Success Stories

Thanks bitraven - I love the B-Movie games

Was the turn to get into board games by your own choice or the changing of the market from CCGs to board games? Just curious, as I changed from wanting to create CCGs back in the late 90's to board game design now.

-Steve

Hi, Svan: To be honest I never wanted to get into CCGs but wanted Shadowfist. So my goal was to bring that game back and possibly only do that. However, while it does generate a profit, I found myself needing to do other games in order to keep the game company dream alive. Doing another CCG would have been expensive and without a license, would have been hard as heck, especially for a one-man company. A lot goes into a CCG - after it comes to market!

I lucked into Grave Robbers and from that peopel send me submissions and I choose what I like and what I think I can sell. Every game I've done came from an outside designer.

I understand where you are coming from then. I don't think it's feasable to do a CCG anymore, unless you have a great license or it's targeted for kids. Once I figured that out, I stop designing them. But I still play them, although it's getting farther and farther apart now.

I think if I was to do a CCG, I would probably bring one back that didn't make it, and my favorite of all CCG's was Guardians. I am glad though that you took a chance and brought back Shadowfist. It was a game that was unique enough that it is worth playing.

Good luck in your search for new games. As Fos said, there's a lot in the Journals and in the Game Design Workshop which I would love to see on a shelf someday.

***Absolutely I would love to look at new stuff - and people sending it to me rather than me searching for hours through posts and such would be wonderful. HOWEVER, please understand I have some caveats - mainly to save you and me time, also, based on what I have learned about the industry, what I think can sell, etc. Please read these all (and I'm sure I'll leave something out):

1) I have a new product submission guideline that must be signed to protect both of us. Email me at the above email Fos provided.

2) You may give a brief synopsis about the game - general theme and type of game (board, card, etc) even before you sign the submission agreement - to see if I'm interested.

3) I look for unique or non-saturated themes and unique mechanics. If you're going to give me a fantasy boardgame, you better tell me why you think it's better than the hundreds of fantasy boardgames out there (different take on it, explores a particular fantasy none have done before, unique mechanic, etc.) - don't tell me it's great cause your family and friends say so (see point 7). Basically, find a theme which hasn't been done to death.

4) I don't want any CCGs, unless you got a totally unique mechanic - and even then the theme better be special (are you seeing a pattern here :)
I will love non-collectible card games, and especially boardgames - Euro-style or not. But again, theme will matter.

5) I am a one-man company. My friends are far away from me - so it will take me time to look over and playtest materials. So please be patient. Very patient. I will try not to keep you waiting more than a few months without some update. I will most likely read the rules first, gain some impression on that, then see about scheduling a playtesting session. I go to a lot of conventions and I may try the game there with visiting fans.

6) My company is small: budgetary considerations are foremost in my mind. Don't send me a game that will require Axis and Allies stlye and quantity of pieces. Most likely I will be doing a 3000-5000 game print run. I look to do things that are no more than $15K. (And yes, games can be done for that price; don't let others tell you differently).

7) Please do not tell me this game is bound to sell thousands of copies cause your friends and family think it's the best thing since sliced bread. I don't want to sound snarky or anything, but I get this from nearly all submissions - as do most other companies. We will not buy the game on that endorsement nor will it make us look at the game quicker. But it's nice to know your family and friends love you and thus say good things about your work :)

8) While every deal could be different my usual is this: I keep first monies to help pay the printer and other immediate expenses bringing the game to market (freight, art, etc). Then you get a royalty of sales beyond that, usually of the wholesale cost of the game: FYI, distributors get 60% discount off the retail price so a $20 game yields $8 wholesale.

9) You may send the game via email if viable: meaning if I can play the game form materials you email (cards to cut out), rules to read, etc. cool. Otherwise you'll need to snail me a hard copy prototype to test with.
I do not need a finished game, but I'd like one that is pretty darn close. Also, expect honest assessment of the game, plus be agreeable to certain changes that I feel will make it better - you can talk me out of it via providing a good argument: I'm easythat way.

My contact info is:
zmangames@shadowfist.com
6 Alan Drive
Mahopac, NY 10541
845-208-3502
fax 845-208-3503

I think that should cover most things. If you have questions, please email me - the private message thing I'll probably miss.

Take care!

Hello all
I had two games professionally developed from my ideas years ago. THe company showed them at toy fairs yearly and I even had one in a major store here in UK for two an dhalf years. That was a bout ten years ago.
The other game was nearly taken up with a Canadian company who were going to publish it and also make a tv show with it. Then a new executive filled the old executives shoes and they chose the other game to do.
Oh what a frustrating life this is to some people. I think I even invented some new swear words at the time.
Anyway can't do anything about that now but hey things could have been different a lot different.
So my enthusiasm for inventing games went down the toilet. But now I have my enthusiasm back again and am submitting something to someone and I am working on a party game and card game I just thougt of when I have time that is after the droll of having to go to work.
Not only that Games International is being published again and I used to love that mag. Still do.
Anway I think my contracts are up with my development company for my games so I think I can do what I like with them now.
I have to find out about this.
So keep your chins up you lot and congrats to anyone who are publishing or have got deals. It is a triumph.
BGG

Hello Zman and all
Zman do you do party type games as cannot see any as such in your current portfolio?
Also who are the artists you use for games as art looks good on them?
Cheers
BGG

But I'm willing to look at it and make a better determination based on the game.

Also who are the artists you use for games as art looks good on them?
CheersBGG

****Again, I'm not averse to trying out new things. However, if the party game cannot be easily sold in the hobby market, it would be difficult for me to place it anywhere else: I don't have contacts at mass market places - assuming the game has potential in those markets.

******I use many artists for my various projects and am always looking out for more. Sometimes I spend several hours scanning art portfolio websites to see who I like and I email them to see if they are interested. Sites like epilogue.net and there is another, fantasy-based one - Elfland or something.

And people email me with links to their online portfolio.

When I am ready for a project, I check my records to see who will most likely fit the bill for the style and theme I'm looking for.

Plus I make sure I actually pay these guys so that they are willing to continue to do work for me :)

EDIT: I moved my first response to the outside of the original quote.