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Pilot project for XTG3 licensing

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questccg
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I am proud to announce that, a joint effort with my Publisher "Outer Limit Games", we are piloting the first "XTG3" product using this designation.

Now XTG3 is more than just an acronym for "eXpandable Tabletop Game", it is an Open designation to identify and distinguish games that have been designed for Expansion from Day 1 (Design & Inception).

For now we are using BGG as the landing page for our site: www.xtg3.org

However in the future, we will be wanting to complement this with our OWN website featuring a listing of all the games and their level of licensing.

We are happy that our pilot project will be the FIRST XTG3 licensed product to be on the market...

Note: If you want more information concerning using the Open designation, please feel free to respond to this notice or PM me directly (questccg).

I Will Never Gr...
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Interesting ..

But what does it all mean? Will it catch on?

Could you explain it in better detail?

XTG3 is quite a mouthfull.

Stormyknight1976
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3?

What does the 3 stand for in your acronym?

Gabe
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Stormyknight1976 wrote:What

Stormyknight1976 wrote:
What does the 3 stand for in your acronym?

I was wondering the same thing.

questccg
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More detail...

I Will Never Grow Up Gaming wrote:
But what does it all mean? Could you explain it in better detail?

Ever wanted to design an expandable game? Well if so, you'll note that there is a designation for "Card Games Only". It's well known and call Living Card Game. Or LCG for short. But this term A> Applies only to Card Games and B> Is copyright "Fantasy Flight Games".

So there was a terminology used to describe "Expandable Card Games" but the designation cannot be freely used. So what I have done to rectify this - is create an OPEN designation, FREE to use by qualifying games (and what I mean by qualifying is ensuring that the games are designed for expansion) and will provide three (3) different levels of licensing.

So 1> It's FREE and 2> It's good for all Tabletop Games that were created with the goal of having expansions.

There are three (3) levels of licensing

Level 1: Closed licensing.

This means that the game will be expanded upon by the original designer and/or his/her publisher.

Level 2: Partial licensing.

This means that the a point of contact will be made available to submit new expansion ideas. This opens up the possibility of expansion submissions by other designers in addition to being expanded upon by the original designer and/or his/her publisher.

Level 3: Open licensing.

For this last level of licensing, the designer and/or his/her publisher will make available content to help brand and create expansions freely and release them to the public. Guides and templates may be provided to ensure that end-users can create designs of their own for a particular game. It also includes the possibility to be expanded upon by the original designer and/or his/her publisher in addition to providing a point of contact for submissions.

Each game using the XTG3 licensing will be protected by an EULA (End-User License Agreement) which will protect both the original designer and/or his/her publisher from "undesirable" content being branded as part of a game's family.

This ensures that while offering the opportunity to collaborate, this does not tie the hands of the original designer and/or his/her publisher and force them to publish content they feel may be "inferior in quality", is in some way "undesirable", or even "inappropriate" for a particular brand/game.

To mark the games XTG3 we provide Hi-Res logos that can be used by "core" products and their "expansions". As such two (2) logos are available for immediate use on boxes and in rulebooks.

I Will Never Grow Up Gaming wrote:
Will it catch on?

Well from past experience, if we educate the store owners about the "Expandability by design" of certain games - this means that people might become more aware of the OPEN STANDARD. It also means that a product can be extended in lifespan by using the different levels of licensing.

For certain we are going to use it for "Tradewars - Homeworld" and all the various "cores" and "expansions" made available for the game. We're hoping this positive use of the open standard will encourage other people NOT to create their own designation but use one that has a family of games and also stands to protect the original designer and/or his/her publisher

I Will Never Grow Up Gaming wrote:
XTG3 is quite a mouthful.

Over the years, I have heard many designers use their OWN terminology: Expandable Card Game (ECG), Semi-Collectible Card Game (SCCG), Designer Card Game (DCG), Expandable Modular Game (EMG) to Growing Card Game (GCG).

