The typical deal between indie devs and platform holders, like Apple and Google, is a 70-30 split. When game sells for $1, the distributor takes 30 cents, and the rest goes to the developer and publisher.
[aditude-amp id="flyingcarpet" targeting='{"env":"staging","page_type":"article","post_id":608948,"post_type":"story","post_chan":"none","tags":null,"ai":false,"category":"none","all_categories":"games,","session":"D"}']GameStick plans for a similar business model on its digital-download service when the thumb-drive-sized Android console launches in April. But it wanted to introduce a $249 tier on the GameStick’s still-running Kickstarter to eliminates the revenue sharing for six months.
Kickstarter contacted GamesBeat to tell us that GameStick’s revenue-sharing tier is against the crowdfunding site’s official guidelines. This new tier violates the section that bans financial incentives.
PlayJam, the developer that created the GameStick, introduced the new tier today, limiting it to 250 backers. Before Kickstarter shut it down, developers could join the tier for $249, and then any revenue for games that shipped before the end of July 2013 would all go to the studio.
“In the few short weeks following the campaign launch, we have had hundreds of developers sign up for access to our SDK, from established games studios to smaller indie developers”, GameStick head of games Sameer Baroova said in a statement. “What better way to repay this incredible support and to accelerate the big screen gaming revolution than with an offer that directly rewards those who were first to support us?”
The GameStick has already secured full funding. With eight days left, 4,291 Kickstarter backers already pledged $463,666. The system will ship out in April.