Is POTCO Worth It? - Pirates of the Caribbean Online Fansite & Forums

Davy · #1 05-07-2008, 02:15 PM

This thought just came to my mind. Is POTCO worth it for Disney?

Think about this. $10 a month for Unlimited Access. That's all POTCO can bring in. So with probably around 10,000 Unlimited Access players, POTCO brings in $100,000 a month. Now, in advertising, POTCO would burn 25,000 a month. That leaves you with 75,000. Just to keep their staff happy, each would have to be paid 1,000 a month. If they have 50 staff members, you've just burned another 50,000. POTCO is left with 25,000. That leaves POTCO with only $25,000 to run the game, and I haven't even included taxes.

My opinion: POTCO is worth it for Disney, but they are barely making any money on it. Probably $1,000 a year.

Lucy · #2 05-07-2008, 02:24 PM

I seriously doubt there are than many employees dedicated to just this game, there might be a handful at most but most work for Disney and work on more than just this game. I bet they make a bit more off this game than you think.

Snorri · #3 05-07-2008, 02:28 PM

I still see TV ads for it everyday, thats how I came here. I think they will have to make it worth it for their advertising costs.

Samantha Wildhound · #4 05-07-2008, 02:30 PM

dont forget costs to keep servers running..and maintained lol.

as for me..i wouldnt even know where to start on wondering how disney spends their money lol.

Sarah · #5 05-07-2008, 02:31 PM

Your question got me thinking, so I went to look up Disney's Financial Report. An Interesting read. A Quote from their 2007 Fiscal Report, delivered to Shareholders:

"Free Cash Flow
As we have continued to strengthen our earnings, our capital needs
have remained relatively stable, which has helped us deliver strong free
cash flow for the past several years. In fiscal 2007, we generated
roughly $3.8 billion in free cash flow."

That's FREE CASH FLOW. They can float this game division just fine til it turns a profit. (btw, I know it was just an example, but there isn't a game dev. in the world that would be happy with 1k a month, LOL)

Steely Jim · #6 05-07-2008, 04:17 PM

Well, I definitely agree that this is a company that has vast resources available from elsewhere to sink into this game, even if it isn't turning a profit, but I don't think that's much of a problem here. If they have a staff of 50 dedicated to producing this game, then that must include the kids in the mail room, the person that pushes the bagel cart through in the morning, and the janitorial staff.

It isn't just the the cash they can put into the project though, but also the cash they don't even have to put into the project. This is a company with a multitude of resources available in-house. So, of all the television advertisements that have aired, how many were on ABC?

Finally, since the extended free trial/limited access version is ad supported, the servers and the data transfer costs are probably at least breaking even for them.

CaptainCharlotte · #7 05-07-2008, 03:51 PM

Yea, I see TV advertisements for the game all the time.
The unlimited costs aren't bad at all. And with all the issues with basic, ie: crashing, limited access, it will urge more players to get unlimited.
So in the long run, it will probably earn more money and I think the game is definitly worth it.
Disney knew what they were doing when they released it

Snorri · #8 05-07-2008, 04:02 PM

I was watching Bloomberg TV this morning and Disney apparently earned more than they projected for this quarter. Good news for us who like to plunder ships that we aren't currently sailing on :P

Dr. Zeppers · #9 05-07-2008, 04:53 PM

Also consider that it may not be viewed at separately from other divisions.

POTCO is just one facet of Disney's Pirates of the Carribean product line, and I dont think its thier only POC computer offering either. May very well be part of their R&D (how many of us have felt like beta testers even on open servers?).

$1k/month? (not likely for any computer industry job)
If so, get a popcorn vendor job in a Disney park... it will pay far better, and be pretty stress free.

Zeppers Lvl40
http://pirates.teamofx.us

Sarah · #10 05-07-2008, 05:26 PM

Quote:

It isn't just the the cash they can put into the project though, but also the cash they don't even have to put into the project. This is a company with a multitude of resources available in-house.

You ain't kidding...

Check this out

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...wned_by_Disney

Who knew this would be an economics lesson

Steely Jim · #11 05-07-2008, 07:41 PM

I'm certain, they think of the Pirates of the Caribbean as one of their most successful cross-demographic franchises currently.

That list of their resources is pretty impressive, but it even overlooks a lot of infrastructural organizations that are built into some of the facilities they listed. They have their water treatment facilities and that sort of thing, so they're amazingly self-contained.

I do believe the post-apocalyptic world will be restored by employees of Microsoft and Disney. Apple employees will survive too, but will unfortunately not be able to leave their self-contained survival facility...it will be really snazzy though.

Angel · #12 05-07-2008, 08:06 PM

Think about it this way, the game and advertisements not only work for the game but also work for Disney and their movies as well. You see the game and know it has a storyline behind it....you go look for the movies to watch, and wow look at the other stuff they have also. It can be looked at as a snowball effect.

The Beautiful Letdown · #13 05-07-2008, 08:22 PM

Are you kidding me? If like half the people quit the game they would still make a lot of money, because they still have people coming in plus all the other games that they have.

Sarah · #14 05-07-2008, 08:33 PM

Quote:

I do believe the post-apocalyptic world will be restored by employees of Microsoft and Disney. Apple employees will survive too, but will unfortunately not be able to leave their self-contained survival facility...it will be really snazzy though.

ROFL!! Best thing I've read all day

Now don't forget the roaches...

Mattress · #15 05-08-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davy

This thought just came to my mind. Is POTCO worth it for Disney?

Think about this. $10 a month for Unlimited Access. That's all POTCO can bring in. So with probably around 10,000 Unlimited Access players, POTCO brings in $100,000 a month. Now, in advertising, POTCO would burn 25,000 a month. That leaves you with 75,000. Just to keep their staff happy, each would have to be paid 1,000 a month. If they have 50 staff members, you've just burned another 50,000. POTCO is left with 25,000. That leaves POTCO with only $25,000 to run the game, and I haven't even included taxes.

My opinion: POTCO is worth it for Disney, but they are barely making any money on it. Probably $1,000 a year.

1. Im pretty sure any people working on the game including designers, 3D modellers etc are getting payed alot more than $1000.

2. And maybe thier just running it for the fun of it, i mean its not like Disney don't make enough money, the amount of money put into POTCO is about half of Mickey mouses pocket money.

3. And 25,000 is enough to run the Buzz lightyear ride at Disney for another year so i'm pretty sure their not to bothered.