Quicken Loans a target perhaps?

[Ironwolf]

I live in Michigan and since moving to Detroit Quicken Loans have shown themselves to be really quality people who care about the community.

If a pitch was tailored to them based on Community values - it might be possible to get them to invest.

In fact they will BUY YOU A HOUSE if you work for them and will move into the actual city of Detroit. They are all about community and growing values in our society - they are a business that cares.

[Victoria Victrix]

 ;)

[JaguarX]

I live in Michigan and since moving to Detroit Quicken Loans have shown themselves to be really quality people who care about the community.

If a pitch was tailored to them based on Community values - it might be possible to get them to invest.

In fact they will BUY YOU A HOUSE if you work for them and will move into the actual city of Detroit. They are all about community and growing values in our society - they are a business that cares.

go for it.

[Ironwolf]

I would be more than happy to directly deliver a package to them by hand.

The CEO is Dan Gilbert:

Daniel "Dan" Gilbert (born January 17, 1962) is the chairman and founder of Quicken Loans Inc., the majority owner of the National Basketball Association's Cleveland Cavaliers, the American Hockey League's Lake Erie Monsters, the Arena Football League's Cleveland Gladiators and the NBA Development League's Canton Charge. He is also the operator of the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio [1] and chairman of Rock Gaming, which opened its first Horseshoe Casino in downtown Cleveland in May 2012.

https://www.facebook.com/QuickenLoansCommunityDiff let's get an idea posted here to get a ball rolling and start liking the heck out of it. I hear Dan Gilbert on the local radio here almost daily and he is a seriously good human being.

[Ironwolf]

I posted on the Quicken facebook page and ask you to like it and let's see if we can create some noise that would interest them! If someone could send a packet similar to the Disney one to Quicken it might get something done. Dan loves to help people and not many companies will buy you a house if you move into a city.

[dwturducken]

I like VV's response, as inscrutable as the Mona Lisa. :)

[NoName]

If you are going to write Dan Gilbert a proposal, do it in Comic Sans format. I heard he likes that.

[Victoria Victrix]

OK folks, now seriously, I worked for years for a firm that was identical to Quicken (it was Associates Financial) and...I think there is no chance they would invest.  Investing just isn't the sort of thing that a firm like this does.  They are generally not set up to do investment.  Their only form of "investment" is to issue loans.

They'd probably be willing to issue loans for someone who wanted to invest in a start-up, provided there were enough securities-lodged-against-default, but investing themselves?  Not going to happen.

The response you will get will be to direct you to their business section, whereupon if you cannot show a business plan, the securities you intend to put up to back the loan, and are incorporated in some fashion, you will be politely sent away.

[Ironwolf]

I know you folks don't live in Michigan and don't understand how badly the state is trying to rebuild Detroit.

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22165#.UNGovXcs2So this is a software house who moved to Michigan and is getting grants and tax credits to make VIDEO GAMES in the state.

If Brian, Melissa and Matt could put together a plan to move the studio to Michigan and even better to within Detroit city limits, I can tell you Quicken, Little Caesar's pizza, The governor Rick Snyder, Paul W Smith a WJR radio host, Mayor Dave Bing and many other people would see that investment funds are there. I can absolutely guarantee if Mercedes called WJR radio in the morning and floated the idea of moving a world class gaming studio making family friendly games to this area it would be HUGE.

I hear this every single day driving to work that this type of investment is what the state NEEDS to diversify from the auto industry. I am saying again if you can contact Paul W. Smith, Dan Gilbert, Mike Illich, Rick Snyder you will get action. They want this type of thing BADLY! This isn't something a mere fan like myself can do - they would want a buy in from a STUDIO.

[Ironwolf]

Some very interesting facts on Michigan game developing tax credits:

"Ownership of the IP rights was not required to receive the tax incentives, as the law states (per the paper), "... once companies receive approval for their tax-credit applications, any production expenses incurred in Michigan after that point, including the costs to acquire any intellectual-property rights, are eligible for the tax incentive."

This tax credit is from 30-42% of $10 million dollars or so for the possible IP, that is NOT a small sum.

Movies made using this tax credit include Gran Torino, Red Dawn and many others.

http://www.michiganfilmproduction.com/michigan-film-incentives/

Film and Digital Media Investment Loans  (not currently funded)

Authorize the Michigan Strategic Fund to offer loans from the Jobs for Michigan Investment Fund (part of 21st Century Jobs Fund Program) for up to $15 million per qualifying film and digital media productions in Michigan.

Loans can be 0% with backend participation by the Jobs for Michigan Investment Fund in lieu of interest.

Terms of loans are negotiated and production budget must be at least $2 million. A guarantor for the loan must be in place. Production must be wholly or substantially shot in Michigan. Qualified production company eligible for both loan and 40% production tax credit.

Can you see this now? If we can get some sort of investor the state of Michigan would buy the game FOR US. I know this requires people to move but if they would and if you contact Paul W. Smith at WJR radio - he is a leading figure in the city and his backing and contacts are HUGE. I know now if you approach him, governor Snyder, Mitch Albom (yes he lives in Michigan and is a rabid fan of the film and games credits and even has a radio show on WJR in the afternoons) - I am telling you a serious planned deal would get their help.

