Question about marketing a game idea

[The diplomat]

I came up with two excellent ideas for a board game. The ideas are pretty well thought through on paper. I have worked out the rules and such.

I am just curious. Hypothetically, if I wanted to market the ideas into board games, what would I have to do? I guess that I'd have to copyright the ideas, and then try to sale them to a company that makes board games. Am I close?

[Cruddy]

a) Write the best description you can.

b) Include pictures/design idea for the board and pieces.

c) Playtest with friends.

d) Rewrite the description and designs to account for the playtesting.

Once you've gone through the cycle a few times, and have a witnessed, dated description, you can think about approaching a company with the idea.

[The diplomat]

Originally posted by Cruddy
a) Write the best description you can.

b) Include pictures/design idea for the board and pieces.

c) Playtest with friends.

d) Rewrite the description and designs to account for the playtesting.

Once you've gone through the cycle a few times, and have a witnessed, dated description, you can think about approaching a company with the idea.

thanks.

[Japher]

You can find a lot of examples of "design documents" on the web for just such a thing, diplomat...

[Inverse Icarus]

yes, have a working demo thats been through a ton of playtesting / balancing. good luck

[Zopperoni]

I suppose the first step would be researching whether or not there will be (reasonable) demand for these games of yours.

You might think it's great and cool, but if no-one else does, then it's still going to flop.

[Japher]

no game will flop if you just add a little sex appeal

[Inverse Icarus]

Originally posted by Japher
no game will flop if you just add a little sex appeal

or make it a drinking game. ever play civ3 where every 5 turns, the lowest scoring person takes a shot?


fun fun fun!

[Japher]

I play Civ 3 where every turn I have to chugg a beer. Never make it to far, so I try and start if far enough a long so that the turns are pretty long...

[The diplomat]

Originally posted by Zopperoni
I suppose the first step would be researching whether or not there will be (reasonable) demand for these games of yours.

You might think it's great and cool, but if no-one else does, then it's still going to flop.

I know. The problem with most board games is that they often require 5 or more people to play. Since it is not always easy to get that many people to sit down and play, many board games don't have a lot of demand.

That is why I plan to have a variation where only 1 or 2 people are needed. This will mean that people will be more likely to be able to play it. This should increase interest and demand.

[The diplomat]

Originally posted by Japher
no game will flop if you just add a little sex appeal

I am not sure sex appeal would fit very well in the theme of the games.

Of course, I could maybe decorate the side of the board with pictures of girls in bikinis, that might work.
I could call it the "special college edition".

[Urban Ranger]

The appeal of board games lie with the social elements, that's why you see so many simple, beer and pretzel type games. Gorgnard (sp?) games aren't really very popular.

[The diplomat]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Gorgnard (sp?) games aren't really very popular.

What do you mean by "gorgnard games"? Could you explain? Do you mean games that require a lot of serious thinking?

[Urban Ranger]

Games that only diehards play. Complex rules, high degree of realism (where appropiate) and lots of serious thinking.

[DeathByTheSword]

like north & south, Colonist from Catan and Civilization Board game

my favorite 3 board games...