Prototype Complete, Game Playtested, Rules Reinforced, Presentation Ready... What to expect after submitting to a developer...?

Every publisher is different.

Generally you're corresponding with them a couple times, sending a sell sheet and/or rules, and then they may say they're not interested, or they may ask for a prototype. Send this to them ASAP, and assume you will never get it back. Full physical prototype (needs to be functional, does not need anything more than clipart or stick figures for graphics) is preferable to files for everyone involved, since them printing out the prototype is just one more delay/obstacle to them actually testing it.

Some will get their rejection to you within a week, some will take literally years. It's ok to send a follow up email every month or two asking if they've gotten a chance to evaluate it yet (use your best judgement here, based on whatever their previous correspondence has been). I say rejection just because that is most often what it will be.

If it is accepted (they want to publish it, and you sign a contract), what happens next varies GREATLY. Sometimes you won't hear anything else about it until it's on store shelves, sometimes you'll be very involved in every step of the process. If the publisher does development, expect any number of changes to your game- thematically and mechanically. Remember that they're trying to put together a product that they feel will do well for them. If you feel a change would result in a bad experience, it is ok to express that. This can be hard to discern though, as often changes just result in a DIFFERENT experience than perhaps what you'd envisioned, which does not necessarily mean bad. Try to detach yourself from your baby and recognize what is actually "bad" and what is just "different", and remember that they have the final say.

The thing to remembers is that you may get "rejected". Which has happened to a lot of "Published" designers. One on this site can tell you he waited 2 year for a deal and then the company decided not to "go into" business in board gaming (Dralius). I myself had a my rulebook, artwork and other material with a publisher for almost 1 year and then they decided they were not pursuing the publication of the game.

So sometimes a publisher may be *hot* and then change their mind. Some of the publishers may ask you for a "Concept Document" or "Sell Sheet". If you are unfamiliar with these simply Google them and you should find samples.

The thing that I find peculiar is the question: "So how is your game different?" Most, if not all, games are different. So once you answer this question, it is strange if the reply is: "I don't understand" or the re-ask the same question: "So how is your game different?"

Just recently my current WIP (Work-In-Progress) has one aspect that is similar to the card game "San Juan" (SJ) which is oddly enough is similar to "Race for the Galaxy" (Race): as it turns out both games are VERY similar. This was a pleasant surprise, because I had not planned on this... I knew nothing about "Race" only that my roles were sort of inspired from SJ.

That's what happens when you show your game to people... They tell you what it is similar to or reminds the of. Which is good because it gives you a better understanding about what type of game you have designed...

It's true that publishers do go to Cons - but they usually don't make deals at them. They like to see what is being offered, but as another designer told me: "They said that they liked my game so much, they would get me a deal in a few weeks." Well IDK if that designer ever got that deal... :(

Anyhow this is what you should expect from publishers... They are a precarious bunch. Even some designers who were very "accessible" when they were designers, have gotten a tight lip when they moved to the publishing business. I guess publishers don't like to be so involved in the development of game or they want something and then they buy it outright...

Update: Come to notice that people who HAVE published their games by a publisher - really don't SHARE their experience with the rest of us... I don't think anyone has chimed in with a "Yes, this is how my last game was published and these were the terms, etc..." Maybe that's some kind of truth telling ... in that designer DON'T seem to share their publication experiences! No need for names, just how it "went down"! :)

Saratar,

Just a quick note as a professional developer ("professional" in the sense that I dedicate myself to the craft, not that I do this for a living)...it's great that you've sent your game out to a Publisher, however, as they're given you no commitment, don't feel as though you can't shop it around to others, as well. That's completely fine. However, if a Publisher decides to go to the the next step and have you sign-on with them, it's bad form to have your game out with other publishers. Two books I'll recommend that you read include "The Game Inventor's Handbook" by Steve Peek and "The Game Inventor's Guidebook" by Brian Tinsman.

As to the marketing and artwork, I can tell you that I'm currently serving as the developer for a "monster" WWII game, which is a follow-up to the designer's original game. He'll work very closely with his cartographer and the publisher will handle the marketing aspect. As for me in the developer role, I'll establish play-testing groups; define the criteria by which the play-testers will evaluate the game; review the feedback and produce a report to the designer so that he may, at his discretion accept or reject suggestions; and write and rewrite scenarios and sections of the rules. Designers generally lack the ability to render well-written rules...their skills lie elsewhere.

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck!

Cheers,
Joe

Dr. P.,

That's rather amazing that you've had a game with Mayfair that long...I understand the attraction of having something published by a major publisher...but, you're actually not having anything done at the moment. Do you have a P-n-P version or are you currently having your game play-tested? Much can happen in nigh on a decade.

Cheers,
Joe

Except, that assumes ALL companies hold the majority of games for such a period. Since that's not true, you'd be saying it's ok for the designer to be unprofessional to ALL companies because SOME of the companies he/she may deal with will be unprofessional.

Some will, for sure, but burping in everyone's face because one guy did it to you isn't a good plan.

In reality, it's very reasonable to ask individual companies if they're ok with you submitting to other companies at the same time. I have yet to encounter one who didn't have a concrete and polite yes or no answer, because it's in their best interest for the policy to be clear.

In the hobby industry it's USUALLY the case that submitting initial inquiries to multiple people is ok, but if someone has your prototype, they probably assume they're the only one who does. In the mass market industry, they more often assume it's being shopped around. This is in part due to the opportunity cost at the scale of operations- a small company spending 40 hours playtesting a game, only to be burned by the designer saying "oh BTW, I signed this elsewhere" is a much greater relative expenditure than a multinational company doing the same thing. But really, regardless, just ask.

6 years is an abnormally long time, for sure.

Dralius,

The game is Law & Chaos.

Btw, I was told that Mayfair had "Nuns on the Run" for about 8 years before publishing it.

And when a big company is slow to respond, it's often because they have more submissions than they can deal with, OR, it's because they aren't interested in new submissions, they already have so many games they like.

This is a reason why so many people have turned to self-publishing.

Saratar,

Just to echo truekid's comments, publishers will have artists, developers, etc., so your focus should remain on constructing a solid game.

Cheers,
Joe

Everything you said is really helpful but i have a different question. How can you be sure that the company won't just say "i am not inerested in your game" and then steal your idea and publish it themselves?

Thanks for the info professor, at least we have something less to worry about :)

I've no doubt that there's a sense of peculiar, one-sided decorum in some industries, but I fall back on simple courtesy. Additionally, I'm not one to ruminate on an idea ad nauseum...act or get off the pot.

If you find yourself in a position whereby a publisher has made a good faith offer, it is absolutely incumbent upon you to close the loop with the other publishing houses, thanking them for their time and consideration. I tend to remain old school, despite being only in my 40s, to pen a letter to the company versus sending an e-mail.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,
Joe

In the publishing industry, simultaneous submissions are not universally allowed or prohibited. Each publisher will post their submission guidelines on their web site, and those will almost always clarify whether they are receptive to submissions that are currently being considered by others.

In my view, look very carefully for any guidelines posted by your prospective publisher. If they don't specify, then they should expect that designers will submit elsewhere.

Also, in my opinion, it's a bad (very bad) idea to try and play one publisher against another. Don't say that someone else has sent you X offer to see if they will offer you something better.

If game designs were nickels, we would all be rich. Publishers know each other, and they talk. Reputation is important, because in the end, your relationship with a publisher may be defined by a contract, but your next contract will have to be signed by a person. Don't make that person regret doing business with you.