While all "nice" they don't offer a PLATFORM for "growth" via licensing as XTG3 does. They also offer no protection because there is no licensing that comes with those designations.

The EULA will be made pending the outcome of our sale of "Tradewars - Homeworld". If it is a success, I will contact a lawyer and have the EULA officially written up and make it available on BGG.

Only time will tell how many people are willing to adopt this open naming standard... It's far more organized than just a term: it means something that your game is governed by XTG3 licensing.

questccg
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Three Levels of Licensing!

Gabe wrote:
Stormyknight1976 wrote:
What does the 3 stand for in your acronym?

I was wondering the same thing.

Three (3) Levels of Licensing: Level 1> Closed, Level 2> Partial and Level 3> Open...

See one of the "fundamental" principles is that when you release a game, you are all "excited" in thinking about new and other ways to grow your brand. As such you are probably looking at Level 1 (Closed) licensing.

But in a couple of years with a bunch of expansions - you might peak in terms of new ideas and design. Level 2 (Partial) licensing opens things up and allows other designers to get in on the action. This usually will breathe new life to "core" products via submitted ideas for partial licensing.

Move forwards maybe to five years, your game has plateaued and sales of the game have dropped. Level 3 (Open) licensing opens up the floodgates and stimulates a community driven spirit of new "expansions" developed by all kinds of designers (and from around the world). Again this makes "core" products key in that sales for these "cores" may increase due to all of the new "expansions" that have been made possible. This may extend lifespan of a game from five (5) to maybe seven (7) years...

ElKobold
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< skeptic mode on >

< skeptic mode on >

questccg
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Proof is in the pudding...

ElKobold wrote:
< skeptic mode on >

We've already taken the "core" game for "Tradewars - Homeworld" and created two (2) expansions that will be release in late 2017 or early 2018. So one (1) "core" and two (2) "expansions".

I also have a design with another newer "core" which will feature two (2) other "expansions" as well.

That will put our game by 2020 to have two (2) "cores" and four (4) "expansions".

Our Publisher "Outer Limit Games" is pumped to have this game in their line-up and to be real honest, they are seriously looking at how this game can GROW and not just the game but the brand.

So you can be skeptical all you want - we're so far booked up until 2020 with new and exciting expansions to our product.


I have a third (3rd) "core" concept - but I'm not certain how to market it yet. I have some ideas, but because of restrictions to the production of artwork on a "resaonable" schedule, the product "core" may either A> Take longer or B> Require two "cores" instead of one.

ElKobold
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There's usually one thing

There's usually one thing which determines if the game should get an expansion. It's sales.

Reason I`m skeptical is that you seem to be placing a cart in front of a horse. I hope I`m wrong. Best of luck to you.

Stormyknight1976
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@ Questccg

Okay. Sounds interesting. How much per license and how much for a total package for all three?

For me this XTG3 license is what I have been working on for my game Dymino Monsters.

Years ago I to was looking for the right terminology to call my game. Tcg, ccg, lcg, is what was the norm during the mid nineties and late 2014 and still is. When I was researching fantasy flight games terminology for their card games I read about their new term for lcg.

Living Card Game: 80 cards to use during game play and to do one spell or action you needed four cards to one card to do one action. I get it but I didn't understand the game mechanic to waste so many cards on one action or two.

I do like the 80 cards in a deck to get more random cards during game play, but the term lcg was licensed so I borrowed the 80 deck count idea and used that to my advantage and took out their four for one mechanic.

When the theme and genre began to take shape for my game , I started using my own term ( n.c.c.g). Novel Customization Card Game. So instead of using my term to say that I have 80 cards that have tons of expansions or chapter decks that follow a path , should I just change my terminology n.c.c.g. to xtg3?

Stormy

questccg
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Let me know if you need more clarification!

Stormyknight1976 wrote:
Okay. Sounds interesting. How much per license and how much for a total package for all three?

The designation is FREE to use - if you want to have "expansions" for your game. The license will be FREE too. There is no cost involved.

