A Game that could sweep the globe!

Jamesgrace

My partner and I are developing an abstract strategy board game (think chess, draughts, go etc), it's easy to play, difficult to master and great fun, even when you lose. We believe it conforms to industry standards for what is required to make a great game, our next step is to bring it to a games manufacturer/developer and sell the idea.
I would appreciate any advice on approaching a developer, protecting our idea and what steps to take once the game has been prototyped fully.
Any recommendations for potential developers or investors to approach would be welcomed.
We'll try to patent but it's not always doable with a board game. We want this game brought to the mass market, thanks in advance to anyone who can assist us with this.

mrawkward

Have a read of this, it might scale the challenges involved. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=63044329

mahamageehad

If the game really is good enough, crowdfunding may be a good option for you. If successful it'll help you with the cost of manufacture, and it's also a great place to get feedback. I back a lot of board games on Kickstarter, most great but some terrible, and the tabletop community is surprisingly large and passionate so that's a good start, but it's incredibly competitive.

Most of the super successful games I remember in recent years were games with a massive brand behind them - e.g. Exploding Kittens (The Oatmeal), Bears vs Babies (also The Oatmeal) or Joking Hazard (Cyanide and Happiness). They're all card games actually now that I think about it!

The other thing I'd question is how sure are you that the idea is new? Have you researched on BGG? Is there something actually patentable - i.e. if I saw your game somewhere would I be easily able to recreate it, and if so then what's the reason that I would buy your game.

Jamesgrace

mrawkward wrote:

Have a read of this, it might scale the challenges involved.

Hi, can't open that link unfortunately so can't comment until I manage to do so, thanks for posting though

Jamesgrace

mahamageehad wrote:

If the game really is good enough, crowdfunding may be a good option for you. If successful it'll help you with the cost of manufacture, and it's also a great place to get feedback. I back a lot of board games on Kickstarter, most great but some terrible, and the tabletop community is surprisingly large and passionate so that's a good start, but it's incredibly competitive.

We have looked into it and decided that we would prefer to bring it directly to someone with knowledge of the industry. It's the idea we're selling, neither of us are particularly drawn to working with the logistical side of manufacture /distribution/ marketing and so on. Crowdfunding brings a lot of that kind of work.

Jamesgrace

mahamageehad wrote:

The other thing I'd question is how sure are you that the idea is new? Have you researched on BGG? Is there something actually patentable - i.e. if I saw your game somewhere would I be easily able to recreate it, and if so then what's the reason that I would buy your game.

Good question, we're pretty sure after trawling past patents that the idea is new along with the playing board but we don't know if it's actually patentable. The box assets, playing pieces and rules are protectable. We're communicating with the patenting office at the moment.
The game could be recreated pretty easily but the gameplay is affected by a couple of factors which mean a little more work for you to get it right. We feel there's a certain amount of tactile fun to our design to encourage people to buy. And we're relying on being first to market along with an app and possible online community. Any more feedback welcomed!

mrawkward

Most patent agents offer a first consultation free, have you used one yet or are these your own searches?

Jamesgrace

mrawkward wrote:

Most patent agents offer a first consultation free, have you used one yet or are these your own searches?

Our own to date, we should be hearing back shortly from the patenting office, that first meeting is dependent on whether or not they feel the idea is patentable. Board games do not usually fall into this category however.

mrawkward

I doubt their response will be very helpful...it is not their function to advise/assist. Do talk to a patent agent, they are some of the best professionals you will ever encounter https://www.patentsoffice.ie/en/Patents/Patent-Agents/Register-of-Patent-Agents/

PS Copyright and Trade mark protection may well be more appropriate in this case.

Jamesgrace

mrawkward wrote:

I doubt their response will be very helpful...it is not their function to advise/assist. Do talk to a patent agent, they are some of the best professionals you will ever encounter

High praise for the patent professionals! Many thanks, we haven't looked into this yet. I agree regarding the copyright and trademark, it would be great if the board was protected too. May I ask how you came to know about this type of thing?

Jamesgrace

This outlines some of the reasons we want to go straight to a developer, I currently run a different business, have a family and am not interested in another steep and possibly expensive learning curve to bring a game to such a competitive market.

Sabre0001

This may be a silly question, but how do you know the idea is new if your research has primarily focused on the patents angle when you acknowledge that board games don't fall into the category of being patentable.

From the little I know, people interested in developing boardgames typically aren't short of ideas; they just need the finance or time. Meanwhile, publishers look for people with the knowledge, experience, passion, and ability to present them with a fully formed product.

mrawkward

Jamesgrace wrote: »

High praise for the patent professionals! Many thanks, we haven't looked into this yet. I agree regarding the copyright and trademark, it would be great if the board was protected too. May I ask how you came to know about this type of thing?

Over many years in running my own businesses, I have devloped, commercialised, licenced out and ultimately sold various forms of registered and unregistered IP including patents and Trade Marks. Interestingly the Trade Marks were the most valuable, followed by unregiistered IP (undisclosed technology) and lastly the patents as they were nearly expired. Trade marks never die!! I am only an investor now.

Jamesgrace

Sabre0001 wrote:

This may be a silly question, but how do you know the idea is new if your research has primarily focused on the patents angle when you acknowledge that board games don't fall into the category of being patentable.

We've researched other areas too, however we'd like to have as many protectable aspects of the game covered before we approach anyone. We haven't found this idea anywhere else but we do see people calling for games on board game forums which have the characteristics of our game when it comes to gameplay.

Jamesgrace

Sabre0001 wrote:

From the little I know, people interested in developing boardgames typically aren't short of ideas; they just need the finance or time. Meanwhile, publishers look for people with the knowledge, experience, passion, and ability to present them with a fully formed product.

