My partner and I were rather excited to have the opportunity to work on an iPhone app for a client that wanted to release a game. Considering it was our first iPhone app related project, we were rather lenient about the contract, and agreed to present some concepts of the game first.
Client: ”These look great! I would like to continue on with this project.”
Us: ”Glad you like the concepts. Can we set aside some time now or perhaps in a few days to set up the contract?”
Client: ”About that… You see I’m not a very visual person. You can’t expect me to be able to tell what the game is going to look like from these concepts. I need to be able to see what the first level is going to look like before we can set up the contract.”
Us: ”With all do respect sir, we can’t do that. You’re asking us to build the game without having a contract.”
Client: ”No, I’m not. I don’t know how to make a game, but I made a website 7 years ago, so I know how this works. You need to show me everything first before I agree to a contract. I want to see the first level of the game before we set up a contract. If you can get that done, I will have the contract ready when we meet again for the presentation of the first level.”
After some thought, unfortunately, my partner and I agreed to complete enough of the first level to show the client what the game would look like. About 80 hours into the project, we set up another meeting with the client to show him a render of the first level of the game exactly as it would appear, as well as a proof of concept that allowed the client to test the gameplay, physics and functionality but without the art assets implemented.
Client: ”This looks great!”
Us: “Glad you like it. Now about the contract…”
Client: ”What about it?”
Us: ”Well, you said that you would have it ready today on the terms we agreed upon.”
Client: ”Oh no, I never said that. See, I don’t think I can agree to a contract when I can’t see all of the art in the game and actually play it like that. What you’ve presented to me now isn’t really showing me what the game will be like.”
Us: “You can see the appearance of the game environment… You can even play the game. The art assets aren’t in the playable demo because that would be asking us to build the entire game.”
Client: ”No, I’m not. You can’t ask me to play this demo and try to visualize what the game will look like. I want to see what the last level will look like, and any other levels that look different from this one. Then I will be comfortable enough to set up a contract.”