Mitch Albom would love to have you on his show Mercedes I would bet on it and pitching a family community game during these times of insanity - he would eat it up.

[Ironwolf]

I can hear this now on the radio - Today we have best selling author Mercedes Lackey on our show and for a change she isn't seeking to market a new book, instead she is trying to promote a new video game studio, Paragon Studios using the Michigan tax credit and loan incentives to acquire and publish the game - City of Heroes. It is listed as an MMO with a loyal and large following and is said to be extremely family friendly.

I can so hear Mitch Albom saying this..........

[Victoria Victrix]

Roadblock number one:  These people all have homes and families in California.  The housing market is still cratered. 

Roadblock number two:  These people have spouses who have jobs in California.  Without the guarantee of a job for the spouse, a move there would be suicide.

Roadblock number three:  The members of the core group that Brian would try to regroup often have already gotten new jobs.  To move from a guarantee to a maybe is not something most of them would do when it also means a relocation. 

Roadblock number four:  Given the option to move from California to Detroit, most of these folks (and their families) would respond with are you insane????

Not that this is much of a roadblock, but I wouldn't put my name on this idea.

[Surelle]

I know you folks don't live in Michigan and don't understand how badly the state is trying to rebuild Detroit.

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22165#.UNGovXcs2So this is a software house who moved to Michigan and is getting grants and tax credits to make VIDEO GAMES in the state.

If Brian, Melissa and Matt could put together a plan to move the studio to Michigan and even better to within Detroit city limits, I can tell you Quicken, Little Caesar's pizza, The governor Rick Snyder, Paul W Smith a WJR radio host, Mayor Dave Bing and many other people would see that investment funds are there. I can absolutely guarantee if Mercedes called WJR radio in the morning and floated the idea of moving a world class gaming studio making family friendly games to this area it would be HUGE.

I hear this every single day driving to work that this type of investment is what the state NEEDS to diversify from the auto industry. I am saying again if you can contact Paul W. Smith, Dan Gilbert, Mike Illich, Rick Snyder you will get action. They want this type of thing BADLY! This isn't something a mere fan like myself can do - they would want a buy in from a STUDIO.

When I read your post, I immediately think of what Governor Lincoln Chafee did to 38 Studios.  And how every Rhode Island resident is now responsible to pay back the over 75 million dollars that the Rhode Island Economic Corporation decided to dump into one lone studio instead of spreading the wealth around.

I loved Kingdoms of Amalur, a second one with co-op was complete and the deal inked with Take Two to distribute it, and then idiot Mafioso Chafee opened up his big mouth about the possibility of financial trouble at 38 Studios and WHAMMO!  Chafee practically led a pitchfork-and-torches brigade to their door and shut them down himself.

I am not saying Michigan or Detroit would do the same thing, but those state deals are deals with the devil.  Politics are as corrupt as it gets, and those people will turn on you on a dime.  38 had to take the money sooner than they needed it, made a deal with one Governor then got backstabbed by the next one to take office, and it was all downhill from there.  And Curt Schilling not only put up 50 million in gold bouillon of his own and never saw a dime, but author R.A. Salvatore, who wrote the entire backstory and lore, never saw a dime either.  They were supposed to get paid on the back end, after EA got its own millions in investment in Reckoning back.

I dunno.  This kind of thing is far from transparent, and governments know NOTHING about the gaming industry.  It could really be a fiasco.  What politicians consider "profitable" could be even worse than NCSoft's judgements.

You make a deal with the devil, and who do you wind up tied to?  The devil.  Governments are corrupt and politicians will backstab you when you least expect it. 

[Ironwolf]

Ok, if this were me and I had the opportunity to not only save the game I worked on for 10 years and perhaps become the lead of my OWN Studio - I know I would look into it.

Detroit is not a great place to be right now but you have a LOT of successful people working hard to bring back the city from the brink. Sorry to waste your time on it.

[eabrace]

I can so hear Mitch Albom saying this..........

Man, I'd so love to hear him say that.

[Victoria Victrix]

Let me make this a whole lot simpler.


FIRST, LAST, AND MOST IMPORTANT: We do NOT own the IP.  We do not have the right to PITCH the IP.  What we have the right to pitch is this: "please look at the idea of buying CoH and rehiring the studio."

PLEASE remember that.  We have no right to pitch ANYTHING except "please look at the idea of buying CoH and rehiring the studio."  That is ALL.

The State of Michigan--NO state--is going to buy CoH and start a studio.  Never.  No way.  Not going to happen, ever.

As for starting a studio...

I'm not going to.  I have more than enough work on my plate without adding trying to start a business and applying for loans to it.  Are you?  Is anyone here?  Anyone have experience in running a studio?  A business plan?  Collateral to put up for the loans?  So how, exactly, are we going to look if we approach Michigan about this.

"Hi, we want a loan to buy an IP that we don't know if the owner is going to sell, to start a game studio in Michigan, but we don't have a business manager, studio manager or employees."

[Xieveral]

I live in Michigan and since moving to Detroit Quicken Loans have shown themselves to be really quality people who care about the community.

If a pitch was tailored to them based on Community values - it might be possible to get them to invest.

In fact they will BUY YOU A HOUSE if you work for them and will move into the actual city of Detroit. They are all about community and growing values in our society - they are a business that cares.

Its Detroit... You pretty much have to be paid to move there.