Advice Needed: Payment requirements for 2d/3d artists...

[msharp3d]

Hello folks,

I've been working as a professorial 3d artist developing for current gen consoles and PC for several years now. An opportunity was recently presented to me, which would have me be the sole artist on a 3D iOS game.

I'm really interested in how I should handle my payment requirements. Right now, the talk has been just an hourly rate, but I am really interested in asking to receive a small percentage of the profits from the games sales on top of hourly payment. Whats a fair percentage to ask for? 5%? The team consists of him(programmer, game designer) and me.

Any info you can provide will be appreciated.

Thanks!

**if this topic is better suited for a different forum section, please direct me to it**

[DaveM]

Originally Posted by msharp3d

Whats a fair percentage to ask for? 5%? The team consists of him(programmer, game designer) and me.

More risk asking for a percentage as the vast majority of games probably don't make a dime. How much do you know about these guys? Have they sold anything else yet?

If you feel confident it's a money-maker, I'd start higher and let them talk you down. 100/3 = 33%. They'll probably balk at that, but you never know until you ask. Sell it to them as no money out of pocket unless they make money.

Oh, and get a contract and have a lawyer review it before you sign it.

Good luck.

[msharp3d]

Thanks for the advice.

The guy is a very established programmer having worked in the industry for over 10 years on console games. I think he may have an app or two, but I think this will be his first iOS game. Could be mistaken though.

I'd like to find that balance of receiving a decent hourly wage that will make coming home from work and working a few more hours worth while, but also making money off the game if it does do marginally well.

Anyone else have an opinion?

Thanks!

[msharp3d]

*bump*

requesting more feedback

[missing_no]

If you don't know this guy on a personal level, well then get ready to have some sort of legal counsel if it's going to involve IPs, ideas, or assets floating around between the two of you. And record every transaction that occurs between you and other parties involved (email is always one of the most traceable recordable forms) and keep a dated handwritten account of what you contributed (have all parties also confer or sign these documents). I'm speaking from personal experience working on an electrical engineering product patent that came out of a senior design capstone program for my Masters.

I have no experience doing a long distance iOS project yet but it would seem better to accept an hourly wage up front incase nothing comes of fruition then at least all the time you invested isn't done so in vain. Only down side is they will probably own your 3d/2d art assets.