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Advice for approaching publishers

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Sun, 12/18/2016 - 16:49
Dravvin
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Over the Xmas break I plan to get ask my ducks in order so I can shortlist some publishers to contact in January. I have 3 that I definately want to approach and have a direct contact for 2 of them.

What I now need to do is make sure my email pitch is enticing. Other than the basics (# players, duration, ages, uniqueness, components, etc) is there anything else that I should include?

I've got written feedback from more than 20 different playtesters that are all strangers from public (non selected) and blind (selected for suitability, but never met in person) Playtesting. I asked each of them in its current form what bgg rating would you give it. My average is 6.8 do you think this is worth including? I've improved the game based on all this feedback so I'm hoping I'll now get a higher rating.

Should I include favorable quotes from these playtesters in my original email?

Anything else that would be a great hook that I should include?

I've got a sell sheet and if anyone has the time to look at it that also would be really helpful (https://goo.gl/efGBvA)

TIA

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Sun, 12/18/2016 - 16:54
#1
Gabe
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Good resources for how to

Good resources for how to talk to publishers:

http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/getting-published/#talking

Good resources for making awesome sell sheets:

http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/getting-published/#sell

Good luck with this process! It can be rather daunting, so don't give up if you get a lot of rejection.

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Sun, 12/18/2016 - 17:54
#2
Dravvin
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Thanks Gabe - have been

Thanks Gabe - have been looking at James Mathe and Cardboard Edison and was looking for more detailed information - that looks like a fantastic resource. Thank-you :)

BTW - current sell sheet upload. Any comments appreciated whilst I dig into the links you've suggested :)

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Sun, 12/18/2016 - 19:27
#3
radioactivemouse
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Hmmm...

Dravvin wrote:
Over the Xmas break I plan to get ask my ducks in order so I can shortlist some publishers to contact in January. I have 3 that I definately want to approach and have a direct contact for 2 of them.

What I now need to do is make sure my email pitch is enticing. Other than the basics (# players, duration, ages, uniqueness, components, etc) is there anything else that I should include?

I've got written feedback from more than 20 different playtesters that are all strangers from public (non selected) and blind (selected for suitability, but never met in person) Playtesting. I asked each of them in its current form what bgg rating would you give it. My average is 6.8 do you think this is worth including? I've improved the game based on all this feedback so I'm hoping I'll now get a higher rating.

Should I include favorable quotes from these playtesters in my original email?

Anything else that would be a great hook that I should include?

I've got a sell sheet and if anyone has the time to look at it that also would be really helpful (https://goo.gl/efGBvA)

TIA

Well...the first thing I see is that your title is hard to read. I totally 'get" the "ai" in Maiden, but you used outline, which is very hard to read at normal distances (readability is incredibly important). Either capitalize "ai" or use something that's not outline.

Check this example: https://cf.geekdo-images.com/images/pic441579.jpg

The real title is "Fist of Dragonstones" not "Fist of Dragonst Ones", which is very easily misread.

Second, my personal advice to reaching publishers is to find and meet them in person. It gives a face to the name and connects you to the game. For example, I live in California. It would have been insane to get my game reviewed by Dice Tower. So I decided to try and meet them in person by going to GenCon and BGG Con. It was a bear to accomplish, but I got there. When I did, not only did I meet some of the guys in Dice Tower, they pulled my game out of their queue to review it, which would have probably have been left in the dust.

Anyways, that's what I'd say.

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Sun, 12/18/2016 - 20:25
#4
witnessoftruth
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Sell sheet

As far as copy and grammar the sell sheet looks great, i have no experience with the actual design features common in the industry.

I can only speak to what I know, and from a writing/editing side the sheet is great. If you have anything else you would want me to look over feel free to reach out via private message.

I wish you the best of luck in seeing The Maiden's Voyage realized as a published game in the very near future.

Kind Regards,
Dave

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Wed, 01/04/2017 - 09:26
#5
Dravvin
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Thank-you Dave. And everyone

Thank-you Dave. And everyone else who has commented. Fingers crossed!

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