The Best Gosh Dang article about making games ever

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

http://www.peginc.com/ShootingBlind/SparktoPrintBill/SparktoPB01.htm
Pinnacle Games Shane Hensley is one of the most succesful independent game manufacturers ever. But the D20 explosion and a crippling recession nearly wiped out his company 3 years ago, now back and better than ever Shane lays out all of his cards in a four page web article.  
This is one of the most honest, and helpful articles on publishing I have ever read, and it seems that shane has certainly embraced a new buisness model for the 21st century.

[Mr_Pleasington]

Shane's always been open and forthcoming about his opinion on the industry and he usually shares some pretty keen insights.  If you scour the mailing list archives you can find some gems.

I think what's even more exciting than the industry report is the teasers for all the stuff coming out.  I'm pumped!

[42]

Wow, that is a good article. I like how he points out that there isn't a "build it and they will come" market anymore in RPGs. Just a few years ago there was that kind of mentality in game designers, but apparently not any more.

[Mr_Pleasington]

The flip side to that is that we now have gaming celebrities...there are several authors whose name alone will sell a book, particularly in the d20 market.  Before 3E what authors were known well...Gygax, Achilli, and arguably John Tynes and John Wick.  Now names like Monte Cook and Skip Williams are on the lips of virtually d20 gamer...or they at least know who they are.

This may be more of an access thing than a strange phenomenon that came along with d20.  Game authors are a lot more accessible these days, given the internet, and if they frequent forums they can really pimp their game.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

well, to be fair, before 3e there was also Steve Jackson and Kevin Siembieda. People knew who they were nearly as much as Gygax.

[Mr_Pleasington]

Very true.

Most people use Siembieda as a curse word amongst my friends, though.

They love RIFTS, but wish the man would just revise it and make it a little less munchkinny.  

[House of Mustard]

I would use Siembieda as a curse word, but I've never been able to pronounce it.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

also, if he could actually write a rule book.