Skip to Content
 

Ready to submit to publishers... me too!

10 replies [Last post]
Mon, 07/21/2003 - 18:21
zaiga
Offline
Joined: 12/31/1969

I'm also ready to submit one of my designs to publishers. However, I'm not as tightlipped about it as Krakit. On the contrary, I want input from all of you.

My idea is to showcase all of my "finished" games on my website. I'll place the rules there, as well as some pictures. I'll then send the URL to a publisher and let them judge the game from what is on my site.

Is this a good idea or not? There is a slight chance that someone might "steal" my ideas, but I am not too worried about that. Ideas are a dime a dozen and I think you cannot truly judge a game until you played with a physical prototype. So, basically the idea is to pique a publisher's interest and then hopefully they will ask me to send them a prototype.

(Edit: URL removed as it no longer worked)

Top
Mon, 07/21/2003 - 19:03
#1
FastLearner
Offline
Joined: 12/31/1969
Ready to submit to publishers... me too!

I think it might be a bad idea not so much because you might be worried that someone will steal your idea (which, like you said, are a dime a dozen) but because some other publisher might "steal" them. That is, if Publisher A browses through your designs and thinks, "Hey, that's pretty good, maybe that would be publishable," he might also think, "Of course there's now a risk that I'll put the exact same game out as Publisher Z who stole it from the site."

Perhaps if it was password protected or something.... Still, I suspect your best route might be the more traditional approach, since that's what the publisher is looking for.

My thoughts, for what they're worth.

Top
Tue, 07/22/2003 - 02:30
#2
zaiga
Offline
Joined: 12/31/1969
Ready to submit to publishers... me too!

Fair enough.

I've removed the page from the web. I will still use the web to host the rules and images, but I'll use an URL that is not open for everyone to browse instead.

Top
Tue, 07/22/2003 - 05:05
#3
zaiga
Offline
Joined: 12/31/1969
Ready to submit to publishers... me too!

All right. It's off to the publisher. Let's wait and see what they think of it.

Top
Tue, 07/22/2003 - 08:12
#4
jwarrend
Offline
Joined: 08/03/2008
Ready to submit to publishers... me too!

Thanks a lot FastLearner, now we can't learn about Zaiga's game!

Luckily, I had a chance to look it over quickly. My first impression was "that's it?" It seemed kind of simple and a bit dull. But the more I think about it, there could be some interesting strategies, especially since you only score points for the combo of treasure cards in your hand and on the board. Unfortunately, that seems that luck will play a big factor, since someone who happens to draw treasure cards for which the correct tiles happen to be near their home base will score more early. It seems like there could be some interesting things going on where you inititially just explore your own base area, and how you branch out determines who you'll help (by giving them a bigger network where they can collect treasure). I liked the "book" rule in principle, but again, it seems like it depends on luck of the draw whether you're lucky enough to get a book card in the first place.

So, I'm interested to hear how the game plays. Is it fun? Is there any strategy? What audience is the game intended for?

I'd definitely consider buying a prototype from you, if that's something you're able to put together and sell, but I would really like to hear more about how the game actually plays.

I wonder how seriously I'd take FastLearner's concern, in the sense that I wonder how many publishers are so unscrupulous that they'd really steal someone's game. My impression is always that publishers already have too many ideas coming in to begin with. I can't see how making a game public would really turn off a publisher, but I suppose it's possible...

Good luck! Who did you submit to? Let us know how the process goes!

-Jeff

Top
Tue, 07/22/2003 - 09:50
#5
zaiga
Offline
Joined: 12/31/1969
Ready to submit to publishers... me too!

jwarrend wrote:
Thanks a lot FastLearner, now we can't learn about Zaiga's game!

Luckily, I had a chance to look it over quickly. My first impression was "that's it?" It seemed kind of simple and a bit dull. But the more I think about it, there could be some interesting strategies, especially since you only score points for the combo of treasure cards in your hand and on the board. Unfortunately, that seems that luck will play a big factor, since someone who happens to draw treasure cards for which the correct tiles happen to be near their home base will score more early. It seems like there could be some interesting things going on where you inititially just explore your own base area, and how you branch out determines who you'll help (by giving them a bigger network where they can collect treasure). I liked the "book" rule in principle, but again, it seems like it depends on luck of the draw whether you're lucky enough to get a book card in the first place.

So, I'm interested to hear how the game plays. Is it fun? Is there any strategy? What audience is the game intended for?

First you have to understand that this game is intended as a family game, or even a kids game. So it was very important to keep the rules and the score counting fairly simple.

I agree that there is a fair amount of luck in the game. If you happen to draw the treasure cards which are worth the most points AND the corresponding tiles are near you basecamp, then yes you are lucky and will probably win the game, but usually the tiles will be spread out a little.

Also, the coins and the books make it so that different players have different priorities. To one player a coin may be worthless, while for another player it could mean a 4 point difference.

