For me, I’m mainly a programmer and when it comes to me drawing for a game–well, you don’t know how quickly that game idea gets trashed due to lack of motivation to draw.
For my next app, I am currently spending around $900-$1000 just for the graphics. I think it’s a pretty good investment. How much have you guys paid? What’s the highest and lowest? [import]uid: 49300 topic_id: 25803 reply_id: 325803[/import]
Hi Lucky,
for people to contribute to that thread maybe it’s worth to describe what you paid $1000 for.
Pictures / Gfx / Gui?
What resolution?
Do you hold the exclusive rights? (higher price)
How long did it take to get the work delivered?
Was the artist flexible and how professional was he? (People that work for cheap are less professional and reliable because - if they are not teenagers with lot of free time - they don’t have much time and are less flexible because they need to pay the bills with another job)
How do you consider the value that it has added to your app? (in terms of return on investment, or perceived value of your brand)
Sometimes you invest in sound/graphics and that won’t translate into direct profit but it will greatly improve your backend strategy :
free app with in app purchases
or free beautiful app -> massive downloads -> You sell the copyrights to a toy maker, a traditional publisher if your character got some attention from the market) etc.
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I paid for 3 huge exterior maps, and 23 interior maps at $25 a piece. $80-$100 for player sprites, of which I’ll conveniently use the body for NPCs and $70-90 for icons at $2.50 bucks a piece. All totaling up to $900-$1000
The highest resolution I’ve gotten work on for was the 3 exterior maps for $80 bucks a piece at 1600 x 1200. (He was such a lucky find though, would hire him again, I actually feel as though he deserves more pay)
The artist(s) depends, if they’re hard working and they know their stuff in graphic design then they can work with you easy, they’ll ask you for your feedback and you give it to them–then you receive your revision, it’s all simple.
There are some artists out there that are willing to overcharge you more than they should earn. (Some on freelancer.com scrapped up some pretty crappy flash animations to try and get me to pick them)
That’s why I outsourced the player sprite to some pretty talented teenagers (on Newgrounds) on figure animations for cheap. They seem to think $85 bucks is a whole lot. And that’s good I’ll take advantage of them on that, it’s a win-win. They can spend on it on a new PS3 or 360 game or whatever, I get my app more developed.
They may be young, but they have a lot of passion and free time to do what they are doing. They’re dogs when they get money for doing what they love.
The value that’s added, I think it’s great. If it was my artwork, I’d think it’s shit. Then the whole game is shit and I’d quit–no app developed, no money maker. It’s better to have someone else focus on one part of the app while you can focus on the other part you’re good at.
Plus if you did invest a ton load of money into your app, you are entitled to finish it and publish it. Great motivation factor.
It feels REALLY good to see what your money can do, what services you can afford. You are an employer, you’re in charge, you order people what to do to fulfill your need, your vision.
I know I will get what I spent back and more.
I’m not worried dishing out a thousand for artwork for my app, 2 sources of income (manufacturing job and app store), I don’t have a lot of bills to pay ($300 a month sharing room) and food I’m set because the owner of the house hired a cook. Drive to work isn’t heavy on gas. Loving the Goodwill clothing.
All in all, if you think your graphic design is shit. You can’t get anywhere because you feel your game is shit. Then hire someone to take the creative lead so it won’t be shit. [import]uid: 49300 topic_id: 25803 reply_id: 104360[/import]
A. It’s better to have someone else focus on one part of the app while you can focus on the other part you’re good at.
B. All in all, if you think your graphic design is shit. You can’t get anywhere because you feel your game is shit. Then hire someone to take the creative lead so it won’t be shit.
I totally agree.
About teenagers, I put them in their own category (that’s why I said “except”).
Some are focused and great (skilled but lack experience, professional relationships management and industry knowledge).
Some others are so… well… teenagers. You don’t want to be waiting for the work to be delivered while they just got their new game after completing some work for another client.
Or when they just got a new girlfriend, they won’t respond to emails. -I don’t blame them :)- but we’re talking business now.
As I am ruling a business I understand that some of them are skilled enough to get the job done but I can’t take the risk to make a mistake. I prefer to pay a pro, because at the end (in my case) the returns are x10 better without surprises.
Actually I want to make more money so I don’t have to reevaluate new candidates each time. I just want to go right to the ones that can deliver.
He was such a lucky find though, would hire him again, I actually feel as though he deserves more pay
Go ahead 
you still have his paypal address around your desk. If you do so, the next time you will work with him he will deliver like never before.
Some on freelancer.com scrapped up some pretty crappy flash animations to try and get me to pick them
When I am recruiting I write my job postings with a lot of requirements, to discourage the one that are not serious. Those who write are totally dedicated to do good work. And I believe I pay better than others.
That was interesting to hear from someone who outsources on this forum. You will like Chad Mureta and this article on Tim Ferri’s blog.
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