When you publish a game yourself, Do you have to get the parts etc. approved by some safety body?
Would this cover worldwide or you have to go through each country?
Product parts safety approved?
Mon, 02/27/2017 - 16:50
Mon, 02/27/2017 - 16:58
#1
Not necessary
First of all your product must be for kids aged 13+. If your audience is younger, you will need to get some kind of certification that the game is okay for younger players. I believe this cost several thousand dollars. And you will probably have to put a "Choking Hazard" on the rear of the box if there are small parts such as dice, tokens, pawns and markers.
Your other option is to let a Publisher worry about all these details and all you need to focus on is making a FUN game.
Tue, 02/28/2017 - 18:24
#3
13+ only
So what happens if you use a printer in China with this product selling approval?
The fact is SIMPLE: You need to state on the BOX that the game is 13+ years of age... You cannot market to a younger audience. It doesn't matter where you get it made - it matters where you SELL the game.
That's why games made by people who self-publish or are from smaller publisher simply state that the game is for 13+ years.
Got it?
Tue, 02/28/2017 - 18:24
#4
boardgameguru wrote:So what
So what happens if you use a printer in China with this product selling approval?, for the board box and cards and a timer which actually I was going to make unique but this will cost a lot but found ten second ones that will do.
Incidentally it is more than a nightmare looking at all the Chinese printers on Alibaba who to choose?
Or is it better to use like Ludofact?
Don't use Alibaba, go directly to a list of actual, proven games manufacturers here - http://www.jamesmathe.com/hitchhikers-guide-to-game-manufacturers/
As for testing, if you're marketing to anyone under 13 in North America or (I believe) 14 in Europe, you need to have testing. This will cost several thousand dollars and is absolutely not worthwhile for an indie game. Most manufacturers will assure you that their products are/have been certified but getting proof of that becomes more difficult (and if I recall will cost you more money again).
If your game is (clearly) not being marketed to young children, simply rate it 13+ and be done with it.
Wed, 03/01/2017 - 19:07
#7
Publisher numbers
Must cost Iello Games a ton of cash then!
Publishers have much different "numbers" than Self-Published Designers.
For example:
One (1) game retailed for $50 USD x 10,000 units sold = $500k retail. OR $160k wholesale.
So if they PLAN to make $160k on a game - they have the money needed to pay for the accreditation for younger players.
But remember this is a Publisher's numbers. They have better capacity to sell to FLGSs around the USA, Canada and Europe.
As a Self-Publisher designer - the numbers are NOT the same. For your first game(s) I would recommend trying to get a Large Publisher to resell your game.
Cheers.
Wed, 03/01/2017 - 20:54
#8
Also regarding safety
Also regarding safety testing, in the US you would most likely qualify for an exemption.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Business--Manufacturing/Small-Business-Resources/Sm...
There may be similar exemptions in other counties as well.
So what happens if you use a printer in China with this product selling approval?, for the board box and cards and a timer which actually I was going to make unique but this will cost a lot but found ten second ones that will do.
Incidentally it is more than a nightmare looking at all the Chinese printers on Alibaba who to choose?
Or is it better to use like Ludofact?