I have to agree 100% with everything both Mac and Clark said. Getting
OtherWorld Creations up and running has been an exhilarating ride and I'd go
back and do it again if given "Ye Olde Time Machine".
Like Mac did, I'll go through and make some comments. :) (MINE WILL BE IN
CAPS)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mac Golden" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
I wanted to first say that all of Clark's advice is excellent for anyone out
who is considering becoming a game publisher. A few more comments below...
----- Original Message -----
From: "Clark Peterson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Brad asked:
>
> "I was wondering if the commercial publishers would be
> interested in discussing the costs surrounding their
> publication efforts, and the stages they went through
> when developing a new product for publication?"
> Early on, however,
> Necromancer's goal was to have porduct on the shelf
> next to the WotC stuff. So if that is your goal, I
> hope these comments help.
Totally agree. And to emphasize, have a clear goal in mind before you begin
the process, and stick with it. If you do not, then your goal will easily
become lost in the myriad maze that begins to develop around you as you
address each of the issues that Clark discussed.
MY SUGGESTION HERE IS TO HAVE A FEW MANUSCRIPTS READY, AS WELL AS PLAN UP TO
A YEAR IN ADVANCE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND THEN SET GOALS TO MEET THOSE
DATES. IT'S NOT EASY, AND YOU MAY END UP CHANGING THE DATES, BUT AT LEAST
YOU'LL HAVE A GUIDE AS TO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND WHEN YOU WANT TO DO IT.
> Before I begin, aside from my comments, you will
> definately want to check out The Wizard's Attic. The
> guys there, Eric, Dustin, etc, are the best. The are a
> huge resource for small game publishers. I mention
> them numerous times below.
Ditto again. Wizard's Attic has been marvelous for us -- they will save you
alot of time and teach you alot of things you need to know.
THE WIZARD'S ATTIC IS SIMPLY AMAZING! LIKE CLARK AND MAC I JUST CAN'T SAY
ENOUGH ABOUT THEM. IF YOU'RE PLANNING ON DOING SOMETHING, CONTACT THEM NOW.
DON'T WAIT UNTIL NEXT WEEK, DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU FINISH THIS EMAIL, DO IT
NOW.
Wizard's Attic
900 Murmansk St.
Suite 7
Oakland, CA 94607
1-800-213-1493 or 510-452-4951 Monday through Friday from 10am to 4pm
Pacific Time
ON A SIDE NOTE, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ATTENDING THE VARIOUS DISTRIBUTOR SHOWS,
AS WELL AS THE GAMA TRADE SHOW THIS MARCH. DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE, YOU
MAY HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TRIP AND HOTEL, BUT IT'S WELL WORTH IT. WE ATTENDED
THE BERKLEY GAMES SHOW IN OCTOBER AND GETTING A CHANCE TO SIT AND TALK WITH
PEOPLE WHO NOW WORK FOR/OWN, ESTABLISHED GAME COMPANIES MADE IT ALL WORTH
IT. AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU'LL MEET, OR GET TO TALK TO. (I GOT TO SPEND
ABOUT AN HOUR TALKING WORLD DESIGN WITH GREG STAFFORD (OF GLORANTHA FAME)
AND HIS INSIGHT AND IDEAS WERE AMAZING. THAT ALONE MADE THE TRIP ALMOST
WORTH IT.) THIS IS ALSO A GOOD PLACE TO TALK WITH OTHER PRODUCERS ABOUT
PRINTING AND OTHER CONCERNS. WE GOT SOME HELP FROM THE FOLKS AT AEG THAT
I'LL TALK ABOUT BELOW.
-> 5. Printing.
Contact at least 10-20 printers before making a decision.
www.printindustry.com allows you to submit your specs for your product to a
nationwide network of printers who then contact you with their best offer to
print your product. Again, Eric at Wizard's Attic can recommend printers
and Game Codex has a list on their site as well.
