tinyBuild’s Lesson & Warning
Currently, Buka Entertainment approaches indie developers with the following message:
“By publishing the digital version we mean selling the game on the Steam platform, where we will be mentioned as the publisher and you will be credited as the developer. If you’re interested in the financial side of things, we can form a commercial offer based on how ready the project is and how much time is needed.Â
Under marketing we plan to use our standard marketing support: news blast to Russian and Foreign media channels. Paid and free announcements in Russian and foreign social groups. Plus Steam release campaign support: we guarantee placement on the homepage with an audience of 500,000 views, placements in the New section, discounts (if you have a start discount), and so on. If you have a trailer, we can use the catalog of videotrailers, which has a guaranteed number of views”.
tinyBuild has faced a backlash from their first so-called publisher, from dubious emails to in-person threats. Nichiporchick has provided all records to substantiate his claims, and Buka is reprising his evidence with strange claims of their own. One is that the Head of Licensing at the time didn’t have the authority to cancel projects. Yet, the termination letter was signed by the then CEO of Buka. Therefore, everything Buka says merits scrutiny and tinyBuild has released records of their interactions as a warning to aspiring game creators. If you want to avoid the same tragedy, you must steer away from dubious publishers, especially Buka.
“…Buka is pretending as if it never had an agreement with tinyBuild,” wrote Nichiporchick, “that it doesn’t owe anyone money, is lying about never cancelling projects, and after threatening to sue tinyBuild for not keeping quiet about it discredits ex-employee who made original deal. Make your own conclusions.”Â
To read up on the entirety of Nicoporchick’ essay, you can find it tinyBuild’s website here, along with all the emails. Any thoughts on these hostile proceedings? Feel free to comment below. Good luck out there, devs.