It cost around $4,000 to $20,000 to make a board game you can sell and mass produce. Ongoing expenses for a board game business will encompass storage expenses for games that are yet to be sold and even the manufacturing costs of new units.
Most often, these businesses keep storage costs low by storing unsold games themselves. The advancement of board games has grown so massively in recent years, and at present, technological advancement makes it convenient to play them on smartphones with friends and family.
Due to the online availability of games, a good percentage of people are showing interest in them. As such, a massive fan base exists that is always eager for a new board game.
If you intend to leverage the expertise of a board game development company to make your board games, then it is recommended you obtain quotes as early as you possibly can. This is quite necessary as some components can be prohibitively costly to get.
Things That Go into Making Board Games and How They Impact the Cost
Making board games is without a doubt a complicated process. It involves various stages that will have varying impacts on the general cost. Nevertheless, here are those steps and how they dictate how much it costs to make a board game.
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The Planning Stage
This is without doubt the beginning phase and the stage where you decide the extent you want to go. Regardless of if your intention is to go around the board repeatedly like in Monopoly or the plan is to achieve a final destination such as in Candy Land, you will have to first put together a planned surface the game will be played on.
Most often, game designers first put out this plan on paper or cards to ensure there is a way to note the winner of the game and where players are meant to go.
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Working with a Designer and Illustrator
Once you can locate an expert that can produce a real playing surface by manufacturing the board, you will also need an artist to design the board. The designer is expected to plan everything out and the designer you work with will dictate how much you spend.
If the intentions are for the game to use cards, the artist would also be responsible for designing the cards. If you intend to mass produce the game and sell it, then the experts will also have to put together instructions to ensure that gamers can read and understand how to go about the game.
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Hiring an Artist That Specializes in 3D
If you intend to include models in the game board, then you have to work with a 3D artist and this means more cost in your game development.
One very good example of a 3D Model is the Spinner in Life. Have it in mind that any type of model in the middle of the board would be designed by a 3D artist and not by an illustrator. Always remember that these are the main models that will be required all through the game.
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Creation of the Game Pieces
This has to do with games that will feature figures just as seen in Monopoly or Candy Land. If you intend to have such figures, you will need someone that can make custom miniature game pieces. Most often, these features tend to be smaller than the models that stay on the board. However, if your game will not be featuring such pieces moving around the board, then it means fewer expenses for you.
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Creating Prototypes
One thing you have to understand when looking to make board games is the fact that creating prototypes isn’t a one-time thing. Most often, people who make prototypes will have to create more than one prototype as challenges come up.
As such, you should expect to create a few different variations of boards and experiment with each one until you find one that doesn’t present problems.
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Manufacturing
Any time you have come up with a vivid board plan, regardless of if it’s on paper, cards, or a mock board on a surface like cardboard, you need board game manufacturers. When it comes to quotes, it’s recommended you obtain a few quotes from a few different manufacturers rather than accepting the first one you get.
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Get People to Test Out Your Game
After manufacturing your game, have it in mind that the only way to discover all the issues or challenges in it is to play the game.
While you can do this yourself with friends and family, it is most often recommended you hire people to play your game and give feedback on any issues or challenges they encounter. It is very necessary to handle these issues prior to releasing the game to the general public.
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Getting A Photographer
Immediately after the game board and pieces are created, you need to work with a professional photographer to get good photographs that display your game and game pieces in the best possible light. The essence of this is to ensure that you can draw the attention of potential gamers.
Social Media has proven to be a valuable tool but using low-quality photographs will create the sort of negative impression you don’t want for your game.
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Using A Website to Promote and Sell Your Game
Although it is possible to leverage websites such as Amazon and eBay to sell your board games, note that it is imperative you consider creating your own site where people can discover everything they need from your game and purchase it if they are eager to play the game.
It is possible to create the website yourself if you have the skills. However, most often, you will have to reach out to an expert to do this for you.
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The Game Distribution
After you must have seen all the issues or challenges with your game, the next thing is to seek ways to work with distributors to get your board game into different stores. Have it in mind that getting it into different stores can prove to be quite difficult especially if this is your first game. As such, you will have to work with experienced distributors and this will entail more expenses.
Conclusion
The advancement of board games has grown so massively in recent years, and at present, technological advancement makes it convenient to play them on smartphones with friends and family.
Making board games is without a doubt a complicated process that involves various stages that will have varying impacts on the general cost. According to research, it costs around $4,000 to $20,000 to make a board game you can sell and mass produce.