I reckon $200-225k would be a fair price to buy GSI out bearing in
mind there is no surety upon the license being renewed. Add to that
$75k to develop the programme and some PR.
Set up a company to own the rights with investors purchasing shares
according to amount. Say 200 shares at $1500 each. Chris Ricci goes
for three and I'd probably go for 10. 187 to go.
Clint et al would operate the game with an open ended license subject
to conditions. Better to leave operational decisions to them with
oversight of the admin by an elected board of directors and voting by
all the shareholders on major issues (Launching a new game). Too many
captains sink the ship! The company would provide a proportion of its
earnings from the current GSI take (Say 50% after admin fixed by
agreement annualy by shareholder vote) for development of the game
and engine. Where such development reduces ME games cost base, then
the saving should be split. The rest of the GSI take would go to the
shareholders as dividend giving maybe %5 return. Shares would also be
tradeable.
Any one interested should put out of their mind this as a profit
making enterprise. The film may flop, the license be lost or the
people who see the film have read the book, enjoyed it and have no
other interest. One in one thousand might play this game and you will
be lucky to get one in one thousand of those aware of it. You can
waste an awful lot of money telling no one about nothing. If you want
to get people then look at getting them pre selected through games
shops and magazines.
It may be that this could make a modest return or if we develop the
engine for automated use over the internet, perhaps, a lot of money.
I think that the people at ME Games have the drive, intellect and
desire to do something with our hobby and would put money to help
them do it. Now is the time though!
Million details but...
Cheers
Chris Courtiour