Skip to Content
 

Subscription Box Service: need input

5 replies [Last post]
bhazzard
bhazzard's picture
Offline
Joined: 01/25/2011

I'm working on a subscription box service for board gamers and designers. I'd love to hear your input.

Subscribers would receive a box every month containing an assortment of components:
- Pawns
- Resources
- Quality printed boards
- Quality printed cards
- etc

In addition the box would contain a couple sets of rules:
- At least one for game(s) to play with just the components in this month's box
- At least one for game(s) to play with these and other components

Does this sound appealing to you? What problems do you see with the idea? What would you do differently if you were building your dream version of an offering like this? How much would you be willing to pay for a service like this?

Would you rather receive generically useful components, or components from a consistently themed universe?

Thank you so much for your input.

Zodiak Team
Zodiak Team's picture
Offline
Joined: 09/09/2012
I'm a little confused. Are

I'm a little confused. Are you sending them a game or materials?

bhazzard
bhazzard's picture
Offline
Joined: 01/25/2011
Sorry for the lack of

Sorry for the lack of clarity. The original idea is components, not games. The goal is to build community around designing rules to be played with the components.

On the other hand, I've also had the thought of building an ever expanding "universe". Each month sending components, cards, boards, whatever and rules for play within that system.

ender7
ender7's picture
Offline
Joined: 10/07/2008
Components for prototyping

Components for prototyping are pretty easy to get your hands on... probably anyone designing games already has them. Speaking as an amateur designer, my big bottlenecks are finding live playtesters outside of my normal game group, and finding face-time with other designers. Those are at the top of my wishlist.

bhazzard
bhazzard's picture
Offline
Joined: 01/25/2011
Thanks for the feedback. This

Thanks for the feedback. This idea is still developing and based on what you said (I think you're right), I'm going in a slightly different direction and focussing on broad appeal to gamers.

The idea will be various items that appeal to gamers:
- Mini Expansions
- Promo Cards
- Component upgrades
- Component bags
- Card Sleeves
- Etc.

Thoughts? Ideas for other types of things you'd like to see in such a box?

Orangebeard
Offline
Joined: 10/13/2011
Open Source or Fruit of the Month?

I think I preferred the box of generic components with rules for games over the "broad appeal" idea.

Just some thoughts here...no particular order

Definitely an interesting idea and the logistics are probably manageable

I am picturing more of a "game of the month" club concept here, however the idea of an expandable universe is interesting.

Assuming there is some kind of basic rule set / guidelines, it might be possible to develop an "open source" gaming community around this idea; this would probably require some kind of forum or website where people share / collaborate on ideas for the box contents;

the above idea would probably need a standard "open use" license

Depending on how well it is managed, it might be possible for the box to showcase a designer, artist or component. Possibly, as the result of an art or design contest.

My gut reaction would be to start with a quartely box and grow towards a monthly box. Generating fresh content on a monthly basis would probably be challenging until the idea takes off

Domestic and Int'l shipping costs could add up; it may take some time to figure out a good subscription price.

In some respects, this sounds like an "open publishing" concept where you will publish anything provided the game uses nothing more than the components in the box.

From a business perspective, this would probably be a slow ramp up to profitability. Figure 6-12 months to set everything up and maybe 1-3 years to drive subscriptions to the level that you are making money? Sadly, I know nothing about magazine or "of the month" business models...

Interesting idea!

Syndicate content


forum | by Dr. Radut