Skip to Content
 

Proposing game to US publishers from abroad

7 replies [Last post]
Tue, 12/02/2014 - 17:11
stepir
Offline
Joined: 12/02/2014

Hi there,
this is my first post on BGDF, and it is about one of my main concerns in the field.
I'm designing a board game with a friend, it's the first time for both of us.
We are from Italy, but we would like to propose our game to american publishers, since in our country the board game industry is still so small, especially if compared to US.
We're aware that the distance will be a problem, at least for sending prototypes and such, but I would like to know HOW BIG a problem it would be. The game is going to be a rather big game, not just a card game. So, lots of stuff to ship.
What do you think about it?
Would there be any particular problem from the perspective of the publisher, too?
Are there publishers that would help supporting the process of designing, perhaps by reading a description of the project and, in case they like it, developing it together with the author from abroad? I'm sure that something like that happens with well-established authors, but is there any chance it would happen with new designers as well?

Thanks to everyone,
have a nice day.

Top
Fri, 12/05/2014 - 22:51
#1
richdurham
richdurham's picture
Offline
Joined: 12/26/2009
welcome!

Hi Stepir,

Of course you should still approach italian publishers first; some of them have distribution in the U.S. Also, you've got a distance advantage for dealing with other european publishers - and there are many small publishers there that might pick up your games.

Other advice: Start small; it's just easier. Yeah you can go for your big game now, but it may be more difficult to convince a publisher to take on a game from new designers that is expensive to produce. Not saying it can't be done, it's just less likely to be the path of least resistance.

To directly answer your questions, there isn't a huge barrier to dealing with publishers remotely. Okay, you won't be able to meet with them at conventions, and that's a good place to meet with them. But a lot of these publishers go to Essen, which might be easier for you to get to.

I think you're unlikely to find a publisher that will work with you to develop a game based on a description alone. Your best best is a publisher like Game Salute, which offers support services to designers.

Good luck!

Top
Sat, 12/06/2014 - 13:37
#2
MarkD1733
MarkD1733's picture
Offline
Joined: 07/05/2014
Other European Publishers?

Even if the Italian industry is fledgling, there are stil big publishers in Europe. Asmodee and Days of Wonder (recently acquired by Asmodee, I believe) are French. Portal games is Polish, I believe. Alea is German, I think. I just wanted to make sure you have those options in mind. Those publishers probably know what is really a barrier to the US market. Also, they will have game develpers who can help with improving design to simplify things, make optimum components, etc.oo

Top
Sat, 12/06/2014 - 17:32
#3
questccg
questccg's picture
Offline
Joined: 04/16/2011
Same applies to me!

Well I'm NOT in Europe, I'm in Canada. You would think that Canadian Publisher would publish in Canada... NOT TRUE. Most games come from the USA and are distributed across Canada. That's the way things go from our Neighbors in the South up and North to Canada.

That's why I too am looking for a American Publisher to publish my game...

People wonder why I don't publish in Canada, near my home. Well for one thing in my area, games are considered for Kids only. If you play games and you are over 30, you must have kids or you still have not grown up. Same goes for Video Games. :(

People don't know the effort that goes into designing games! If they did, then maybe they would simply say: "He's a Game Designer" and that would be the end of that...

Like I said most Games get imported from the USA - so I'm trying to find somebody in the USA! My game is a Space-Themed Deck-Builder. If anyone has suggestions about who might be interested in publishing such a game, please reply!

Here is a link to some artwork: http://www.bgdf.com/node/15405

I'm glad fellow designers think the artwork is cool... Wish a publisher would jump on the deal to publish such a NICE game.

Top
Sat, 12/06/2014 - 17:56
#4
pelle
pelle's picture
Offline
Joined: 08/11/2008
I'm from Sweden and there was

I'm from Sweden and there was no problems for me contacting a publisher in the US (Victory Point Games) and work with them to develop and publish my game. A very small ziploc) game though, so no problem shipping playtest copies all over the world for instance. Never even considered other publishers because VPG seemed so right for that game.

There are two (at least?) Swedish designers that made some bigger games for MMP (also in the US) so that seems to work as well. Those were also wargames though and not the big size and weight you typically get with a big euro/ameritrash if shipping is a problem.

EDIT: Heh, MMP was the publisher for those other games. Oops.

Top
Sat, 12/06/2014 - 20:31
#5
kos
Offline
Joined: 01/17/2011
Playtest, playtest, playtest... then talk to publisher

stepir wrote:
Are there publishers that would help supporting the process of designing, perhaps by reading a description of the project and, in case they like it, developing it together with the author from abroad? I'm sure that something like that happens with well-established authors, but is there any chance it would happen with new designers as well?

As Rich indicated, the chance of a publisher taking on an undeveloped project is low. There are just so many designers wanting their games to be published, that it would be a rare publisher indeed who would expend their own resources on development/playtesting for an unknown designer.

The more usual path is that you would develop a prototype, playtest it several hundred times, then think about approaching a publisher. It's a very long road, but there are a number of people here who have gone down that road and been successful.

As others have indicated, once your game is ready to approach publishers the physical distance isn't such a problem.

Regards,
kos

Top
Tue, 12/09/2014 - 09:53
#6
stepir
Offline
Joined: 12/02/2014
Thank you so much for you

Thank you so much for you replies.
Anyway, I completely forgot that Asmodee is French.
Then, you're right: starting with a smaller game would be easier.
I'll keep in mind all of your suggestions.

Top
Wed, 12/10/2014 - 06:19
#7
ilSilvano
ilSilvano's picture
Offline
Joined: 07/31/2008
Maybe I can help...

Hi! I am Italian, and I have published games with publishers abroad. Maybe I can help.

Check your BGDF mailbox, so we can continue in our mother language. ;)

Top
Syndicate content


forum | by Dr. Radut