Hi guys,
I
Web publishing
Mon, 06/30/2003 - 03:54
Wed, 06/25/2003 - 10:10
#1
Web publishing
I agree with almost everything you say Jeff. I too would rather pay $30 for a game than go through the trouble of assembling it myself. I already have enough flimsy cardboard prototypes of my own that are not worth the trouble of playing, let alone assembling.
Quote:It
Thu, 06/26/2003 - 01:54
#2
Web publishing
I don
Mon, 06/30/2003 - 03:49
#4
Web publishing
So...I
Mon, 06/30/2003 - 03:54
#5
Web publishing
Oh, I should probably add ... (since I just remembered it)
Before I was forced to move from "home.com" to "shaw.ca" I could keep track of file downloads and such. At the time I had one Board Game and an RPG on the site. After about 3 months the RPG had been downloaded 400+ times and the board game 6 times! (Just as the comments in this thread would seem to indicate)
ken
Tue, 07/01/2003 - 01:33
#6
Web publishing
Since you were will to admit that having to piece together a game is a deterrent...
Quote:
For me, personally, I would actually rather spend $30 on a game then go to the effort of downloading, printing, cutting, etc, a game. I think there are two reasons for this. The first is, obviously, it´s more of a pain to assemble the latter, and it has a "homemade" feel which I don´t personally relish in my gaming -- I much prefer a high-quality production, and don´t mind spending a few dollars for it.
...we should all be able to glean another point worth remembering: If you decide to try to get a publisher for one of your game designs, don't send in a game kit.
Even if your game is stellar, the kit might be a deterrent enough that it never gets looked at. Of course, I've read that it's best to send in a query letter first, before sending in a prototype--kit or finished.
Tue, 10/28/2003 - 20:05
#7
my exercise site...
here's my site:
http://tomgale.com/galegames/galegames.htm
It's been up for almost 2 years. I've gotten about one or two relavent email responses. Definitely no money despite experimenting with associate programs. Kinda sad, haha. The trouble is my games are hardly playtested and I don't push hard enough for new viewership. I like to think they don't suck, but maybe I'm wrong. Most are far from polished.
I decided to self-publish my ideas on the web as a way to trick myself into being regularly productive. Even though I may have diddly-squat audience I can delude myself into thinking that someone is waiting for my next game. I pretend all the search engines bots that show up on my stats tracker page are real people enjoying my games.
My games typically don't require construction. So I expect the only real pain is when you run across a flaw in the game mechanics due to lack of testing. I try to keep my rules in a similar format for all games. I also try to tap in a few notes reminding myself how the design process went.
So it's kind of an exercise journal.
At first I was worried I would accidentally come up with a brilliant and unique idea or mechanic that would be consciously or sub-consciously "borrowed" by another designer. But then I decided that kind of thinking was pointless, futile, and vain. The only chance of my games getting anywhere at all is if I make them for an audience (even if it's a pretend audience). On the other hand, I am still keeping my narrative Delnoro project secret so maybe I have double-standards.
Anyway...
I someday dream of refining my games and publishing a little booky with different chapters for different components: domiones, dice, pen&paper, etc. And then what would be really cool would be to make Flash versions that could be played online. But as my other projects and my job eat away at my time, that dream dwindles daily. Boy, that sounds so depressing. It's not that bad really! I think?
I figure as long as I have realistic expectations and I continue to think of these as personal exercises, it goes better than expected.
I've also been developing "real" boardgames by myself and with friends. Though my enthusiam for my dwarven mining game seems to have waned ever since I heard of the new Dwarven Dig game. Ach, it's probably a totally different game.
Now if I could just rid my computer of worms so I can finally upload my next game. And while I'm pining, if only I could get the guts to quit my job and go freelance so I have more time to make games and write stories.
tomgale
http://www.tomgale.com
Tue, 10/28/2003 - 23:41
#8
Web publishing
Welcome Tom,
When I look at a website, it's pretty rare that I send the author an email. Even webmaster of huge popular site get very little relevant mail. Using a super statisticotron I'd wager that each game was played by at least 5 people and read by 20+ (ok, I just pulled thoses numbers out of my ass). But hey this is the internet! Not that this is supposed to make feel you better.
At least you have something tangible and out there. You are being productive and come out with steady materials. I guess you just need some non-variant stuff to interest more people (like me) and a little sprinkle of "advertising/hyping".
The book thing sounds like a good project but is it commercially viable? Have you considered contacting the guys at GameTableOnline/Brettspieltwesthing to port your best games over to their system? I wonder if they would accept any project if you do the programming yourself... (!)
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Wed, 10/29/2003 - 18:35
#9
next tiny step
thanks for the comments!
My next tiny step for overhauling my site is getting the rules in a more printer friendly format... and trimming down the clutter.
maybe I'll post photos of the game in progress to show how thrilling and life-like they are.
I've got to think of tiny goals that I can accomplish.
tomgale
http://tomgale.com
Wed, 10/29/2003 - 21:49
#10
Re: next tiny step
tomgale wrote:
My next tiny step for overhauling my site is getting the rules in a more printer friendly format...
Tom,
First, check out the downloads section, there is a utility there called cutePDF that allows you to convert any document that you can print into an Adobe Acrobat PDF file. It is completely free..
Second, I checked out your website. Your artwork is incredible. Very dark and foreboding, I love it. Very good stuff.
Good luck with your site!
-Darke
Sun, 11/16/2003 - 14:01
#11
Re: my exercise site...
Tom,
You might be interested in my experience. I read The Games Journal about 18 months ago and discovered that Larry Levy's King of the Hill was a great game (played with standard cards). I sent him a thank-you and soon enough we were communicating, then collaborating. We now have two designs being looked at by game companies and a Hippodice design competition Honorable Mention behind us (King of the Hill became Oracle).
So, you might look into getting your designs published in high-traffic journals like The Games Journal...at least for starters.
Jared
Well, I