Video to Google (regarding merchant accounts)
As I'm sure you all know, we're in the process of porting Desktop Dungeons to mobile. The intention was to sell it on both the iOS app store, and the google play store ... but not being able to make a google merchant account means we need to find alternate means to get it onto android devices while still getting paid.
I've had the idea for a while that the most effective way to reach out to google, and spread the word among devs/players in other countries would be to make a video.
The video would consist of me, or some other dev, explaining what the problem is, ending with a single phrase request like 'please google, let us get paid', followed by many short shots of other devs saying the same request.
We would link to those devs' websites in the description and via annotations.
Now obviously the best case scenario is that this goes viral, and puts some pressure on google, and the worst case scenario is it gets totally ignored.
So, what I need to know is:
Who is interested in taking part in this?
What would be a good phrase for everyone to say?
I've had the idea for a while that the most effective way to reach out to google, and spread the word among devs/players in other countries would be to make a video.
The video would consist of me, or some other dev, explaining what the problem is, ending with a single phrase request like 'please google, let us get paid', followed by many short shots of other devs saying the same request.
We would link to those devs' websites in the description and via annotations.
Now obviously the best case scenario is that this goes viral, and puts some pressure on google, and the worst case scenario is it gets totally ignored.
So, what I need to know is:
Who is interested in taking part in this?
What would be a good phrase for everyone to say?
Comments
Why not try get some international devs to take part too? I'm sure there are at least a couple that might help, and that also gives the idea another avenue for marketing.
I'll think a bit more about a phrase we can use.
Some thoughts:
1. Is it important to mention different countries, in volume? So a sequence of however many people saying:
"Please Google, let South Africans get paid."
then a sequence of many "Please Google, let Moroccans get paid."
etc etc, so that it especially highlights that this is a problem not just exclusive to one context?
The pros of this is that it might drive more involvement from an international community, gaining more numbers/sympathy/exposure.
The cons are that maybe we *are* the only countries that are affected by this. Or maybe the problem across different countries are so vast that to include them in one campaign would just get the campaign laughed off the table for being naive and silly. It might also be better to drive a single consistent line rather than many lines (even if it's just the country name that swaps)
2. Google is very big on connecting people on a grassroot level, or at least that's how their marketing comes across. Could we hijack some of that kind of marketing somehow to drive the message home that it is definitely about the grassroots, and it's hard to develop if we don't have their help.
3. "We would all be Google Merchants if you'd only let us"
Probably too long.
I was thinking it would have more impact if every shot was one person, and in the case of a whole company, we could just group them together in the ordering.
@tuism: I think it makes sense for us right now to keep it a South African video. We can definitely reach out to devs in other countries facing the same problem and encourage them to do the same thing. Then we could link to them, and have them link back to us.
I'm currently thinking "Google, why won't you pay us?" sums things up nicely
@francoisvn: I really like that as a slogan
I can't tell you how many times I've heard "I WANT THIS ON ANDROID!!" <-- replace "THIS" with whichever game. This is quite an important thing, as it demonstrates that there are people who want this to come true, in a kickstarter supporter kind of way.
Can we leverage that sentiment and add more volume to the campaign?
In related news, Kickstarter has stopped using Amazon Payments and is now using Stripe. Which also doesn't support South African merchant accounts either, so we're still in the dark. But it might be an idea to start poking Stripe to see if they'll change that anytime soon.
We have to have a standing agreement with the Reserve Bank to be able to pay our US team members, even then they have to invoice us so that we can prove that these transactions aren't capital flight. Try mentioning the words "royalty payment" around a bank manager and see the weird stuff they say, it's a little hilarious. But mostly sad.
Have you seen the hoops Paypal has to jump through to allow you to get paid here in SA? Also, there is no way in hell that I want my Steam payments coming via cheques in the mail, wow. No thanks.
Paypal did eventually come though, so there's hope for Google Merchant accounts - but I doubt it'll happen short term there are simply far too many eyes on this within as well as outside of Google for word not to have spread had it been in their plans.
Have you thought about including ordinary folk in the video too, maybe with a separate phrase like "let our devs sell"?
If they're strictly EFT and not wire transfers, that probably has more to do with the local Google branch than it does with exchange control.
While I'm sure the reserve bank makes it difficult for google to pay us, it's not impossible, and the video is meant to put some pressure on google to figure it out.
In the next few days I'll draft the intro part of the video, and post it here for comment. In the meantime, if anyone feels they'd rather say something different to @francoisvn's suggestion of "We make games, please let us sell them", now's the time to comment.
Hi
I’m Marc, and I make video games.
I’m also from South Africa … and that means making video games is a little more difficult.
Specifically, selling videogames on android.
You see, right now, google won’t allow my company (which has been around for a few years) to create a google merchant account *because* we’re in South Africa.
It’s a problem that affects game devs and other app devs too, and it’s bullshit.
Share this video, and help us get google to sit up and take notice.
Google, we make games, let us sell them!
[cuts to all the devs who decide to add video to this]
crits, comments?
overall I like it.
Could add a 'please' to the last line.
@damousey - I wonder if acknowledging that it's hard defeats the point? I mean, I'm with you and do acknowledge that they may have a huge number of hoops to jump through - but perhaps let them bring that up rather than us? This keeps us on the positive note and doesn't undermine our own message.
After fighting this battle for literally years it might be a disservice not to.
This is after all a muti billion dollar international conglomerate.
Have a look at what @dislekcia said : This attitude is not the attitude of one man but of the entire corporation.. The untouchables who do not need to explain anything to you, who will do what they want - when they want to - without any announcement or explanation.
Here's a less aggressive version of the intro:
Hi
I’m Marc, and I make video games.
I’m also from South Africa … and that means making video games is a little more difficult.
Specifically, selling videogames on android.
You see, right now, google won’t allow my company (which has been around for a few years) to create a google merchant account *because* we’re in South Africa.
It’s a problem that affects game devs and other app devs too, we need your help to ask google to make a change.
Share this video, spread the word, and help us make great games for you.
Google, we make games, please let us sell them!
[cuts to all the devs who decide to add video to this]
Let's call this version 2.
Please reply and let me know if you prefer version 1 or version 2.
Part of this is also creating a video that people want to watch and share to give it a momentum. Maybe we should add a little humour if we remove the rantiness?
Also, I get super picky about stuff like this, feel free to disregard. This is why I'm not a writer, I'd never make anything.
haha ;)
Please be careful of conflating criticism and nay-sayying, I feel this community is already pretty saturated in that phallacy.
Constructing this video is where the focus is at right now. What can you add?
I hope you video finds its way right onto the mobile phone of Larry Page or Sergey Brin just at the moment they are having some deep thoughts about what they should personally do to bring global equality to all areas of their business.. then in a light bulb moment they will think to themselves : "YES , I need to make sales on the Play store available to all South African Developers!" .. you can do it Larry .. you can do it Sergey .. make it happen ;)
I just noticed an announcement in the Google Play Developer console:
"New supported locations for merchants. You can now register as a merchant if you’re located in Azerbaijan, Iceland, Peru, or Yemen."
I don't know how we take lower priority than Azerbaijan and Yemen, is our Reserve Bank so stubborn?