Stormyknight1976 wrote:
For me this XTG3 license is what I have been working on for my game Dymino Monsters.

We can certainly allow you to use the XTG3 license for Dymino Monsters.

Stormyknight1976 wrote:
I do like the 80 cards in a deck to get more random cards during game play, but the term lcg was licensed so I borrowed the 80 deck count idea and used that to my advantage and took out their four for one mechanic.

If you have a "core" product and want to release "expansions" much like the LCG format, XTG3 can allow you to do this. From what I know about your game, you could have a "core" with 80 cards + maybe 1 Playmat. Then you could design "expansions" for the "core" with a preset amount of "NON-RANDOMIZED" sets. Like "Expansion #1: 25 cards, The Blue Group", "Expansion #2: 25 cards, The Red Group", etc.

But at any point in time, you can release a 2nd "core" product and it has 80 new cards + a new Playmat for some other area of the game. Then you can produce expansions as you see fit (see example above).

Stormyknight1976 wrote:
When the theme and genre began to take shape for my game , I started using my own term ( n.c.c.g). Novel Customization Card Game. So instead of using my term to say that I have 80 cards that have tons of expansions or chapter decks that follow a path , should I just change my terminology n.c.c.g. to xtg3?

Well it's pretty simple, if you want the game to be XTG3 and so that people know that your game will be expandable, all you need to do is use the XTG3 logos. You can of course STATE that your game will be an "Expandable" game...

And in your case I believe you want Level 1 (Closed) licensing which means YOU will be designing a "core" and offer "expansions". This means YOU (@Jesse) will be the one producing "expansions".

Private Message (PM) - I'd be happy to discuss further... But I think your game would be a good MATCH for XTG3 licensing. Probably starting with Level 1.

Cheers.


If you want to start the process, we should discuss HOW you plan to release your game. IF you were thinking about LCG, know that XTG3 was designed to "surpass" while still offering the same "concept" as LCG: "core" + "expansions".

So if you had been thinking about using that sales format - XTG3 is a perfect match. It's meant exactly for those type of Tabletop Games.


Also you need to understand the "basic" model behind XTG3: selling MORE "core". Why do we ADD "expansions"? The answer is simple: so that more people PLAY the "core" game. The principles behind XTG3 are very powerful. So as some people seem to think, "expansions" are designed based on VOLUME of sales. Yes in the OLD WAY of designing this is TRUE.

But not with XTG3 licensing. "Expansions" build and even GROW volume of sales. They also add layers of replayability. It allows you to take a "simple core" and build upon it - adding more depth and strategy to the "core" game.

So in your mind, when you design a "Chapter Deck" let's assume this is your "core". It comes with a bunch of cards, a Player Mat (would be cool...) and maybe some dice and markers. Do you have Player Pads (like something to keep track of the score???) That could ALL be packaged into your first "core" "Chapter Deck". So everything you need to PLAY the game. And if you game is a DUEL, well then you'll need enough cards for 2 Players.

That could be your FIRST "core" "Chapter Deck". This is just an example...

You are FREE to explore whatever card counts make sense for YOUR game.

All the XTG3 license does is A> Protect YOUR Brand B> Say that your game has been DESIGNED for Expansion.

And in the case of Dymino Monster, I believe this is the case. What you really need to "work on" is defining YOUR "core". Is this a 2 Player "Chapter Deck" with a bunch of components??? Can you have MORE players: maybe 4 Players per "Chapter Deck"... That could REALLY increase the VALUE of your "core".

If perhaps you have 50 cards per player x4 Players = 200 cards. Plus some dice, markers, score pads, etc. And you've got a SOLID "core"! Something WORTHWHILE selling and "re-selling" in the future.

The fundamental principle is this "core" + (PLUS) "expansions".

So you always need ONE (1) "core" and add how many other expansions you like to play the game...

P.S.: We should talk more about how you plan to setup your game. This gives you an example and some ideas...

Cheers!

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