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Preparing To Negotiate
Negotiation is part of our daily lives. Whether we are dealing with customers, co-workers, or our own families, it all comes down to ensuring that your needs are met in a manner that is fair to all involved.
Granted, there are those who would feel that the second half of that sentence is irrelevant. If your needs are met, you win whether it is fair or not. In my experience, this short-sighted view of the world also only works on the presumption that you never again have to deal with whomever was the subject of that negotiation; the world is full of other "targets" whom you can take advantage of next.
But this has never been true in our industry. We deal with a very small pool of decision-makers and chances are very good that you will deal with them many times over the course of a career.
More importantly, you will deal with them at different companies. So even though you maintain the relationship with the person, you may find them working under different constraints or assumptions when they change companies. Your needs and your frame of reference may have changed since the last time you worked on a project together as well. As such, every negotiation begins with elements of uncertainty no matter how long or how frequently you may have worked together, so you still have to prepare for it appropriately.
I am constantly amazed by how many developers -- even vastly experienced ones -- tend to fly by the seat of their pants instead of properly preparing to negotiate. They work from assumptions, take positions instead of defining needs, and some even believe that negotiation is synonymous with bartering or compromise. Hey folks, if you are going to run a business, either get up to speed on negotiating or hire someone to do it for you. And please don't confuse legal counsel with professional negotiation. They are two complimentary but distinctly different skill sets.
Okay, soapbox preaching and shameless plugs for what FOG does ends there. Now let me share the framework we use to help prepare you for your upcoming negotiations this summer …
Click here to read the full article »
Archive of previous columns.
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Location: Los Angeles, CA
Focus: Controls a library of more than 5,600 comic book characters which it adapts, produces, and licenses for all forms of media.
Facts: Publishes such comic books as “Blood Nation,” “Hero By Night,” “Unique,” “The Weapon,” “Nightfall,” and “Ghosting.”
 There are some opportunities that are just too good to miss! If you move fast, there's still time -- but not much time -- to sign up as a sponsor or a strategic partner of Platinum Studios' 3rd annual "Comic Book Challenge."
Even as we speak, entrants are submitting their writing and comic book art and, at Comic-Con International in San Diego (July 24-27), the top 50 will be whittled down to the 10 best. Then, in August, in familiar "American Idol" fashion, comic book fans will have the chance to vote on-line for their favorite. The Grand Prize winner will have their comic book published by Platinum Studios -- the chance of a lifetime!
But prior to all the excitement, Platinum is searching for prize sponsors who'd like the opportunity to promote their product or service over a 12-month campaign to the highly attractive 18-34 male demographic that craves anything having to do with comic books. (Last year, over 7 million visitors voted on the contest's Web site.)
There's also one slot open for a title sponsor who'd be excited about attaching their logo to the contest. (Last year AT&T stepped up and the competition was called "AT&T Presents Platinum Studio's Comic Book Challenge.") And there's also a chance to become the party sponsor for the big celebration the night that the entrants are named at Comic-Con.
"If there are companies out there that would enjoy partnering with us, we'd love to talk to them," says Hank Lambert, Platinum Studios' executive VP of business development and operations. "Just contact me and we'll make you part of the fun."
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Wham-O celebrating “60 Years Of Fun.”
It's hard to believe but it's been 60 years since Wham-O first began providing children and adults with innovative, imaginative toys that spark creativity, encourage social interaction, and get kids playing.
Founded in 1948, the toy company inherited its name from the sound that its flagship product, the Wham-O slingshot, made when connecting with its target.
Having brought the world such wild, wacky, and lasting iconic brands as Hula Hoop, Hacky Sack, Frisbee, and Slip 'N Slide, this year Wham-O is celebrating its 60 years with a slew of promotional activity.
For more information, contact FOG Studio’s sales representative Adam Spencer.
Wall-E Tangles With Wham-O's Hula Hoop.
Sure, you know what to do with Hula Hoops, but Wall-E, the robot star of the upcoming Disney/Pixar film of the same name, is still trying to figure it out. You won't want to miss the short video. And while you're at it, catch the Kotaku.com article about what FOG Studios has to say regarding the possibilities of Wham-O toys on the Wii. Hula Hooping with the Wii Fit board? Sounds like a natural to us!
Platinum Studios, Operation Troop Aid band together
to bring "Free Comic Book Day" to U.S. troops in Iraq.
LA-based Platinum Studios and Operation Troop Aid, a charity that is the premiere care package provider to U.S. troops stationed abroad, jointly sent 27,000 comic books and graphic novels to U.S. troops in Iraq.
Earlier this month, on May 3, the 7th annual “Free Comic Book Day” was a single day when participating comic book shops around the world gave away comic books absolutely free to anyone who came into their stores.
“As a silver sponsor to this year's 'Free Comic Book Day,' Platinum Studios wanted to reach out to our service men and women to bring them a little bit of home, ” said Michael Schreibman, VP of operations at Platinum.“ Titles sent included “Blood Nation,” “Hero By Night,” “Unique,” “The Weapon,” “Nightfall,” “Ghosting,” and “Consumed.”
NBCC Miramichi celebrates Jalloo Games Conference.
Jalloo, "the animation and gaming festival you just can't miss," is taking place on June 11 and 12 on the Miramichi campus of the New Brunswick (Canada) Community College.
For more information or to register, e-mail jobfair@gnb.ca.
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Ping us by clicking on the appropriate link. We are currently looking for the following:
- Wanted: Experienced console developer ready to take their company to a new level.
- Wanted: Casual game developers looking for ongoing project flow.
- Wanted: 50-MB or less unpublished sports games for the PC online space.
- Wanted: Developers or publishers with open internship positions for college students in game development programs.
- Wanted: Industry veterans seeking to leave a legacy and share their experience with the next generation.
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FOG Studios, the leading agency for interactive rights since 1979, helps:
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Independent developers find publishing partners and other avenues to market. |
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IP owners maximize their return when licensing in the interactive marketplace. |
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Publishers develop relationships with world-class brands and top developers. |
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A Friend Of FOG
Houston, Texas-based Archimage, Inc. is a design studio dedicated to the practice of computer-based visual arts. One of the country's first completely computerized design studios, Archimage has a history of using new technology to turn age-old design problems into opportunities.
Most recently, the Web site for its "Escape From Diab" videogame won the 2007 Horizon Interactive Gold Award, the site's fourth international honor. And for that reason -- for Archimage's having designed "what's next" for over 20 years -- they are now a Friend of Fog. |
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