Publishing my game

I have heard people use both methods youdescribe. If you're planning to go to a game fair then bring your prototype and see if anyone is interested in trying it out. I have heard that publishers who officially do not accept unsolicited games are sometimes willing to try out a prototype at a con.

You may also approach a publisher with a proposal for your game (never submit a prototype unless they specifically ask you for one).

The only caution I would send with you is never submit a proposal or prototype of a game to a publisher and then bring a prototype of that game to a con to show other publishers. Show another game or wait until you get an official decision (which can take a LONG time depending on the publisher) on your game before showing it to anyone else. The last thing you want is for two publishers to want it and then to have to tell one that you gave it to someone else.

As for other people stealing your ideas, a con is a very uncontrollable arena in which to demo your game. Unless you lock your playtesters away in a small room, you can't stop others from wandering by to watch, and there's no way to get them all to sign non-disclosure agreements. Not that there's a great threat of someone stealing your game or ideas. I'm not familiar with the convention scene so maybe someone else can chime in, but I will say that ideas are a dime a dozen (if not cheaper).

Best of luck to you with your game!

I am encouraged by this, since the process of submitting to a publisher can take so long, that it would be great to be able to submit to more than one at a time.

I don't think this would be the case at all. If a publisher see something in your game, then he'll ask if he can have it to review in depth or make some other overtures to lock in the rights. I don't think it would hurt you to take your game to the con.

Yeah, I went this same route quite a while ago. I keep thinking about managers that are promoted from their jobs and no longer do the things they love. In exchange they get to attend every meeting ever held on earth. I'd rather design games than do what it takes to be a successful publisher.

Yeah, that's where I am, and I have only submitted one game so far. The whole process can take so frustratingly long that I go back to dreaming about publishing my own games, but I know how that story ends.

There are enough publishers out there that someone will publish your game. They will probably make some changes and will probably take a while to get your game out there, but stick to it. If one turns you down, ask for feedback to see if you could have done anything better. They may not give you any, but it shouldn't hurt to ask. Then submit to someone else. Keep submitting and designing.

Someday you may want to try self-publishing, and there are a variety of ways to go about it (several ways of publishing and distributing your game), just do your research and know what you're getting into before you start.