Really?
So, this presumtious bastard decides to make flash games. All is well and good. He wants to sell said flash games. Again, all well and good and captialism and all that jazz. He apparently can't do his own artwork for it. Okay, so he decides to hire some artists to help him out. Everybody wins right? Artists are getting paid, the flash gamer is getting his game, and everybody's happy.
Except what? He's not paying the artists fairly? AND WRITES A FUCKING ARTICLE ON HOW TO HIRE AN ARTIST AND CHEAT THEM OUT OF PROFIT FOR SOMETHING THEY WORKED ON? Hold the fucking train here.
Anywho, read this fucking bullshit. Seriously, this makes me happy that I have no interest in selling my art and just give it away to people I care about as gifts rather than commissions. Less of a chance that I'll be burned by this kind of bullshit.
Original article: Hello. My name is Asshatery.
Stuff I'm peeved as hell about:
How to find an artist:
I recommend looking through art sites such as Deviantart for an artist which suits your taste, or any other site that has a decent art community such as Newgrounds. There’s a few reasons you want to find an artist this way. First of all, they’re cheaper. These guys aren’t used to making a lot of money for their work so they will be more appreciative of the chance even if they are being payed slightly less than what professionals are payed. Second of all, they’re better. The quality of art you can find through this method is pretty amazing, and the vast amount of artists guarantee you will find something that suits your tastes and needs. Unless you have a specific price you want to pay in mind, ask THEM what they are willing to charge for the project. This usually causes people to give offers that are lower than what you normally pay, and will make them happy.
Artist payment:
Make it clear to whomever you hire that they will not be payed until ALL the work is completed, unless it is completed by a predefined date, and unless it matches or exceeds expectations. Sometimes I have an issues getting all of these things, but if you give someone a job they’re expected to treat it as so even if they’re just a hobbyist. Paying prior to the completion of the project is a bad idea for several reasons. Only paying for the finished work encourages the artist to finish their job faster, if you pay up front the artist has no motivation to finish quickly. Similarly, if you pay up front the artist could disappear and you may never get what you payed for!
And a comment that the host of their article likes. Which really pisses me off: Under a cut, because this is getting long.
Holy crap, artist nerdrage.
This is how markets work. If people believe their time and effort is worth less, they quote a lower number. There is no dishonesty or underhandedness from the developer hiring them, the artist simply expects less than their effort is worth.
At the same time, the scale of each individual project is so small that hiring someone at ‘professional’ value is ridiculous. Artists gain exposure, and what they consider a fair wage for their work.
“oh the poor artist, you aren’t offering them more money than they think they deserve” is fairly ridiculous. If you are creating art resources for games, ask for more money if you think you deserve more than they are offering. Negotiate a contract that makes you happy, whether that involves an ‘art by x’ splash screen and credit, or more money.
If this enrages you, think hard next time you ask a friend to help you move or to fix your computer instead of hiring a ‘professional’. Pizza and beer cost less than ‘professional’ movers, so clearly you are exploiting your friends. Or the kid down the street who mows your lawn. Or whomever it is you hire to do a job you don’t want to or can’t who isn’t a “professional”.
Lets see. Exploiting your friends for a few hours vs. an artist, or hobbyist that HAS OTHER THINGS TO DO/WORK ON, and exploit them. For hours upon hours of work (yes, art is work. It is a work of love, but work all the same.)for something that is going to make something of a profit FOR YEARS TO COME and you're COMPARING IT TO MOVING/MOWING LAWN? SERIOUSLY? CAPS LOCK OF RAGE DOES NOT DO THIS JUSTICE. ONLY SCREAMING DOES.
Also:
His nick on sites like Newgrounds, Kongregate and Armor Games is xdragonx10. Spread the word about this article. Go tell him (politely) what is wrong about his business policy. Avoid his games if at all possible. Show him that what he's doing is coming back to bite him in the ass and not earning him one more cent.
