3D Realms: games producer?

[magellan]

It looks like 3D Realms (only famous for developing Duke Nukem I believe) only produces games, they don't even publish them. A game producer just comes up w/the funding to develop a game right? What does a games publisher do then? If a games publisher just distributes games how much work product is involved in that in the digital download age?

 

[don256us]

If the producer provides the funds, the publisher identifies how those funds are spent to get the project completed. The publisher is probably responsible for hiring all of the people to include people to manage people, compliance with the laws, purchase paper, pens, desks, chairs, provide benefits and marketing. Oh the marketing. Using the producer's money, marketing has to get done. I mean there is a lot of stuff all going on and most of it is boring business stuff. That probably is the responsibility of the publisher.

 

[EarthDog]

Games publishers give developers the money upfront to make a game. They strike up a deal with a studio (game development company) to make a game according to an agreed brief. The publisher then works closely with the game producer at the studio to make sure the game's being made as agreed, to budget and on time.


Games producers are the eyes, ears and glue of a game development. They raise the money, get talented staff on board and make sure the best possible game gets made, whatever challenges might stand in its way.

... from t3h g00gl3.