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Help with prototyping

8 replies [Last post]
Sun, 03/20/2005 - 17:07
Anonymous

Hi!
I love this forum and have enjoyed the brilliance everyone brings to the table.

I have a question: I am doing a game that requires player pieces a la Monoploy or Clue: that is, not the pawns but miniature items.

I am wondering if anyone has any experience having items prototyped.

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Sun, 03/20/2005 - 17:21
#1
DSfan
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Joined: 12/31/1969
Help with prototyping

For me it depends how far I am on the games process, If it is far along I try and make a nice prototype by using different wooden, foam etc. pieces.

If you are just trying to work something out and see how the games works why dont you just use parts from Monoploy or Clue. You can even find different parts around your house. (I once used rocks for counters ;))

Also check out the Game Production thread on the site. It usually helps out a bunch of people.

Good Luck,
-Justin

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Mon, 03/21/2005 - 11:08
#2
Zzzzz
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Joined: 06/20/2008
Help with prototyping

Have you thought about making miniature items using a craft clay? (like FIMO) This might be a good starting point for you to proto some original items and the cost should be be reasonable.

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Mon, 03/21/2005 - 11:19
#3
Anonymous
Update to my post

Thanks for the feedback but I think I wasn't clear.
I am not referring to a mock-up for presentation purposes.

In order to get custom made pieces there is a prototyping process. That process includes paying someone to create a 3D design, to render a mold for either plastic injection or metal, and so forth.

I am looking for information on that process.

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Mon, 03/21/2005 - 15:41
#4
Anonymous
Help with prototyping

The actual preparation and creation of your pieces could be VERY expensive depending on quantity, quality and materials. Dies and set up charges will be the highest cost. These will be offset by producing a large volume of pieces (thereby spreading the cost over many units). Sounds like you only need enough for a small number of games. That could be a very costly experiment.

You may want to try using found objects (bits from dollhouses, craft store, etc.) to represent the items you want in your game. Alternatively, you could also try looking through the miniatures section of your local game store for odd pieces. I have friends with miniatures of desks, books, skulls, candles, bonfires, and many other things used in role playing with minatures.

Since the games are for presenting your idea, you could also use colored pawns and suggest to the manufacturer that mini or other tokens be used in the final game. Another alternative would be to use counters with images of the topkens you want on them.

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Mon, 03/21/2005 - 18:27
#5
Anonymous
Re: Update to my post

azatlin wrote:
Thanks for the feedback but I think I wasn't clear.
I am not referring to a mock-up for presentation purposes.

In order to get custom made pieces there is a prototyping process. That process includes paying someone to create a 3D design, to render a mold for either plastic injection or metal, and so forth.

I am looking for information on that process.

Most miniatures sculpters, which is what you would probably use for designing game pieces, charge around $200 to $300 per sculpt. Expect to pay a similar price for a mold (for pewter mini's) probably 10 times that for an injection mold (for plastic pieces).

Check out the Yahoo Group: 1listSculpting
They could answer a lot of your questions more in depth.

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Mon, 03/21/2005 - 19:10
#6
sedjtroll
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Joined: 07/21/2008
Re: Update to my post

stoney wrote:
Most miniatures sculpters, which is what you would probably use for designing game pieces, charge around $200 to $300 per sculpt. Expect to pay a similar price for a mold (for pewter mini's) probably 10 times that for an injection mold (for plastic pieces).

For prototyping that is a prohibitive cost... $200 per mold for a handful of pieces?

Self production is another story though, if you intent to produce a bunch of copies then it may be worth it.

For a prototype of All For One I bought some Reaper miniatures for $3-$4 apiece. It's a pricey prototype, but it'll look really nice IF my friend ever gets around to painting them for me :/ And it's not any more expensive then buying a game on the shelf.

- Seth

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Mon, 03/21/2005 - 23:40
#7
Anonymous
Re: Update to my post

sedjtroll wrote:

For prototyping that is a prohibitive cost... $200 per mold for a handful of pieces?

Self production is another story though, if you intent to produce a bunch of copies then it may be worth it.

For a prototype of All For One I bought some Reaper miniatures for $3-$4 apiece. It's a pricey prototype, but it'll look really nice IF my friend ever gets around to painting them for me :/ And it's not any more expensive then buying a game on the shelf.

- Seth

Yeah, but if he's looking to do a prototype to send to the manufacturer in China or wherever, he'll need a finished sculpt that they can make a mold from.

As a side note, miniatures manufacturers like Reaper will do the molds and even do runs of miniatures for you. But the cost is higher than doing it in China.

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Sun, 04/03/2005 - 20:26
#8
Anonymous
Help with prototyping

Making small plastic parts is never going to be easy for small quantities. I would suggest plastic injection moulding would cost $10000 to $50000 per injection mould.

There are other methods but I would suggest using thermosetting rather than thermoplastic resins. Find the local industrial destributor in your area and get some high temperature wax and a mototool to carve up your figures and objects. Then get some casting rubber and releasing compound and some thermosetting epoxy / ureathane or polyester and pour the mix into your cavities. It works well for small quantities.

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