[PSi Brake]

EDITE: Since this thread began, about a Join Me Game, it also includes suggestions about a potential Games Day. I'll post details of it in this first post if anything comes of it.

I just want to chuck an idea out there at you guys.

Normally I don't really come on the forums except around Karmageddon time, and more often than not I'm chasing up people about board games and card games. And yes, I've devoted a lot of spare time creating little games with a Join Me theme which seem to made a small number of people happy.

I was wondering if, were I to devote proper time and attention to creating a game, sorting out copyrighting and stuff, would there be any market amongst Joinees for such a thing. There's a print on demand site that specialises in supporting 'indie' projects that would print up and ship out games as ordered. But would Joinees be interested in this? Or would you rather the relatively low-tech alternatively of me sticking nicely crafted PDFs online for people to print off at home?

I'll be honest, I'm looking for a way to turn my current 'hobby' into a way that can earn money for charities, since that (and the leaflets/flyers) are my strong point. If you'd prefer you could always 'sponsor me to to create a freebee game'. :-)

(print on demand gamey site here: https://community.thegamecrafter.com)

This post has been edited by Platinum Papa Si Brake: 05 December 2011 - 10:43 AM

[Lethal Biddle]

I think it's a great idea. But it depends how much it will cost you & how much you will sell it for?
Without meaning to sound stingy; if it's £20 I'll buy one, if it's £50 I won't. I imagine it'll be a similar case for most people. Even though it's print on demand, if it's going to cost you more than £100 or so up front for all the materials during design etc... then you might not make your money back, at least not quickly. Let alone turn a profit for charity. :/

Don't mean to discourage though! I think it'd be awesome!

[PJ Wopunga (GA)]

^^ What he said. Depends on what kind of game it is as well and if it's not too full of inside jokes if non Joinees are playing it.

On a side note - Biddle, when did you move to my neck of the woods?

[PSi Brake]

That's what I figured. If it came out at a price like £50 I wouldn't consider it. I find it hard justifying the buying of a game that costs more than £30 if I'm honest. This may limit it to something card based rather than board based, but then that makes it more portable, means it's a lot less to pay for (since there's essentially only costs for a pack of cards, rules print out and box), and it's easier to jump straight into. If I were to create a boardgame I think I'd probably stear towards minimal bits and pieces included, and probably would create a print-out version of my own first to play-test with people - and if it was good enough maybe keeping it as a freebee PDF people can print off, with the idea that they put some money into a Just Giving account on the side.

Also I've considered two alternatives. One based just on Join Me itself would limit the number of people buying it, yes, but at the same time, if it's something cheap enough, and every Joinee was to chuck a fiver or tenner at it it might be a winner. Then again, it's clear to me that Join Meets don't particularly lend themselves to sitting around a table and playing games - there's too many distractions and too much catching up to do. And AWAY from a Join Meet might not immediately lend itself to playing a game Join Me related. So, as a compromise something that's related in theme, perhaps around the idea of raising money via various exciting endeavours, or performing random acts of kindness, or by trying to form your own collective of followers using the Danny method (1. recruit followers 2. spread the word 3. find a purpose) it will become more accessible to people outside JM circles, and is also something people might want to play outside Join Meets (or at them, if people really ARe interested in them).

As an additional aside to the above aside about where Biddle is now living, I'd like to propose a Join Me Games Day sometime in the new year, for Joinees who'd like to come and play games for a day. Maybe a sponsored gaming weekend, sponsoring us for every hour of continuous play?

[Lethal Biddle]

Sounds good! Definitely need a new gaming day soon & sponsorship for an endurance session would be awesome!

Also, I moved to Guildford in June.

[PSi Brake]

Cool beans!

I propose a vague date of not-summer, since most people would rather not be stuck in a room full of gamers when it's nice weather outside.

Maybe late spring or any time autumn? A replacement for the Merry All Saints Karmaval?

This post has been edited by Platinum Papa Si Brake: 05 December 2011 - 10:44 AM