and laptops. They didn't even have enough table space to put their PC parts on.
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