@ExDeus & Daz yeah I admit his earning are probably the real deal. It's just very hard to accept knowing he really doesn't deserve it for his lack of work and talent that made those earnings. I tend to think he spends much more time spamming self promotions all over the web than he does actually making games.
TKG, you raise bloody good point I think this deserves a topic alone......Not everyone earning big money deserves it or earned it, I think this goes for every possible industry you can think of. But this gets tricky read below:
@DarkStar I love you you are a great friend but there are times I'm in the mood to read your long post but right now I'm short on time.
You forgot the 2 at the end of my name. Careful not to do that on Github, there is another member without the 2 and he complained and warned people to be tagging properly, next time he won't be happy if he gets unsolicited e-mails.
@everyone I don't like flappy bird but I won't deny it was a major success and many people love that game. But in TV's case, more people are disappointed from his work then blessed as far as I can tell. That's why I personally find TV to not deserve it compared to many other viral indie companies.
Here's the deal. There IS a market for everything. FlappyBird might be plain vanilla and bleh for some people and yet attractive to some. The world has billions of internet users, there is bound to be a % that will enjoy these games.
NOW, let's say I was to create a game where carrot sticks fell from the sky at random positions and speed and you have a basket on the ground and have to catch the carrots.......JUST THAT, nothing more......... Now as much as I know you will enjoy my game and BEG me to sell it to you, (and Robert too,
) I reckon some people might be bored and not spend a dime. Now if I were to put that game online, and just market it in the right places, and be 100% honest.......Just catch the falling carrots, nothing more........There is bound to be some interest and even a tiny fraction of % could represent thousands of $ sales under the worst fucking bloody scenarios.
Now tell me TKG, would I be deserving of the money you think???
Keep in mind
1) I've been HONEST and not lied about what my game is;
2) I provided truthful screenshots and videos of what my game is;
3) even provided a free edition (time limited).
SO.......basically the paid game would be identical to the time limited game, without the time limit. So would people have a valid reason to be disappointed ? No.
So tell me be honest, would I be deserving of the money ?
YES.
#1) We expand energy in calories even at rest. In fact for most average people, we expand the most energy at rest compared to the day's activity.
#2) Typical energy expenditure is 2000 calories/daily for some......... The brain alone takes 600+ of those calories.
#3) So these simple games massage your brain cells and burn calories, and keep your brain healthy.
SO if people like these kind of games, and are HAPPY, by all means they got what they "wanted" and "paid" for and I made someone happy.
SO.......if there is a market for rubbish, then by all means there is nothing wrong with providing it providing you market it properly and you are 100% honest.
NOW that person who buys my catch the carrot sticks from the sky game, now imagine in version 2 when I tell them that the carrots now having gone from 2 colour sprite to an actual digital scan of an actual carrot stick.......They would come in their trousers right away!
Then in version 3 an actual 3D model of a carrot, and you've given them a gigantic orgasm.
So if someone can pay $800 for a mediocre game engine I don't think they'd mind paying $2 for a shite game.
Somtimes people do it for the kicks, the humour......
There is a difference between hyping, mislaeding people and being honest.
Which is why I believe in free / trials. This way someone buying your shite loses their right to complain they are disappointed. They had all the time's fuck to test drive your toss first.
So in cases where a developer is not hyping his/her product and honest about the game in all its aspect, and it gets paid for then by all means he provided a needed service.
Especially if said game has a free version for people to try first. In such a case where said author makes loads of money, people normally should have tried and read the description which said author was all out there...... In such a case the author would be deserving of the money, because shite sells, and as long as you are misleading and people come to you to buy your shite, it's valid.
In the case of TV, I have not followed much, and don't know him, but if he offers trial versions of his games and is straight forward and honest about the game, then people who have paid for them have no right to talk, and they paid money for something they got regardless of whether the game is actually good or not.
the wank eBook that's another story, so is his alleged get rich quick scheme thing.