Skip to Content
 

Help with creating a board game

5 replies [Last post]
Mon, 10/25/2010 - 10:56
bricky
Offline
Joined: 10/25/2010

Hi folks,
I am new here and buzzing with an idea for a board game that is based on a concept that I believe has not been created before...(big statement)

I have an idea for a game that will be played by people with a common interest and that can help them in real life. For an example, think of all these weight management self help books and manuals that is good at teaching the theory, but it does not have any practical ideas or examples. So the game will be about using practical examples to teach you how to deal with real life events - Does that make sense!!??? It will give you practical examples that will relate to the real world and therfor make starting something out so much easier because of the confidence gained from the practical exercises in the game

Man my head is buzzzzzzzzing, I just haven't got the creative ability to put it into reality.

Is there anybody on this forum that is good at this?
Is there any pitfalls that I need to look out for when discussing the real idea?

Hope you can help! ---- Please
Bricky

Top
Mon, 10/25/2010 - 13:58
#1
rcjames14
rcjames14's picture
Offline
Joined: 09/17/2010
Games As Behavioral Modification

Your idea has a lot of promise.

With conditions like weight loss, dating, marital relationships and all the other topics which make up the self-help section, you will find that behavioral modification is one of the toughest challenges in changing your life. But, it is also well recognized to be the most psychologically effective. So, any game which helps you modify your behavior could be huge.

But, it would not be a board game. It would be an App. Something that people could 'play' wherever they are in anonymity. Because, behavioral modification starts with awareness but needs to be reinforced by reminders and positive feedback, this 'game' would play the role of a life coach. In fact, I envision this App called Coach.

It needs to be able to provide you with not only suggestions, but feedback for questions you have and reinforcement of behavior you are experimenting with. But, how would this be a game, as opposed to a forum? I'm not sure. And, it may not be a game. It may be a general self-help App.

But, perhaps you have an idea for how to turn self-help into a game. I believe it can be. But, you might have to think out of the box. Otherwise, it will simply be the App of [choose your favorite self-help book].

Top
Tue, 10/26/2010 - 13:23
#2
bricky
Offline
Joined: 10/25/2010
Thanks for the input there

Thanks for the input there RC,
Do you or do you know of anybody/companies that can help to develop the idea and bring it to reality?

Thanks
B

Top
Tue, 10/26/2010 - 13:58
#3
Dralius
Dralius's picture
Offline
Joined: 07/26/2008
Big Money

You’ll need deep pockets if you going to pay someone else to design a game for you.

I charge $25 an hour and that’s considered cheap by some standards. On a simple game you could expect me to bill you for 100 hours or more. This would get you a working game but no art, board layout, or anything else you’ll need to publish it. That will likely take several more thousand dollars. Once you have all that then you’re ready to pay the printer to produce the game for you. Guess what more money!!!

In otherwords, unless you can sell a bunch (1,000s) of these games it's not worth it.

P.S. be warned that some shops make their living by telling people how great the game is, no matter what so they’ll play these development fees.

Top
Tue, 10/26/2010 - 19:18
#4
rcjames14
rcjames14's picture
Offline
Joined: 09/17/2010
Everybody's Place

As Dralius has said, publishing anything is expensive. In the tabletop market (which I don't see as a good venue for your idea), there is a high capital cost in manufacturing the product. In the digital market, you pay for programming. In both environments you pay for design, artwork and marketing, and a whole slue of sundry costs. So, I'm not sure you want to enter this as a publisher.

If you aren't a publisher, then the set of expectations people place upon you will be defined by your role. As a designer, you are expected to do a lot of heavy lifting in giving an idea form. Whereas the publisher, or a creative director, might believe that X would be a good idea. A design often tells them exactly how X can be created. So, the work of a designer is tough and often very valuable. It is also fairly risky because sometimes X cannot be created in a way that will make money.

So, in the tabletop business, most publishers prefer to 'hire' designers after the design is done. Designers build games, use forums like this to get feedback and then pitch them to the publishers who are in a position to cherry pick what they want to publish. Since the designers are not really getting 'paid' in these circumstances, that means that they will almost certainly be designing their own stuff. And, somehow, if you are neither a designer nor a publisher, you will need to get one or more designers to see your stuff as theirs as well.

Top
Wed, 10/27/2010 - 20:50
#5
Kirioni
Offline
Joined: 09/20/2009
a couple thoughts

The self-help idea is great! I could see many application, a menu planner with rewards for healthy foods, recipes for a balanced diet, people love achievements, especially if they can brag about them on social networks... etc

As for self-publishing, it is hard, but possible to do and not go broke. I am about to self-publish and it took a lot of work, many hats to wear. Creativity AND thinking about marketability and keeping manufacturing costs low. hard, challenging, but if you are serious about it, it is possible. If you have specific questions, these forums are great at feedback, networking on BGDF made my dream a possibility, and I am excited to say, soon a reality.

Top
Syndicate content


forum | by Dr. Radut