So here's the wikipedia definition which is about as good as any other: link
Here are my thoughts. We all agree it's tough to compete with the big boys in the hobby that have all of that marketing and advertising money. There are many good rule sets and systems out there are better than what's available. The question all of those amateur designers and rules writers out there have is how do we compete, advertise, drive sales and conduct financial transactions?
Now let's say you are a GM putting on a game or demo at a local game store or convention of your favorite system. Let's say there are people that want to become involved and purchase the rules and system. What do you do? Refer them to the company website or local store right to make a purchase right? Your reward? $0.00 USD
You've just spent 2-5 hours running the game and basically "selling" it to people who will now go and purchase it elsewhere and you've done all of the work and get no reward. There is a better way.
Now look at the PPS Pay Per sale model for affiliate partners (revenue sharing).
What can pretty easily be implemented is a portal or website set up for the GM that put on the game and people that just played can log on and make purchases through their cell phone or iPad. The company handles shipping and fulfillment, the GM does not need to stock any product. His affiliate website is linked with a third party that takes an agreed amount of the total purchase (using credit card, PayPal, etc) and sends that % to the affiliate partners (the GM) PayPal or other designated account. This is nothing new. This is not Pay Per Click or advertising, it's revenue sharing.
Of course all best practice business practices and principles, local and international laws and payment security need to be implemented just like any other business and financial transaction.
Now you don't have to worry about advertising or store distribution. Your partners don't have to worry about stocking product and having something that sits on their shelf and does not sell. The people doing the work – the GM's and people that have invested time and money in your product share in the rewards. Bloggers that write AAP's can have a link that would take them to the company website for orders but the transaction is tracked and revenue shared through an agreed on third party. I think that's how bloggers are making money right now.
Hey, I'm no expert on this but have sat through some webinars. I'm not going to recommend anyone to partner with. There appear to be dozens of programs that thousands of people are partnering with, it's not a new concept.
Just like anything else out there it can be abused and scammers cheating.
My question is if you had a game system or set of rules you really believed in and played and got others interested wouldn't you like to get a piece of the action?
Wolfhag
ponders nirvana.