I have been working on a print and play website for some time now, and am looking to unviel some time around June 30th; but till then I would like to tap your ideas and see if I couldn't make sure to include some features that you would like to see in a print and play website.
So I am asking simply for some ideas that you would like to see in a Print and Play website.
These are the planned features:
1) High Quality Games with High Quality graphics. I hate pnp websites because you have to sift through so much garbage in order to find anything you would really want to pay for. (Usually)
2)Video showing how the game is played.
3)Tutorials and instruction on how to cheaply make and assemble the pnp games.
4)Paper miniatures, for war games and fantasy games.
5)Printable Terrain, like cottages, doors, chests, etc.
6)A forum for users to talk about the games, give suggestions, feedback, and write wishlists.
7)Clean, well designed website. One that doesn't hurt the eyes hopefully.
8)Take part of my net income and reinvest it to advertisment so people who submit games get more for their time and effort. I envision if I can get several high quality games that each sell moderatley well, then pool my net (Not the authors net) then I will have some serious advertising power to get more sales and attract more designers to submit games.
9)Show a lot of images of the game, so buyers know what they are getting.
These are just a few of my thoughts, any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Also I am still accepting game submission ;) so pm me if interested.
Concerning Hight Quality Graphics:
I have actually thought about some solutions to the High Quality Graphics, and here they are.
1st. If I like the game enough I am actually willing to either buy graphics or design them myself. I would retain the rights to the artwork in this case, and get more of a cut from the sale of the product. But it would allow me to matain the high quality graphics even if the designer can't design them.
2nd. There are a lot of graphics artists who want to be in the industry but don't know where to start... This would be a good place to build a resume and collaborate with a designer. So in the forum section I would also offer a collaboration section for artists and designers to get together.
Concerning Providing Printed Copies:
This really depends on the profit margin. If I find there is high enough demand I will be more than willing to provide fully professionally made versions of the game. Maybe do a pre-order system where if I can get so many preorder commits than we will produce the game for you. That sort of thing.
Also I have planned to keep most of my profit circulating back into the business, so if there is enough profit I would even buy the equipment to make small batches myself, that way we wouldn't have to do huge runs to still make profit. Something along the lines of Guild of Blades.
So Dralius knowing your concerns about graphics is awesome, because now I will make it a point to advertise to designers that if your game is good enough I will provide the graphics.
Second, on the forums I will open a post right from the beginning polling the community as to their interest in buying a fully assembled game for more money.
Any other thoughts or concerns? Also still accepting game submissions :)