Hi, i'm currently in the process of having my board game graphically designed, now i need to find a print company to manafacture the boards and playing parts, i've approached several 'regular' printers and they all reccomend approaching a games specialist, unfortunatly i don't know where to find any based here in the UK, so any help in this area would be appreciated.
looking for list of UK print companies
Fri, 03/18/2005 - 13:24
Sun, 03/20/2005 - 12:01
#1
Games specialist
Hi
The only games specialists here in UK really are Games Talk in Swindon.
I used them myself for two games.
They do charge you however for design playtesting etc and have world contacts and show your game at the annual toy fairs which sadly you just missed.
BGG
Mon, 03/21/2005 - 12:36
#3
No printers when specialists take game
Well Dont get your hopes up I sent ten game ideas away till one got accepted.
The head geezer at Games talk is Ian Kidney who used to run the game section in WH Smith managing it etc and Ian is a great bloke as I met him few times when I went to see my finished games they did.
You would not print or market anything if you used a games specialist as they do it all design artwork playtesting and then send you a contract to sign if they get publishers interested then they send you royalties.
However even if a publisher did take your game then it could be two or so years before they even did anything to start publishing it.
The process for games is a VERY long one.
30 mill on the lottery would be much simpler and less stressful.
Are you listening for once you supernatural creator? (GOD) hello?
Mon, 03/21/2005 - 17:29
#5
looking for list of UK print companies
kt123 wrote:
I think you misunderstand what i'm trying to do. I want to self publish the game, i don't want the game 'excepted'by anybody.
Is Games Talk a print company or a publishing company?
I need to find print companies that are experienced in printing board games from supplied artwork
KT,
I think the problem is you're looking strictly in the UK for your printing needs. I know that a lot of people have used companies in Asia and India because they are less expensive, even after shipping, than anything they could find locally.
Hope that helps,
-Darke
Tue, 03/22/2005 - 00:53
#7
looking for list of UK print companies
kt123 wrote:
Thanks Darkehorse, that's an option worth considering, if you could point me in the right direction of reliable asian printers i'd appreciate it.
On a seperate note, is it advisable to get a general print company (not specialising in board games) to print your game if you're only looking for short run production?
Well first check the web resources section. Other than that you may want to do a forum search for the words india, china, or korea.
Good luck. Sorry I'm not more help.
-Darke
Wed, 03/23/2005 - 02:14
#8
looking for list of UK print companies
Based on my personal experience, I personally feel that enaging an Asian printer/game manufacturer is only a feasible option if you have a significant sized production run. This is for two reasons:
1. The cost savings of printing overseas would be significantly reduced/nullified after factoring in the shipping costs
2. A lot of these companies (the game manufacturers specifically) have minimum quantities that many first-time game publishers would probably find prohibitively high.
As for whether or not you should engage a game manufacturer instead of a generic print company is dependant on the following:
1. What are your game components? If you have several non-print components, using a printer would mean you have to source for all these items yourself.
2. Can all your print items be handled by the printer? Some print companies are unable to do rigid boxes, heavyweight cardboard tiles, etc.
3. Are you prepared to do the packing of the games yourself? Having a game manufacturer has meant that I receive my games "complete" i.e. everything is properly packed and the boxes are shrinkwrapped- so I can send them directly to my retailers/distributors. This gives me more time to focus on A&P.
Just my two cents worth :)
eve
Tue, 04/05/2005 - 12:10
#9
looking for list of UK print companies
Hi There,
I work at a company where we produce a small number of board games (usually 250 to start with). We have always gone through regular printers, as opposed to ones specializing in games. As for the game pieces, we get those separately, and then assemble the game ourselves. We usually buy our pieces from a company in the UK that specializes in game pieces. Their website is http://www.p4g.co.uk/
Hi, have you got any contact details (website/email address) for them?
Also, could you provide some more details of this company? eg. what would be the minimum print run they'd consider?
Do they work simply as a print company? As i don't want the game designed, playtested or taken to trade fairs.