There's a large memory aspect in the game. Remembering what treasures you saw where is very important. Routeplanning is another aspect. If one of your opponents discovers a valuable treasure early and you have the corresponding treasure card then you might want to branch into that direction.

Then there is the possibility to flip over a tile of which you have no idea what treasure is on it and whether that treasure matches on of your cards. It's a little bit of gambling. You can also turn over tiles that you know doesn't match one of your cards, just to deny an opponent getting it.

So, while the mechanics are fairly simple, there is a bit of strategy to gameplay. I admit that there's still a fair amount of luck, but good memory, good routeplanning skills and knowing when to take a gamble will certainly make a difference.

Quote:

I'd definitely consider buying a prototype from you, if that's something you're able to put together and sell, but I would really like to hear more about how the game actually plays.

Part of what makes this game fun is, I think, the tension between both wanting to draw a card and claiming points, but you cannot do both. You must draw cards, otherwise you will never score points. But only drawing cards will not win you the game either. So, there must be a balance between drawing cards and claiming points. I think this tension is what makes the game fun.

Quote:

I wonder how seriously I'd take FastLearner's concern, in the sense that I wonder how many publishers are so unscrupulous that they'd really steal someone's game. My impression is always that publishers already have too many ideas coming in to begin with. I can't see how making a game public would really turn off a publisher, but I suppose it's possible...

I agree, but I just don't want to take that risk.

Quote:

Good luck! Who did you submit to? Let us know how the process goes!
-Jeff

Thanks! I submitted it to one of Holland's largest game companies. They make a lot of children's games and family type of games, so I think they are the best fit.

Top
Tue, 07/22/2003 - 10:14
#6
FastLearner
Offline
Joined: 12/31/1969
Ready to submit to publishers... me too!

For heaven's sake, don't take my word for it. If it doesn't make sense to you, please don't follow my advice. I am by no meaqns whatsoever any kind of expert on this at all.

I certainly agree that no big-name pubisher would steal an idea -- as noted they're simply too cheap to be worth the hassle of stealing. If you're a big name publisher.

However if you're a small-time publisher or the average IP thief then you might steal it. Probably not, but maybe. I know that if I was a publisher I certainly would prefer a game where that risk didn't exist, and would probably not examine games that were net-published first (with or without components) -- as noted, ideas as simply too cheap to bother with the risk.

All of this is entirely in my opinion, though. If I was in zaiga's shoes I know that I'd happily pass the url to any of the folks I "knew" here if they PMed or IMed me. But again, that's me. :)

Top
Tue, 07/22/2003 - 10:33
#7
zaiga
Offline
Joined: 12/31/1969
Ready to submit to publishers... me too!

FastLearner wrote:
All of this is entirely in my opinion, though. If I was in zaiga's shoes I know that I'd happily pass the url to any of the folks I "knew" here if they PMed or IMed me. But again, that's me. :)

Oh yeah, if anyone wants the new URL just message me.

Top
Tue, 07/22/2003 - 11:39
#8
phpbbadmin
Offline
Joined: 04/23/2013
Game on Web

From what I saw on the website while it was up, It looked great Zaiga! One of paradoxes of children's games is to make a game that isn't too complex for children but also isn't too boring for adults (inevitably there will always be a parent involved in the playing of the game). Zaiga your game seems to do a good job of balancing the game.

I love that my son is growing up so fast. Someday he and I will be able to play board games together, perhaps even one from one of you guys. I have purchased about 5 or 6 games to play with him when he gets older (he's 1, and won't be in the appropriate age group for another 5 or 6 years).

At any rate, my opinion is a website can be a great way for potential publishers to preview your game. Don't give it all away though. Give a brief description of the game and how it's played. More importantly, show the game and it's components, and show pictures of people playing it! Pictures say a thousand words and will go a lot further towards promoting your game. You may want to give your game it's own subdomain on your website, like blast.zaiga.com. When you send in your query letter, you can give them the subdomain address, it's clear and simple, but more importantly professional and it gives them the impression that you are serious. Now once they get to your website about your game, you can link back to the previews of your other games. But more importantly, I think you should concentrate on the single game that you are asking them to consider.

Just my $.02,
-Darke

Top
Tue, 07/22/2003 - 19:57
#9
zaiga
Offline
Joined: 12/31/1969
Re: Game on Web

Darkehorse wrote:
But more importantly, I think you should concentrate on the single game that you are asking them to consider.

That's what I did and I agree that it is better.

Another thing. I haven't actually tested this game with kids. For this game it would be handy if th ekid can count and add up numbers up until 20 (although not necessary if an adult plays with them). From what age are kids able to do that?

Top
Wed, 07/23/2003 - 11:12
#10
hpox
Offline
Joined: 12/31/1969
Ready to submit to publishers... me too!

From the brief description of this game in your journal, it seemed really nice. From this discussion, it seems totally kickass! The tension coupled with the simplicity and memory aspect (for kids)... Is it about pirates or treasure hunters?

Good luck!

Top
Syndicate content


forum | by Dr. Radut