How I Built a Gaming Company from ZERO & Sold it for 8 Figures
- PART 2: Hollywood & Celebrities -
(THREAD)
- PART 2: Hollywood & Celebrities -
(THREAD)
But despite the rats and all the "no" answers, we kept at it.
Soon, we had lined up a some game development work as subcontractors.
It wasn’t making us rich, but it was paying the bills.
I was so proud I was when I saw our first game being promoted next year in London.
Soon, we had lined up a some game development work as subcontractors.
It wasn’t making us rich, but it was paying the bills.
I was so proud I was when I saw our first game being promoted next year in London.
In the Spring, I got the ‘brilliant' idea to try to get some Hollywood celebs involved.
Since I had worked in LA for a while, I knew how to start that.
This set us down a path that would help define everything that happened afterwards...
Since I had worked in LA for a while, I knew how to start that.
This set us down a path that would help define everything that happened afterwards...
We got lucky and signed Hulk Hogan as our first “celeb-game”, distributed thru a huge European media company called “Endemol”.
You might know them from their TV shows like “Deal or No Deal”.
Once we started work on that deal, a huge amount of buzz started around us.
You might know them from their TV shows like “Deal or No Deal”.
Once we started work on that deal, a huge amount of buzz started around us.
We were totally making stuff up as we went along, but it seemed to be working.
But the Hulk Hogan game was delayed for a long time, as games often are.
It wasn’t our fault, but a year into it and we were running out of money...fast.
But the Hulk Hogan game was delayed for a long time, as games often are.
It wasn’t our fault, but a year into it and we were running out of money...fast.
We didn’t have a successful game yet, but we did have a ton of positive “buzz” around us.
Several venture capital groups had offered to give us money.
I didn’t want to take their money, because it always comes with strings attached....
Several venture capital groups had offered to give us money.
I didn’t want to take their money, because it always comes with strings attached....
Once you take big money…it becomes much harder to make decisions.
There is always a “board of directors” in the background second-guessing things.
But we were literally within a month of going broke, so I negotiated a deal with Diamond Capital Partners in Los Angeles.
There is always a “board of directors” in the background second-guessing things.
But we were literally within a month of going broke, so I negotiated a deal with Diamond Capital Partners in Los Angeles.
At the time, I had become friendly with Eric Bischoff (of WWF fame), who was Hulk’s business partner.
He helped get us a lot of meetings, since Hulk like us.
So we spent months drawing up corporate finance contracts.
He helped get us a lot of meetings, since Hulk like us.
So we spent months drawing up corporate finance contracts.
Eric Bischoff and his partner Jason Hervey (from the Wonder Years TV show) hooked us up with big Hollywood attorneys...
...and even got me my first “agent” at Creative Arts Agency.
But some of their terms didn’t make me happy.
...and even got me my first “agent” at Creative Arts Agency.
But some of their terms didn’t make me happy.
They proposed an ownership structure that honestly made me feel sick.
It felt like I was giving away half the company before we even started.
So they sent this proposal over for me to sign…
...and I just didn’t reply.
It felt like I was giving away half the company before we even started.
So they sent this proposal over for me to sign…
...and I just didn’t reply.
I figured I could argue about why I didn’t like the terms…
...or I could just shut and not answer my phone for several weeks.
So, that’s what I did.
(To Be Continued...)
...or I could just shut and not answer my phone for several weeks.
So, that’s what I did.
(To Be Continued...)
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