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Tracking down publishers!

8 replies [Last post]
Wed, 01/22/2014 - 14:45
Zodiak Team
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I've contacted a couple of publishers who are currently accepting game submissions but I get the same replay "We don't accept any submission over email, we only take in-person submissions at select conventions."

That's all fine and good but what conventions!? They don't have an even calandar on their site and I feel as thought I'm always 1 step beind when it comes to conventions because there isn't a site (not even BGG) that has an entie even calandar for all conventions in different areas (including local).

What should I do?

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Wed, 01/22/2014 - 14:54
#1
saiyanslayer
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Keep At It

I would be patient and start making a list. List the publishers contacted, who you spoke to, their response and preferred method of submission, and if you've submitted to them.

After that, make a timetable of who you've submitted to and when you'll approach the others at which locations.

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Wed, 01/22/2014 - 16:19
#2
donut2099
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I would email them back

I would email them back asking them if they will be at convention x and if so could I make an appointment to show them my game. Just be polite and professional and if they make it difficult maybe they are just too busy and I would keep shopping around .

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Wed, 01/22/2014 - 17:54
#3
questccg
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Hmm...

What if you said: "I'm ready to take a plane and visit your offices to demonstrate the game in-person?!" Conventions are not always the best venue to review a game. Aside from the crowds of people, and the time it takes to play a game, it might be more feasible to review a game *when there is free time*.

Like I submitted my rulebook to a publisher in December. Although I have not heard back from them, I have followed-up with some sample artwork in January. A couple of months should suffice to give me an idea if they are interested in the game or not. At least be able to say, "Yes, No or Maybe..." (or some level of interest).

I'm planning to wait until my latest corrections arrive from TGC. Then, I will certainly contact the publisher and see what they have to say!

Note: the reason I am waiting is to correct the prototypes with the new cards (those that needed correction) so that I may *submit* prototypes to the publisher.

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Wed, 01/22/2014 - 19:07
#4
questccg
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Not interested

Zodiak Team wrote:
"We don't accept any submission over email, we only take in-person submissions at select conventions."

I think that's a *nice* way of saying: "We're not interested."

I am very *confused* with this response!? Why? Well because Publishers want the right to *edit* and make corrections to a game. Conventions or shows are places where games are displayed to the PUBLIC. You would think Publishers would like to publish games that are yet still *unknown*... I know it's not in consumer's hands - but at a convention it's PRETTY CLOSE.

Notice they also say *select conventions* which means they probably already have an idea of what games they will be publishing (like this year type of thing)...

I would move on to another Publisher that is more *open* to traditional submissions (by e-mail or snail mail).

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Wed, 01/22/2014 - 19:10
#5
Despot9
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Every publisher is different

Every publisher is different but...

Ask if they have a list of conventions they attend & review games at.
If you can't get to those conventions, tell them that you can't and ask if you can send a physical prototype to them instead. Never send anything without being asked.

If they ask you to send a prototype, make sure its playable. Find some people who have never seen the game before and ask them to blind test it. As in you hand them the game and rules and don't say a damn word. If they can't at least stumble there way through it without you in the box its not ready to send.

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Thu, 01/23/2014 - 00:14
#6
questccg
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Ughh...

Zodiak Team wrote:
"We don't accept any submission over email, we only take in-person submissions at select conventions."

Mayfair Games (http://www.mayfairgames.com) seem to have a similar policy. They *prefer* to meet a designer at a show and schedule meetings with designers with 20 to 30 minute sessions. BUT at least they do talk extensively how they operate and what submissions guidelines should be.

http://www.mayfairgames.com/page.php?id=7

It says that it takes them 3 to 9 months to determine if a game is for them... And that they want to review a game *exclusively* (not to compete with other Publishers) during that time.

So it seems like finding a Publisher is a difficult task to do!

Note: They also says in not so many words that designs having been Kickstarted will have poor odds of being picked up by them... (last paragraph).

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Thu, 01/23/2014 - 00:45
#7
Zodiak Team
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Yeah James Mathe has similar

Yeah James Mathe has similar advice. Here's his post about contacting a publisher http://www.jamesmathe.com/courting-a-game-publisher-dos-and-donts/

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Thu, 01/23/2014 - 23:10
#8
questccg
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Searching publishers

In terms of *what to do* and *want NOT to do*, I have found some Publishers that will REFUSE a game if it already has a "Board Game Geek" (BGG - http://www.boardgamegeek.com) entry!!! That's right, they don't want the exposure of the game to be that big?!

It's like a *minefield* where some publishers want to be exclusive, others want a very *new* and unknown games, etc.

Luckily I have not found any publisher that will not accept a game because it has a development blog!

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