I mean really WHAT THE FUCK MAN. Spreading the word because this whole thing is absolute bullshit.
Originally found on neuronautica's journal.
Peace,
WTF. REALLY. psycho
Except what? He's not paying the artists fairly? AND WRITES A FUCKING ARTICLE ON HOW TO HIRE AN ARTIST AND CHEAT THEM OUT OF PROFIT FOR SOMETHING THEY WORKED ON? Hold the fucking train here.
Anywho, read this fucking bullshit. Seriously, this makes me happy that I have no interest in selling my art and just give it away to people I care about as gifts rather than commissions. Less of a chance that I'll be burned by this kind of bullshit.
Original article: Hello. My name is Asshatery.
Stuff I'm peeved as hell about:
How to find an artist:
I recommend looking through art sites such as Deviantart for an artist which suits your taste, or any other site that has a decent art community such as Newgrounds. There’s a few reasons you want to find an artist this way. First of all, they’re cheaper. These guys aren’t used to making a lot of money for their work so they will be more appreciative of the chance even if they are being payed slightly less than what professionals are payed. Second of all, they’re better. The quality of art you can find through this method is pretty amazing, and the vast amount of artists guarantee you will find something that suits your tastes and needs. Unless you have a specific price you want to pay in mind, ask THEM what they are willing to charge for the project. This usually causes people to give offers that are lower than what you normally pay, and will make them happy.
Artist payment:
Make it clear to whomever you hire that they will not be payed until ALL the work is completed, unless it is completed by a predefined date, and unless it matches or exceeds expectations. Sometimes I have an issues getting all of these things, but if you give someone a job they’re expected to treat it as so even if they’re just a hobbyist. Paying prior to the completion of the project is a bad idea for several reasons. Only paying for the finished work encourages the artist to finish their job faster, if you pay up front the artist has no motivation to finish quickly. Similarly, if you pay up front the artist could disappear and you may never get what you payed for!
And a comment that the host of their article likes. Which really pisses me off: Under a cut, because this is getting long.
Holy crap, artist nerdrage.
This is how markets work. If people believe their time and effort is worth less, they quote a lower number. There is no dishonesty or underhandedness from the developer hiring them, the artist simply expects less than their effort is worth.
At the same time, the scale of each individual project is so small that hiring someone at ‘professional’ value is ridiculous. Artists gain exposure, and what they consider a fair wage for their work.
“oh the poor artist, you aren’t offering them more money than they think they deserve” is fairly ridiculous. If you are creating art resources for games, ask for more money if you think you deserve more than they are offering. Negotiate a contract that makes you happy, whether that involves an ‘art by x’ splash screen and credit, or more money.
If this enrages you, think hard next time you ask a friend to help you move or to fix your computer instead of hiring a ‘professional’. Pizza and beer cost less than ‘professional’ movers, so clearly you are exploiting your friends. Or the kid down the street who mows your lawn. Or whomever it is you hire to do a job you don’t want to or can’t who isn’t a “professional”.
Lets see. Exploiting your friends for a few hours vs. an artist, or hobbyist that HAS OTHER THINGS TO DO/WORK ON, and exploit them. For hours upon hours of work (yes, art is work. It is a work of love, but work all the same.)for something that is going to make something of a profit FOR YEARS TO COME and you're COMPARING IT TO MOVING/MOWING LAWN? SERIOUSLY? CAPS LOCK OF RAGE DOES NOT DO THIS JUSTICE. ONLY SCREAMING DOES.
Also:
His nick on sites like Newgrounds, Kongregate and Armor Games is xdragonx10. Spread the word about this article. Go tell him (politely) what is wrong about his business policy. Avoid his games if at all possible. Show him that what he's doing is coming back to bite him in the ass and not earning him one more cent.
I mean really WHAT THE FUCK MAN. Spreading the word because this whole thing is absolute bullshit.
Originally found on neuronautica's journal.
Peace,
WTF. REALLY. psycho