So the creator of Wordle has sold out for at least a million dollars. Good for him, I say!
I’ve always thought of the concept of “selling out” as mostly sour grapes from those of us not in a position to cash in ourselves. Me, I’d sell out in a heartbeat. Less than a heartbeat. Given the opportunity, I’d sell out before I even finished typing this s
What say you? Imagine that you’ve created something harmless and likely inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. A game or a song or a viral video. You might or might not be able to monetize it yourself in a responsible manner, but [FACELESS EVIL CORPORATION] has approached you with a substantial offer of cash money in exchange for full and irrevocable control of your creation. Call it dollars equivalent to 20 years of your current salary.
Do you take it? Do you hold onto your scruples? It selling out inherently unscrupulous to begin with?
I don’t consider that “selling out” – that’s just selling, and I would do it.
I consider “selling out” to refer to an artist who decides to go commercial or corporate or something, after being considered edgy. I don’t know if I would do that, since I’m not artistic.
If I was the proverbial creative artist (George Lucas, Stan Lee, etc.) who is approached by a big faceless corporation (Disney, Sony, etc.) I would “sell out” without hesitation.
As I understand it, Wordle has a limited lifespan and is therefore Wordthless. There are only so many 5-letters in common use, and once they are used up they’ll need to recycle them, which I think detracts from the novelty of the game. So if I were Wardle I’d sell Wordle to any fool willing to pay me for it. I suppose there will always be a market for stupid shit (I play this species of stupid shit every day) but I don’t see what the Times gets from this, especially if they continue to keep it ad-free, other than rewarding Wardle for Wordle as an act of charity.
Would I? I’ve been racking my brain since I heard the news: what simple game I could create with my limited programming skills that might become the next viral thing?
I think the Times is keeping it subscription-free. I’d be surprised if they kept it actually ad-free. In any case, there will likely be links to their other daily games (crossword, Spelling Bee, etc.), and they probably expect to get some subs out of that.
Speaking of Spelling Bee and five letters, anyone have a five letter word starting with an H and containing a T and uses the letters in GHLMOTY?
Yes, definitely, but not for just a set amount. I would want the initial amount PLUS a percentage of future profits so that, if it really takes off, I don’t end up having gotten a pittance in exchange for a billion dollar enterprise.
I highly doubt anyone who’d played it for several years is going to go “I’ve read that they are now reusing solutions! This one was a solution four years ago!” and stop playing. You either enjoy the intellectual exercise, or you stop playing way before that.
This. Wardle created something that had become popular, but also difficult for him to maintain on his own. Unless he despises the NYT, i see no downside to him. No moral or emotional downside, as well as no financial downside.
If he’d sold it to the Taliban, who planned to use it to recruit terrorists, then yeah, i might be thinking he’d sold out. But he sold it to a large media company that is a natural home for the game. Good for him.
The reason why I have my doubts about that mindset is that at the time of sale, it might not yet be a billion dollar enterprise but merely a (good) idea which, after years and millions of dollars of further investment and marketing, can be turned into a billion dollar enterprise.
This usage also gets a bad name, IMO. Making any kind of living as an artist, musician, etc., is really hard. Most scratch and scuffle and work day gigs, too. Maybe 1% are talented and fortunate enough to build a following and earn a steady income. If you’re the 1% of the 1% with a chance to make serious, life-altering money, I don’t consider it a character failing if you take it.
I don’t think that’s true. At most, he would have to update the word of the day, but my guess is that the word index is calculated using some random number based on the date. The answer and guess dictionaries are all in the browser.
@pjd, that’s not it and we should probably stop the hijack I suppose.
I think selling out is selling to someone against your position.
You don’t like FB because it’s a time-suck & you’re on it too much, not selling out because you use the product & aren’t opposed to it.
You don’t like FB because they they’re too big & mainstream, collect too much data, promote beliefs opposite of yours, or abuse the puppies of Jewish black, lesbian, dwarf amputees?* Then selling to them is selling out.
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** Churchill: Madam, would you sleep with me for five million pounds?
** Socialite: My goodness, Mr. Churchill… Well, I suppose… we would have to discuss terms, of course…*
** Churchill: Would you sleep with me for five pounds?*
** Socialite: Mr. Churchill, what kind of woman do you think I am?!*
** Churchill: Madam, we’ve already established that. Now we are haggling about the price.**