We can present a product but we don't want to approach too early without covering our bases and ensuring we get paid. We're working on the knowledge, our experience is admittedly limited, the rest we can do! It wasn't a silly question, thanks for getting involved.

Iseedeadpixels

Jamesgrace wrote: »

My partner and I are developing an abstract strategy board game (think chess, draughts, go etc), it's easy to play, difficult to master and great fun, even when you lose. We believe it conforms to industry standards for what is required to make a great game, our next step is to bring it to a games manufacturer/developer and sell the idea.
I would appreciate any advice on approaching a developer, protecting our idea and what steps to take once the game has been prototyped fully.
Any recommendations for potential developers or investors to approach would be welcomed.
We'll try to patent but it's not always doable with a board game. We want this game brought to the mass market, thanks in advance to anyone who can assist us with this.

I don't even know what this is and I want to play it!

Jamesgrace

Iseedeadpixels wrote:

I don't even know what this is and I want to play it!

Ha ha! Love to hear that!

Jamesgrace

mrawkward wrote:

Over many years in running my own businesses, I have devloped, commercialised, licenced out and ultimately sold various forms of registered and unregistered IP including patents and Trade Marks. Interestingly the Trade Marks were the most valuable, followed by unregiistered IP (undisclosed technology) and lastly the patents as they were nearly expired. Trade marks never die!! I am only an investor now.

Interesting, it's all new to me so a matter of gathering information. Were you trading internationally and if so was it more difficult to navigate IP outside of Ireland?

mrawkward

Jamesgrace wrote: »

Interesting, it's all new to me so a matter of gathering information. Were you trading internationally and if so was it more difficult to navigate IP outside of Ireland?

Essentially yes, Europe patents and TMs and in the US only registered trade marks only. It is not so much more difficult but the costs in the US are much much higher.

Jamesgrace

mrawkward wrote:

Essentially yes, Europe patents and TMs and in the US only registered trade marks only. It is not so much more difficult but the costs in the US are much much higher.

Understandable. Out of interest, would you as an investor with a history of dealing with IP ever work with people at this stage, ie prototype development? My wife suggested finding an investor whose role would be to firm up IP, TM etc and negotiate the best deal with a manufacturer.

mrawkward

Jamesgrace wrote: »

Understandable. Out of interest, would you as an investor with a history of dealing with IP ever work with people at this stage, ie prototype development? My wife suggested finding an investor whose role would be to firm up IP, TM etc and negotiate the best deal with a manufacturer.

Putting up the money and doing all the hard work does not seem like an interesting opportunity to me. I only invest in revenue generating projects backed by real, not hope, assets.

You need a plan here man. Simple enough..find out the IP protection position from the professionals and if it is a goer, get basic protection and spend a few quid on a prototype. All that is left is the hard work of selling it to a player.

Good ideas are ten a penny but few are ever exploited to generate a commercial return, mostly due to a lack of commitment and plain graft. A good idea does not equal a commercially sound proposition. A fidget spinner is hardly a good idea but serious money was made out of it, just not by the ideas guy!

tricky D

There was a board game developer company about 10 years ago on Fitzwilliam St Upper in a basement between Fitzwilliam Square and Baggot St junction on the east side. I have no idea if they are still there and can't muster up anything on the net.

Also, have you checked out this lot: http://boardgamesireland.com who might have some leads.

Jamesgrace

mrawkward wrote:

You need a plan here man. Simple enough..find out the IP protection position from the professionals and if it is a goer, get basic protection and spend a few quid on a prototype. All that is left is the hard work of selling it to a player.

Yes that's our aim currently, always good to hear it from someone else. Thanks for the input!

Dades

Jamesgrace wrote: »

It's the idea we're selling, neither of us are particularly drawn to working with the logistical side of manufacture /distribution/ marketing and so on. Crowdfunding brings a lot of that kind of work.

It sounds like you're trying to sell your untested idea and avoid the work in proving it. While you've undoubtably put time into this creatively, the real sweat will be shed in moving to the next step. I'm not sure who'd do this for you while also funding the venture as well.

Your confidence in the idea is reflected in what you are willing to do yourself - including financially - to get it over the line.

Jamesgrace

mrawkward wrote:

Good ideas are ten a penny but few are ever exploited to generate a commercial return, mostly due to a lack of commitment and plain graft. A good idea does not equal a commercially sound proposition. A fidget spinner is hardly a good idea but serious money was made out of it, just not by the ideas guy!

Hope he made something out of it...

Graham

Jamesgrace wrote: »

Hope he made something out of it...

Apparently, not a bean.

Dades

Sorry, on a more positive note... my cousin and his wife brought a boardgame to market last year.

They got help from their Local Enterprise Office and BOI (business loan I suspect). It's manufactured by Hasbro in Waterford.

There might be something worth following up there.

Here's the game:
http://chaseacrossthesquare.com/about/

mrawkward

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-11/how-the-fidget-spinner-origin-story-spun-out-of-control

Jamesgrace

tricky D wrote:

Also, have you checked out this lot:

Thanks for that, didn't realise there was a convention coming up. Very useful

mrawkward

Best thread on here in a good while. OP's open attitude has drawn out much useful comment and just proves there is a serious willingness to help those who come on here with a good demeanour.

Jamesgrace

Dades wrote:

It sounds like you're trying to sell your untested idea and avoid the work in proving it. While you've undoubtably put time into this creatively, the real sweat will be shed in moving to the next step. I'm not sure who'd do this for you while also funding the venture as well.

Well observed, we do want to put time into a market research and promoting the game once developed, what we want to avoid is the manufacturing, marketing and getting it to retail. I take your point though.