New Major US Publisher accepting submissions!

Thanks for the info, Rich.

I just had a click through their submission process, which seems reasonably straightforward.

Worth noting that they say that: "We require all submissions to have some art developed in order to be considered."

This only crops up if you click that your game has no art developed. It is not entirely clear what this means, but there is an option for "prototype art", so hopefully they are just setting an expectation that you have made some effort on presentation, rather than expecting you to necessarily provide final artwork.

Good to know.
Thank you!!

I have to add that a response (especially the response they specify, which is an offer to publish or license or third party) within 10 days also sounds really fishy. And what's this third party stuff? That would fit with someone pulling a fast one, then offering on games to publish them as a third party.

Turn on your skepticism neurons.

Ah, I see I misread the terms, whoever-it-is is asking to be notified by the designer if the designer gets an offer, they're not offering to respond in a short time themselves.

I tried searching online for any word of a new division of USPC. Not a word.

But it dates back to August 6, 2017. There does seem to be a registered website "http://www.bicyclegames.com" which is registered to the USPC company... But the page is BLANK.

So either they folded already or they don't have a website(?!) Which is possible but strange for such a LARGE company - not having a website seems to be another "Red Flag".

Something still doesn't feel "right" (as Dr. Lew originally said "fishy").

I'll wait for the "Bicycle" Company to respond as they should be aware of another flagship company using the "Bicycle" brand... I tried contacting "customer service" ... and hopefully they will write back soon.

For now, I'll still keep it as "Under Review"...

I still find it strange that there is "No Website"! But since you say it is legit, well there is no reason to prove the contrary.

Sorry. I just started to wonder with the absence of a Website, then all of the personal information required (by the form), etc.

It seemed like an illegitimate spoof of a real company.

And then the categories in the form seemed "incorrect" too. What has "Marketing and Development" got to do with "personal information" (They ask identity questions under that category)... Again strange.

Just things that struck out at me... However no worries if this information came directly from USPC Company. That's a trusted source.

Not sure how likely that is, but I've seen less likely premises serve as the basis of a game :-)

Actually Dr. Lew, this is happening more and more frequently with SMALLER Publishers. They don't have Graphic Designers and Illustrator on staff. They focus on managing Manufacturing Quotes and handling fulfillment centers, and generally run the Kickstarter because of their previous KS successes.

But usually these publishers would like to have a PREVIEW of what your game will look like before setting up an agreement to make, sell and promote your game.

So smaller Publishers (which can sometimes be a 1 person company) are not able to handle ALL the details. Maybe they produced their own games and Kickstarter those - and have built up a following. Their next step is to look for OTHER games and see if they can bring those to fruition.

Take for example "Jason Glover" ("Plague: The Card Game")... He produced and designed "Zogar's Gaze", "Dig Down Dwarf" and the popular "Plague"... I think he's taking a break from looking for OTHER games and focusing on his own designs -- but there was a time he was KS-ing 2 to 3 campaigns a year (other designers works).

It seems like if you build an audience of 2,000+ backers, you can pretty much continue to find GOOD/GREAT games to add to your own personal library of games you "PUBLISHED". And that's sort of what Jason was doing... Adding more NEW games that he found to be interesting and had an appeal to merit being published.

So while Jason does his OWN artwork for his OWN games... I'm sure he'd prefer if someone had their own artist lined-up and ready to show some samples about HOW the game could look like...

Cheers.

From whois.net about bicyclegames.com

Updated Date: 2016-02-10T06:48:50Z
Creation Date: 2010-02-14T19:53:17Z

So the URL itself is nearly 8 years old. And it isn't surprising it's blank, but you'd think whoever was marketing these new games would have started something there.

My sentiments exactly. Like I said, the FORM doesn't seem to have been created by an American... Most like a Chinese partner or elsewhere with English not being the #1 Language. I can "understand" or "assume" what they are implying... But it's definitely ODD.

Like you said Dr. Lew - Fishy...

Strange how "Maria Sowers" is listed as one of the "Game Designers" of "Nailed It"?! Did she "design" this game...?

Maybe Dr. Lew can explain all that legal mumbo-jumbo you need to agree to?!

On her profile page it states: "The United States Playing Card Company".

The game "Nailed it" was supposed to be launched in November 2017. Funny no website promoting "Nailed it" especially when it comes to the USPC Company.

I don't know something just doesn't feel right. The Form, the Website (or lack of one), no promotion, no KS, a BGG entry (is Maria Sowers a Game Designer)?!

I guess we all agree... Very strange indeed!

P.S.: No news from the Bicycle Cards company's Customer Service. They may be as surprised as we are! LOL

Because "Bicycle Games" is using the very "similar" Branding as "Bicycle Cards". And as a larger company, you would expect them to have a website... Or have some kind of promotion of "Nailed It"! At least somewhere especially if it was supposed to be launched in November 2017...

Look I'm not saying they're not legit. I'm just saying it is a bit suspicious ... That's all. I think a few of us feel that way. A bit of caution is usually for good measure.

We'll see if more develops over the coming months...

Well Dr. Lew, my game "TradeWorlds" is an example of Self-Publishing via "The Game Crafter" (TGC) and still looking for a Publisher to represent my game. In my case "Outer Limit Games" (http://www.outerlimitgames.com).

When I approached them, we knew they were a Father & Son team who had just launched their own game (Tau Ceti) ... and were interested in other Sci-Fi games too. Since my game was in limited production but already HAD artwork for the "Early Edition" of the game... Mike & Stan did a complete re-design for the look of the game - and WOW! Took the game from "nice" to "awesome"... Virtually the game was re-designed (with the exception of "core" gameplay and the original artwork).

They also loved the artwork my artist had done. So they've contracted my artist in the extension of other scenarios, portrait cards and a couple extra expansions too. So it can happen and like I said, some people search TGC for GEMS to "re-publish" and offer a greater audience through a Kickstarter or traditional distribution...

Very true. But questionable... And that's why so many "little things" seem to be "wrong" (or at least dubious). I'm in no way trying to dis-credit them... Another thing which is "different": they ARE looking for Party Games! Most Publishers are NOT.

I'll be the first one to wish them all the success in the world. I'm not a hater or anything like that... I was just off-put by how "strange" everything regarding this company seems to be.