Hi. I'm looking for where I can get market research information on playable card games. Basically, total sales in number, dollar, margin, year by year. TCGs and stand alone card games would be where the focus is. Google has failed me, or I have failed it... or both.
Thanks to anyone that has any information, links, etc.
Ryan
There is a reason you can't Google it. Publishers are not about to release sensitive data that might be usable by the competition. If you’re lucky you’ll be able to find the number sold for a handful of games.
What’s the data for, are you trying to develop a plan to self publish?
Don’t forget being a publisher is about marketing. Take advantage of all the free promotion you can get but still spend the money you need to promote your product. If you don’t spend any on getting the word out you’ll likely end up a Tanga special.
I also hear that joining GAMA is worth the fee, they have great advice for startup publishers.
Good Luck
Edit --"And of course if you were the type to know something about computers putting up a demo version that could be played online might be an excellent investment”
Thanks for the info/tips.
I've been looking into GAMA, especially since they host origins right here in my hometown. I am also looking into discovergames.com, which has decent resources on startups.
I thought you were in Texas, unless of course I have confused you with another randews.
Are you taking about the GAMA trade show (Los Vegas) or Origins (Columbus)?
If you're in Columbus then Ann Arbor is within a reasonable driving distance and inturn Protospiel. There is plenty of collective experience in design and publishing at our event and everyone is happy to provide solid advice.
I may have to look into Protospiel. Though, traveling to Ann Arbor is a reasonable driving distance, being an Ohio State alum, and the son of two alums, it would go against my inner buckeye instincts. :)
I'll get a look into it. Def sounds worth the trip, and the potential abuse of UM fans. I would be very decked out in OSU stuff for the occasion.
Being a retailer, I will just give you a warning to not overspend on this... 90% of the TCG are netorious failures that cost everyone in the chain a lot of money. As such I rarely ever pick up a new TCG to stock in the store - esp not one without a license.
So you've got your work majorly cut out for you. You're best off doing direct to market sales and promoting using gurrila tactics and running lots and lots of demos... Your time at a show will be MUCH better spent running events then sitting in a booth.
Sorry to sound like a downer.
Hey rpghost. Thanks for the info.
It's actually not a TCG, I was just looking for any TCG marketing research/sales info along with any stand alone custom games.
We have a 108 card, single deck game. I'm sure many of these fail as well, but the initial startup seems much more achieveable than with a TCG. Demos are still a big part of the plan.
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Plan to self publish. And I really like doing spreadsheets with financial info for some crazy reason.
Game is designed, playtested. Copyright/TM is underway. Finishing with artist now, crunching out financial numbers to understand potential of the market, deciding on ideal order numbers (yes, more decks is cheaper per unit, but does no good if they sit around unsold because I overestimated the market - especially if we need to change the game somewhere for some reason), and such and such.