Russian publishers...

[Reactor]

We've recently been contacted by a Russian publisher. I don't have a lot of details from them about who they are exactly, but they're offering:

- royalties per copy $0.20
- advance against royalties: $3000,
advance payable in 2 parts - 50% on signing, 50% on localization

This doesn't sound too bad to me personally, but my brother isn't so confident it'd be a wise move to try and translate our game into russian and get it published over there. Can anyone offer any advice as to whether this is a good thing to go for?

[Tertsi]

I've been to Russia and I can just say that they are selling nearly only pirated games there. All I can say for sure is; the advance is a must.

[ManuelFLara]

I don't know if the publisher will be honest enough to pay both parts or royalties, but as far as earnings go, I think it's a good deal, since it's tought selling original software in Russian, as they have to set very low prices to compete with piracy.

[Bluecat]

We've recently been contacted by a Russian publisher. I don't have a lot of details from them about who they are exactly, but they're offering:

- royalties per copy $0.20
- advance against royalties: $3000,
advance payable in 2 parts - 50% on signing, 50% on localization

Is that 20 percent royalty or 20 cents royalty per copy? Twenty cents sounds really low to me. How much are they selling the game for?

You said you didn't have too much in the way of details about the publisher. Can you ask them to provide that information?

I'd also ask for a list of developers that they have published, and contact some of them for info. Call it, checking their references. If their other developers are happy with them, it may be a good deal.

[Andy]

How much are they selling the game for?

Legal localized versions go for 3-10$. For very good games may be a little bit dated. The game should go with nice box (!) and preferably with manual too - otherwise, yes guys will buy it in the nearest shelve near the subway. :(

$0.20 is too small amount anyway - but that sounds like they just stating that they are not planning to pay any royalties after advance.

And... be careful Reactor. But you probably already know this without me. :)
Sometimes they cheat even worse than in States and UK. :D

[BlueWaldo]

If that really is $.20, and you think they might not even pay you that maybe you should just try to get more of an advance and let them sell as many copies as they can inside of Russia for no charge.

[Jim Buck]

otherwise, yes guys will buy it in the nearest shelve near the subway. :(

How much are the "subway versions" these days? When I was there a few years ago, they were going for $2.50 a game (75 or 100 rubles - I can't remember). In Poland, it was more like $5 a game (but sold by Russians that came to Poland for this type of business).

As for the original post, I would just 100% assume that $3000 is all you will ever see from this and judge accordingly. (Or alternatively, based on what a couple others said and my own gut feeling, assume $1500 is all you will ever see from this and judge accordingly.)

[BongPig]

We had no problems at all with our russian publishers. We got a nice advance ( $3000+ ) for each of our games, and a crappy royalty rate which we never expected to reach anyway.
They paid us right on time, and never fecked us about.

If you consider $3k enough money for taking the time to translate your game, then take the money. Forget about royalties. If you get any, its a nice bonus, but dont count on it.

[PoV]

Also, try to get them to send you at least one retail copy. When possible, I like to have framed copies of my games, and foreign copies in different scripts look cool.

[Andy]

but sold by Russians that came to Poland for this type of business....

Yeah, sure. That was said you by Poland guys? ;) That was probably hard for the to state that they come from China. :D

Street versions are near 3$ - for product published on one CD (this is important if it comes on two CDs it goes for double price :D ).

[Jim Buck]

Yeah, sure. That was said you by Poland guys? ;)

No, I actually talked with them - they had bad Polish language skills with Russian accents. :)

Yeah, it's the same in Poland that it's double the price if it comes on 2 cds. Last I read, though, they really cracked down hard on that in Russia, and I had heard of some stories of them doing the same in Poland. It's been a long time since I've been to these "black markets" (a couple years), so I don't know how widespread it still is there days.

[Andy]

Last I read, though, they really cracked down hard on that in Russia...

Great if so... :D

[Jim Buck]

Great if so... :D

This is where I had read it, so take it with a LARGE grain of salt (for those of us who know about Fatbabies :) ):

http://www.fatbabies.com/fatstories.html

Scroll down to "RUSSIA BITCH-SLAPS GAME PIRATE UPSIDE THE HEAD!".

[KNau]

One of my games was published in Russia through the exact same deal structure with no problems. They're even cool about reporting quarterly sales, but don't expect to get beyond your advance. It takes a lot of .20 cent sales to make up $3,000 :)

[Anthony Flack]

Gah, I'm getting an unpleasant flashback to doing the Russian translation of Platypus. Why did I have to use an animated font?!?

[Reactor]

Thanks guys, the advice is a big help.

[Andy]

Gah, I'm getting an unpleasant flashback to doing the Russian translation of Platypus. Why did I have to use an animated font?!?

:p Only probably ten another letters to add Anthony :D

[Indiepath.T]

What did you do with this? did you sign with them? what was the outcome?

We have been approached with a similar offer. My first reaction was to laugh at it, I then read this and now I would like to get some feedback.

Regards,

Tim.

[ChilledOut]

I also just recieved a similar offer, and would definitely appreciate any information. I recieved the same email two days in a row which made me even more suspicious.

[Jack Norton]

Uhm I guess you can't name them there... ok PM me and we can talk (I did some successful deals with russian publishers and I know which one are the honest).

[Indiepath.T]

@chilled Out

That would be yesterday and today then. Like me :P

[gpetersz]

Just a shot note: it is $2.50 and $5 because the average income is one sixth or tenth of the western incomes. That's why they in those (and other) countries are pirating. Nobody will pay $50 (even for an AAA title) if the minimal wage is $150 / month...

So these people are not born criminals (I mean the customers of the "low-budget subway" games). The dealers are different stories but there always were dealers until there sould be buyers.

Edited:
I want to clarify my opinion.
I do not agree with piracy, not at all! I want to sell my own game, so
it would be quite strange if I'd think otherwise. I only wanted to enlight it from a different point of view. Actually I plan to release the same software in such languages for a cheaper price!

[Sharkbait]

*dusting cobwebs off this old thread*

I just got a similar offer from a Russian publisher:

Sold in jewel cases for $2.50 with a commision of $0.20 per sale
Advanced royalty payment of $1000 - for an initial run of 5000 copies
Further royalty payments of $1000 for every next print run
They can localise the game themselves and at their own expenses, I approve it and then I get the initial payment
Demand exclusivity for Russia and former USSR territories
Concerns:
I noticed that the email originated from a UK education site despite the sender having a Russian name
I not in a position to guarantee exclusivity in any particular territory
I see no established publisher site or enterprise.

Your thoughts?

[Indiepath.T]

That would be Anna then :D

Personally I did not take the deal, it was the contract that put me off.

I Know they have done some good stuff with others on this forum, if you can get a decent contract then do it - what have you got to lose?

[Sharkbait]

My attempts at vagueness proved fruitless.. yep, spot on! :o

I wonder if anyone else can share their experience with this particular publisher?

[alfie]

I wonder if anyone else can share their experience with this particular publisher?

Cas had some experience with this publisher, it's in the private section.

[Batley]

Private section?

[alfie]

Private section?

There is a Private Discussion section here that is Invite Only for devs who have at least 1 published game.

What Cas said about this publisher is not bad etc, but because it's in the Private section I did not want to repeat it in this open forum. Maybe Cas would like to clarify is experience?

[Indiepath.T]

There is a Private Discussion section here that is Invite Only for devs who have at least 1 published game.

What Cas said about this publisher is not bad etc, but because it's in the Private section I did not want to repeat it in this open forum. Maybe Cas would like to clarify is experience?
No one ever invited us. Sniff...