WE DID THE NORMAL SHOPPING AROUND AND HAD SETTLED ON A PRINTER OUT IN
MICHIGAN BASED ON THEIR PRICE AND THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH RPG'S. THEN WE
ATTENDED THE BERKLEY SHOW AND ALL THAT CHANGED. AFTER SPEAKING WITH ERIC
ROWE, (THE WIZARD, WHO OWNS THE ATTIC) HE RECOMMENDED SPEAKING WITH JOHN
ZINSER (PRES OF AEG) AS WE'RE RATHER CLOSE TO EACH OTHER GEOGRAPHICALLY (THE
AEG OFFICES ARE LIKE AN HOUR AWAY FROM WHERE WE ARE), AND ONE OF THE HIDDEN
COSTS OF PRINTING IS THE SHIPPING FROM THE PRINTER TO WHERE EVER. AFTER
SPEAKING WITH JOHN, HE GAVE US THE INFO ON THE PRINTER THEY USE FOR ALL OF
THEIR SOFTCOVER BOOKS. WE CHECKED WITH THEM AND THEY CAME IN ABOUT $100
HIGHER THAN THE PRINTER IN MICHIGAN. HOWEVER, THE SHIPPING PRICE FROM
MICHIGAN TO OAKLAND (LAND OF THE WIZARD) IS ROUGHLY $700. THE SHIPPING FROM
L.A. TO OAKLAND IS ABOUT $250, A NET SAVINGS OF $450.
AND THEY'VE BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL WITH EVERYTHING FROM MAKING SURE THE
COVERS HAVE THE CORRECT BLEEDS TO WEIRD LAYOUT QUESTIONS, TO DROPPING OFF
THE PROOF'S AT MIDNIGHT. (WHICH WAS COOL AS WE GOT A SMALL TOUR OF THE PRINT
MACHINES)
THE PRINTER WE WENT WITH IS CALLED KNI, INC. THEY'RE WEBSITE IS:
http://www.kniinc.com/ AND OUR CONTACT THERE IS ROGER BUTZEN, WHO CAN BE
REACHED AT 714-956-7300. THEY'RE BASED IN ANAHEIM, CA, ABOUT AN HOUR SOUTH
OF LOS ANGELES.
> In addition to cost, you have to learn a whole new
> lingo, like "10 pt. c1s, and full bleed and 4 over 1
> process," which takes some time.
> 11. Numbers and projections. We originally hoped to
> sell 3000 units over 6 months of Crucible of Freya
> (with the same projected numbers for other products)
> when we were using Wizard's Attic. Now, I think those
> numbers are low. Now that we are with WW/SSS, we did
> an initial print run of 10,000 and I can tell you on
> preorders alone those should be gone in a month with
> no problem. If I were still with Wizard's Attic, and
> had the money, I would do a 5000 initial print run.
> Talk about this with your distributors and partners,
> but right now d20 stuff is hot and I really think you
> can sell through that amount of product in 6 months.
> Plus, if you can afford to print 5000 units, your per
> unit cost is less and you wont have to do a reprint as
> quickly. But it ups your print expenditure to about
> $3600-4200 for 5000 units for a 32 page module.
I just wanted to throw in a word of caution here. Nothing negative to Clark
or White Wolf, but remember, as a new, small game company, unless you have a
lot of money to advertise, etc..., you do not have the Name Brand, Industry
Contacts, Reputation, Distribution Network, and on and on that White Wolf
has. So, adjust your initial print runs accordingly. Print enough product
to keep your price per unit down, but don't overprint yourself out of
business before you realize any return back on your first products.
AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE WIZARD GUYS AND SEEING THE SUCCESS OF SOME OF THE
EARLIER PRODUCTS, WE DECIDED TO GO FOR A PRINT RUN OF 5000. THIS COVERS OUR
PRE-ORDERS AS WELL AS LEAVES AN AMOUNT FOR RE-STOCK. BACK IN MARCH WHEN WE
WERE JUST GEARING UP, WE'D DECIDED ON A RUN OF 1000, BUT RIGHT NOW THAT
WOULDN'T EVEN COVER OUR PRE-ORDERS.
SO THE BEST THING TO DO IS ASK ERIC ROWE, AND ANYONE ELSE YOU CAN THINK OF,
FOR ADVICE AND THEN MAKE A DECISION THAT YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH. YOU WANT
TO PRINT ENOUGH TO SATISFY DEMAND, BUT YOU DON'T WANT A BUNCH OF BOXES
ROTTING IN A WEREHOUSE SOMEWHERE EITHER.
> But the biggest cost is time. It is a significant
> commitment, particularly if you have a "significant
> other" and a day job (like I do). It is also one hell
> of a rush.
Yes, yes, yes, and yes. Estimate the amount of time you believe it will
take to run your company. Now quadruple it -- that's the real amount of
time it will take to do it right. It helps if you have at least one
partner.
AMEN! BE PREPARED TO SACRIFICE NIGHTS, WEEKENDS, AND ANY SPARE TIME YOU'VE
GOT. BUT BELIEVE ME, IT'S WELL WORTH IT.
Enjoy! And feel free to email me privately if you have
> more questions.
Same here.
DITTO.
R. Hyrum Savage
Lead Designer / VP
OtherWorld Creations
http://www.otherworlds.cx
