New Schilling Game: Massive Boondoggle Attack
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
In this new game, as CEO of Boondoggle Enterprises, you work your way through several levels of the hoodwink process. First, you promise lots of jobs and hobnob with elected officials' connected staffers. Then you hire lobbyists. Then you convince the Governor and desperate economic development officials that your long-shot game is the savior of the entire state's economy.
For truly advanced level play, you must work to minimize any clause in the deal that would put Boondoggle Enterprises on the hook for failing to deliver on promises made. For example, only having to pay a $7,500 penalty per job that you don't actually create, yet still receiving the bulk of a $75 million loan guarantee.
'This is one of the best games I've ever seen,' said 38 Studios founder and millionaire former MLB pitcher Curt Schilling. 'Building a massively insider special deal is so much fun, especially when you don't have to put any real skin in the game. You can make up ridiculous promises and see how easy it is to hoodwink various Governors and economic development officials. The most fun is when you play two states off against one another!'
'I've played an advance copy of Massive Boondoggle Attack, and I can tell you it is amazing,' said Rhode Island Economic Development Director Keith Stokes. 'It's so incredibly realistic, and takes so few insiders to build a truly spectacular boondoggle agreement. It's very similar to a lot of deals we work on at the EDC, like Deepwater Wind. The key is to put taxpayers on the hook for all the risk -- that's the fun part.'
There's incredible buzz building about the special release of Massive Boondoggle Attack in Rhode Island, which was specifically chosen as a test market by 38 Studios. 'We think Rhode Islanders will intuitively understand how to play this game,' said 38 Studios founder Schilling. 'Our market research shows that Rhode Island officials love massive boondoggles and that the public just puts up with them. We're looking forward to brisk sales.'
Get your copy of Massive Boondoggle Attack at an economic development authority near you.
Note: Do not ask for instructions or legal details, they will not be provided.
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Comments:
John Smith
12:06pm on Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Ok so Now Jerzyk thinks he knows business moves to HAHAHAHA!! Do your homework!!!! Curt Schillings company is going to compete with all the big dogs like the creators of World of War Craft, which at the end of 2009 showed 896 million dollars in profits and over 11 million subscribers world wide. That would really be bad for Rhode Island huh???? With Hasbro being one of the worlds largest toy companies in the world right here in Pawtucket, RI mixed in with the success Schillings company will have here your talking about Rhode Island becoming the gaming capital of the world perhaps??? Yeah thats a bad thing for this states economy. Not to mention all the jobs this company will create for Rhode Islanders and all the gaming techy types graduating from New England Tech, and all the graphic artists from RISD that all leave this state to get jobs elsewhere yeah bad move huh???
Those who feel Schilling is just a face for PR purposes for this company are crazy these games are his life!!!! He is world famous for his game play on Everquest, WOW and many others so this is not a PR stunt by some business type. Schilling knows 2 things pitching and gaming! We all already know how the pitching turned out!!!! Imagine what the gaming company will do???? Good for you EDC very very smart investment loan!! When his games get released expect over a million subscribers by the end of the first month paying about 20-30 bucks each a month. If nobody else signed up that would total about 20-30 million a month and you think the EDC made a bad move??? You know less about business than you do about politics thats evident!
a c
12:53pm on Wednesday, July 28, 2010
O.K., John (per your comments above) but let's bring a sense of reality to this. What Curt Schilling did in baseball should have and does have nothing to do with his gaming company (for the most part). Let's agree on that one point.
Furthermore, let's also bring to light the fact that this loan guarantee program, which couldn't get passed at the General Assembly just two years ago is now the darling of the Hill. I can't help but think in part that is due to the fact that Mr. Schilling is behind this company and people being people are enamored with celebrities/sports stars. All that said, to say it is interesting that the RIEDC did not make one phone call to any IT and digital media companies locally to see what they thought about this sector, the company, and/or the claims of growth being made by this company (growing their employee base by 3X in just about 18-24 months); and using 60% of the guarantee program on just one deal with one company. I realize the state needs a home run when it comes to economic development and Mr. Schilling finds himself in the roll of batter on behalf of the state, but let's look at the intangibles on this deal. 1) Is Mr. Schilling now willing to call RI his home? All arrows point to that answer being now; 2) Is Mr. Schilling willing to go to bat for the state on other economic development deals not involving his company (i.e., opening his rolodex and acting as an ambassador)? Not sure he has even been asked that question; and 3) How much of his own $ has put into this venture? Unfortunately, the reality of this deal is: If it pans out--it's great! If it doesn't--we could be in trouble. With that kind of risk on the line, what assurances are there that Mr. Schilling will now care as much about the Ocean State as he did about his beloved Red Sox? Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure, RI business leaders need to increase their involvement in economic development issues and opportunities. It would be nice if the RIEDC realized just who their real friends really are!
Matthew Jerzyk
1:01pm on Wednesday, July 28, 2010
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Dear John Smith -
The backbone of RI's economy is our small businesses.
And, I am sure that the tens of thousands of these small business owners would appreciate even 1% of a government guaranteed loan like Mr. Schilling is getting.
It is a shame that RI can't support the small businesses who are already here and allow them to grow and prosper.
-Matt
John Smith
1:04pm on Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Answers to your questions number 1) Speaking from personal knowledge Schilling is stuck in a house in Medfield in which he spent close to ten million dollars on when buying it from Drew Bledsoe during the high market for real estate so moving to RI is probably unlikely. But I wouldn't rule it out just yet?!?!?!?! 2) Curt hasn't been asked to go to bat for the EDC so how can we bash him for not doing so??? 3) Thats a question for him in reference to how many millions of his own went into the start of Green Monster Games (previous title of the company). Not for me to disclose. However, a great question for a reporter to ask him.
John Smith
1:18pm on Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Matt mark this date in the calender!!! I do agree with you on that statement....WHATTTTT!!! Ok I must be off my rocker today lol!!!! But in all fairness the EDC has not been friendly as of late to those small businesses in turn here is an opportunity to have a world-wide major player in the gaming industry right in Hasbro's backyard!!! How awesome is that?? How awesome is it that our Institutions of Higher learning like New England Tech, RISD, and others won't leave this state for jobs elsewhere in the gaming industry??? 450 jobs by next year and 1200 by 2014 sounds great for the economy to me. I am a huge supporter for small businesses but if the EDC doesn't give it to them they have to give it someone right??? I think three years from now you and I need to sit over a beer and I will say Told ya so!!! Schilling will be immensely successful in the gaming business without a doubt. However, getting him involved in the political machine of Rhode Island that I don't look forward too LOL!!!!