Page 1 of how do i get a board game manufactured?

I`ve invented a board game, that let`s say was `inspired` by monopoly, it`s with a crime twist though, i`ve knocked up a small prototype but now i have no idea as to the next step, ie. should i approach game manufacturers directly? If so, which ones?Or get some sort of agent before i do that?

Have a look at this blog to see examples of games `inspired` by monopoly.
www.matthewhealey.com/brand_blog_janfeb04.html

This item was edited on Saturday, 18th December 2004, 20:27

I would be very wary of approaching games companies as once you divulge your game they just say "NO or we will think about it", and if its a good idea they will incorporate into a similar style, ie, your game is not copyright.

Similarly trying to go through an agent is also very diccy especially in the game, book, or product (invention) market as you can easily be ripped off on this as well.

There are many agency firms making a good living on the hopes and dreams of hopefull inventors, game makers and book writers in this country.

You put money up front and maybe one in a thousand customers wins out, so that makes them legitimate, but the other 999 customers lose everything, money and even worse, their dream.

They can string you along for years trying to `market your product` or `even sell you out because the competition do not want the idea on the market`

Trying to get a game, book or any product on the market is very difficult and usually the best and only solution is to possibly copyright the item and make it yourself if you have the capital or go to one of those new buisness ventures, to try for a grant.

Its all still a very risky game (if you pardon the pun).

PS .....Just thought, another way you could get advice is to log onto the `big idea` website and find a contact there to discuss what to do next, at least you wil get indipendant advice there.

This item was edited on Saturday, 18th December 2004, 23:29

Quote:
"only solution is to possibly copyright the item"
You can`t copyright anything, however you can be the copyright holder on anything you have written or developed.

But you have to prove that you are the originator of what you created, which can sometimes be done by mailing a transcript to yourself with stamps over the envelope flap. So by stamping them the Royal Mail help you have a sealed container that shows the date which is harder to fake than other methods.

Or you can get a solicitor to hold it for you in their safe, or something.

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best luck for the futur m8, hope it pans out for you

ps my freind in the pub invented a game you got loads of plastic chps with biscuits on them you then had to put them in a board (just like connect 4) in a row of four. instead of starting off with al the chips tough, you had to earn them by answering questions on biscuits (so if you didnt answer the last question you didnt have a chip this round s you were at a disavantage. it was for up to four players (choc digestive bourbon rich tea and ginger nuts)

for the mock up one he used a connect 4 board, wrote the biscuit questions on old cut up kellogs boxes and used real biscuits for the chips!!!

he never got anywhere with it tho... i think he tried to sell it to mb (i think) but not sure what happned

mauron schillib

I too have got a board game that was inspired by `Monopoly`...hope it will take off:

Chavopoly

:D

This item was edited on Sunday, 19th December 2004, 01:53

Are you serious Londonlee? I saw an exact copy of that in the sun, i was just wondering who was ripping who off.
by the way, any chance of a link to that `big idea` website?

This item was edited on Sunday, 19th December 2004, 19:10