I want to create a board game! Where do I go?

Question

Specifically, I have an idea for a board game and want to sell it myself. Anyone know a company that will produce the game and drop ship it for you? If not... how bout an affordable way to get the game made?

Answer 1

There is a wealth of information on this topic at the Board Game Designer's Forum -- http://www.bgdf.com

My recommendations:

1) Go to http://www.bgdf.com. It's the Board Games Designer's Forum. Everyone there is doing or trying to do exactly what you want to do -- make a game and bring it to market. They have a bunch of great resources that you will need if you seriously want your game to succeed.

2) Though it is a little dated, I recommend getting and reading a copy of Brian Tinsman's "The Game Inventor's Guidebook" It has several great ideas in it, as well as some signs that you might want to design a game for all the wrong reasons Additionally it has profiles of several game designers, and talks about how they succeeded in bringing their games to market.

3) Make a prototype. Test it with friends. Tweak it a little. Then test it with strangers. Your friends and family won't want to hurt your feelings... but strangers are your actual market -- if strangers can't understand it without you explaining every niggling little detail while they play, or don't enjoy it, then you have serious need to re-tool your game.

4) Added bonus -- check out BoardGameGeek.com and look for games that might be like yours. Unfortunately, you might find that someone else has already made your game, or made a better version of your game. It's best if you find that out sooner rather than later.

Remember -- there are over 500 new games that come out every year that aren't Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Clue, or Sorry.

Answer 2

Depending on how far along you are in the designing phase, if you have everything finished, i.e game objective, rules, board layout, pieces involved in the game, etc. I would recommend contacting a local hobby shop, preferably one that is a chain. There have been many games created, and then sold at hobby shops and then grown to sell on the international market. They might have ideas for you, or give you contacts. Another route to go is straight to the top, contact Parker Brothers or Milton Bradley

Answer 3

Do a search on creating board games. There are a lot of blog entries and testimonials from others who have gone this route. Learn from their successes and failures. My number one piece of advice is realize what you can and can't do... find people who can help you do the things you can't.

Answer 4

google look up create my own board game