Melissa Rogerson: Game designers, Timetables and an Easter Egg

In conjunction with the Australian Games Expo in June this year, Boardgames Australia will be hosting an event for Game Designers. We see this as part of our mission – looking at both promoting great games (through the Awards) and also promoting great game design.

We’re finalising the program now – so far, we have some input from publishers and game designers (who may or may not be at the event); information about the printing and production process; a round table discussion on rules and playtesting; and some input from IP Australia, the body that administers trademark, copyright and registration. This last thing was something that several people asked about.

One of the things we want to do with this event is offer opportunities for people to pitch games to publishers. The original idea worked like this:

1. Game designer submits a half-to-one-page blurb to the Publisher at least a month before the expo. There may be a Stage 0 before this where the Publisher supplies submission guidelines and/or information about what they are looking for.

2. Publisher reads blurbs, snickers to self, selects any that sound interesting and worthwhile and (at least potentially) up their alley.

3. Publisher and Game designer do whatever they need to do as far as non-disclosure agreements etc go

4. Publisher and Game designer meet at our event and Game designer gets to pitch game.

We realise that most of the time this will go nowhere, but it would be a great opportunity for local Game designers, and would also offer Publishers an opportunity to see local games in a structured way and without having to spend days at it.

So far, we have a couple of publishers on board, but we are still looking for more. We’re also looking for more information about what game designers would like to see at an event like this – as we’re just getting started, we’re keen to make sure we are relevant for everyone. There has been a significant level of interest from game designers outside the hobby – something that has been a surprise to me.

What would you like to see at this type of event?

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On a personal note, the last few weeks have been hellishly busy. We’re selling our old house (if anyone is looking for a delightful character-filled house in Melbourne, just up the road from this very nice family with a big game library, do make contact!) and dealing with real estate agents is more complicated than any game. Meanwhile, Otto turned 5 today and the Agricola cards are in their final proof stages. Also, real work. I wish I were a Clockmaker and could stop the clocks for a few hours, just to get ahead.

No wait – that card isn’t in the Z deck – no point giving hints about it for the Great Agricola Easter Egg Hunt.

So much to do, so little time. And no Mail Coach Driver to drive me from one appointment to another. Where is that ninja face when I need it?

Happy gaming!
Melissa

Oh yeah ... and one more thing ...

© 2008 Melissa Rogerson

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Comments:

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Happy Birthday Otto! dale Posted by Dale Yu on Mar 11, 2008 at 01:48 PM | #

Really, do buy the house.  If so, I might make it to BGG.con :-) Fraser Posted by Fraser McHarg on Mar 11, 2008 at 10:46 PM | #

Any effort to connect game designers with publishers is appreciated by both parties. Perhaps there could also be some tables available at the event for designers to show their creations to the public, even allowing for open playtesting? Posted by Jeff Allers on Mar 14, 2008 at 05:31 PM | #

Oh, and the house sounds absolutely charming, not to mention the fact that I would always have Argricola-players in the neighborhood, but you’d have to wait for me to win a Spiel des Jahres or the lottery (same thing, eh?) Posted by Jeff Allers on Mar 14, 2008 at 05:34 PM | #

Jeff, I’m not sure that designers would want to do that here - there seems to be a real fear of copyright violation. In fact, all the people who have looked for particular sessions or information have asked about IP protection. Posted by Melissa Rogerson on Mar 14, 2008 at 06:36 PM | #

there seems to be a real fear of copyright violation that seems to be more from the want-to-be designers in my opinion. Posted by Fraser McHarg on Mar 14, 2008 at 06:49 PM | #

Yes, that is one of the common myths of board game design.  First, it’s a bit naive to think that your idea is SO original, that you need to keep it so secret.  Second, mechanics or themes in games are almost always borrowed and tweaked from previous games.  Third, it’s a small enough hobby that steeling complete prototypes rarely happens.  And lastly, you can’t hope to ever get your game to the level a publisher would want unless you show your game idea to lots of different people. Mike Petty does a good job of expanding on these in his articles which can be viewed on the Game Designer’s Forum. Posted by Jeff Allers on Mar 15, 2008 at 04:46 PM | #

I think that’s one of the things we’ll be stressing - and we’re definitely planning to provide links, too. We seem to have quite a few people from the non-hobby end of the spectrum coming along too. Posted by Melissa Rogerson on Mar 15, 2008 at 05:26 PM | #

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