"A very special idea?"

After hearing Jester say this, Mark Seney also didn't understand what Jester actually meant.

Seeing the puzzled expression on Mark Seney's face, Jester smiled: "I just had a very special idea from what you said just now. It is very suitable for me to use it as a speech on GDC this time, but before posting this speech, this matter must be planned, and it is best to make actual preparations."

Jester talked for a long time, but didn't say what the special idea he had thought of was. Mark Seney was extremely curious, so he asked directly.

"But, Jace, what the hell did you think of, make you so excited?"

"A very interesting idea, just like you said before." Jester said calmly. He put the coffee cup that he had drunk on the table and continued, "Mark, you have said a lot of designers before, but we cannot satisfy them at the same time, because we cannot start so many projects at the same time because of funding or manpower. So, a sudden flash of inspiration in my mind and I had an idea."

“Crowdfunding!”

When Jester said these two words, Mark Seni understood what he meant.

"What do you mean is to let these people express their ideas and attract people interested in it to invest?" However, what Mark Seney thought was obviously different from what Jester was going to say. After he said this, he frowned before he could answer, and then continued to say something hesitantly.

"But, Jace, what's the difference between your idea and those venture capitalists? It's not easy to collect funds from those venture capitalists, and the development funds of a game don't cost much, so venture capital is not interested in this, unless you are willing to use our real big productions to lure them, it's possible..."

Before Mark Seney could finish his words, Jester interrupted him directly.

"Mark, you don't understand what I mean. What I mean by crowdfunding is not about asking these designers to look for venture capital. There is a big difference between crowdfunding and venture capital. If it is specific..."

While explaining to Mark Seney, Jester was thinking about how to use simple and simple language to let Mark Seney understand what he meant by crowdfunding. After all, in the future, even in China where there has never been such an atmosphere, you can know what it is. After all, you have never seen a pig run, and you have eaten pork.

But in this era, it was still a bit far from the birth of the concept of crowdfunding.

"Crowdfunding is not venture capital, but a kind of mass investment."

After thinking for a few minutes, Jester began his explanation, and Mark Seni was also listening quietly.

"I'll give an example, you may understand it easily. For example, in our company, there is a designer who has a very good game plan, but the projects we are currently working on are full. And this designer does not have the power to ignore the audit committee and directly ask for a game project, so I can provide him with such an opportunity..."

"...This opportunity is like this. He briefly introduced his idea of ​​this game on the website we specially prepared for this crowdfunding project. Then, about this game, our internal audit team can rate it, and then players who are interested in this game can invest in it..."

“…To be precise, this should not be an investment, it is a group purchase.”

When Mark Seney heard another new word from Jester's mouth, he frowned again when group buying, and Jester was also paying attention to Mark Seney's expression at all times. When he saw Mark Seney frowning, he understood that he must have some questions.

Jester immediately thought about what he had just said, and then he knew where Mark Seney was confused.

"Let me explain group buying. The reason why I say this is not an investment is because the people participating in crowdfunding do not have the right to decide the project. Rather than participating in the investment of this game, they are buying the game in advance or purchasing some peripheral products of the game. For example, when crowdfunding, some feedback standards for raising funds can be set."

"Standard of feedback?" Mark Seney asked curiously when he heard Jester say this.

“Yes, the standard of feedback.”

Jester nodded with certainty and continued to explain.

"Mark, it is unrealistic to ask people to invest money by relying on verbal words. Therefore, there must be guaranteed measures. For example, we Mars Entertainment is the guarantor of the project. We guarantee that all investments will be used in game development. This is the most critical point, and then it is about the feedback to the players participating in crowdfunding."

"If you want them to participate in the feedback, you must make them feel that the money they spent in advance is worth it. We can set several standards for return in this way, based on the crowdfunding funds."

"The minimum crowdfunding amount is one dollar. Naturally, it is impossible for all those involved to get our feedback. However, one person is lucky. If we set a standard, for example, among every hundred people participating in a dollar fundraising, or every thousand people, one person will be drawn from it and receive a prize for the next fundraising level, then many people will come to try this luck."

“Prices for the next fundraising level?”

Mark Seney continued to ask, while Jester continued to explain.

"Well, the standard for fundraising is not progressive in a straight line. For example, after we raise one dollar, we raise forty dollars. Of course, thirty dollars is also possible. This is all determined by the organizers of crowdfunding. For example, we are crowdfunding the game, so those participating in crowdfunding at this level can get an official version of the game after the game is completed. You should know that in today's games, no fewer games in each game will be less than fifty dollars, and some may even be as high as sixty dollars."

"Above this, there can be higher crowdfunding goals, such as 150 US dollars. Those who participate in crowdfunding at this level can not only receive prizes for all previous crowdfunding goals, but also receive a set of original paintings for example in the game."

"For example, there can be a crowdfunding goal of 500 US dollars, and it can give participants the game figures and other peripherals. Our amiibo is also planning to use the version of the host. You can attach a unique amiibo figure, which will unlock unique content..."

"We can even set a crowdfunding goal of $10,000. There are very few such standard places, such as three or five, and the prizes that can be obtained must be unique. For example, the opportunity to eat with members of the development team can chat about game development when eating."

Jester talked a lot, but after thinking about it, Mark Seni still felt that his idea was a bit unreliable.

"Jess, do you really think that your idea can come true? Do you really think that someone will make the investment or group buying that you mentioned in some illusory projects?" It is obvious that Mark Seni's disbelief.

When Jester heard Mark Seney's doubts, he didn't know how to convince him.

After all, this concept was proposed earlier, and the crowdfunding he was planning to do this time was just a game, which was not exactly the same as the crowdfunding twenty years later.

"It is definitely not easy to unfold at the beginning, so at the beginning, this crowdfunding plan needs to be fully supported by us. We must make the game participating in this crowdfunding plan successful. In this way, more and more players can participate, and more producers can share their ideas with players and get support from funds they do not have."

Hearing Jester say this, Mark Seney nodded, although he didn't believe it all, he understood Jester's thoughts.

I have to say that this idea is indeed excellent.

However, he soon thought of another question: "So Jace, I would like to ask, how did this crowdfunding project be carried out? How to protect the interests of these people who participated in the crowdfunding?"

As he said that, Mark Seney explained why he asked this.

"Jess, you know, if there is no suitable one, at least the guarantee plan that players willing to participate in this crowdfunding plan feel is appropriate, then there are probably not many people willing to participate. If there is, I believe there will definitely be many people willing to participate, at least much more than there is no guarantee plan."

"indeed."

After hearing this, Jester nodded: "I have considered what you said, but it is not very perfect. However, these can be improved later. I believe this."

“That’s my plan.”

"When a game is crowdfunding, at the beginning, a crowdfunding standard needs to be set, such as $50,000, and a crowdfunding period, such as one month, that is, within one month, it is necessary to raise 50,000 US dollars before the project will be started. Otherwise, the project will be cancelled and the funds raised will be returned to the account of the person participating in the crowdfunding."

"What if it succeeds?"
Chapter completed!