Reality check for myself please help

Haven't you only been working on this game for less than a month? And you're done testing it already? Are you sure?

I don't think it's that tough. It's a business arrangement: they take care of getting the game to a retailer for you, and you give them a piece of the action.

I'm sorry for how this is going to sound, but I think what you're going to end up showing them is that making game publication decisions too hastily leads to a garage full of unsold games. In my opinion, the best lesson you can teach your kids is about the fun of gaming and the satisfaction of having designed a fun game that friends and family like. Turning into a business is a whole different ball game, and in my opinion, isn't necessarily the best end result of the process. Putting dollar signs in their eyes is going to raise false expectations in them, and may sour them to the whole hobby if the sales part crashes and burns.

I urge you to read Tom Vasel's recent interview with Jim Doherty of Eight Foot Llama games. It's here. In particular, check out this section:

On a scale of 1-10, how much do you agree with the following statements:
(1=Not at all, 10=Completely)
- I have started a serious business before.
- I have business training.
- I've done extensive research into the game business. I know who all the companies are, what they make, and why my product is distinctly different from theirs.
- I am at least 90% sure there is a significant national/international demand for my game.
- I have $20,000 of cash lying around; and if I lost every penny, that would not stress me out.
- I can easily devote 20 hours a week to the business.
- I can easily travel 20 days per year for the business.
- I am a people-person; I really enjoy talking socially with strangers.
- I don't take rejection seriously or personally.
- I enjoy salesmanship, marketing and self-promotion.
- Bureaucracy does not bother me (government interaction, customs, taxes, etc.).
- Minutiae does not bother me (inventory valuation, counting receipts, data entry, etc.).
- I'm comfortable when critical things are completely out of my control (your game printer, your convention organizers, your contractors, your lawyer, anyone you hire to help you out).
- I don't get frustrated easily.
- I can keep a sense of humor no matter what happens.
- I can do all of the above while balancing my real job, family, and friends for at least 3 years, which is about the earliest you can hope to break even in your business.

That's 16 questions off the top of my head. If you rate yourself on these, you'd probably want to be over 100 total or else you might not enjoy starting a game publishing business enough to make it worthwhile -- and even then, you have to consider all the financial risks very seriously.

This is just my opinion, but I think you need to slow waaaay down. Selling games is difficult. Do you know for sure that there are people out there who want to buy the game? Have you played it with people other than friends and family? Have folks played the game without you being there to explain the rules?

I wish you the best of luck, and take my advice or leave it, but I really think that there's no need to rush. A great game will sell, but there's a lot of legwork to do first to be sure that your game is in that category (and there's nothing wrong if it's not. Again, you and your family like it, and that's a worthy accomplishment).

-Jeff

Six to eight weeks for a submission review is very, very, very reasonable. You could always them send a copy of your prototype. Their comments and insights might prove invaluable, even when you decide to self publish.

It's understandable that you are excited about the game, but really, why the rush?

Hmm, I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing. I suspect that I could probably think of 20 publishers if I tried, but it would be a bit of a stretch. Do you mean that you pitched your game to 20 publishers, or that you contacted 20 printers and/or distributors for quotes on having them print/distribute the game for you? A publisher is a company that will handle all aspects of the production: you give them the game idea, and they will design artwork for it, print it, sell it under their brand name, and give you a percent of the royalties. Do you really mean that you contacted 20 companies like that? Which ones?

-Jeff

I dont think that is even feasible but if you have contacts for that than please share as I would be more than willing to split it with you.

Well, of course, such companies exist -- look at any game in your closet, or at Wal Mart. Each one was produced by a publisher. You're attempting to become publisher yourself, but another common route to getting a game produced is to find an established publisher who is interested in the game and convince them to handle the publication for you. Think of it in terms of book publishing: writers don't often (ever?) handle the printing/marketing/distribution of their books; they just write the books, and publishers handle the business aspects. The game industry is very similar.

There are downsides to using a publisher: less control over the product, less percentage of income. You might look through the archives in the discussion forums for more discussion about this.

As to which publisher to submit the game to, the best bet is usually to do your homework and find out which companies have games that are similar to the one you're producing (e.g. don't submit a Candyland-like game to "Nothing but Wargames, Inc."). One way to find such companies is to use the 'Geek -- www.boardgamegeek.com. Do a search for games that you know are similar to yours, and find out who published them. That should give you some starting points for publishers to contact.

I continue to think you're making decisions too hastily, but as I've said that several times now, I'll trust that I've made my point and let the cards fall where they may.

Good luck.

-Jeff