Hey everyone. I've developed a game that has been out for almost 3 years now and I am having one hell of a time getting it to customers. I don't have the big budgets for advertising and I can't get it into retailers so I get very discouraged. Does anyone have a suggestion? Please visit the game at www.cygnetcomm.org and tell me what you think.
Having a hell of a time getting game sold
Wed, 09/10/2003 - 15:47
Wed, 09/10/2003 - 16:21
#1
Having a hell of a time getting game sold
The game looks great. I saw your testimonials and it looks like you have made contacts with people involved with youth, but I was wondering if you have approached state school boards. In a previous job we assisted a man who had an idea for a computerized state-wide high-school sports score submission system. He had buy in from various states and rolled the system out to thousands of schools. I don't know the details on who he contacted, but it sure sounds like it will work in your situation. The game is very focused on one age group which limits your market, but the market is actually very promising for this game if you ask me. I don't think this is a retailer game, but an organization game. Get the schools on the bus and you've got yourself a winner. Market it as a study hall game that will make a difference in your teen's lives or something like that.
Wed, 09/10/2003 - 18:12
#3
Your market is a little bit limited, I think.
Mind you, I'm pretty new at this marketing thing. I just came out with my first game this year. My game a regular strategy card game, and sales are starting slow but steadily building. But your product is certainly going after a different market.
Your game seems to be designed for educational institutions. It seems like it's designed for an adult to play the game with kids, which limits the market again. Also, it might be a tad on the pricey side but you do get a lot of stuff with the game, and you are trying to sell to educators. Schools are feeling a real budget pinch these past couple of years. Their discretionary spending is probably wa-a-ay down.
Your website is really top-notch, though. The production value of the game seems to be very professional, from what I've seen so far. Kudos!
Maybe you can market to "Teacher Supply" stores? There's one in my town. You've probably thought of that, though, hmmm?
I'm not sure what to advise you... I'm sorry. What sort of things have you tried to do to market it?
Best of luck...
-- Scott S.
Fri, 09/12/2003 - 08:00
#5
Re: Having a hell of a time selling this game
AlienNathan wrote:
Again, thank you all for the kind words on my board game. IF anyone is interested in selling this game for me, please contact me at my website, www.cygnetcomm.org or email directly to me. I've done all the work in making it but am having trouble getting it into where it needs to be. Costs can come down if needed to fit the retail arena. :)
Well, if you haven't targeted retail outlets or distributors, that would be a must! Typically, merchants receive product for 50% of cost.
Yeah, sure that's a big price break, but they do a lot of work for you, and I think it's much easier than doing every sale yourself. (In fact, I can't imagine doing every sale myself.) They are in the business of trying to sell games, so they may have some channels of distribution that you do not.
Now, if you can get your game into distributors, even better. Typically games are sold to a distributor for 40% of cost, so they can mark them up when selling to retail, keeping 10% for themselves. They are a middleman to retailers, but have contact with practically every game store in the country.
The best way to get your game in stores? Keep asking and keep looking. I don't know of any better way.
Best of luck...
-- Scott S.
Fri, 09/12/2003 - 09:50
#6
Having a hell of a time getting game sold
The game also looks like it could work with just about any organization that's dedicated to helping young people make better decisions. I'm thinking things like:
- Church youth groups
- YMCA/YWCA
- Boy/Girlscouts
- Police-based programs ("DARE" and such)
- Community youth centers
As already mentioned, it's a pretty focused niche ... but your product looks to be top-quality. So, hopefully you can get your foot into the right door at some point. I hope things work out for you!
-Bryk
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Thanks for the encouraging remarks. I've been beating my head in with the school systems for the last 2 and half years now. Once they actually see the game in play they get excited but getting them to see it is another situation altoghter. Here in California no one has the money to buy the game because our schools are falling down but we passed a 8 billion dollar program for the schools. If you would like to help, and you can get this game to the schools and they buy it, there is some serious cash in it for you. I've always said, 100% of nothing is still nothing. :cry: