Does a company that does all the "Business Work" e

Kol,

In fact that is how most publishing companies work (the big ones, like Hasbro excluded)!

This is how it typically works. If you have finished your game (a working prototype, playtested and rules written), look for a publishing company that matches your game and that accept submissions. Some companies openly invite submissions, others need a little bit of prodding.

When you have found such a company send them a description of the game, the rules and perhaps some pictures. If the company is interested in the game, they will request a prototype so that the can playtest it themselves. Congratulate yourself, not a lot of games even make this stage. A company usually needs a few months to come around testing your game (most companies are swamped with requests), so you need a bit of patience.

If after playing it themselves they like it enough to publish it, you will probably need to sign a contract. Typically you will receive royalties for each game sold, usually somewhere around 5% of the "distribution" price which is somewhere around 50% of retail price. So, if a game sells for $40 in the store you will get $1 for it. An average "euro-game" is made in quantities of 2000 to 20.000.

The publishing company will do everything it needs to do to get the game on the shelves (art, printing, marketing, ditributon), so you don't need to worry about that. You don't have to pay them for it either. The risk is all theirs, so you need to understand that their selection procedures are often pretty rigorous and thorough.

Some companies that welcome submissions can be found in this thread: http://www.bgdf.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=70

Good luck!

- Rene Wiersma