DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the writer and not of Operation Rainfall.
Last week Nutaku launched a new networking platform for aspiring eroge developers, Kimochi Classifieds. Some of you might be wondering just how big of a deal this is and I’ll give my thoughts on it in a few, but first let’s talk about the service itself.
Kimochi Classifieds aims to be networking platform that brings developers of 18+ content and freelancers together. Just like its name suggests, think of it as a classified ad section. You could be a developer with a great idea and need help to make that a reality. Or you could be a freelancer looking to gain some experience or contribute your skills to a project. There are a lot of possibilities here. So, how exactly does this work?
Kimochi Classifieds does have a simple FAQ page about that very topic. In short, you create an account and either post what you need help with if you’re a developer or search for available jobs if you’re a freelancer. There are no fees and Kimochi Classifieds doesn’t handle payment processing of any kind. Terms, conditions, and payment for each job are decided upon by the freelancer and developer. That may sound a little strange to some people, but I suspect there’s a very good reason for that. More in a moment, first let’s touch upon whether this is a good idea or not.
In my opinion, the idea itself is a good one. Let’s take out the element of 18+ content and just ask a simple question. How does a freelancer get work in the video game industry? It’s not impossible, but it’s also not easy. In order to get hired at any company you generally need a portfolio of work. Thus, you do freelance work to build that portfolio. However, in order to get freelance work you need to find someone who is willing to take a chance on you, which can be hard in its own right. Thus, a social platform for freelancers makes sense. It’s a great way for someone to get a start in the industry. Now let’s add in that element of 18+ content to the mix.
As you can imagine, it’s even harder to break into the eroge business. Japan has been producing eroge for years, which means Western developers are playing catch-up as they try to establish a foothold in the market. Case in point, while I can name several Japanese eroge developers, only two Western developers come to mind: Lupiesoft and Dharker Studios. That’s not to say others aren’t out there, but those are the two I constantly hear about. It’s an uphill battle and it can be just as hard for aspiring developers to find good talent so they can grow. Which seems to be the ultimate goal of Kimochi Classifieds, to help the 18+ gaming industry grow.
That said, the key here is going to be promotion and feedback. The platform can be great, but if no one knows about it, it doesn’t do much good. Also, if people don’t tell Nutaku what they like and don’t like about the platform they can’t fine-tune the experience. Still, there is one more topic to touch upon and that’s payment processing. For which, I need to do some speculation.
Payment processing is a very tricky subject when it comes to 18+ content. It’s not something we think all that often about, but most payment processing companies and platform have special rules when dealing with adult content. Without getting too technical most adult-content is considered “high-risk” by payment processing companies due to chargebacks and what’s known as “card-not-present” transactions. In addition, there’s, of course, laws about certain types of content. And if that content is illegal in that processor’s jurisdiction then they cannot process payments for it. So if you ever wonder why certain content is cut from some eroge there’s a good probability that a payment processor has a hand in it. But what does this have to do with Kimochi Classifieds? A lot actually.
You see by removing handing payments, Nutaku is able to accomplish a few things I think:
- Nutaku doesn’t have to police the content as closely. This means that developers and freelancers are free to exchange ideas and develop the game as they see fit.
- Nutaku doesn’t have to pass along any processing fees from the payment processing company. This keeps the cost to a minimum for them (running the site) and keeps cost down for the developer.
- It builds goodwill with the community.
That last one may seem a bit odd, but goodwill these days is just about as important as money. Yes, in the end, Nutaku is a business and it does need money to survive. However, if nobody likes you, you aren’t going to get anyone to buy your products or develop for your platform. And in the end, Nutaku is hoping that these developers decide to sell their finished game in their marketplace.
Kimochi Classifieds is live now so if you’re curious, give it a look. If you’d like more information please take a look at the Press Release below.
Thanks for reading!
GLOBAL GAMING PORTAL NUTAKU DEBUTS TALENT MANAGEMENT PLATFORM FOR FREELANCE DEVELOPERS
Kimochi Classifieds Enables Employers and Freelancers Developing 18+ Games to Connect For Free
MONTREAL – November 9, 2017 – Today, online adult game publisher Nutaku, announced the launch of Kimochi Classifieds – the only freelancer network dedicated to the posting and hiring of game developers dedicated to 18+ game creation and enhancement. The platform encourages developers to find talent, and enables talented job seekers to sync up with developers who need help completing their games and projects. The site is completely free to use and was created with one goal in mind – to grow the adult gaming industry. As the adult gaming industry continues to rapidly expand, Kimochi Classifieds will be a key component for developers to finish existing projects and for talented professionals to find employment.
Kimochi Classifieds is a solution for developers looking for talent to complete projects as well as a way for professionals to diversify their portfolio as a freelancer in an emerging sector in the gaming market. Employers will be able to post jobs, and discover the profiles of experienced professionals who display a large range of skill, talent and professionalism. The platform is the second innovation this year announced as a project by Nutaku, with the first being the launch of Kimochi Red Light – the only crowdfunding platform dedicated to funding the development of 18+ games.
“The Kimochi Classifieds platform is our way of solving and bridging a huge gap in the game development market,” says Mark Antoon, President of Nutaku. “Over the past few years, we’ve seen the demand for mature gaming explode but have been limited by the availability and funding of developers creating this popular content in North America. Our hope here is to continue our work in bringing more incentives for gaming studios and developers to create mature content, to act as a catalyst for the gaming industry and community, and give our growing audience the gaming experiences they seek.”
As of the official launch, employers and freelancers will be able to post and peruse job opportunities across a variety of game developing verticals including Art and Animation, Design, Development, Production, and more. Kimochi Classifieds will not be responsible for any payment processing, allowing both parties to determine the best method to complete the terms and agreement of each job.
To browse projects to find experienced professionals to help finish your projects, please visit: http://www.workforhire.kimochi.co/
About Nutaku
Nutaku.net is an online gaming portal featuring 18+ games from around the world. Boasting over 50 million visitors per month, Nutaku is the largest free to play and downloadable game website in the world dedicated to 18+ titles.
About Kimochi Red Light
Kimochi Red Light is the only platform in the world to exclusively fund 18+ games. We’re committed to helping game developers by providing a place for them to pitch their games, receive valuable funding and community feedback. Unlike other crowdfunding sites, Kimochi Red Light does not take any commission or fee from the funding of any campaigns. 100% of the net proceeds, outside of payment processing fees, goes straight to the game developers.
Backed by trusted industry professionals, Kimochi Red Light offers the best services to help get projects funded and launched. Join a community of like-minded individuals who are dedicated to the growth and success of the adult gaming industry. www.kimochi.co
